War hero likens housing association to Third Reich (From News Shopper)
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War hero likens housing association to Third Reich
9:31am Wednesday 6th June 2012 in News By David Mills
Douglas George has since settled his direct debit dispute with Affinity Sutton
A WAR hero told to pay the rent on his lock-up garage by direct debit or face losing it has compared a housing association to the Third Reich.
Douglas George, 93, said he was "livid" when he received a strongly-worded letter from Affinity Sutton saying it now only accepts direct debit as a payment method for garage accounts.
It went on to say: "If we do not receive the completed (direct debit) form back we will have to take the garage from you".
Mr George, of Faringdon Avenue, Bromley, says he has rented the garage in nearby Birch Row as a place to keep his car safe for almost 50 years.
Until receiving the letter on May 28, he has always paid his £21.44 fortnightly rent with a payment card at the post office issued to him by Affinity Sutton.
Mr George was an RAF ground crew officer who enlisted in 1939 aged 18.
He served in the war until the bitter end in 1946 and was based off the Dover coast and in Africa.
The father-of-two, who went on to become a civil servant after the war, said: "The letter's appalling.
"It reminds me of the Third Reich - you will do this or we will do this.
"I fought for this country and this letter gets to your guts. I don't like its tone.
"I don't like direct debit. I don't pay any of my bills by direct debit."
Since receiving the letter, Mr George has settled the matter with Affinity Sutton, which will allow him to continue paying using his preferred method.
Head of housing for Affinity Sutton Sarah Paton said: “We have spoken to Mr George and explained to him why we are asking all our garage licensees to pay by direct debit but that given his personal circumstances we are happy for him to continue to pay using his payment card.
“In line with many other organisations we have made the decision to move towards payment by direct debit as it is the most reliable and cost effective way to pay.”
Comments(11)
Eagles_Man
says...
12:43pm Wed 6 Jun 12
Jeeepsie Joe
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2:20pm Wed 6 Jun 12
THaNK YoU.
Virtual-Monster
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4:02pm Wed 6 Jun 12
Polly Staight
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7:03pm Wed 6 Jun 12
In a situation involving a non-profit organisation, they are often well off enough to give their customers a hard time.
But in the end, it is the banks that are the problem again… It really is about time that some of them were allowed to fail… but I digress…
What you really need is a piece of paper, which instucts your bank to pay some money from your account into another person's account, either at the same office or somewhere else…
We could call it a cheque… or something like that…
Oh….
longshanks2
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10:47pm Wed 6 Jun 12
PaulErith
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8:24am Thu 7 Jun 12
And this sort of story really gets my goat up, because I don't really see what his serving in the war has anything to do with this story. Does that mean he's now exempt from any other rule?
bizzymum
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6:53pm Thu 7 Jun 12
toomush2drink
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5:02pm Sun 10 Jun 12
Is this really a story ?
the headline really should read
"Man asked to pay by direct debit"
TheEverardedbutt
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10:01am Tue 12 Jun 12
A relative of mine was shot 16 times in the stomach whilst taking out a machine gun nest that had the unit he was in pinned down.
He survived, took out the machine gun nest and was recognised for his efforts
After the war he ran The 2 Brewers in Gloucester Road, Croydon for many years.
This was the 1st world war for the record.
That is a War Hero in my books!
He died in a football accident after being hit in the head with a 20s style football............
.Bizarre!
PaulErith
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1:06pm Tue 12 Jun 12
bizzymum wrote:lol! No I was in a very good mood thanks. "toomush2drink" sums it up perfectly in their comment. As I say, the fact that he was in the war has absolutely nothing to do with how he pays for his garage. It's poor reporting.
Good grief PaulErith at 8:24 this morning. Did you get out of bed the wrong side today? The poor man is only 93!!! Is he exempt from any other rule........well, for how much longer, does it really matter?
cookster says...
10:22am Wed 6 Jun 12