It is possible that the change to our form of democratised dictatorship that we seek can be achieved by peaceful means - and achieved by just saying 'No' to bureaucracy.
Two weeks ago a food bin, one that exhortation encapsulating saving the planet had been used to have the local populace comply with the latest form of eco-lunacy, remained uncollected. Following two telephone calls to West Oxfordshire District Council, where on each occasion I was informed it would be collected the next day, it was not collected until the following Friday.
When making my monthly payment for Council Tax yesterday, I referred to this incident and informed WODC that as I felt certain they would agree it would contravene the 'contract', one in which we had both entered, whereby I should not have to pay for a service which had not been provided, I was deducting the sum of £5.00 from my payment.
This brought forth an almost immediate response informing me that my deduction was not 'allowed' and that I should correct the shortfall forthwith. My reply was to the effect that the only thing I allowed where my finances were concerned, seeing as it was my money, was that I spent it on something that I had been 'offered' and subsequently received.
Hopefully logic will dictate to WODC that court action would be uneconomical to pursue, considering the paltry sum involved; and that this sum will remain 'due' until the end of time - however, as we are talking 'bureaucrat' here, I am not hopeful of such an outcome and am therefore quite prepared to attend court, if that is their intention.
4 comments:
WfW
I to was invited to court by Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council in July.
For the sum of £3,BMBC demanded that I pay for the whole years Council Tax,£80 Council costs and £5 court costs.And that a liability order will be imposed on me.
Stick to your Guns WfW, 'they' will not prevail.
I wrote to the council and court to tell them that I am in Lawful Rebellion, that I had not refused to pay but,they would only receive the money when I decided to pay it.
The upshot is that BMBC called off the court action and have agreed that I may pay as and when I choose,not when they demand. A good result I think.
Chipping them for small amounts is quite rewarding because its just not economic to pursue you.
I habitually pay £10 short on my council tax each year and am always threatened but never prosecuted.
Is there not (somewhere) a form of contract which you can refer to? If our evening paper doesn't get delivered I just phone the newsagent, and they dock it from the bill.
NC: On the pay when I am ready to aspect - yup did that earlier this year when the CT demands were late being sent out and then also had enclosed a threatening letter demanding immediate payment or else..
Saot: Hopefully they will not go down the court route in view of the amount but, hey we talking 'crats here......
Anyway, if they do I am still not paying purely on the point of failure to deliver a service for which they wish to exact payment...
md: Don't know actually, not being a lawyer. I woulld have thought there may be a case to state that an implied contract existed, in that a council states rubbish will be collected and then presents a bill for the cost.....?
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