Lawyers collecting overdue municipal rates - what are they entitled to?

B

brucem

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2007
Messages
687
So (long story) I ended up with a rates and taxes bill on a property that I hadn't been aware of for a few years. First I knew of it was a lawyers letter stating I had better sign the attached agreement letter in terms of repayments on a monthly basis. I get that I owe the money, and am busy paying it back as agreed.

But it irks me that this lawyer seems to feel they can keep me in the dark as to how the process works, and simply demand payments, and charge fees as they wish. The questions I have sent on a regular basis:
- you seem to be deducting a collection commission off each payment I make. Is this a standardized amount, and why have I not been informed of it?
- there are multiple R98 "Correspondence etc" amounts - what are these for?
- why are there 2 "Instruksiefooi" amounts upfront?
- why is the municipality charging me legal fees on their account, and you are charging me fees?
- when I ask you the settlement amount, you quote a figure 10% higher than the amount on the bill - why is this?

I would really appreciate it if anyone is in the know on the following:
- what could the answers to the above questions be?
- surely under the CPA they have to ensure I understand the repayment process upfront, or respond to any of my multiple requests?
- is there some sort of ombudsman I can complain to if I feel the process has been unfair or badly handled?
 
ToxicBunny

ToxicBunny

Oi! Leave me out of this...
Joined
Apr 8, 2006
Messages
113,499
brucem said:
So (long story) I ended up with a rates and taxes bill on a property that I hadn't been aware of for a few years. First I knew of it was a lawyers letter stating I had better sign the attached agreement letter in terms of repayments on a monthly basis. I get that I owe the money, and am busy paying it back as agreed.

But it irks me that this lawyer seems to feel they can keep me in the dark as to how the process works, and simply demand payments, and charge fees as they wish. The questions I have sent on a regular basis:
- you seem to be deducting a collection commission off each payment I make. Is this a standardized amount, and why have I not been informed of it?
- there are multiple R98 "Correspondence etc" amounts - what are these for?
- why are there 2 "Instruksiefooi" amounts upfront?
- why is the municipality charging me legal fees on their account, and you are charging me fees?
- when I ask you the settlement amount, you quote a figure 10% higher than the amount on the bill - why is this?

I would really appreciate it if anyone is in the know on the following:
- what could the answers to the above questions be?
- surely under the CPA they have to ensure I understand the repayment process upfront, or respond to any of my multiple requests?
- is there some sort of ombudsman I can complain to if I feel the process has been unfair or badly handled?
Click to expand...

Discuss this directly with the municipality...
Cut the lawyer out of this entirely if you can.
 
O

OHNO

Active Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2011
Messages
65
First :

> I ended up with a rates and taxes bill on a property that I hadn't been aware of for a few years.

How can you not be aware that you had to pay rates and taxes on a property you either own, or rented ? Bottom line, if you had to pay it, do you really think it will just go away.

> lawyers letter stating I had better sign the attached agreement letter in terms of repayments on a monthly basis.

Bottom, no person and no lawyer and no institution can force you to sign anything you do not want to sign, or at the very least know exactly what you are signing. Lawyers that do this for a living have the ability to scare the living daylights out of anyone that does not know how to handle the situation.

The bottom line, if you signed what they put in front of you, indicating you are going to pay, and are going to pay all the fees they are loading on top, bad new friend, you are sunk. You have signed all your rights away.

My best advice in this situation, as soon as possible get this paid off, don't try and pay them off over years or try to drag it out. Try and make a deal to pay it off in one payment to get this behind you.

And then, have a change in how you do finance from here on.

Do not just don't pay bills, and think you can get away with it. You can get away with it, if you have no assets, if you basically have nothing, own nothing, then they can not take anything, but still, even if in that case, if there is a judgement against you from a court, they can simply wait until you have assets and then take them. Bottom line, never simply not pay bills. If you dispute a bill, then you have to take it up immediately and get the bill sorted out.

Second major tip, do not make debt unless for a home, or for a car. Make debt for nothing else, ever. That is the surest way to stay out of trouble. If you owe nobody nothing, then nobody can do anything to you, and you will sleep well at night.
 
B

brucem

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2007
Messages
687
OHNO said:
First :

> I ended up with a rates and taxes bill on a property that I hadn't been aware of for a few years.

How can you not be aware that you had to pay rates and taxes on a property you either own, or rented ? Bottom line, if you had to pay it, do you really think it will just go away.

> lawyers letter stating I had better sign the attached agreement letter in terms of repayments on a monthly basis.

Bottom, no person and no lawyer and no institution can force you to sign anything you do not want to sign, or at the very least know exactly what you are signing. Lawyers that do this for a living have the ability to scare the living daylights out of anyone that does not know how to handle the situation.

The bottom line, if you signed what they put in front of you, indicating you are going to pay, and are going to pay all the fees they are loading on top, bad new friend, you are sunk. You have signed all your rights away.

My best advice in this situation, as soon as possible get this paid off, don't try and pay them off over years or try to drag it out. Try and make a deal to pay it off in one payment to get this behind you.

And then, have a change in how you do finance from here on.

Do not just don't pay bills, and think you can get away with it. You can get away with it, if you have no assets, if you basically have nothing, own nothing, then they can not take anything, but still, even if in that case, if there is a judgement against you from a court, they can simply wait until you have assets and then take them. Bottom line, never simply not pay bills. If you dispute a bill, then you have to take it up immediately and get the bill sorted out.

Second major tip, do not make debt unless for a home, or for a car. Make debt for nothing else, ever. That is the surest way to stay out of trouble. If you owe nobody nothing, then nobody can do anything to you, and you will sleep well at night.
Click to expand...

Thanks dad, but your condescending and presumptuous reply has not answered a single one of my questions.... I'll keep your advice in mind for the next time I buy a house or car or consider debt... Oh wait, both my cars were bought for cash, and my property is paid off. But thanks anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top