Release date: 16/03/2010
By: Charlie Masson Smith
Telephone
020 8871 6173
or email cmassons@wandsworth.gov.uk
Sign up to direct debit and win £25k
Popstar Suggs says that with a £25,000 cash prize on offer it would be "madness" not to sign up to a new council tax direct debit payment campaign.
People who sign up to pay their council tax by direct debit before July 15 will be entered into a prize draw and could win themselves £25,000.
The cash prize is being offered by Bacs Payment Schemes Ltd (Bacs), the organisation responsible for direct debit. It has teamed up with Wandsworth Council and some other London boroughs in a drive to increase the use of this easy and convenient payment method.
The public awareness campaign is being fronted by Madness singer Suggs. He was joined at the launch of the new initiative last week by the chairman of Wandsworth's corporate resources scrutiny committee Cllr Vanessa Graham.
She said: "There are plenty of benefits for residents if they use the direct debit system to pay their council tax bills.
"It offers a safe, secure and convenient payment method. People will not have all the fuss and bother of having to remember to pay each month, and as long as there is enough money in their bank account, they should never miss a payment.
"Once they have signed up to pay this way they will never have to worry about it again.
"Using direct debit also reduces the costs that town halls incur in collecting this revenue – so the more people that sign up, the bigger the savings that can be made. These savings can be used to help keep council tax bills in Wandsworth the country's lowest – so there is a direct financial benefit for taxpayers in using this system.
"And anyone who signs up before July 15 could be in with a chance of winning a £25,000 cash prize. Of course all our residents who have already opted for direct debit will be automatically entered into this prize draw so they won't miss out on the chance to win this fabulous prize."
The managing director of Bacs, Michael Chambers said: "Our research suggests that 74 per cent of the UK adult population have a positive attitude to direct debit. What’s more direct debit is widely recognised as the most efficient method of collecting council tax payments.
"The prize draw is an example of an effective, and exciting, direct debit promotion that will enable customers to benefit from a trusted, reliable and hassle-free payment method, and the councils involved to reap cost savings and revenue efficiency benefits."
People who want to sign up to pay their council tax by direct debit can use the council's fully automated 24 hour helpline by calling 020 8871 7799. Alternatively visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/counciltax fill in a direct debit instruction form or contact your bank or building society.
Wandsworth council tax bills are the lowest in the country – a position that has been maintained constantly under different forms of local taxation for around the past 25 years.
The current Wandsworth average Band D bill of £687 compares to a London average this year of £1,309.
The highest bills in London will be paid by residents in neighbouring Kingston where the Band D average is £1,663.
Band D bills for other nearby boroughs include Lambeth at £1,235; Merton £1,416; Richmond £1,597; Kensington & Chelsea £1,092 and Hammersmith & Fulham £1,122.
The above photo shows the launch of the new direct debit campaign with Suggs, Cllr Graham and deputy council tax manager Gaven Downton.
ENDS
The council's website contains all current and past press releases dating back to February 2000
Sign up for daily news alerts at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/subscribe
Make and view comments on this article
Important notice
You must carefully read and then agree to the Terms and Conditions (link opens in new window) before accessing the message board and posting a comment. If you do not wish to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, you may not access or use the message board.
If you wish to complain about a comment, contact us at press@wandsworth.gov.uk or to the member of the press team shown at the top of the page.
Your comments
The most recent comments made about this article.
very good idea
Rolando Galas - Wandsworth
jim south - Earlsfield
jim south - Earlsfield
Thank you very much for your comments Earlsfield and Putney, I would like to clarify that anyone who already pays their Council Tax by direct debit will automatically be in the £25,000 prize draw. When you get your annual bill you will find a leaflet inside letting you know that you are included.
The Council Tax Service - Wandsworth
I agree - what about people who already do this?
- - Earlsfield
what about those who are already paying by D.D.
Are they also entered into the £25K draw?
- Putney
