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Opinion: Melville should get it right first time

Mary Edwards, MelvilleMelville Gazette

THE City of Melville made an error with the invoices for underground power when it was installed for Melville South Ratepayers and we had to pay for their mistake.

In any business, organisation, service or industry, the customer pays the bill in full then the transaction is ended.

It would be ludicrous to be contacted months later by any of the above providers and told to pay more than the asked for price because a mistake had been made.

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So why is the City of Melville different from any of these?

I am of the opinion that what has been done is wrong and will continue to complain about this. It is wrong.

To add insult to injury, there is no redress for ordinary ratepayers.

I have contacted various agencies in an attempt to right the wrong, from the senior accountant who admitted making the mistake, my local councillor, through to Citizens Advice, Local Government Office, local MP, Ombudsman and the State Administrative Tribunal.

They all passed me on to others. One local government officer gave me a small lecture on democracy.

Well it should work both ways, but if you are an ordinary ratepayer forget it.

We do however have a voice in elections – council, state and federal.

I would urge anyone to use their vote in the upcoming local council elections and try to elect people who have integrity, honesty and a willingness to stand up for what is right.

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