[AL Bassninja]

Like many people in the UK/across the planet, I am struggling with certain bills every month.  The main one is that wonderful Council Tax.  You know the one that is there to fund and financially support, the Police, your local Council Services, the Fire and Rescue Services etc. In my opinion this tax allegedly does this. 

Now if like me you live in a large city or town, I live in Liverpool NW England/UK. Can you honestly say that the £1000's you've given/been forced to pay, has been worth the standard of services you receive? OK yes the bins are collected weekly, and the road gritters have been out in force since the 'beast of the east' bit the UK.  Some could argue this.

But when the Tory central government headed by PM Theresa 'I can't hold onto VIP Pedophile investigation files' May, decides to reduce funding for councils.  Then where is this money we have to give annually been going?  It increases every year and the illegal wars the UK likes to involve itself in seem to escalate.  Maybe this is one area our hard earned wonga is going too, well not maybe more for sure! And yet its going up again by 6%, WTF?

So what happens if you are struggling to pay? I am as I've said. I consider myself lucky, as I am in full time employment, with a semi decent wage. Nope not in the £30K plus bracket, but a reasonable one if there is such a thing! I don't own a house we rent. My partner has struggled to find work and cannot receive any form of help from the system, due to the not so big wage I earn.  So on one wage we have to pay all our living costs.  This no doubt is the same situation for many. So what do you do?

I contacted the council, explained our situation asked for help. Filled in forms on line, went to the one stop shops, emailed those in the Revenues and Benefits departments.  Basically did everything I was advised to do.  Where did it get me? Nowhere is the answer.  I was advised by my local council to contact the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).  No offence to CAB volunteers BUT regarding Council Tax issues they're not much help, other than sharing a problem with a sympathetic ear. 

I am like many who listen to Richie Allen in that, I agree voting isn't going to change a thing.  It hasn't since I started voting and I'm now 44, not that I've used that 'right' every time there's an election. So in my opinion that's enough evidence to support that. Even with that in mind I went to see my local MP. Well allegedly they're to help right?  Yeah I know, but it is worthwhile meeting these politicians face to face.  It's not the first time I've met my MP, the first time I went with a Tax Fraud Issue. The MP contacted HMRC (Her Majesty's Ripoff C###s), on my behalf.  The MP was basically told to go away. I think the main thing you learn from that is, it's clearly Her Majesty's.

So I explained to the MP my situation, the MP and her aide listened but yet dismissed my claims that the system is corrupt and broken. Well they're going too aren't they?  So what help have they offered? They're going to contact the council for me.  I got to be honest I doubt it will make a blind bit of difference. The council will still waste money on magistrates, who agree that the council can sell the debt to Fascist Organisations known as Bailiffs/debt collector agencies. Who will hound me for money unlike the central bank I cannot just make from thin air. Well I could but that would be fraud right? Now ain't that a peculiar situation?

I'm interested to know how others are trying to work with this tax and how a similar tax is used in other countries across Europe, Canada, the US, across our planet. What are your opinions alternatives, in fact what are the alternatives?

Thanks for taking the time to read this, I look forward to any comments.

Peace

Al Bassninja