rollover Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 A council has come under fire after sending tenants an 'insulting' newsletter telling them to set aside money for court fine, cigarettes, Sky TV and lottery tickets. The newsletter, which includes a reminder to residents that they have to pay their rent and council tax, was slammed by locals in the Sussex town as 'an insult' offering patronising advice. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2965373/Council-tells-tenants-budget-court-fines-cigarettes-cable-TV-alcohol.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainSwing Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
council dweller Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 What is more to the point is why Councils have to put rents up at Inflation busting levels year after year. If they didn't push rents up we`d have no problem paying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyguy Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Part of that is pointing out the obvious to tenants - and there's a thick percentage (both sense) who need stuff s.p.e.l.t. out s.l.o.w.l.y. The main part of it is a make work scheme for the LHA. By their new 'Outreach officer' who probably is related to someone else in the LHA prob. the CEO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
200p Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 How much should I put aside for court fines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vin rouge Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 Which is more non-essential Food, Fuel, Shelter or court fines? Assuming you take the latter as the least essential to pay, the first three will eventually be provided to you free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayo Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 A council has come under fire after sending tenants an 'insulting' newsletter telling them to set aside money for court fine, cigarettes, Sky TV and lottery tickets. The newsletter, which includes a reminder to residents that they have to pay their rent and council tax, was slammed by locals in the Sussex town as 'an insult' offering patronising advice. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2965373/Council-tells-tenants-budget-court-fines-cigarettes-cable-TV-alcohol.html Complete drivel, from such low end bogroll as the original source. Looks like a textbook method for producing a household budget. Many court fines are paid at £x per week these days so would be included like any repayment vehicle. Perhaps if a few more people itemised Sky and the TV Licence separately they might ask why 50% of households pay some pretty incredible sums for Pay TV channels, and yet spend the vast majority of their time watching free to air content... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Save me from the madness! Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 I feel sorry for the council. They've tried to do something to help their tenets and whilst some won't need this help they can just put it in the bin in the same way the unsolicited takeaway leaflet 'implies' they can't cook. Those that are in trouble and trying to do something may find this breakdown useful, and those that are a waste of space at least can't complain the council did nothing to help them. Seems a complete none story to me, but then it is in the DM so situation normal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmax2 Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) I cant see the problem with the tick list provided, looks like any other budgetary statement of income/expenses any sane person would go through. So theres a tickbox for cigarettes, but you dont smoke? What you do, is dont tick it, and move on with your life, not write to a newspaper. Perhaps on the income side, they should put a box called "compensation" because some people seem to think that is part of their fixed income The only way this sort of thing would wind me up (excess expenditure wise) is if it was translated into the 73 offical languages used in the UK (including some variant of Native American Indian only spoken by a tribe of 6 elders, all who died in the 1800's) and even then I wouldnt be personally offended.. Edited February 23, 2015 by madmax2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybong Posted February 23, 2015 Share Posted February 23, 2015 It's a list of approved people and organisations to pay money to. Helping the economy. Bureaucrats/councils work in mysterious ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StainlessSteelCat Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 Seems perfectly fine to me. Otherwise you are saying those most likely to need advice on household budgeting will remember to pay court fees, etc if they have any. It doesn't seem very likely, does it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norseraider Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I feel sorry for the council. They've tried to do something to help their tenets and whilst some won't need this help they can just put it in the bin in the same way the unsolicited takeaway leaflet 'implies' they can't cook. Those that are in trouble and trying to do something may find this breakdown useful, and those that are a waste of space at least can't complain the council did nothing to help them. Seems a complete none story to me, but then it is in the DM so situation normal But... but.. it explicitly says "less (take away)" ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horridbloke Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 (edited) I think I've found the full newsletter at http://www.crawley.gov.uk/pub_livx/groups/webcontent/documents/otherdocs/pub238296.pdf Edit: darn, we've missed the £25 word search competition closing date. Edited February 24, 2015 by Horridbloke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiveinHope Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 (edited) Someone came up with the idea of a newsletter, or thought they should have one And given that electronic media is cheap to circulate, they can make it look substantial even if they have nothing to say. It's just Newsletter Inflation Edited February 24, 2015 by LiveinHope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renting til I die Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 (edited) What is more to the point is why Councils have to put rents up at Inflation busting levels year after year. If they didn't push rents up we`d have no problem paying. Believe me, private landlords can push up rent costs a lot faster! The council are raising above inflation because they are trying to play catch up! Edit: Typing errors! Edited February 26, 2015 by renting til I die Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
council dweller Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 So both social and private have to suffer high rent increases? I`m so glad that I`ll soon arrive in the calmer waters of our benefit culture!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renting til I die Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 So both social and private have to suffer high rent increases? I`m so glad that I`ll soon arrive in the calmer waters of our benefit culture!! I never said that high rent increases above inflation (if you believe inflation figures are correct!) were right. That is how the system appears to be working, at the moment, and I'm sure that I would snap your arm off to pay the rent you are current paying as a council dwelling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
council dweller Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I have paid 5.5% per year for 14/15..and have paid up to 7.5% over the past 10 years. So, I`ve shown you mine so you`ll have to show me yours......you big dog you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wotnocrash Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 I have paid 5.5% per year for 14/15..and have paid up to 7.5% over the past 10 years. So, I`ve shown you mine so you`ll have to show me yours......you big dog you! 5.5% increase on a council rent is still diddly squat though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
council dweller Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Oh! Thank god for that! Is `diddly squat` a term used by your boss to describe your salary increases? Let me guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wotnocrash Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Oh! Thank god for that! Is `diddly squat` a term used by your boss to describe your salary increases? Let me guess. It's certainly the term I use to describe my salary increases Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
council dweller Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Me too, last year I got 1.42%, this year I`ll get nothing, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renting til I die Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Me too, last year I got 1.42%, this year I`ll get nothing, Well, I beat you there, I got a 1.5% wage rise! Regarding rent increases. Since I've been living here, first year I didn't have one (lucky me), 2nd year up 15.1%! LL wanted a 33.5% rise (to get it to the market rate)! I still pay under market but boy was that a big increase. I'm having a good clear out as I'm sure the LL will want another mega raise next year too, as he has just retired and he has time on his hands to be extra greedy! Of course even my starting rent when compared with my sister's, who was lucky enough to get a council place was stratospheric! She also has a increase of a few % every year, although never as high as 7.5% which for a council place seems like a very steep increase! The most important thing about council housing though, is the secure tenancy. The savings on rents is just a bonus! So I can understand you being aggrieved at your continuous rent rises (continuously above inflation and your wages increases, I might add!), but please spare a thought for us poor private tenants who really can be dumped on by private landlords (and believe me, I don't think my situation is nearly as bad as others)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
council dweller Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 As I`ve said on here before, I rented a house in japan from 1992 to 2004. Ours rent didn't go up one single Yen, in fact we saved a couple of months rent as the landlord went bankrupt! Also, my family own a piece of land (agricultural) which is rented out. We haven't had a rent increase for about 2 years. Boo hoo. Council housing goes up EVERY YEAR. and has done so for over 10 years. `Secure tenant` can confirm this. Yes having a secure tenancy is worth it`s weight in gold....kill for it if you get the chance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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