Ensuring customers are not subject to unnecessary recovery action, additional costs or hardship

The request was successful.

Dear North Lincolnshire Council,

A council taxpayer who owes more than just the current year's liability runs the risk of incurring additional recovery costs through a further application for a liability order if payments which are intended for the current year's liability are allocated by the council's computer to the previous year's liability. This would most likely happen where a non specific payment is made and the computer software is set to automatically allocate these payments to the oldest year's debt.

Councils computer systems have the necessary flexibility to be set to allow non specific payments to be allocated to the arrears or the current year's liability.

I understand that the majority of billing authorities have their computer software set to ensure that their customers are not subject to unnecessary recovery action, additional costs or hardship, i.e. so non specific payments are allocated to the current year's liability.

How does North Lincolnshire Council have its computer software set to deal with non specific payments. Current or oldest year's liability?

Yours faithfully,

Gwyn Worth

customerservice@northlincs.gov.uk, North Lincolnshire Council

Dear Sir/Madam,

I write to confirm receipt of your request for information under section 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which was received on the date shown below and is now being processed. Your request has been given the unique reference number as stated below and you should quote this reference number in all correspondence.

The twenty working day time limit for responding to your request has been activated from the day after the date your request was received. If we are unable to deal with your request within that time limit, you will be contacted to explain the reasons for the delay.

As part of our duty to advise and assist you with your request, should you have any further problems or queries, please use the below address or contact numbers, stating your name, address and reference number.

Local Link Office
Church Square House,
30-40 High Street,
Scunthorpe,
North Lincolnshire,
DN15 6NL

Telephone: 01724 296820
E-Mail: [email address]

Date Received: 09 Oct 2017

Name: Mr Gwyn Worth
Address: CIVIC CENTRE ASHBY ROAD SCUNTHORPE NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE DN16 1AB
Telephone Number:
Mobile Number:
E-Mail Address: [FOI #436746 email]

Reference Number: INF2866225

Details of Request:
Subject: Freedom of Information request - Ensuring customers are not subject to unnecessary recovery action, additional costs or hardship

Dear North Lincolnshire Council,

A council taxpayer who owes more than just the current year's liability runs the risk of incurring additional recovery costs through a further application for a liability order if payments which are intended for the current year's liability are allocated by the council's computer to the previous year's liability. This would most likely happen where a non specific payment is made and the computer software is set to automatically allocate these payments to the oldest year's debt.

Councils computer systems have the necessary flexibility to be set to allow non specific payments to be allocated to the arrears or the current year's liability.

I understand that the majority of billing authorities have their computer software set to ensure that their customers are not subject to unnecessary recovery action, additional costs or hardship, i.e. so non specific payments are allocated to the current year's liability.

How does North Lincolnshire Council have its computer software set to deal with non specific payments. Current or oldest year's liability?

Yours faithfully,

Gwyn Worth

This e-mail expresses the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the view of the Council. Please be aware that anything included in an e-mail may have to be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act and cannot be regarded as confidential. This communication is intended for the addressee(s) only. Please notify the sender if received in error. All Email is monitored and recorded.
Please think before you print- North Lincolnshire Council greening the workplace.

Lucy Mayall (NLBC),

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Worth

 

I refer to your recent Freedom of information Request which was received
on the 9^th October 2017 into North Lincolnshire Council.

 

You have requested information around payment allocation on council tax
accounts, I can confirm that any non-specific payments are allocated to
the oldest liability.

 

I trust this is a satisfactory response, but if you are unhappy about how
we have dealt with your request then please let me know and I will refer
the matter to the council’s [1]Information Complaints Policy. 
Alternatively you can complain by e-mail using the following email
address: [North Lincolnshire Council request email].

 

 

FOI, Financial Systems & Accounting, Northern Lincolnshire Business
Connect

[2]Fin.FOI@nlbusinessconnect

[3]Finance Partners - Copy

 

[4]www.nelincs.gov.uk | [5]www.northlincs.gov.uk

 

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North Lincolnshire Council, North East Lincolnshire Council and Northern Lincolnshire Business Connect
This e-mail and any files transmitted with it contains information from North East Lincolnshire Council, North Lincolnshire Council or Northern Lincolnshire Business Connect which may be privileged or confidential. The information is intended solely for the use of the individual(s) or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient be aware that any processing of this email and its attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please send it back to us, immediately and permanently delete it. Do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or in any attachment.

The North East Lincolnshire Council, North Lincolnshire Council or Northern Lincolnshire Business Connect email system, including emails and their content, may be monitored for security reasons and to ensure compliance with council policy. Emails and attachments may be recorded for the effective operation of the organisation and for other lawful business purposes.

We cannot guarantee that this email or its attachments are virus free or has not been intercepted and amended. We therefore recommend you carry out your own anti-virus checks before opening any email or attachments. North East Lincolnshire Council, North Lincolnshire Council or Northern Lincolnshire Business Connect will not accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this email or its attachments, or any damage or loss caused by computer viruses coming from this email or its attachments.

