[Melanie Irvin]

Please advise if your Council adds all Debt Recovery costs, including Garnishees and Agents Fees to the Ratepayers account. I am aware of Section 550 of the Act, but have talked to many Councils who told me that EVERY cost charged to them by their Debt Collection Agency is added to the debtors assessment.

[Dallas McConnell]

Hi Melanie,

Here at Wollongong we add all costs to the account (less the GST component). From a technical standpoint not all costs may be considered recoverable (i.e legally able to add to the rate payers account), but if it falls into a defence scenario the registrar or the magistrate will normally make an order as to costs that are payable. If that is the case only the costs that the order amount is for should be added.

Happy for you to contact myself direct if you need more information.

Regards,
Dallas

[Author]

Posts