Bin opt out - now want to charge me !

Hi

When I moved into my house(march 03) I opted out of the refuse collection service with Dunlaoire Rathdown(was able to share a bin with my father who lived close by).

I was told to write a letter and received one back confirming I had opted out of the service.

The in October 05 I opted back into the service (father moved away and it was too much hassle to lug rubbish up) again received the letter saying I had opted back in from Oct 05.

I recently got a bill from them for nearly 1000 euro
They say there has been activity on the bin in 03/04/05 and I am liable....now we have not put out that bin and recycled, composted everything to ensure we did not have too much rubbish for my father so there no way I am paying .....
Where do I stand legally ? I have opted out of the service and received confirmation..surely they should have taken the bin away ??
Why did they not bill me in 04 if they claim there was activity ?

I suggest you write to the Environmental Services section attaching copies of all correspondence and explain the situation. You may or may not get the situation resolved. Alternatively, you could also write/contact a local councillor and get them to raise the matter on your behalf. I'm assuming that no one else was using your bin during the period in question? I'm asking because I caught my own neighbours putting their rubbish in my bin recently - they were too mean to put out their own! (My bin wasn't even out - they filled it and were attempting to roll it down the driveway when I intervened!! )