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| Name: |
RCHRR
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| Subject: |
Pace's Point Volunteer Fire Dpt
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Date:
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8/28/2012 12:29:10 PM
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I went to the mail box and had a notice from a law firm from Birmingham that stated "Notice of Delinquent Fire Dues". First off we have always paid the $25.00 dues every year and never thought anything of it secondly I haven't seen anything from from the fire dpt this year until I got this notice. I called the law firm and was told that they have recieved numberous calls stating the samething, then they tell me that I owe the law firm $55.00, of which $30.00 is a collection fee for their firm. I thought you payed dues to belong to something voluntarily and if it is something that you are forced into then it is a fee or tax. It would have benifited their volunteer dpt if they had just got on the phone and made some personal calls stating that Mr. so and so we see that your dues are late and if not paid by blank date then we will have to add on an aadditional late fee. Thank you. But instead they chose to do it this way so I'll send them their "Dues" and I'll not be supporting anything their involved in. They just shot theirself in the foot.
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| Name: |
wix
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| Subject: |
Not so fast there Bubba
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Date:
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8/28/2012 2:37:17 PM
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You might not want to shoot yourself in the foot. Paces Point Fire Dept. is the only Volunteer FFD on the lake that is allowed to "tax" property owners within its district. And it ain't $25.00, unless maybe your property is only a lot. Ignore the bill and you'll get to talk to their lawyers, just as you just learned.
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| Name: |
Beekeeper Tony
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| Subject: |
Peckerwood Volunteer Fire Department
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Date:
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8/28/2012 2:44:25 PM
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My family
& I were sitting out on our dock enjoying some family time. Nephews from
Atlanta, Brother from Columbus etc... No beer drinking or anything, just family
time. Someone came from the street around our home and walked himself out onto
the dock and announces that he is from PVFD and they were accepting $40
donations at that time.
I was so shocked that someone (anyone) would
walk through our yard , around the house and out on our dock to ask for a $40
donation. He did not give a choose so I said "I'm sorry but we are in our
swimming clothes and do not have cash with us. He said "we also accept credit
cards and checks". I said "I'm sorry , you will just have to leave
then"...
I since have found out that these people make 15 - 20 %
commissions off what they collect. I don't mind donating but, I wont be told how
to do it. I don't plan on helping these people out till something changes in the
way that they do business. They need a marketing plan. Have a cookout at the
sportplex, selling cookies at WalMart, whatever but, don't walk out on my dock
again.
I heard from others something about them taking pictures and selling them to you. No Thanks
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| Name: |
bama dave
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| Subject: |
Peckerwood Volunteer Fire Department
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Date:
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8/28/2012 4:06:21 PM
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Some volunteer fire departments will not put out a fire if "dues" are not paid.
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| Name: |
twc
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| Subject: |
Peckerwood Volunteer Fire Department
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Date:
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8/28/2012 4:23:32 PM
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I know it's a different area. But, I've witnessed firsthand the work our VFD does on 2 separate occasions. They were awesome and well worth the $25 a year. Ours does the picture thing but I've never been for that. I just give them the money.
However, I had a guy come to the door seeking the annual dues. Not ID, no,badge, nothing. He did offer me a hand written receipt. About 3 weeks later, 2 guys, wearing VFD t shirts and had ID badges on came by selling the picture package and soliciting dues. Yes,mthey need better organization and marketing. I shouldn't complain because I don't volunteer. But not all volunteers have to fight fires ya know.
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| Name: |
RCHRR
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| Subject: |
Not so fast there Bubba
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Date:
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8/28/2012 5:52:01 PM
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Wix what part did you not understand. I do not have a problen with the $25.00 but I never saw a bill and noone ever contacted me. It was just turned over to their strong arm. My son is a fireman and I appreciate what firemen do but this situation is jacked up. Poor planning and not a way to be a good community neighbor.
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| Name: |
wix
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| Subject: |
Not so fast there Bubba
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Date:
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8/28/2012 6:22:02 PM
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Questions: Do you live full time on the property taxed for the FD? If not, how would they get your phone number? Does the county tax dept. call you if you are late? Not picking on you, but you have to understand the situation these guys are in. In the future, stop by the PPFD station if you don't get a bill. We all miss payments sometime, but it's usually our own fault.
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| Name: |
GoneFishin
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| Subject: |
Peckerwood Volunteer Fire Department SUGGESTION
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Date:
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8/29/2012 12:09:11 AM
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They need to charge $100 per year and quit the fund raising programs. Then hire an accounting firm to send out the bills and collect the money. Suggest they contact other fire companies and see how they handle the financials.
