Dallas McConnell
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Hi Emma,
We are very similar here in the gong as to your approach.
We have had recovery action on hold during this time (we also stopped outbound calls).
I also intend to recommence recovery action in the new year (pending approval from executive).
The advice from our General Counsel is under 747B, it states Council should “consider” the steps required, which doesnt directly prohibit you from taking recovery action and our normal recovery process takes in the recomendations from 747B.
Its going to be an interesting time in the recovery space for a near future.
Regards,
DallasHi Ian,
We are similar to Michael at Shoalhaven.
We have it run through PML. Positives are the registrations are verified every time we do a notice run so you are confident its going to the right person. Negatives are if we move print house everyone would need to register again.We have had email for about 2 years and are at 7% uptake
we have had Bpay view nearly twice as long and are at 4% uptake
We also have sms capabilities and 5.1% uptake for that.We have included flyers about the service with our notice and we have a banner at the bottom of our emails with a hyperlink to the website to register for emailing of notices.
Given the current costs and length of time its taking to deliver mail, its also a benefit for the ratepayer they receive on day of notice release.
Let me know if you need anything else.
Regards,
DallasThanks for the information, and thanks to those that contacted me directly.
Ill keep you posted with what happens here but im feeling like its inevitable.
Regards,
DallasHi Katie,
We rolled out a spreadsheet format, though ultimately we haven’t had much take up from the real estate agents. Effectively we contacted approximately 80 different real estate agents that manage at least 20 properties each in our LGA to explain the process. We initially had around 10 agencies opt in, which they receive a spread sheet with the properties they manage and the amount due for that instalment. They are supposed to enter the amount they are paying in the sheet. They send it back and make the payment to our bank account and the spread sheet imports in for receipting.
Issues we had is that they put other charges (sundry debtor) charges which meant the sheet didn’t balance and transfer payments from rates to debtors. The take up has steadily declined over the past 12 months and we now only have about 3 that use it each quarter.
The other issue we now have is they have our bank account details, so the estate agents pay to our bank account and don’t send a remittance or complete the spread sheet and return it which causes issues for our banking team.
We haven’t got Bpay batch off the ground yet but most of our real estates pay either Bpay or cheque.
Happy to talk further if required.
March 9, 2018 at 11:53 am in reply to: Individual Costs entered on Rate Account for Debt Recovery #18979Hi Jason,
Can confirm here at Wollongong we take the same approach as James from Cessnock.
Regards,
DallasHi Jenita,
We currently don’t explore this option for Writ on Title, to be honest I don’t understand enough of the process to weigh up the pro’s and cons (and costs) of this option versus going through the costly process to bankrupt an individual. We do currently do Sale of land also, but our process is continually changing with our learning’s after each auction. Happy to talk further if you need and I might do some research into the Writ on title.
Hi James,
My experience with the sheriffs office is a very sceptical one. I understand in Western Australia Baycorp (I believe) bought out the sheriffs department some years ago and privatised it with good results. I have heard it may be privatised across the Country.
I have zero faith in the writ on property process, to the point I had a meeting with the head of the sheriff’s department here in Wollongong, and he advised the sheriffs are now told to make an assessment themselves on the goods value and if they don’t believe they will sell then to put it down as a non-seizure. I have plenty of horror stories regarding this process since I have moved to Local Government a few years ago I can share offline.
Hi Mchelle,
As Tracey advised our current Policy is available in the link, if you have any questions with it let me know? Its pretty straight forward for the most part but did introduce some oddities with directors guarantees for tipping accounts at our waste site.
In relation to application and certificates we turned off the function of requesting an invoice nearly 12 months ago and made people pay up front with a credit card. Negates the need for reconciliations and debt recovery, highly recommend it if your able.
Happy for you to contact myself direct if you have any questions (02 4227 7441).
Regards,
DallasHi 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,
DallasHi Cherie,
We increased ours from $500 to $1000. Reason for this is minimum amount incurred in legal fees is almost $500, our debt recovery and hardship committee did not feel it was fair to double the outstanding amount in costs owed by the rate payer.
Ours currently does not matter how many instalments it is overdue.Regards,
DallasHi Tim,
Your correct, the bank is happy to jag any additional funds it can and may not ultimately end up being liable for. The right thing to do is to cease the garnishee order against the previous owner of the property. I believe from a legal stand point, if they disputed the funds taken after the bank became mortgagee in possession, you may have to return them anyway.
House always winsCheers,
DallasHi Andrea,
1) Our Council policy stipulates that we will update a customers credit file with the major credit reporting agencies in Australia to paid once the judgment debt has been paid in full (e.g Veda advantage), as such we will only process consent orders if the judgment has been obtained due to a Council error in process e.g. customer requested mailing update change but not processed correctly on Council’s end.
2) as we will only process a consent order due to a Council error we do not charge for it
3) the reason why we don’t process a consent order once the Judgment debt has been paid, is because it is not a true representation of a persons financial situation. After it is removed it is like it never existed, any form of credit they apply for from then will be viewed differently from a risk perspective on the financial institution side.
4) we do not issue NOD, the only impact this has on the credit file is updates the status of the file to discontinued and as such has no real impact for any future loans.Hope this helps
Regards,
DallasHi Linda,
Simone is correct, as far as I understand it interest can only be charged to a sundry debtor after Judgment is obtained or unless it is stipulated in terms and conditions of the contract. Here at Wollongong we are rolling out a late payment fee on sundry debtor invoices as of 1st July 2016, which was adopted as part of our fees and charges for 16/17Good Morning Lisa,
We have recently changed our process due to one of our funeral directors not wanting to carry the plot fee charge. Previously we invoiced the funeral director, and our charges formed part of the overall invoice from the funeral director to the signatory on the agreement with the funeral parlour. H Parsons recently advised it was leaving them out of pocket when they were unpaid yet Council was always having the plot fees paid up front by them. As such with that in mind, we now invoice the family direct (a messy process where the grieving family have to pay part of the costs with the funeral director and also come to Council to pay the rest).We currently advise the family that costs to Council needs to be paid up front, preferably 48 hours before the service (can be difficult with people from various religions). This process has been in place now for about 6 months and have had everyone pay in advance so far.
The above covers off on the actual plot fee which for us is by far the largest charge (can range from 3k-7k depending on which cemetery they want to be buried in). As for the plaques etc, we do not actually order those to be made until payment has been received at Council.
Hope this gives a bit of guidance but happy to take a call to discuss further if required?
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