Paying your business rates
Direct Debit
Pay by Direct Debit and you have a choice of
payment dates - 1, 15 or 25 of the month. Paying by Direct
Debit means you can opt to pay over either 10 or
12 instalments. Spreading payment over 12 months reduces
the monthly instalment.
If you have not yet opted for Direct Debit, we
can arrange for you to pay this way over the telephone so please
contact the business rates team on 01992 785584.
Alternatively, you can obtain a form by:
Completed forms are to be returned to the Council either in
person or by post.
Non direct debit payers must pay their bill on the first of each
month over 10 instalments between April and January.
Online payments
You can pay bills
online through this website. If you have an account with
a UK bank or building society, and you have a Visa/Visa Electron,
Solo or Maestro debit card, you can make a payment.
Simple instructions
You will need a valid debit card for this
service. Please note that we do not accept credit cards for
payment of business rates.
Our online payment system
uses a 'pop up' window as part of the functionality, so if you have
a 'pop up blocker' installed on your PC you will need to
temporarily switch this off to make a payment. This can be
achieved simply by holding down the CTRL key on your keyboard
whilst clicking the link.
Automated telephone service
You can call the automated telephone line on 0845 6017620 to
reach an automated response system which enables debit card
payments to be made using a keypad telephone.
When ratepayers telephone the automated
telephone line number, they will be asked to enter their account
number, the amount to be paid and their debit card details. Calls
can be made from a landline at the local rate and from mobile
phones at the mobile service providers usual rates. The service is
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Please have your details ready when you call
and a pen and paper to take a note of your receipt number.
Changes to payment options offered
You can pay at any one stop shop
counter by debit card. The Council has withdrawn the option to
pay in cash at the one stop shops from 01/02/2012 due to the rising
cost of handling cash and fewer customers using this service.
One stop shop opening hours
Payment Kiosk
A payment kiosk was installed at Bishops' College in September
2011 which accepts payments by cash and card for business rates.
Please note this kiosk does not accept £50 notes and as notes are
feed in individually it is not suitable for large value payments.
The bar code which has been added to your bill can be used at the
kiosk.
Post Office and Paypoint Outlets
The bar coded bill gives ratepayers the opportunity to pay their
business rates at the Post office and Paypoint outlets for the
first time.
Other ways to pay