What do you think?

[dita]

So you are old! you ring the council to get rid of an old 3 piece.
Yes they will collect free if it is your only items during the Year.
So you are old, live on your own, have noone to help you drag the things outside
so they will collect. If you do not have it stood outside they will not collect as they will
not come inside.
So you are old! you live down a long chipped stoney tenfoot, each week you have to drag your bin onto the
main road, if you do not your bin might not get emptied. Prior notice has to be given if you are infirm, they will then drag it round for you.
So you are old! you saved up for your old age, too much for council tax rebate.
Just think of the many jobs we have to do, recycling, dragging bins around.
What extra do they do cos council tax goes up each year, you pay them for you
doing extra work.Sorry folks just having a

[Victors Mate]

I'm still waiting for a generous Frenchman to send me one of their guillotines together with spare blades.

[Monika]

You are absolutely right, dita, to have a rant at the injustice of it all.

You just missed one other thing:
You are old - who cares?

[Maywalk]

Get an e-mail sent to your local MP Dita.
Tell him exactly what situation you are in and what the council expects.
Its surprising what can be achieved by doing this.

[Rowan]

They just don't care do they.

[dita]

That statement is meant for all of us, I do not live on my own but that is the position if you do, maybe they could be a very elderly couple with no family to help. Here we all muck in as neighboors, I never have to drag our bin because someone else does, then after they have been emptied during the morning I then take all 6 emptied bins back to where they belong.

[mo]

I agree with everything that has been said.

[Anya]

I agree that we pay taxes and council taxes, all our lives and often get bugger-all, in return.

When I was involved with CAB we had lists of charities that offered help. Age Concern sent men and women to help with things like moving furniture, they charged a small fee, or no fee, depending on the situation.

In this area there is also a charity that collects large bulky items, for free. If still serviceable, the items are given to people in need, if not serviceable, they are taken for recycling.

[dita]

Yes! we get bags delivered from various causes to fill and leave for them to collect, trouble is they often do not bother to pick em! up.
Furniture left outside to the elements a few days is not very suitable either for anyone.

[Victors Mate]

Sorry but I think they do care. That is they care about their salaries, their pensions, their expenses, their perception of themselves their oh I give up but yes they do care but not about Jo(e) Public or Jo(e) Pensioner

[dita]

Thanks VM could not put it as well myself, the younowhats.

[Dragon Lady]

A few years ago, our council used to collect bulky items for £10 from a pensioner. However, since then they have changed the rules and the costs have gone up. I have just checked their website and it now says this:

From the 1st April 2009, the service costs £25.85 for 3 bulky items (additional items will be collected for a charge of £6.50 per additional item, up to a maximum of 7 items in total). This fee is reduced to £12.95 for 3 items (£3.25 per additional item) for the people on the following benefits;

* Council Tax benefit
* Local Housing benefit
* Disability Allowance
* Registered students

[Monika]

A few years ago, I rang the local Council and asked them to pick up our old gas cooker.

I had to pay £10 for that service and duly sent it off, then they rang me and told me what day the collection would be.

My husband put it out on the drive near the gate, as instructed. However, some time later, two men walked up the drive asking where was the cooker to be collected and we found that it had gone.

We thought that next time we need something metal to be picked up, we'll just leave it at the bottom of the drive and save ourselves a tenner (possibly more now of course)

[dita]

At least our area is better than some of yours regarding Council charges at the moment, wonder how long for???
Monika that was good, trouble is there are only 42 houses here, could get me for fly tipping. The rag& bone also scrap people were always handy at times, you do not see many of them around now. Come back Steptoe.

[Penny]

Try the locals ads. put in for instance. one 3-piece suite. free to collector. Space needed. You never know, might be lucky. cheers Penny