McCann seeks urgent meeting over collection of rate arrears
Published: 14 January, 2009
West Belfast MLA Jennifer McCann has said she will be seeking an urgent meeting with Land & Property Services in relation to the methods by which they are collecting rate arrears.
Ms McCann said;
"While all of us recognise the importance of paying rates to access the services provided by local councils I feel the Land & Property Services are being insensitive to the economic difficulties that people are currently in.
''Over the past week our office has dealt with a number of constituents who have received letters from the Land & Property Service threatening to take them to Court if the full amount of rates that they owe isn't paid within a period of several days.
''This is the first time some of these people have been in rate arrears, and given the current economic climate where people are losing their jobs and are facing financial difficulties, I think it is totally inappropriate to send letters such as these out to people just after Christmas.
''A number of people have seen their annual rate bill double because of the way rates are calculated against the value of your home. People might have bought their homes some time ago and while they might be seen as having assets, they are in fact on low incomes.
I am asking that the Land & Property services reassess the way they are collecting rate arrears and work with people who owe arrears to find the best way for them to pay."
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