Council Plans Extra Charges To Pay Tax At Post Offices (North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats)

North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats <bedford@bedfordlibdems.org>

Council Plans Extra Charges To Pay Tax At Post Offices

November 4, 2005 10:00 AM

Cllr Christine McHugh

Bedford Borough Council is looking at new plans which could see people charged extra for paying their council tax via the borough's post office network.

Liberal Democrats on the council have slammed the plans as a means of discriminating those in rural areas who have less access to the town hall for payments or are unable to pay by direct debit.

Currently all payment methods are free to use with the council paying the charge for the transaction to be made. The proposal is for direct debit and credit and debit card payments to remain free but post office payments to incur an extra charge of up to £1.65 per payment.

The Liberal Democrats are not only concerned that the move would see extra charges aimed at residents and a reduction in business for local post offices but are also worried that making it harder for residents to make payments could increase the number who fail to make payments adding to costs the council will face in chasing them down.

Speaking on the issue, Cllr Christine McHugh Said:

"Introducing these charges is nothing short of a tax on our rural residents. We should be introducing measures that make it easier to pay council tax to get more people to pay on time, not making it harder. Under these new plans if people want to continue to use their local post office to make their payment they could face a charge of up to £1.65 each time they pay. That's an extra £16:50 over the ten month cycle of council tax payments.

Many of our post offices are already facing major pressures to remain open. This move could prove the death knell for some while for others it's just the news they don't want to hear."

ENDS