Government sending their goons door to door!

jay-me · 24-03-2012 06:54AM #1

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/council-staff-to-knock-on-doors-for-100-house-charge-3060116.html

ENVIRONMENT Minister Phil Hogan has ordered city and county councils to set up teams of staff to call to the homes of people who refuse to pay the €100 household charge.

In an attempt to increase pressure on the 1.3 million households that have yet to cough up, Mr Hogan has instructed councils to create so-called "household charge collection teams" and begin targeting offenders from Monday week, the Irish Independent has learned.

The councils will have to redeploy hundreds of staff to undertake the massive clampdown -- but it is unclear how this will work.

Thousands of council staff have left in recent years, meaning that workers are often assuming a number of extra responsibilities to fill gaps in services.

The Government has not allocated extra funding to employ workers on a part-time basis, and figures published last night suggested that hundreds of thousands of house visits are likely to be needed.

Just 328,000 of the 1.6 million households required to pay the charge by next Saturday (March 31) have registered, the Department of the Environment said.

Thousands of people are expected to attend a rally against the tax at the National Stadium in Dublin today, with at least 15 TDs and a number of trade unions advocating mass non-payment.
...

So now that we know if some goon we don't know calls to the door randomly we don't answer... And if we do answer what are they going to say? Can I have 100 euro please?... Eh no you can't I don't have it sorry....

Absolute disgrace!!! Probably cost more to have said goons doing this instead of whatever else it is they usually do...

Arnold Layne · 24-03-2012 07:01AM

Are they going to look for the 10 euro fine as well? I have six months to pay that, if I decide to pay.

I have a right to defend my property and will exercise it, if these people come calling.

Atlantis50 · 24-03-2012 07:04AM

Arnold Layne wrote: »

Are they going to look for the 10 euro fine as well? I have six months to pay that, if I decide to pay.

I have a right to defend my property and will exercise it, if these people come calling.

Meaning what? Attacking council workers who call to your door?

meoklmrk91 · 24-03-2012 07:13AM

Arnold Layne wrote: »

Are they going to look for the 10 euro fine as well? I have six months to pay that, if I decide to pay.

I have a right to defend my property and will exercise it, if these people come calling.

Defend your property from who?, innocent council workers who are being forced to do the dirty work of Phil Hogan and his cronies.

YeatsCounty · 24-03-2012 08:12AM

From the original article wrote:

They will not wear uniforms but will have to carry and produce photo identification.
.......
Come April 2, local authorities will start knocking on doors.

Yeah.....even with the required ID, this is like the friggin' Bat Signal for con men & small time criminals all over the country.

crazygeryy · 24-03-2012 08:18AM

Arnold Layne wrote: »

Are they going to look for the 10 euro fine as well? I have six months to pay that, if I decide to pay.

I have a right to defend my property and will exercise it, if these people come calling.

Jeez arnold that's a bit extreme isn't it.they are not coming to take your kids away.

In through the nose and out through the mouth.
10 times.

nkay1985 · 24-03-2012 08:24AM

This is a joke. I'll quite happily delay any fcuker who comes to my door to try to get me to pay this ridiculous tax. It's just another step up in the government's attempts to frighten people as they're getting very scared at the numbers not registering. I can't imagine Phil Hogan will be very popular anywhere he shows his face.

This also begs the question of what the likes of Waterford City Council do, seeing as the council passed a motion opposing the Household Charge.

Jesus Wept · 24-03-2012 08:35AM

They are going to call on a lot of people who are renting. If they call more than once they will be told to kindly **** off.

But yes, even the fact they have suggested this makes it open season for con men. Lock up your old people.

Wibbs · 24-03-2012 08:43AM

I'll greet them politely, politely refuse to answer their questions and politely close my door in their faces. Imagine some pensioner living on their own getting an "official" visit? And before someone starts mewling about the "fooking pensioners", you'll be one one day, they've paid a lifetime of tax and a lot of the ones on their own are living in fear as it is.

YeatsCounty wrote:

Yeah.....even with the required ID, this is like the friggin' Bat Signal for con men & small time criminals all over the country.

