Following up

[vibrantabyss.livejournal.com]

So, the end state of the cities fine accounting system is that (a) writing "water bill" on the check is NOT sufficient to guarantee the funds go to pay the water bill, (b)  about half of that check went to my 3rd (not due when I paid the check) and 4th quarter (not due, even now) real estate taxes, while unpaid water bill earned the city interest, and (c) they claim state regulations dictate the procedures, so not their fault.

Summary of their response:

They are sorry, it was a wacky edge case, but they are not allowed (by state law) to refund interest charges, or pay interest on a credit kept in one account, while the other account *for the same property* charges me interest.  If I don't like it, I can take it up with the attorney general's office.  Even if I did "waste my time" pursuing it, the most they would have to pay back is 8%.

As it is under $100, not worth fighting city hall.

Comments

[ron_newman]

I suggest bringing this to the attention of the Journal, News, and/or Patch. This should embarrass the city sufficiently to refund your interest charge too, as well as warning other Somerville property owners.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

The city wrongfully giving out parking tickets before the ticketing time in snow emergency resulted in the city saying "we aren't wrong, but just this once, we'll let you go."

It seems shame doesn't work with this city.

[benndragon.livejournal.com]

That's a "face" response to shame, rather than a "guilt" response to shame. But it is a shame response nonetheless, and it was effective - they did what people wanted them to do (forgive the tickets), and they didn't screw it up again after that.

[enveri.livejournal.com]

Agreed. It's the sort of public interest story that alot of news outlets like to run.

[ron_newman]

I just posted a link to this on Denise Taylor's Facebook wall. She was editor of Somerville Patch until last week and now works for Somerville ResiStat.

[lunarcamel.livejournal.com]

You might also hit up Adam at Universal Hub. (http://www.universalhub.com)

[rozasharn.livejournal.com]

I am still baffled by what "procedures" could lead them to apply a check marked 'water bill' to real-estate taxes two quarters ahead. What does a person have to do to make the city process a check rightly?

[balsamicdragon.livejournal.com]

I would encourage you to take it up with the state Attorney General. It takes some of your time, but it brings it to their attention. If they can do something about it, maybe it won't happen to the next person. If they can't, or don't, do anything about it, you can vote the bum out next election :)

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

in case there are any fine city officials watching this spot, THIS is a good part of why people screw the city any chance they get. because they know that the favor will be amply returned. with interest. make some changes, and odds are, we will too.

[stefan62.livejournal.com]

In March we got thumped with a $200 parking ticket (handicap space, with sign obscured by 10-foot-high snowbank) AND a $30 demand+interest on our "late" excise tax payment. After repeated communication with the Tax Dept. and the Mayor's office at City Hall we finally got the demand rescinded. (The tax department had claimed they had not received the check, then mailed it back to us after the due date with the demand notice.)

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

What's the right way to complain to the Attorney General about official misbehavior by a city?

When Arlington charged me $5 to appeal a parking ticket I didn't deserve, which isn't an authorized procedure under the state law for parking appeals, I filed a complaint on the AG's consumer complaints website. I never heard back.