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References

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2. mailto:Fin.FOI@nlbusinessconnect
4. http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/
5. http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/

Dear Lucy Mayall (NLBC),

Thank you for confirming 'that any non-specific payments are allocated to the oldest liability'.

Would you please confirm whether or not any measures are in place to check that allocating a non-specific (unmatched) payment to the oldest debt in these circumstances would have the consequences of putting the current year's liability also in arrears, and if so, in accordance with R. v Miskin Lower Justices [1953] 1 Q.B. 533, whether the payment would be moved in respect of the current year's account to avoid unnecessary recovery action, additional costs etc.?

Yours sincerely,

Gwyn Worth

customerservice@northlincs.gov.uk, North Lincolnshire Council

Dear Sir/Madam,

I write to confirm receipt of your request for information under section 1(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which was received on the date shown below and is now being processed. Your request has been given the unique reference number as stated below and you should quote this reference number in all correspondence.

The twenty working day time limit for responding to your request has been activated from the day after the date your request was received. If we are unable to deal with your request within that time limit, you will be contacted to explain the reasons for the delay.

As part of our duty to advise and assist you with your request, should you have any further problems or queries, please use the below address or contact numbers, stating your name, address and reference number.

Local Link Office
Church Square House,
30-40 High Street,
Scunthorpe,
North Lincolnshire,
DN15 6NL

Telephone: 01724 296820
E-Mail: [email address]

Date Received: 20 Oct 2017

Name: Mr Gwyn Worth
Address: CIVIC CENTRE ASHBY ROAD SCUNTHORPE NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE DN16 1AB
Telephone Number:
Mobile Number:
E-Mail Address: [FOI #436746 email]

Reference Number: INF2871030

Details of Request:
Subject: Re: INF2866225

Dear Lucy Mayall (NLBC),

Thank you for confirming 'that any non-specific payments are allocated to the oldest liability'.

Would you please confirm whether or not any measures are in place to check that allocating a non-specific (unmatched) payment to the oldest debt in these circumstances would have the consequences of putting the current year's liability also in arrears, and if so, in accordance with R. v Miskin Lower Justices [1953] 1 Q.B. 533, whether the payment would be moved in respect of the current year's account to avoid unnecessary recovery action, additional costs etc.?

Yours sincerely,

Gwyn Worth

This e-mail expresses the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the view of the Council. Please be aware that anything included in an e-mail may have to be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act and cannot be regarded as confidential. This communication is intended for the addressee(s) only. Please notify the sender if received in error. All Email is monitored and recorded.
Please think before you print- North Lincolnshire Council greening the workplace.

1 Attachment

Dear Mr Worth
 
I refer to your recent Freedom of information Request which was received 
on the 20th October 2017 into North Lincolnshire Council.
 
You have requested information around payment allocation on council tax 
accounts. As originally stated, non-specific payments are allocated to
the oldest  liability. If after the payment is made, the customer wishes
to have the  amount allocated to a different liability then they are well
within their  rights to request this before further action is taken.
 
 I trust this is a satisfactory response, but if you are unhappy about how
we have dealt with your request then please let me know and I will refer
the matter to the council’s [1]Information Complaints Policy. 
Alternatively you can complain by e-mail using the following email
address: [2][North Lincolnshire Council request email].
 
 
FOI, Financial Systems & Accounting, Northern Lincolnshire Business
Connect
[3]Fin.FOI@nlbusinessconnect
 
[4]www.nelincs.gov.uk | [5]www.northlincs.gov.uk
 
 
 
 

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P Reduce your environmental footprint, please do not print this
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North Lincolnshire Council, North East Lincolnshire Council and Northern Lincolnshire Business Connect
This e-mail and any files transmitted with it contains information from North East Lincolnshire Council, North Lincolnshire Council or Northern Lincolnshire Business Connect which may be privileged or confidential. The information is intended solely for the use of the individual(s) or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient be aware that any processing of this email and its attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please send it back to us, immediately and permanently delete it. Do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or in any attachment.

The North East Lincolnshire Council, North Lincolnshire Council or Northern Lincolnshire Business Connect email system, including emails and their content, may be monitored for security reasons and to ensure compliance with council policy. Emails and attachments may be recorded for the effective operation of the organisation and for other lawful business purposes.

We cannot guarantee that this email or its attachments are virus free or has not been intercepted and amended. We therefore recommend you carry out your own anti-virus checks before opening any email or attachments. North East Lincolnshire Council, North Lincolnshire Council or Northern Lincolnshire Business Connect will not accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this email or its attachments, or any damage or loss caused by computer viruses coming from this email or its attachments.

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/your-counci...
2. mailto:[North Lincolnshire Council request email]
3. mailto:Fin.FOI@nlbusinessconnect
4. http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/
5. http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/

Dear FIN - FOI,

I consider North Lincolnshire Council has provided the information I requested, however, the purpose of this exercise was to ascertain whether or not the principles surrounding the appropriation of payments were being adhered to.

