641,822@9:25 am
note: the editor and others know to pay the city this bizarre 'fee' that shouldn't even exist in a timely fashion.
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Get it done when that bill shows up in the mail.
Paste it to your fridge, circle a date on the envelope, the due date is in such tiny print that it is shameful.
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Citizens need to do away with this burden as the way cities and towns, not just Medford, play this game is abusive and wrong.
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One of the most deceptive business practices of any city or town is the creepy way that excise tax is collected on your vehicle.
TELL ME WHERE ON THESE PAGES HOW THE CITY EXPLAINS TO YOU WHAT THE PROCESS IS?
1)LOOK HOW VAGUE THIS IS:
When are the payments due for Motor Vehicle Excise?
Payment of the motor vehicle excise is due within 30 days from the date the excise bill is issued.
http://www.medfordma.org/departments/collector/motor-vehicle-taxes/
2)ALSO VAGUE AND NOT SPECIFIC
http://www.medfordma.org/departments/collector/
Mission
The Treasurer/Collector’s Office will provide professional courteous
service to all. We will answer all inquiries in a timely manner. We will
take all necessary steps, allowable by law, to collect on all accounts.
Pay Bills Online
The City of Medford provides a safe and convenient way for you to pay the following bills online:
The treasurer and collector shall act as the treasurer of the city
and shall exercise all the powers and duties of such office and, in
addition thereto, shall collect all accounts due the city pursuant to
M.G.L.A. c. 41, § 38A. The treasurer and collector shall receive,
receipt for, and have the care and custody of the current funds of the
city and pay all drafts and other orders directed to him from the
auditing department.
SO WHERE IS THE HARD INFORMATION ON WHEN THE FIRST DUE DATE IS (the first due date is for people who own vehicles at the start of the year,) and the second and third due dates for people who purchase vehicles during the year.
Why isn't this on the city website?
"We have to keep the lights on" one city official said to me in the hallway after I paid this ridiculous extra burden on citizens.
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DO YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU BUY 2 or 3 vehicles in one year and sell off one or two of them that you've paid excise tax on, that you could be owed monies?
City Hall won't tell you that!
One city informed this writer that "we have hundreds of dollars of monies upstairs."
Here's the punchline to that. If you have figured out that they owe you money, they can take 6-8 weeks to get you YOUR money BACK.
So they will whack you with fees if you don't pay on time after one notice, but will hold your money if you have paid for three different vehicles and sell one or two of them off.
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BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH!
The date of payment for the first round is this month.
If you fail to pay on time after getting only ONE notice, you will be whacked with interest and a five or ten dollar fee.
Fail to pay that second notice, you'll get whacked with a warrant, a $20.00 fee and probably more interest on that.
But City Hall fails to properly spell it out on the city website.
Express Pay for your Excise Tax
https://www1.mcc.net/tvhactive/BillPayerLogin.aspx?TID=LvQL2uPQJNQ8LLsUecwtmcb40pIW9MOwO0FtnYR6imPkDZFGetTRtw==