LETTERS

Efficient lockbox?

Posted 8/7/14

To the Editor:

I would like to thank City Treasurer and Interim Tax Collector David Olsen and City Finance Director Ernest Zmyslinski for providing me with a much-needed laugh or two with their …

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LETTERS

Efficient lockbox?

Posted

To the Editor:

I would like to thank City Treasurer and Interim Tax Collector David Olsen and City Finance Director Ernest Zmyslinski for providing me with a much-needed laugh or two with their tax collection comments (“Tax returns flow into city offers,” Beacon, 8/5/14, page 1). Mr. Olsen states that with the lockbox, “deposits are high,” and Mr. Zmyslinski states “it seems to be working well.” Really? 

Prior to mailing my quarterly tax payment due July 15, 2014, I asked a tax collection clerk how early I should mail my check to the Boston lockbox; she said five days to ensure a timely receipt of payment. I mailed the check six days early – just to be safe – on July 9. On July 18, I went to the Tax Office and asked why my check had not yet been deposited and was told not to worry, that I would not be assessed delinquency penalties. She then said that I should mail my payment seven to 14 days before due to ensure timely receipt. I received the bill on June 30; I would have had to write a check for a considerable amount on July 1! Absurd!

The pathetic comic absurdity of Mr. Olsen’s and Mr. Zmyslinski’s statements rest with the fact that as of the writing of this letter, 12:10 p.m. Aug. 6, my tax payment has still not been deposited. So much for the efficient lockbox. Compared to other Rhode Island cities, Warwick is managed rather well – with the glaring exception of that lockbox. I had better not receive a “delinquent taxes” letter for this payment.

Elaine Gambardella

Warwick

Comments

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  • patientman

    That's why I go and stand in line.

    Tuesday, August 12, 2014 Report this

  • jwbutler51

    I never mail my tax payments to the Boston address. I always drop off my payments at the lockbox located at the Annex. I have many checks to write and I have never had a problem in the check cashing process. I usually check my account in a couple of days, and all of the checks have been cashed. The next time that the contract comes up with Citizens Bank and the mailing of tax payments to Boston, I am going to question it. Such a waste of money, when a lot of people choose to either use the lockbox at the Annex or stand in line. That money paid to Citizens Bank could be better used.

    Wednesday, August 13, 2014 Report this

  • jwbutler51

    I never mail my tax payments to the Boston address. I always drop off my payments at the lockbox located at the Annex. I have many checks to write and I have never had a problem in the check cashing process. I usually check my account in a couple of days, and all of the checks have been cashed. The next time that the contract comes up with Citizens Bank and the mailing of tax payments to Boston, I am going to question it. Such a waste of money, when a lot of people choose to either use the lockbox at the Annex or stand in line. That money paid to Citizens Bank could be better used.

    Wednesday, August 13, 2014 Report this

  • jwbutler51

    I never mail my tax payments to the Boston address. I always drop off my payments at the lockbox located at the Annex. I have many checks to write and I have never had a problem in the check cashing process. I usually check my account in a couple of days, and all of the checks have been cashed. The next time that the contract comes up with Citizens Bank and the mailing of tax payments to Boston, I am going to question it. Such a waste of money, when a lot of people choose to either use the lockbox at the Annex or stand in line. That money paid to Citizens Bank could be better used.

    Wednesday, August 13, 2014 Report this

  • jwbutler51

    Sorry for the too many postings. It was a computer operator error!

    Wednesday, August 13, 2014 Report this

  • ConcernedResident

    You needed to use the CONTROL number off the current bill if sending to the lock box, not your account number. I learned that when I went to speak with them and Ed Tavaras explained it. My own payments were delayed many weeks because without a control number, the lockbox people will send the check back down to Warwick to be handled by hand, and that is done in batches when they have the time.

    Of course it would be more proper to process with an account number which never changes, rather than a bill control number which does. It would also be nice if Warwick could do this electronically, but that requires some I.T. efforts to become an electronic payee. But the lockbox does do its job if the sender uses the correct control number from each new bill in a bill-payer profile, or includes the stub and mails it by hand. Then the payment will clear in a day or so from when they receive it. It was also related to me that the lockbox is only the first step in streamlining our tax collection process and more improvements are coming. They were quite nice about it at Warwick City Hall when I asked. When I saw this letter I thought I would share what I learned.

    Tuesday, August 26, 2014 Report this