Bingo YC. As expected the usual swivel eyed gombeens haven't really thought this one through

The council can fcuk right off pulling this intimidation bullshít.

And this is coming from someone much more on the pay it side of the argument, but some of the tactics they're pulling of late do not sit well with me. Oh I'll pay(unless they pull more BS), but now they're gonna have to spend time and money to get every red cent out of me.

Answer them better to streamline the councils and improve the sometimes(more like ofttimes)farcical waste* associated with far too many of them.

*A mates brother was on the accountancy/book keeping team for a large Dublin council that shall remain nameless and you would not believe some of it. No I'm serious, you really wouldn't.

DarkJager · 24-03-2012 08:50AM

I won't be intimidated by that fat arrogant bastard or his goons. If they do call to my door, they'll get 10 seconds to **** off before I treat them the same as any intruder.

latenia · 24-03-2012 08:54AM

So they're going to pick random people from their staff with no authority and no legal status and send them on a fishing mission in a pathetic attempt to intimidate people. This will end up costing them far more in overtime and expenses than it brings in. How exactly are they going to bring 1.3 million people to court?
FWIW 1,350 houses' 'charge' will be required to pay Bertie Ahern's basic pension this year.

pickarooney · 24-03-2012 08:55AM

Wibbs wrote: »

Bingo YC. As expected the usual swivel eyed gombeens haven't really thought this one through

Poetry!

JoeGil · 24-03-2012 09:00AM

Just pay your tax on time and you won't need to get worked up about anybody knocking on your door.

Tomk1 · 24-03-2012 09:04AM

Yesterday Taoiseach Enda Kenny urged homeowners to pay, saying it was a "reasonable contribution" to help fund local services and the charges were lower than in the UK, where people paid up to €100 a month in council tax.

"This is a €2 charge per week and it's important that people understand that this has to be paid as a contribution toward providing services for people," he said.

Once you can get people to pay for something and they accept it, then you can increase it.

errrm what about the bin charges and proposed water tax. Also isn't it about the bailout package nothing todo with local-gov, another also what has it to do with the dept of environment?

I've had no problem with paying, but now after hearing this, that they what to pay people to go door to door and threaten house-holders with intimidating fines, sounds like some monarchy 18th century landload thing, if you can't pay you get fined, can't pay that, then what? jail or take your property.

Just scrap this whole idea, as it's beginning to sound like a real farce. I suppose it won't be the local councillors going door to door.

latenia · 24-03-2012 09:05AM

JoeGil wrote: »

Just pay your tax on time and you won't need to get worked up about anybody knocking on your door.

Maybe you'll be a bit more concerned in 5 years time when they'll be demanding €1500 instead of €100.

JoeGil · 24-03-2012 09:16AM

latenia wrote: »

Maybe you'll be a bit more concerned in 5 years time when they'll be demanding €1500 instead of €100.

Nobody can predict what if anything the charge will be in five years time.
However I also cannot expect to live off the fat of the land today for free and have a future generation pay of these debts in 5 or 10 years time.

DarkJager · 24-03-2012 09:17AM

JoeGil wrote: »

Nobody can predict what if anything the charge will be in five years time.
However I also cannot expect to live off the fat of the land today for free and have a future generation pay of these debts in 5 or 10 years time.

These debts are not ours.

JoeGil · 24-03-2012 09:23AM

DarkJager wrote: »

These debts are not ours.

If I avail of services and don't pay for them they become debts. They are my debts unless I don't pay them and pass them on to somebody else.

24-03-2012 09:26AM

Hired goons?

bbam · 24-03-2012 09:31AM

latenia wrote: »

Maybe you'll be a bit more concerned in 5 years time when they'll be demanding €1500 instead of €100.

As you will too when your paying the fines on five years of unpaid tax at up to €1500. People are digging themselves into a big hole if they leave this unpaid for a number of years.

Show Time · 24-03-2012 09:31AM

Oh please please please let some poor sap be silly enough to knock on my door looking for the money.

mattjack · 24-03-2012 09:35AM

Hopefully they'll have lawnmowers to cut the green across from my house,equipment to clear drains and some rat catchers with them.All these little chores need to be done in my estate.

bbam · 24-03-2012 09:35AM

Show Time wrote: »

Oh please please please let some poor sap be silly enough to knock on my door looking for the money.

