[nfb-talk] Fw: City threatens blind woman over unpaid 1-cent bill

[T. Joseph Carter]

I wonder if they accept installments?  *grin*

Joseph

On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 11:27:09AM -0500, Ed Meskys wrote:
>Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 5:13 PM
>Subject: City threatens blind woman over unpaid 1-cent bill
>
>
>City threatens blind woman over unpaid 1-cent bill
>
>November 18, 2008
>
>ATTLEBORO, Mass.—A 74-year-old blind woman was shocked when her
>daughter found a letter from the city saying a lien would be placed
>on her home unless she paid an overdue water bill.
>
>The amount? 1 cent.
>
>Eileen Wilbur told The Sun Chronicle of Attleboro the letter sent her
>blood pressure soaring, and pointed out that stamps cost 42 cents.
>
>City Collector Debora Marcoccio said the letter was among 2,000 sent
>out. A computer automatically prints letters for accounts with an
>overdue balance, and they are not reviewed by staff before being
>mailed, she said.
>
>The letter warned of a lien and a $48 penalty if the overdue bill is
>not paid by Dec. 10. The charge was from the previous fiscal year,
>which ran from July 2007 to July 2008.
>
>"My question is, how come it wasn't paid when the (original) bills
>went out?" Marcoccio said.
>
>Wilbur's daughter, Rose Brederson, who discovered the bill in her
>mother's mail, called the situation "ridiculous." But she said her
>mother, who has lived in the home since 1959, would likely end up
>paying the penny.
>
>------
>
>Information from: The Sun Chronicle, http://www.thesunchronicle.com
>
>
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