The Household Charge (2 Viewers)

[rettucs]

I didn't know where to post this so I'll post it here.

Whats the story with this? Are we supposed to proactively just go and pay this even though, like some people have admitted to, I may have been ignoring the news for the past year and had no idea such a charge even existed? Or are we going to get some kind of notification in the post saying this is due?

If the former then surely it would be really easy just to plead ignorance and say you were waiting on the bill to arrive?

Apparently 700 people have paid already. THE RECESSION IS OFFICIALLY OVERRRR

 

[magicbastarder]

i don't understand the fuss over this. huge numbers of people (me included) are paying a marginal rate of around 52% and there's talk of revolution over a €100 charge?

i think it's ludicrous that we don't have water metering. i may be alone in that.

 

[rettucs]

the fuss is to do with how inequitable the whole thing is, not with the charge itself.

Its seems the government is now spending all its time coming up with new ways to extract money from us. And that being the case they shouldn't be so lazy about it.

 

[magicbastarder]

i think the big question will be howor if it is passed on to people who are renting.

maybe i should apply for an exemption based on the fact that i spent about 10k on stamp duty when i bought my house, which someone buying now would only have to spend a fraction of that on.

 

[pete]

i think the big question will be howor if it is passed on to people who are renting.

it shouldn't be passed on, but that's not so say landlord's won't increase rents to cover it.

 

[Squiggle]

it shouldn't be passed on, but that's not so say landlord's won't increase rents to cover it.

Or use it as an excuse to increase rents to more than cover it...

 

[GO]

If my rent goes up I'll be homeless in a month.No two ways about it.

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

Is this charge only for the period up to when they start metering or is it to be in addition to the metering? If its the former then I don't see why it shouldn't be passed on to renters as its in the same line of charges as ESB, bins etc (I'm a renter and dont really want to pay it)

 

[pete]

it's in advance of the property tax, not water metering

 

[Squiggle]

Is this charge only for the period up to when they start metering or is it to be in addition to the metering? If its the former then I don't see why it shouldn't be passed on to renters as its in the same line of charges as ESB, bins etc (I'm a renter and dont really want to pay it)

Do you not have to pay your ESB? That would put you in the minority I think. Most renters I know (including me in all of the 8 rental properties I've lived in) have to pay all metered charges (electricity, gas etc.) and standing charges (TV licence, cable, broadband and service charges) themselves. When the bin charges were introduced I know most landlords absorbed them. A lot of apartment complexes made their own waste removal arrangements etc.

 

[niallmc]

it's a lazy tax, the line from the campaign against it is don't pay for now.

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

Do you not have to pay your ESB? That would put you in the minority I think. Most renters I know (including me in all of the 8 rental properties I've lived in) have to pay all metered charges (electricity, gas etc.) and standing charges (TV licence, cable, broadband and service charges) themselves. When the bin charges were introduced I know most landlords absorbed them. A lot of apartment complexes made their own waste removal arrangements etc.

I do pay ESB and the rest, thats why i thought a water charge related thing ought to be paid by renters however pete has clarified it now

 

[RayRay]

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0104/householdcharge.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Let the bears pay the bear tax, i pay the Homer tax... i.e. if you own a house and your renting it out, tough titties, it shouldnt be passed on to the renter IMHO

 

[rettucs]

it's a lazy tax, the line from the campaign against it is don't pay for now.

is it ok to plead ignorance though? Like, if I get a bill through the door I pay it. I don't pay any bills that I don't get through the door and hence might not know about. I mean I could qualify for an exemption. I don't, but I could. Could I just not pay and when they come looking, tell them I assumed I was exempt cos no one sent any bill to me?

Its a ridiculously half-arsed attempt by the government to loosen our holes before they really screw the fuck out of us.

 

[Squiggle]

From a look a the site this charge only applies to property owners, not to tenants. Yes, it is lazy, but as it should also require minimal administration maybe more efficient and cost effective than other possible options?

 

[maims bond]

is it ok to plead ignorance though? Like, if I get a bill through the door I pay it. I don't pay any bills that I don't get through the door and hence might not know about. I mean I could qualify for an exemption. I don't, but I could. Could I just not pay and when they come looking, tell them I assumed I was exempt cos no one sent any bill to me?

Its a ridiculously half-arsed attempt by the government to loosen our holes before they really screw the fuck out of us.

You'll be getting a letter, all households will. That's my information anyway.

 

[rettucs]

You'll be getting a letter, all households will. That's my information anyway.

the FAQ on the website mentions nothing to that affect. But I would be very surprised and somewhat disgusted if there was no formal communication sent.

 

[maims bond]

the FAQ on the website mentions nothing to that affect. But I would be very surprised and somewhat disgusted if there was no formal communication sent.

Well....I work for 'the man' and my information is that all households will be getting a letter notifying them of the charge. They will also be cracking the whip in terms of attachment orders and attempting to rake the fine - and any penalty - back through DSP payments or Revenue. Any campaign against it will need massive support in terms of numbers. Nobody is going to go to jail so media may lose interest if it's just the usual suspects i.e. the socialists who oppose the property tax!

 

[rettucs]

Well....I work for 'the man' and my information is that all households will be getting a letter notifying them of the charge. They will also be cracking the whip in terms of attachment orders and attempting to rake the fine - and any penalty - back through DSP payments or Revenue. Any campaign against it will need massive support in terms of numbers. Nobody is going to go to jail so media may lose interest if it's just the usual suspects i.e. the socialists who oppose the property tax!

cheers for the info. I'll pay it. I'll just wait til the last minute. That'll be my little personal protest that no one will notice

 

[rettucs]

a little over a month to go, still no notification from the authorities that this is due.

less than 1 tenth of households have paid.

This will be interesting