Letter Gazette - Charges for CT payments at post offices

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 2nd Apr 2004

Dear Editor,

Hidden in the details of cuts made by the South Hams District Council this year is the decision not to pay the cost of Council Tax payments made through local post offices. In future those who choose this method of payment will be subject to a counter fee set by each post office. This will be as much as £1-45 per transaction which, for the usual 10 payments per year, can mean an extra annual cost of up to £14-50.

People that pay by this method are usually pensioners and the less well off who can ill afford any further burden on their Council Tax payments. The decision is a double whammy in that by encouraging people not to use their local post office this vital service to local communities is put even more at risk. This is another instance of cuts being made that penalise those least able to afford them.

Yours sincerely,

Mike Treleaven