Dublin residents who owe arrears for bin charges to Dublin City Council will have bills issued to them in the coming days after procedures for collecting them were agreed with the Data Protection Commissioner.
The council sold its bin collection business to the private firm Greyhound in December. There was controversy over the circumstances of the transfer, with many customers left without a bin collection service in the early stages of the changeover.
Concerns were also raised about the manner in which the details of 140,000 customers of the council were transferred to a private firm without prior warning. Greyhound was given responsibility for collecting arrears owed for bin charges, raising concerns about the protection of personal data of customers who previously had no relationship with the waste firm.
Fianna Fáil councillor Paul McAuliffe said today he had been informed by the council that after the party’s motion to refer the Greyhound deal to the Data Protection Commissioner, “intensive discussions” had taken place.
Agreement had now been reached on the requirements necessary to allow the issuing of bills for the final quarter of 2011 and the collection of arrears owed, he said. Bills for the last quarter of the year will be issued in the coming days.
Mr McAuliffe said he “cautiously” welcomed the new protections for customers.
“Obviously I would have preferred if the whole deal had been reversed but I am happy that the original privacy concerns which I mentioned in November 2011 are now being addressed,” he said.
The councillor said he was particularly pleased that the 8,000 customers who were in credit would receive a request with their bill seeking bank details so that an electronic payment may be made to their accounts.
“The original proposal which I asked the city manager to review would have required residents to write to the council asking for the refund,” he said.
The Data Protection Commissioner’s office confirmed it was now satisfied with both the contractual arrangements and the practical arrangements in relation to the handling of the arrears data.
Bills may be paid by telephone using credit card or laser card on 1890 911900, or by cash at post offices and selected Postpoint outlets. Customers must bring their bills with them.
They may also pay by post, enclosing the form at the bottom of the bill along with a cheque or postal order payable to Greyhound Recycling & Recovery (DCC), to Greyhound Recycling & Recovery, PO Box 75, Kilrush, County Clare.
Customers may also pay online at www.dublincitycollections.ie
Greyhound customer cards may not be used to pay the bill. Any customer who has cancelled a direct debit will get a regular bill.
Customers who still have a direct debit arrangement will have their account processed by Dublin City Council. No details of direct debit arrangements are being passed to Greyhound. Direct debits will be drawn down two weeks from the date of the issue of the bill.
Dublin City Council will issue court proceedings for the recovery of any outstanding debts.