Big mess by Council tax and bank

LunaLou

Harveys wrote: »

Since January 2005, the public has a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public bodies, including councils. If you request a piece of information from them, they have a duty to disclose that information, providing they hold it and it is not subject to any legally defined exemptions.

If you would like to make an FOI request under the Freedom of Information Act you can either go in, phone or email your council.

Whose your local council?

It's Hounslow

Harveys_2

LunaLou wrote: »

It's Hounslow

Here you go...here's what to do

http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/foi_send_request

Hellzapoppin

It sounds like Barclays raised a chargeback on the debit card payment and it was successful, they credited you then took the money back when you said the transaction was no longer disputed, so Barclays will have the payment.

LunaLou

Hellzapoppin wrote: »

It sounds like Barclays raised a chargeback on the debit card payment and it was successful, they credited you then took the money back when you said the transaction was no longer disputed, so Barclays will have the payment.

Yes spent two hours in there this afternoon sorting it out, they said it was the banks error and have refunded the money.
So its all sorted.

Thanks for replying.

CIS

colsten wrote: »

I have been paying my council tax by monthly DD ever since council tax became payable in 1993. So that's around twentytwo years now, some 220 direct debits (I am still on the 10 x per year DDs) . Never had a problem once. All payments were 100% in line with my annual council tax bills.

If at any time the DDs would not have been as previously advised, I would have invoked the Direct Debit Guarantee. But nothing ever did go wrong.

I would expect most people will be in similar situations - collection of council tax by DD will rarely ever go wrong, and if it does, there's the DD guarantee.

I must admit I don't know whether my post helps the OP as I am not sure I understood the OP.

It's uncommon that I come across any problems with DD's - he most common 'problem' is the customer cancelling them and then wondering why payment has stopped...

Standing Orders are a pain the backside because people either set them for a random amount or fail to change them in time for the new year's payments.

System

I am not saying DD is evil - you are essentially giving the collecting organisation access to your account and whilst you can use the DD guarantee, there is hassle involved.

In my experience, local councils are some of most incompetent organisations around and I wouldn't give them access to my account.

Setting up a standing order mandate for each tax year is minimal hassle and leaves you in control of all funds the council obtains.

calleyw wrote: »

Yes that fine if you remember to change it when the new council tax year starts.

I know someone who used a standing order and got threatened to be taken to court as they forget to change it. And we are talking less than £100.

So from what you are saying any DD is evil!!!

Yours

Calley