Forum Topic

An open letter to Cllr Bell, leader of Ealing Council, concerning his 'not fit for purpose' revenue

Dear Sir,In early April I noticed my council tax had not been taken under my previous direct debit which referenced my previous property so I set up a new direct debit.   Later in April I received a letter to say I had not paid so I immediately emailed querying the letter. I received an automated reply promising action within ten days.   Next I receive a court summons for the year's tax plus costs of £116 for non-payment. I phone. I am told the wait is long, leave my number. I will receive a call.   Over half a day later no call. I ring again. After forty minutes I have it sorted. A new direct debit. Payment by instalments. No costs. But no apology or explanation either. Should I bill you for costs?   I suggest your revenue department is in need of overhaul, audit or whatever. What other inefficiencies are they up to?   Enjoy your four years.                 Yours faithfully,Graham J Weeks

Graham Weeks ● 2729d5 Comments

Update on the above:11/06 - Bill sent: "Reason for bill: Name amended"20/06 - Summons received for non-payment of council taxI am now on minute 8 of the ridiculously irritating hold music, not expecting much. No final notice, and 7 working days between the bill and summons. How is this legal?

Olly Rogers ● 2689d

Ciir Bell did get me a letter of apology from revenue.

Graham Weeks ● 2716d

You are not alone I had a Court summons for Council Tax regarding a flat which we rent out after a year without getting a demand. I called the Council and was told we sent it out. But where I asked no answer from the Customer Service person... Eventually, the summons was dropped but the stress has not. The staff are useless in most of the departments in Perceval House North Korea springs to mind when dealing with Ealing Council they are one of the worst in London they are quick in send summons out but nough else we All had are chance in May's Local Elections!!!

Nicolas Ozegovic ● 2717d

In fact, I have been in further contact recently on a separate issue (again, Ealing Council decided unilaterally to change our billing details without informing us), so far I have had this luck:21/03 - Email sent - "we aim to respond in 10 days"24/04 - Email sent - "we aim to respond in 10 days"30/04 - Email received - "please forward us the tenancy details including contract"01/05 - Email sent with requisite information - "we aim to respond in 10 days"I haven't heard a peep since, and still the tax remains unpaid as I have no idea which account to send the flipping money to. If I put in the wrong account, the reminders and final notices start and Newlyn get called once again as I "haven't correctly paid the tax owed"Either way, I'm going to be screwed one way or the other some way down the line. Mind you, when the receipt for their own "Moving in/ moving out" form is rejected as evidence that the form was completed (direct quote - "you having the receipt does not matter as we did not receive the document") what chance do we have?

Olly Rogers ● 2729d

GrahamI have had this - been to 'court' and come out the other side. I stood for election this time round to try and do something about it, they are abysmally useless.I lived in a shared house - without going into too much detail, they messed up the billing when one tenant moved out. I emailed, they informed me that they would send out a replacement bill, and not to pay under the old account number. That was in 2016.Now, in 2018, the original mistake has been sorted - yet they have sent Newlyn PLC after me for £310 who they ahve given an address for me halfway across the country, making it unenforceable. I have spoken to the council who blame Newlyn. Newlyn blame the council. This isn't going to get sorted any time soon, though every time they tell me they are coming to "my home to take my belongings" I do smirk to myself.Absolute shower of s**te.

Olly Rogers ● 2729d