A MATTER OF DISCOUNT.

Northern Advocate, 22 June 1925, Page 6

A MATTER OF DISCOUNT.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —-'fay I ventilate a grievance through the columns of your paper. I have just paid, under protest, the sum of lis Dd to the Borough Council, this being the discount I forfeited through being a few days late with my electric light account in January last, which discount I have designedly neglected to pay since, to see what they would do. Eleven and ninepence on £2 2s'lld for 12 days, works out at just about 820 per c ent, per annum, "and it is only monopolies like gas and electric light purveyors that have the power, why I know, not, to enforce such an iniquitous, though legal, extortion. If a money-lender did the same he would be held up to public execration. It is a matter of forgetfulness only, that is the cause 99 times out of 100 of any business man being late with his payment, nnd I suggested to Mr Grange over twelve months ago that a notice might be inserted in the locals the night before discount day, to remind people of their duty. It would be very interesting to know the amount of forfeited discounts in a year, if Mr Grange could be induced to impart the information. The principal reason why the matter gets forgotten is because there .s absolutely nothing to remind the payer. If it came every month instead of every 12 months, and discount day was the 20th of the month, when bills are usually due, instead of the last day, when no other bills fall due to remind one, there would be fewer defaulters through forgetfulness.

Would it be too much trouble for a member of the Council staff to ring up after 1 p.m. these of iheir customers who have forgotten their obligation to pay, so that they could put through a cheque that night. There probably would not be more than a do/en any time, and a fee of Is would not be out of the Avav for such a service; I mean of 'Course to ring any whose discount came to 2s or over. The amount in some cases must be very considerable, and in any case, it is a matter of irritating annoyance, and a little tactful consideration such as suggested would be appreciated as much as the reverse is deprecated.-—I am, etc.,

R, H. COKEBROOrv. Bank Street, Whangarei, 19.6.'25.