"Death isn't the handicap it used to be" - not a line from a comedy, apparently.

 

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Some while ago, I wrote a blog about some jobsworths over in Lambeth Council, London (click here for the original post). These petty officials were seemingly doing their very best to hinder an already severely handicapped and elderly gentleman in his attempts to get out and about.

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Now, it would appear that Lewisham Council (also London) felt a little left out of things and decided to make their own little presence felt a touch more keenly. Again, I will type out the article verbatim:

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A lesson from Lewisham Council in how to handle the bereaved.

Earlier this year, Cyril Dadson, 92, a resident of sheltered accommodation run by Lewisham Council, died. His son Robin, who lives in Devon, quickly sorted out [Cyril's] flat's keys to the council. But a couple of months later, Dadson Jnr received a letter addressed to "Mr Cyril Dadson - deceased". It demanded rent for a period after the keys had been handed back to the council.

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When Robin Dadson pointed out that the letter was clearly a mistake, the council apologised. Several weeks passed, then more letters arrived in Devon - this time demanding unpaid council tax for his late father's home. Mr Dadson contacted Lewisham again and reminded them that his disabled father had been exempt from council tax. This did not stop the council from sending him a further letter, informing him that "the money was due, as although exempt from council tax whilst alive, he became liable once dead".

Glad that's sorted out.

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In other words, the economy has now become that bad local councils are trying to tax us for being dead.

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Thanks again to Private Eye for bringing this to light.