Fair Rates Campaign tells rate-payers to cancel direct debits

The Northern Ireland Fair Rates Campaign has outlined their legal protest strategy to delay the introduction of the new capital value system.

The campaign is telling the 260,000 rate-payers who pay by direct debit or standing order to cancel these and pay instead by cheque or in person on a monthly basis to the Rate Collection Agency.

With only three council areas benefiting under the new system this protest action will delay the transfer of data from the old computer system used by the Rates Collection Agency to the new computer system. Rates will still be collected, however, under the old arrangements.

The Assembly has asked the government to delay introduction of the system but they have refused. The campaign says that ratepayers can now delay the system through this type of direct but totally legal action.

Anne Monaghan, Chair of the Campaign, commented: “This is not non-payment. This is changing the method of payment to give the local ratepayer greater control over their bills and finances. Every single rate-payer should also claim under the rate relief scheme and shouldn’t be put off by the forms, which are deliberately obstructive.

“Our politicians have opposed this system, the people oppose it and now is the time to delay its implementation until the Assembly sits, debates and decides on this system and on the inadequate relief measures within.”

(EF/KMcA)