Penalty letter ARC 'bullying'

By BERNARD ORSMAN

The Auckland Regional Council has been accused of using bullying tactics to scare people into paying overdue rates.

A letter sent to thousands of ratepayers who have not paid their rates says a 10 per cent penalty has been added to their outstanding rates and contains a reminder, in bold letters, to "please pay within fourteen days".

The letter does not tell ratepayers they are not obliged to pay within 14 days and legal action for unpaid rates cannot start until four months after the due date of payment. This is December 7 at the earliest for Rodney and North Shore ratepayers.

Clyde Scott, of Birkenhead, who has been hit with a 10 per cent penalty, said the letter showed an arrogant, high-handed attitude that implied a further penalty if people did not pay within 14 days.

"The ARC don't appear to care because they are not even attempting to mend any fences with ratepayers. It's their way or the highway," Mr Scott said.

Regional Ratepayers Rebellion spokesman David Thornton said the ARC was using bullying tactics to force people into paying when it had no legal grounds to demand payment within 14 days. He complained to ARC chairwoman Gwen Bull.

In a letter to Mr Thornton, Mrs Bull said the council was not demanding payment within 14 days but reminding ratepayers that there was a due process to be followed for unpaid rates.

No further action would be taken if the rates were paid within 14 days, but the ARC would continue action if the rates were unpaid, she said.

Mrs Bull said the ARC would send ratepayers three letters as reminders before starting any formal proceedings.

The ARC had a range of options available to people experiencing genuine difficulty paying their rates bill. They should ring the rates information line on 366-2000 and select option 3 to discuss options to clear the debt, she said.

An ARC spokesman said the number of unpaid bills to receive a 10 per cent penalty would be available at Monday's council meeting.

Eighteen per cent of ratepayers in North Shore and Rodney, 24 per cent in Waitakere and most in Manukau have been penalised for missing the due date.

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