A demand made verbally disappears; a receipt, acknowledgement slip, or written objection does not. Most services have a published fee — ask to see it.
Know Before You Go
What crowdsourced data says about each counter — and how to keep your money in your pocket.
The going rate
From filed reports| Department | Reports | Avg demand | Refused & still got service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Not enough data yet — file a report to start the record. | |||
Six things that work
Most departments publish service timelines. If your file is "stuck", quote the charter deadline and ask for the reason in writing.
Online applications with payment gateways leave no room for a counter demand. If an agent says "offline is faster", that speed usually has a price.
Reports on this site show a meaningful share of people who refused still got their work done. Polite, persistent refusal — in front of witnesses — is underrated.
A Right to Information request asking "what is the status of my application and who is responsible for the delay?" moves files that money otherwise would.
Even if you paid. Especially if you paid. The pattern is the point — amounts, roles, and departments add up to public pressure.