Just this week the State Ombudsman reported a sharp increase in the number of legitimate complaints filed against government agencies in 2012. A story is reported by Maariv on Wednesday, 27 Sivan regarding the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), which continued taxing a blind resident for his television.

The man in question is blind and disabled and people have been writing to IBA on his behalf for years informing them there is no reason for him to pay a television tax. Backing up their letters was a copy of a 2009 court decision in which states he is exempt from paying the tax.

This did not dissuade the IBA from handing the case to three different attorneys for collection, continuing to levy fines and interest against the man, threatening numerous different legal actions against him.

The case finally found its way to the state ombudsman which got IBA to back off and fined the agency 5,000, which is being given to the victim of the ruthless collection attempts.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)