Obstacles to £150 council tax rebate for energy (CTR)

• THE discrepancy between Islington, Camden and Westminster councils with regard to the council tax rebate for energy (CTR) needs to be more widely known. It does not put Islington in a good light.

Although, when entitled, the £150 CTR is automatically credited to direct-debit payers, those who pay by cash suffer unnecessary obstacles.

Islington Council tells cash-payers to download an online claim form, ignoring many cash-payers’ lack of online access and/or lack of printer facilities.

Elsewhere it and other authorities claim that forms have been posted out, as if unaware of the dubious reliability of the post.

The assumption is that people are bound to be aware of their £150 entitlement when, of course, many are not.

When may one apply? Islington says online applications are now closed (undated web page: www.islington.gov.uk/council-tax/council-tax-energy-rebate).

Camden Council speaks of an August 1 deadline and Westminster seems to set no deadline. Why the difference?

Islington Council obviously knows how many cash-payers are entitled to the CTR. Why has it not simply informed them of the reduced amount to pay, and kept their accounts appropriately credited, if they overpay – as, I believe, Westminster Council is doing?

A cynic may think that Islington’s lack of helpfulness is quite deliberate, designed to avoid paying out; and, in practice, discriminating against those most in need.

If transparency and honesty are the order of the day – I am sure Islington and other councils declare that to be so – why not make public how many people who pay by cash apparently will lose the much-needed £150? Better still, why not credit their accounts automatically with the £150 as Westminster is doing?

Of course, maybe Islington intends to do that; if so, why not make that clear and explicit instead of announcing a deadline has been passed and hence causing unnecessary worry?

PETER CAVE, W1