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| Name: |
Webmaster
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| Subject: |
SUGGESTION
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Date:
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8/29/2012 9:38:36 AM (updated 8/29/2012 9:41:56 AM)
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$25 does sound somewhat cheap. In Knox County, TN I pay over $400/year to Rural/Metro Corporation, but that also includes ambulance. I've wondered what I'm actually paying for with ambulance service since most of the time health insurance covers ambulance.
Now I would expect a volunteer fire department to be much more inexpensive than paying a staff to sit around waiting on calls (like Rural/Metro Corporation is).
From what I understand, for the legal requirement, I don't think I have to pay Rural/Metro, but if they were to get called to a fire at my house, I could be liable for a hefty bill for a minor call-out.
A few years ago, there was a woman going around our Lake Martin neighborhood (Coosa County side) collecting for the Equality VFD. We gladly wrote a check realizing that we had an VFD that could serve us. We told the lady that we didn't even know about the fire department or the requirement to pay. She acknowledged that the payment just had never been enforced. We have never gotten a bill, not even since the lady appeared.
BP
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| Name: |
Mack
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| Subject: |
SUGGESTION
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Date:
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8/29/2012 3:21:59 PM
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The Equality area (Hwy 20 for us) is served by Equality VFD. Their station is at the storage facility at 20 and 259, not very far from us along 20. They have never acted or stated that their $25/yr. is a requirement. They send out a yearly newsletter and ask that we make the $25+ donation for equipment. Several years ago they came door-to-door giving away smoke detectors. I always donate more. I'm sure it is worth it.
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| Name: |
RCHRR
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| Subject: |
Pace's Point Volunteer Fire Dpt
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Date:
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8/30/2012 12:53:07 AM
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Here is another problem I have. The letter also stated that if the bill was not paid to the law office within 30 days my property would be placed up for auction. I still have not seen a bill for these so call dues and have never been told that it is a requirement to pay these dues. It's not a question of the $25.00 but a question of the legality of this who situation because I've never signed any contract or been told of such. I've tried to contact the office every since I received their letter to no avail. No one is ever seems to be at their office.
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| Name: |
head
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| Subject: |
Pace's Point Volunteer Fire Dpt
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Date:
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8/30/2012 8:11:14 AM
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I am sure that the law office is working for free ! What a joke
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| Name: |
Webmaster
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| Subject: |
Fraud?
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Date:
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8/30/2012 12:31:13 PM (updated 8/30/2012 12:48:17 PM)
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You should check the validity of that letter with a phone call because it sounds like a fraudulent letter. Make sure you are really talking to a legitimate law firm. Putting a lien against property makes more sense for that little money. Government-sponsored auctions would have to go through state civil property laws and pretty much only a bank with your mortgage or the state with delinquent property taxes would qualify for that. I'm not expert on the matter, but that just doesn't make sense.
The first place to start is with the VFD and their business phone number is: 256-825-2511.
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| Name: |
Toni
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| Subject: |
Pace's Point Volunteer Fire Dpt
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Date:
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9/1/2012 12:29:26 AM
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All-
PPVFD collects $125/yr for a residence, $175/yr for a business, $25, $50, or $100 for vacant land based on acreage. Bills are sent out in late October and due by 12/31 each year. If payment is not received by the due date, reminder bills are sent. If payment is not received, the department ultimately turns over the collection process to an attorney. By statute, a property can be sold for non payment.
Volunteer fire departments are not funded by the state or the county. Fire trucks, tankers, rescue vehicles, and all the equipment required coss hundreds of thousands of dollars. None of the personnel at PPVFD are paid - they are all volunteers.
No one from PPVFD goes through yards and walks up to folks on docks to ask for money. I'm not sure who approached someone on this forum; however, we understand that a rescue squad has been making the rounds in several areas. These individuals are nt affiliated with PPVFD.
I am sorry that so many have received such a poor impression. I have been part of this fire department for many years and would be happy to answer questions about our procedures - please contact me at: toni@toniadcock.com
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| Name: |
jalcz
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| Subject: |
Pace's Point Volunteer Fire Dpt
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Date:
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9/1/2012 2:29:43 AM
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"Bills are sent out in late October and due by 12/31 each year. If payment is not received by the due date, reminder bills are sent."-- Sounds like the OP never got any bills or reminders.
"If payment is not received, the department ultimately turns over the collection process to an attorney. By statute, a property can be sold for non payment."-- I'be be very careful about selling someone's property if I didn't hold up my end of the deal by sending them the promised bills and reminders.
Everyone served by a VFD should be ready, willing, able and happy to support them. But those are the kind of organizations that are often forgotten until they are needed; sad, but true. So if the VFD is promising to send bills and reminders, they need to do just that, and not count on people remembering.
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