MELTON residents facing financial difficulty are being urged to seek help immediately if they are unable to pay their council rates.
Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre principal solicitor Khanh Nguyen said he had approached the council to ask that the not-for-profit community legal centre be mentioned in initial letters of demand when residents are notified of their arrears. He said he was surprised at the lack of co-operation he encountered.
As reported by the Weekly, legal experts last month urged Melton Council to review its hardship policy, after claiming it is among the councils most likely to sue residents for unpaid rates.
“When council sends a letter of demand to the ratepayer . . . they should tell the ratepayer to contact a community legal centre for free legal advice,” Mr Nguyen said. “[I was told the] ratepayers should contact council instead.” Many people were unaware of their legal rights and obligations, he said.
“There are also those who do not read or write English. I am at a loss as to why council would . . . [suggest] ratepayers getting legal advice is a negative thing.”
Melton’s general manager of corporate services Peter Bean said the council was reviewing its rates and charges processes. That included an “alternative way of engaging with ratepayers” as well as referral to legal support agencies “who may be able to further assist ratepayers”.
Mr Bean said the council took legal action on accounts more than $750 in arrears or if ratepayers were two or more instalments behind. Any legal costs incurred by the council are recovered through the rates collection process.
Chief executive Kel Tori said the council usually collected about 95 per cent of total rates.
To contact the legal centre, phone 8312 2000 or go to communitywest.org.au.
