Delinquent Bills

'Delinquent' notices decried by some residents

   GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) -- The Cascade County treasurer says the county will
stop sending out overdue property tax notices in envelopes stamped with the word
"delinquent" in red letters after some residents complained.
   Jamie Bailey tells the Great Falls that county employees mailed the statements
 seeking $1.7 million in unpaid taxes on Feb. 29 and March 1.
   Bailey says an outside company in past years mailed the notices contained in
envelopes printed with "important information inside."
   One resident who received a delinquent-stamped notice complained the letter
 violates the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act that prohibits "contact by
embarrassing media."
   The county's chief civil attorney says no law was broken. But Bailey says the
 county has decided not to put the word "delinquent" on future notices.
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   Information from: Great Falls Tribune
   AP-WF-03-24-12 1809GMT