The GHMC call centre has received 90 calls since April end till date from upset taxpayers regarding this
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Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s online portal hasn’t been updating property tax payments of citizens who have paid before March 31. The GHMC call centre has received 90 calls since April end till date from upset taxpayers regarding this. In a letter to Deccan Chronicle, the Panchsheela Association, Parklane Secunderabad stated: "We honest property tax payers had made online payment of dues as suggested by the GHMC (on the) online portal, before March 31; but the GHMC property tax online portal is not showing the tax as paid. Meanwhile interest is being charged on the amount already and its compounded. When contacted, the North zone bill collector directed us to the tax inspector and both demanded a bribe of Rs 10,000 for updating the payment online. They informed that they would take Rs 2000 each and the rest would have to be paid to the valuation officer. We have complained to the Anti Corruption Bureau.”
The GHMC call centre meanwhile is routing the calls from taxpayers regarding updation of their tax status to the IT wing. An officer of the GHMC IT wing said, “The online job has been entrusted to a private agency. The bill payment will be updated without fail, taxpayers need not worry.” The same problem is seen with the Water Board where payments are not being reflected online.
Call Centre complaints:
On July 1, the GHMC call center suffered technical issues and there were quite a few complaints of the staff not attending to calls or cutting the line abruptly. When contacted, an employee at the call centre said, “The server was down on July 1; however missed calls were attended later.
“After the call center number was published in the media, the number of calls has increased to 800-1000 per day. We also call back costumers who have given missed calls.”
The staffer added, “The staff is having major issues with monthly salaries for months it is being delayed, the (third party) agency says that GHMC bills are pending, there are 20 agents working in four shift presently.”
The GHMC has given the call centre job to a private agency called Hyderabad Radio House Next Service located at Banjara Hills road number 12. Also, contract workers of GHMC’s swimming pools have not been receiving salaries for months. It has been alleged that though the corporation has released the amount, the money has not reached the contract workers.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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