Kafka must have worked for Lewisham Council.....
So,we were students living in grotty cockroach infested flat in Deptford. Being students, we wee exempt from Council Tax, as long as we can provide evidence from the University. No probs on that front, we've all got our little stamped letters, and in the post they go to Lewisham Council.

Couple of weeks later, we get a receipt for these letters, followed one day later by a Council Tax bill for the full amount. I give them a ring, and the nice lady on the phone says "OK, sorry about that, I'll get that sorted for you now, just ignore that bill."

Fabulous, sorted. Off down the pub then.

Then another bill arrives, the full amount, plus fine for late payment. I ring them again, and they tell me they never got the letters, so can we send them again. *sigh* OK, we get new letters, and off they go in the post again. Again, the receipt arrives. Again a bill arives, this time red. Oh shitting christ....

Off we troup down to their offices in Catford, interestingly just opposite a gun shop. Not pausing for too long to ponder the possibilities lest we do something rash, we go in, give them all the info they need in person. NOW it's definitely sorted.

Until a bailiffs notice appears, along with a letter saying that Lewisham Council have taken us all to court and as we weren't there to defend ourselves (errr, tell when the hearing is then!) we're liable for the whole lot, including fees and bailiffs charges and court costs.

After a very VERY angry phone call, during which I make a point of not hanging up until they've sorted it for good, the person on the other end says: "Hang on, I've just found three copies of your exemption letters in an envelope in this drawer here, do you know what that's about?"

It turns out what it was about is that every single time, our letters got filed, but no-one could be arsed to make the changes on the computer system - thereby incurring the wrath of all involved.

Utter cunts.
( Sonic James Doom forgetting the date since... umm..., Thu 26 Jul 2007, 14:33, Reply)