More Uncomfortable Truths...

Hover over the title to open the pdf the link takes you to.

I was researching different species of money as I have heard of some successes where people have turned remittances (aka bills/invoices and the like) into cheques. There is a bit of learning needed beforehand and I will tell you more in a new blog entry when I have validated the details.

What happens is that we receive a bill or invoice and there is a giro/remittance thingy on the bottom. We detach it, fill in the boxes, (let's say the bill is for £200), sign the slip, then we add our own cheque for £200. We put both in an envelope, add a stamp, and send the letter off to say, the Council Tax department. Your local CT office bank the cheques, and send the remittance device to their Chief Accountant. Every now and then, he/she sends them off to the Debt Management Office where the remittance slips are treated just like cash. It is here that the "double-dip" happens. You just paid the bill twice. There is a particular way of filling in the information on the giroslip and I will blog on that when I have tried this for myself. If it works I will tell you, and if it doesn't work, I will also tell you. The beauty of this is that it will cost nothing to try, and no-one ends up in the doo-doo. It requires absolutely zero bravery.

According to the Bills of Exchange Act, there is no reason why it shouldn't work, but, as I am wont to say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Let me eat first. If it tastes nasty I will let you know.

Regular/long time readers will know that I attempted to use another method in the past called A4V or Accepting For Value. It didn't work. It may not be because the method is invalid, but because I made a basic mistake. I sent it to a low level clerk instead of the Head Honcho. However, I won't try it again until I have concrete proof that it works. I'd rather try a variety of ways and then stick with the one that works.

Please note that I will only be trying this with government departments. I will not be trying to avoid paying off my credit card, or any other contract I have entered into knowingly. I reserve this kind of activity purely for things like council tax, income tax, road tax, or maybe even my TV licence. Not "private" stuff.

Now then, I hadn't intended to waffle on about the BoE, I wanted to show you the attached document and the three dozen "factoids" it lists at the bottom of the document. Almost all are referenced to court actions/judgements, Executive Orders, or Papal Bulls. (That should keep Kit happy!). If you don't want to read through the financial stuff just scroll down to page 12 for the factoids.

It lists some fascinating stuff that I hadn't seen before.

Have a look and let me know what you think.

CR.