Pay now, ask questions later

Dear editor: Recently an issue arose with the Canada Revenue Agency that smacks of negative billing.

On Dec. 21, I received a notice of reassessment. In it I was instructed to pay an additional $180.02. Normally I would just go ahead and pay it, but on this occasion it irked me because of the time of year – just before Christmas – and, as a retired person, do not have much extra cash laying around.

So upon closer inspection of this document I find that it was mailed on Dec. 14 and in the total of $180.02 is an arrears penalty of $5.54 assessed to the date of this notice.

It also stated that I can avoid more interest charges if I pay by Jan. 3, 2018. My question is: How can I be assessed a penalty if I haven't had the opportunity to pay it?

I immediately started phoning, but the message was all lines were busy and I should call back later.

I finally got through on Dec. 27 by calling a completely different number than the one specified on the document At that time I spoke with an employee whose ID number was 203974PAC. When I asked why I was being penalized the $5.54, I was told that's just the way it's done.

Canada has laws against negative billing. So why doesn't it apply to all businesses and services?

I don't care about the $5.54. What I do care about is how long this has been going on and how many other people this has happened to.

The government has been looking for ways to collect more taxes. Is this one of them? If it is, it's just not right, and I encourage all Canadians to get off their hands and put an end to this thievery by contacting their member of Parliament. Gary Vallette

Oliver