I can deal with incompetence, even with gross incompetence but somehow lack of communication, incorrect information, horrendous customer service, threatening behaviour AND gross incompetence pushes me over the edge. The majority of people will have complaints about their local government: dodgy dealings; expense scandals; misuse of taxpayer money; building of the Spinnaker Tower; etc etc but my council refuse to believe you can be a student if you are over the age of 21 (fancy that!)
I was recently investigated for council tax fraud, as I claim a piffling 25% discount for single occupancy. Whilst I do have a housemate, he is a full-time student and is exempt from paying council tax. So, Portsmouth City Council in their worldly-wise way declared it an impossibility that he could be a student as he is 28! It beggars belief that they investigated me for taking money from them, when in fact I was entitled to money in the form of a whole £4.35 a week in council tax benefit, which they witheld pending my "investigation" (I did tell them what they could do with this after they discovered I had not claimed my 25% illegally!)
The latest council tax drama involved a visit from a bailiff, as I had missed a payment of £8 back in November. Worthy of a prison sentence, indeed! This bailiff visit is costing me £24.50 in addition to my council tax and the arrears. Quite how one is expected to function under such Draconian laws is beyond me. I have to inform them every time I sneeze (in triplicate!) and yet they couldn't let me know I had accidentally missed a payment?!
Perhaps if I had received my whopping £4.35 a week, none of this would have happened. You gotta love bureaucracy!
1 comment:
An investigation doesn't men you are guilty, it is only an investigation.
So if you have nothing to hide fear not the investigation.
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