YOUR lead story in the Review (August 7, 09) 'Cash? We don't do that here' reminded me of a similar incident that happened to me in September 1991.
At the time my husband and I were struggling with cash flow problems. In all good faith I went to the palatial building known as the Council Offices to pay my, then, community charge. My payment was made up of a cheque, £20 notes, £1 coins, 50p coins and 50 pence in small change.
This was refused as 'it was not bagged up' but no effort was made to give me any money bags to 'bag' the money.
Like Mr Geoffrey Allen, I asked for someone to help me and waited about 20 minutes in the foyer but no-one came. A spokesman for the council told the Review: 'We have had lengthy correspondence with Mrs Pennock to resolve the matter' and continued 'Mrs Pennock carried a large bag which was thought to contain a lot of loose change. She refused to pay the cheque or notes by themselves and stormed out of the office.' This was totally untrue.
According to Mr Allen a man at the palatial offices told him that he did not make the rules, he just carried them out.
It would seem that the attitude of the council has not changed in 18 years. Cash is still the legal tender of this country.
We appear to have been misled over the Tesco support by councillors and we, that is the council tax payers, are misled by the staff at the palatial building in carrying out the rules of not accepting cash when offered for the council tax.
The council seem to have a policy to be as awkward as possible. Mr Allen is 80 years of age. In 1991 my husband and I were struggling with cash flow, which has now improved due to maturing investments. When are the councillors going to accept that cash is legal tender and have the rules changed? The staff should be there to help not to harass. – Janet J. Pennock, Ruardean Woodside.