coucil tax jobsworths
I was trying to organise paying my council tax by direct debit. I live opposite the council offices so brought the DD form to them in person. But no, I was told they would only accept the form if it were received in the post. WTF??? It was the same address! So after much protestation I posted the bloody thing. I don’t know what happened because they didn't take my tax money and I got hit by a summons. The council told me the only way I could avoid paying a £96 summons charge was if I paid my whole year’s council tax in one go. I decided to challenge this and went to their customer services centre and queued up for about an hour to speak to a person. Despite my begging she said there was nothing she could do. I then agreed to pay the £1000. But I couldn’t pay there. No that would be too easy. I had to walk to another building where they process the payment... Long. Anyway, I did this and went back to the customer services centre and queued up again. Got the same woman. Showed her the receipt I got from the payment centre and she dually cancelled the summons charge with one press of the keyboard. Once she'd shown me this was gone I then said I wanted to close my council tax account as I'm moving. She looked mighty confused at this and reminded me I'd just paid my council tax for the following year. I stuck to my guns and closed my account. "By my reckoning, you now owe me £900. I'll accept a cheque" say I. It was about this point that she began to clock what was going on. "Do you know how much admin this is for me?" says she. It’s safe to say I didn't give a f*ck. Got my cheque and then re-opened my account with the right to pay by instalments again. Lots of hassle but I’m glad I played them at their own game. Ar*eholes.
(deaglun, Mon 30 Jul 2007, 12:03, Reply)