I think its a good reason to be a SC....

[Plaidman]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n4613411.shtml

I'm serious. I think the lady and her daughter should go to pay this bill.

And Pay with a hundred dollar bill. And slowly count their change back to make sure its all correct.

[iradney]

A WHOLE PENNY??? The company could go under if it is not paid ASAP!!! *gasp* </sarcasm>

[MCSledgehammer]

She should pay with the most arcane, fee-ridden form of payment possible. Like a banker's check from Mozambique, or somesuch. "Sure, I'll pay you that penny. It'll cost you $45 in fees to get it, but gosh darnit, you'll get your penny. But in Turkish Lira. Have fun exchanging that." Poor old lady. In the article, she sounds like you don't wanna cross her, though...

[Pedersen]

The city is going after her, not a company.

Now, when I pay taxes, they don't send me a refund if it's less than a dollar. But the government will go after her for less than a dollar.

Insane doesn't begin to describe it.

[One-Fang]

??

I don't even get the issue.

Computers send out automated letters if the account is OD, regardless of the amount. They are not human-reviewed, and there's no indication in the article that a human has reviewed it, still wants the penny, and is demanding she pay or lose her house.

Sounds to me like a one-off automated letter received, and a phone call to the council would solve it immediately. Not an issue, barely a problem, and nothing to go SC about.

... yet

[Pedersen]

<pedantic>
Actually, the city is threatening to place a lien on her home, not to take it. Difference is that, until the lien is paid, one of two things is true (and I don't remember which): either the home cannot be sold, or any moneys from the sale of the home first go to pay the lien. I think it's the second.
</pedantic>

To me, at least, the issue is that the government won't issue a refund check in the event that I overpaid my income taxes by less than one dollar. However, they will go after someone for owing them less than one dollar?

Furthermore, from the article:

"My question is, how come it wasn't paid when the (original) bills went out?" Marcoccio said.

That's City Collector Debora Marcoccio. She's the person that would be called and spoken to to get this stopped. And her response to this is not "That's an automated process. Now that we know it sent out a bill for a penny, we will close out that bill. It's just a ridiculous thing that happens sometimes." Her response is "So? Where's the money?"

That's the issue right there. A totally ridiculous amount that the government won't pay back, but is being demanded of one of their citizenry (along with some really annoying consequences if they refuse).

Hope that clears it up.