Silently Cancelled My Payments, Then Issued Fines
Last year, I updated the ownership structure of my properties (still owned by me), with no changes to my bank account or the direct debit details.
Unbeknownst to me, Auckland Council decided to cancel my automatic payments—without any notification whatsoever. No email, no letter, no alert.
The result? Significant fines slapped onto my account by their system, instantly and automatically.
But reversing those fines? That’s a bureaucratic nightmare. You have to jump through hoops, file requests, and wait endlessly - all for something that wasn’t your fault to begin with.
Council’s system is quick to punish but painfully slow to correct. I’m still stuck trying to get it resolved.
Feels less like public service and more like a power move for revenue. Shame there’s no alternative.