Council tax rebanding continued...

[anneed]

Further to my earlier post about getting a nice windfall because my house had been put into a lower band.

I thought I might get a letter from Southampton City Council about it but I didn't expect to get 17! Yes, there were 17 separate letters on my doormat today, a different one for each year I have been at my present address.

I rang them up and asked why they couldn't have put all the information in one letter - or at least one envelope. 'That's the way we have to do it' was the reply. I said this seemed a crazy waste of taxpayers' money. 'I'm sorry you feel that way, madam.'

The Echo newsdesk thought this was worth a story so this afternoon I was being photographed holding my clutch of letters and a reporter is on the case.

[Andrea S]

Anneed I have had to laugh at that. Typical of local councils, following everything the rule book says.

[Dancing Queen]

Beggars belief

[Manoverboard]

" We have been doing it this way for the past 30 years " ... springs to mind

.... but if we had anybody working here with even half a brain we would have found a more efficient way yonks ago, never mind it's not our money

[jay-ell71]

It's the "common sense" syndrome….. there isn't any.

[david63]

There is another possibility which is that for the few instances in which this happens it is cheaper to allow multiple letters to be sent out than the cost involved in changing the computer system.

[jacksparrow]

If they are computer generated then they might not have been printed off in a run but in year order….. (has someone suggested this already? if so sorry)

[Manoverboard]

Probably so JS, ie one letter per year of refund entitlement since the original or amended valuation was done and each Tax Year requires it's own letter of notification.

Simples

[Meg 50]

I spose a letter a year is for tax records purposes.

but why not in one envelope?

[Manoverboard]

I spose a letter a year is for tax records purposes.

but why not in one envelope?

Thinking about it ... it will probably be for Council Audit purposes ?

[david63]

... but why not in one envelope?

Probably because they use an automated mailing system, either "in house" or outsourced, and it would be too costly if not well neigh impractical to extract them - assuming that somebody was aware that were multiple letters for one address in that mailing run.

It really comes down to a "no win" situation whichever way you want to look at it.

[Romig1]

... but why not in one envelope?

Probably because they use an automated mailing system, either "in house" or outsourced, and it would be too costly if not well neigh impractical to extract them - assuming that somebody was aware that were multiple letters for one address in that mailing run.

It really comes down to a "no win" situation whichever way you want to look at it.

Apart from the OP of course.....anneed certainly won!