If no instruction is given at the time of payment, then the council has a duty to allocate payment to the account which it is most beneficial to the debtor to reduce. That would be the current liability if the consequences of allocating payment to the arrears meant that the customer was subject to unnecessary recovery action, additional costs etc.

I understand by the council being unable to confirm that there are measures in place to ensure that unspecified payments are allocated to the account which it is least burdensome for the debtor that the laws surrounding the appropriation of payments are not being complied with. If it appears I have misunderstood anything by what I have stated I would appreciate if you would correct me.

Yours sincerely,

Gwyn Worth

Dear FIN - FOI,

Can I assume by the council not responding that my understanding is correct, i.e that the laws surrounding the appropriation of payments are not being complied with?

Yours sincerely,

Gwyn Worth

Welfare rights left an annotation ()

Ask them again as a direct question. Hopefully you're going to get a better answer with a simpler question.

Gwyn Worth left an annotation ()

Thank you Welfare rights. Any suggestions of what to ask?

Perhaps this?

If a customer made payment which did not match the current year's instalment amount, but exceeded it, and was consequently allocated to a previous year's liability, would the council proceed to enforce the current year's account (as well) or reallocate so much of what was required to bring the current year's account up to date?

Dear FIN - FOI,

Will you please acknowledge receipt of my 20 October 2017 query.

Yours sincerely,

Gwyn Worth

1 Attachment

Good Morning Mr Worth
 
Please see below the email response that was sent through to yourself
around your query originally sent through on the 20th October 2017.
 
I trust this is a satisfactory response, but if you are unhappy about how
we have dealt with your request then please let me know and I will refer
the matter to the council’s [1]Information Complaints Policy. 
Alternatively you can complain by e-mail using the following email
address: [2][North Lincolnshire Council request email].
 
FOI, Financial Systems & Accounting, Northern Lincolnshire Business
Connect
[3]Fin.FOI@nlbusinessconnect
 
[4]www.nelincs.gov.uk | [5]www.northlincs.gov.uk
 
 
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Gwyn Worth [[6]mailto:[FOI #436746 email]]
Sent: 02 February 2018 08:28
To: FIN - FOI
Subject: Re: INF2871030
 
Dear FIN - FOI,
 
Will you please acknowledge receipt of my 20 October 2017 query.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Gwyn Worth
 
-----Original Message-----
 
Dear Mr Worth
 
I refer to your recent Freedom of information Request which was received 
on the 20th October 2017 into North Lincolnshire Council.
 
You have requested information around payment allocation on council tax 
accounts. As originally stated, non-specific payments are allocated to 
the oldest  liability. If after the payment is made, the customer wishes 
to have the  amount allocated to a different liability then they are well 
within their  rights to request this before further action is taken.
 
 I trust this is a satisfactory response, but if you are unhappy about
how  we have dealt with your request then please let me know and I will
refer  the matter to the council’s [1]Information Complaints Policy. 
Alternatively you can complain by e-mail using the following email
address: [2][North Lincolnshire Council request email].
 
 
FOI, Financial Systems & Accounting, Northern Lincolnshire Business 
Connect  [3][7]Fin.FOI@nlbusinessconnect
 
[4][8]www.nelincs.gov.uk | [5][9]www.northlincs.gov.uk
 
 
 
 
 
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North Lincolnshire Council, North East Lincolnshire Council and Northern Lincolnshire Business Connect
This e-mail and any files transmitted with it contains information from North East Lincolnshire Council, North Lincolnshire Council or Northern Lincolnshire Business Connect which may be privileged or confidential. The information is intended solely for the use of the individual(s) or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient be aware that any processing of this email and its attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please send it back to us, immediately and permanently delete it. Do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or in any attachment.

The North East Lincolnshire Council, North Lincolnshire Council or Northern Lincolnshire Business Connect email system, including emails and their content, may be monitored for security reasons and to ensure compliance with council policy. Emails and attachments may be recorded for the effective operation of the organisation and for other lawful business purposes.

We cannot guarantee that this email or its attachments are virus free or has not been intercepted and amended. We therefore recommend you carry out your own anti-virus checks before opening any email or attachments. North East Lincolnshire Council, North Lincolnshire Council or Northern Lincolnshire Business Connect will not accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this email or its attachments, or any damage or loss caused by computer viruses coming from this email or its attachments.

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References

Visible links
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2. mailto:[North Lincolnshire Council request email]
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4. http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/
5. http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/
6. mailto:[FOI #436746 email]
7. mailto:Fin.FOI@nlbusinessconnect
8. http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/
9. http://www.northlincs.gov.uk/
10. mailto:[FOI #436746 email]
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Dear FIN - FOI,

The Council has supplied the information I requested as the purpose was to find out whether or not the principles surrounding the appropriation of payments were being adhered to. What has been provided satisfies me that they are not, so technically the Freedom of Information Act has been complied with despite the outcome indicating the approach is detrimental to the customers of North Lincolnshire Council.

Yours sincerely,

Gwyn Worth