Well, the City Clerk's office has it right. I received a postcard from the City Clerk's office this past week informing me of my duty to renew my
dog's yearly license. Now, here's were the City Collector's office needs to take a lesson from the City Clerk's office.....I went to the City
Hall to pay a property tax bill a couple of months ago (or whenever they came out) and they informed me that I neglected to pay a tax bill from 2006. I said,
"what, that can't be true." I've gone in and personally paid all of my property tax bills in this office since then and never has anyone
informed me that one was overdue or late." I immediately came home and checked my records. Well, to my surprise, I must have missed one. Well, now I
have accumulated a HUGE interest charge on this bill. I was furious. I am not excusing the fact that I did not pay it, but it was an honest oversight as I
was unaware of missing it. I have paid at least 6 bills since then. Wouldn't you think that someone in that office would have informed me of my
non-payment? Wouldn't you think that it could be or should be added onto the next bill?? Wouldn't you think that a notice should be sent to the
homeowner??? When I told the clerk, her response was, "We send out thousands of bills each quarter and we can't be responsible for your errors."
I am not asking for anyone to be responsible for my failure to pay the bill, but I would find it extremely helpful for someone in that office to have informed
me earlier than this. After all, now I have a hefty interest charge. If I had known that I owed it I would have paid that one before the next 6. I am
completely paid to date other than that oversight. It makes me crazy!!!!!
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0 Kudo
Dog License Renewal Postcard.....
| Author | Comment | ||
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 sprinkle14 |
Dog License Renewal Postcard..... |
Lead | |
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(04/26/08 08:19 PM) |
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Dear GABBY |
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(04/26/08 08:30 PM) |
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star squiggle |
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(04/26/08 08:52 PM) |
you would at least think that it would show on your new bill/bills that you were in arrears...
I'd rather laugh with
the sinners than cry with the saints
The sinners are much more fun... |
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brainfix |
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(04/26/08 08:52 PM) |
How about a collective woof.
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o Realist o |
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(04/26/08 10:03 PM) |
sprinkle - I empathize greatly. The amount in arrears definitely should have shown up on the NEXT bill...probably part of the new software glitch...the revenue
side doesn't "talk" to other sides. I would pay in full and then definitely appeal, and appeal, and appeal.
You don't want to accrue any more interest by not paying in full now. Don't walk in front of me, I don't follow. Don't walk behind
me, I don't lead.
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leftwingnut |
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(04/27/08 12:36 AM) |
sprinkle14 wrote: A similar thing happened to me.
But I pay through an escrow that uses a tax billing service to keep accounts up-to-date. Not only that, but I send EVERY tax bill I receive to my mortgage holder, just to be safe. Turns out the city never added a bill that all of us missed to any of my subsequent statements -- all the "previous quarters" sections showed all taxes paid. When I worked through all the statements, I did see that one quarter went unpaid. But there was absolutely nothing I possibly cound have done different to get it paid. I sent all bills to the escrow trustee and their tax-bill servicer was never told of this bill. Nevertheless, I was stuck for the late fees and interest. This is the sort of nonsense that makes people think Republicans have something worthwhile to say. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.-Theodore Roosevelt, The Kansas City Star, May 7, 1918 |
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MissDimples |
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(04/27/08 06:20 AM) |
This is also the "nonsense" that has the city in financial distress. What a way to run a "business."
Aside from that, one thing corporations and municipalities fail to take into consideration is that people are fallible, forgetful, and distracted. If they want to get paid, they should do the "nudge" thing before it gets out of hand. |
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NightStalker |
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(04/27/08 06:02 PM) |
whatever happenned to posting the delinquents in the newspaper so we all can see who doesn't pay???
oh yeah, the city has NO IDEA who doesn't pay, and the CC wants everything under wraps so they can play the good ol'boy role.
"All of this could be yours... just give me what I want and nobody gets hurt"
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Damon |
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(04/27/08 06:05 PM) |
I wonder about all the unpaid taxes the city is now going after. I bet a lot of it is mistakes or property in Dogtown abandoned long ago.
Damon |
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thevhedgehog |
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(04/28/08 08:56 AM) |
Sorry to hear about your bill, Sprinkle. A similar thing happened to my wife years ago when we were libing down in Beverly. We had just move there from
Gloucester and the auto registration renewal form got lost in the mail due to the move. She was on her way hom and was about a block away from our street when
she was pulled over for having an expired registration. Within minutes, there were 3 cruisers surrounding her and the car (actually it was a big scary Dodge
minivan). They made her tow it to the street, along with a ticket for an expired registration, along with the insurance surcharge .......
Unfortunately, Gabby's "payment schedule with minimal interest" doesn't really work this way. A quick example. Normally, if the bill goes unpaid after 30 days, there's an interest charge tacked on. (I'm not sure what the exact rate is but for this example, let's just use an interest rate of 10% on a property tax bill of $500. _____ Also assume for this example, the property tax doesn't go up (LOL) and stays at $500 / quarter). If the Oct 2006 payment was missed, by the time the the Jan 2007 bill came out, the balance due would be $1050 (Oct $500 + 10% Int $50 + Jan $500). Paying just the normal payment for January 2007 would still leave a balance of $550. Then 10% would be added on top 30 days later so now the unpaid balance is now $605. Doind this all the way through to April 2008 would have the unpaid balance at $885.78 plus the April 2008 prop tax of $500 for a total of $1385.78! Again, I'm sorry you're in this situation. I would look back over your bills to make sure there was no mention of an outstanding balance. If there wasn't, then you may be able to just pay the missed balance and appeal the rising interest fees. If at any point after the missed payment, your bill did include an outstanding balance, you may have to pay the whole charge. How long is the City going to hide behind this "Software Doesn't Work Right" excuse? |
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star squiggle |
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(05/05/08 09:48 AM) |
the dog license extension is still on..
I'd rather laugh with
the sinners than cry with the saints
The sinners are much more fun... |
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Wouldnt it make sense that they (the city) apply the payment you did
pay to the furthest past due??
due in oct.. (oversight missed)
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