I am glad to see the Tax Office has been rapped for sending crude and menacing letters to taxpayers who owe it money.

The tone of such letters has an arrogant threatening politicised rant and tax payers being told that their possessions would be seized.

Such letters were even sent to those who did not owe money.

I received such a letter, and after numerous phone calls and six letters being sent by myself asking for more information, my efforts resulted in being told that the error was the fault of a former employer.

Needless to say, I successfully appealed the matter, but I am appalled at the thought that without my persistence I would have had to pay a four-figure sum of money, through no fault of my own.

At one time public officials know how to behave.

They were slow moving, positively bureaucratic, yet they had strong ideals as to how to behave and not resort to bullish tactics.

If you want to have a chuckle, look at the HMRC website that boasts “our purpose our vision our way”.

In my opinion, it should devote more resources to ensure that calls and letters are answered promptly, and dispense with the political slogans.

Nick Vince
Rocheway
Rochford