Friday 25 May 2007

Bloody Council Tax

Is it only me or do they really have no idea, they send me a Direct Debit in February which states you can set your payments either 1st, 7th, 14th or 28th month.

Because I get paid towards the end of the month I set mine to the 28th, no problem you would think, but alas this is Hull City Council - one of the worst councils in the country.

Last month I got a reminder on the 25th for late payment of council tax, informing me I had to pay the outstanding amount immediately otherwise I would lose the right to pay by installments.

I rang up and explained that the direct debit hadn't even been taken and would be taken on the 28th as per their instructions.....ok say no more, or so you would think, today I get another late payment advice and ring up and ask them what is going on, to which I am informed I have to make an immediate payment because my council tax is behind, I explain that the payment isn't due until the 28th, on their instruction and get informed that because I pay on the 28th they don't receive it until the next month so that leaves me a month behind every month.

I am afraid I did get quite stroppy with the customer service advisor and started ranting about how I work hard to pay for these things and that they unfairly target the wrong people.

I am now sat with bated breath waiting for their team leader to call me back and explain their reasoning.

Just as a little foot note, I lost all my lights downstairs last night, so sat waiting for an electrician and now one of my radiators is leaking so I am also waiting for a plumber....as you can see good day all round here....

Oh and my friend, the one I mentioned missing in the questions and answers a few posts ago from South Yorkshire is here today with both her children so she has just gone out for sarnies seeing as we won't now be doing lunch....

Update:

Council Tax - All sorted now, she says it's a standard letter that automatically kicks in, she is going to mark my account to not send it....if any of this makes sense, I think personally as usual they have cocked up. (We will see what happens on the 25th next month) not holding my breath this is the end of it though.

Electric - Was a fuse blown, got some verrrry young lad who asked me why I hadn't done it myself....ermmm do I look like an electrician? I wouldn't know the first thing about putting fuse wire in....I am used to the lovely trip switches you just switch back on, oh well sorted until the next time.

Radiator - Leak now sorted with the mobile number of the plumber in case of emergencies, ooo very nice he was too, now let me see what emergency can I think of???

Doctors - My lovely Doctor now thinks because of my manic episodes of the last couple of weeks I may be bordering bipolar, no I'm not I am sure but let him think that....

15 comments:

funny sparky said...

Its bloody ridiculous that you are targetted as a bad/late payer because the banking system holds on to your money?? Doesn't make sense, but there again, thats the norm here in Spain. Today I got a bill for the phone, we've been connected for 12 months, the payments are monthly and the last two have been by DD, thinking they had it all sorted now, but no, this month I'm sent a bill and when I check my account, there's the money still sat there! If I call them, they are just so bad, they once put the phone down on me! Just because I said their service was crap! I called them back and told them that should never do that to a client, and that it was my turn now...and slammed the phone down on them, felt better! lol!

Vi said...

That's a heap of shit, Emma. The money now goes IMMEDIATELY into their bank account. That's what Natwest has told me!

Dark Side said...

Funny - It stinks doesn't it?

Vi - They are talking a load of bollox I know xx

Too Fat To Fly... said...

Gawd, this sounds like a story that could be repeated all over this Country right now!

Why do the Council waste so much time and energy chasing up the wrong people? Pity they aren't so on the ball with all the complete time wasters *out there*..

Sounds like you're not having much luck so far this week!

I hope the weekend will be so much better for you ;-)

Hugs,

Lins xx

Dark Side said...

Thanks Lins, I am fine though because I am having a manic episode...apparently...lol..I am not really laughing about it just probably not accepting it either..xx

Anonymous said...

Come over to the dark side join the rest of us manic mood swings crazies! Well I'll join myself if someone ever get's around the diganosing me!

Dark Side said...

I will Alison, according to my Mum she thinks I am too, apparently I have spent my life being up and down....ok why didn't she tell me???x

Carlito86 said...

Youve been busy busy today havent you, doctors, sparkys and plumbers! Bloody council, they are totally useless. Off topic, but i used to work for one and when i left they said i would recieve my last wage and then half of another as we allegly got paid 2 weeks in one month and 2 in the other..if u get me. so i spent up and then then bombarded me with letters demanding i pay them about 300 back as i wasnt entitled to it after all! I was well mad. I paid em it back a £1 a month, just to piss em off :-D xxxx

Dark Side said...

I find that quite amusing Gnd - because the company who I work for at the moment have forgotten to pay me SSP and paid me in full...oh dear I leave on the 4th June...x

Anonymous said...

all you need now is a gas leak, don't eat baked beans, x

Dark Side said...

Wayne - Just been in the pub thanks had enough gas leaks in there...god only knows what it is gonna smell like when they are not disguised by cigarette smoke in July...:(x

Elaine Denning said...

I seems we aren't allowed to have ups and downs in our lives without having a medical condition slapped on our foreheads.

As for the council tax office...what a complete waste of resources, chasing people who don't need to be chased. They're hopeless...the lot of 'em.

Dark Side said...

Miss - I am pleading ignorance to the last one..xx

SIMON said...

Busy busy Emma you're right not to hold your breath on the council tax thing.
Fuse wire and bi polar all make for a good post. Nice 1 Emma, I might even consider letting you off for supporting Leeds, on the other hand.....!

The Thin Blue Line said...

they're quick enough to take your money, but when it comes to giving it back...
and they know they can get away with it! sticks in the throat.