In fairness these guys are not to blame and are being sent out, just doing their jobs. If they are sent out to knock on doors they can't really refuse.
Abusing them over the tax is just showing your ignorance of how the system works. Your frustration should be directed towards government rather than a low level council worker who has no control over it and is just being sent out to do their jobs. Most probably won't want to be out getting crap shouted at them but have no choice.

JoeGil · 24-03-2012 09:39AM

mattjack wrote: »

Hopefully they'll have lawnmowers to cut the green across from my house,equipment to clear drains and some rat catchers with them.All these little chores need to be done in my estate.

The services that are being currently provided are at a level funded by € 100 per annum. If you want a higher level of services you will need to discuss the possibility of paying a higher annual charge with your local representative.

sioda · 24-03-2012 09:43AM

JoeGil wrote: »

If I avail of services and don't pay for them they become debts. They are my debts unless I don't pay them and pass them on to somebody else.

Nope these are not your debts these are debts run up by useless moronic councillors. Here in Limerick city the ex city manager has come out and said that the tax here will just be used to pay off existing debts and will not be used on ANY new services so Feic that.

Wibbs · 24-03-2012 09:43AM

bbam wrote: »

As you will too when your paying the fines on five years of unpaid tax at up to €1500. People are digging themselves into a big hole if they leave this unpaid for a number of years.

Fcuk it I'm willing to pay it, so long as they have to fight for every fcuking cent they get. I'm just tired of this shíte. I'm tired of the "ah sure roll over" attitude of far too many in this country when you're effectively paying for others mistakes. I'm tired of the "all hands to the tiller" bullshít we're been fed when few have a clue where to turn said tiller. I'm really fcuking tired of seeing those who would have a clue not being consulted. I'm sooo tired of the gargantuan waste of resources across the board while at the same time they're looking for more good money to throw after the bad. Fúck em and the horse mangy peat stained donkey they rode in on.

mattjack · 24-03-2012 09:44AM

JoeGil wrote: »

The services that are being currently provided are at a level funded by € 100 per annum. If you want a higher level of services you will need to discuss the possibility of paying a higher annual charge with your local representative.

I am living in an estate handed over to a council years ago.I haver never seen any council workers in the estate.They certainly don't maintain any of the green spaces,refused to come out after an out break of rats, (getting into houses and back gardens) and ignore rainwater gullys flooded over.

Wibbs · 24-03-2012 09:46AM

JoeGil wrote: »

The services that are being currently provided are at a level funded by € 100 per annum. If you want a higher level of services you will need to discuss the possibility of paying a higher annual charge with your local representative.

You actually believe this? Good zombie Jayzuz.

nkay1985 · 24-03-2012 09:46AM

JoeGil wrote: »

The services that are being currently provided are at a level funded by € 100 per annum. If you want a higher level of services you will need to discuss the possibility of paying a higher annual charge with your local representative.

How were those services provided last year Joe? And the year before? And every year before where there's not been a household charge?

You're either very naive or have a big old spoon in your hand stirring up the pot.

JoeGil · 24-03-2012 09:53AM

mattjack wrote: »

I am living in an estate handed over to a council years ago.I haver never seen any council workers in the estate.They certainly don't maintain any of the green spaces,refused to come out after an out break of rats, (getting into houses and back gardens) and ignore rainwater gullys flooded over.

If you are not receiving any services then I agree you have a valid point to raise with your county council.
I live in a small village and between council workers and people on employment schemes there are at least 6 people maintaining services for the village and surrounding areas every day.

phill106 · 24-03-2012 09:53AM

I hope i know when they are coming, tempted to answer the door buck naked...

Sorry government people, no money for clothes!

I bet the people doing the walk around will claim overtime, travel expenses, shoe expenses, need a new biro expense, steak dinner expenses etc etc.
Will cost more money to collect then they can receive.

Government sending their goons door to door!

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