FAQs for Main billing 2010

Shepway District Council has just sent out 48,000 Council Tax bills for the new financial year.

We have taken steps to deal with the expected increase in the number of enquiries that may follow and if you ring or visit the council we will endeavour to answer all enquires as quickly as possible but we do ask for your patience when trying to contact us at this particularly busy time of year.

The questions and answers below have been designed to answer some of the most common enquiries without the need to contact  the Council.

Frequently Asked Questions on your Annual Council Tax Bill

I paid by Direct Debit last year do I have to set a new one up for this year?

No.  As long as you have not cancelled last year's direct debit we will automatically collect your instalments for this year from your bank account.

I would like to set up a Direct Debit to pay my Council Tax?

Direct Debit is the most efficient and effective way to pay your council tax.  It is now easier to set up this method of payment as it can be done directly over the telephone.

You can choose to pay your monthly payments on the

1st   8th  16th   26th of each month

Please ring 01303 853555 and have your bank details ready.

As we are required to notify you in writing 14 days in advance of your bank account being debited, it may be too late for your Direct Debit payments to start in April.  You will therefore need to pay the April instalment by cash, cheque, credit or debit card.

Does my bill tell me what method of payment my Council Tax account has been set up for?

Yes. You will find your payment method on the bottom third of your bill.  The various methods of payment are:

Direct Debit Monthly (1st) (8th) (16th) (26th)
Direct Debit 6-Monthly
Cash Monthly (1st) (8th) (16th) (26th)
Cash 6-Monthly
Cash Annually
Bankers Standing Order Monthly (1st)
Weekly

This section of your bill also shows the amount, the number of instalments and due date.

What date is my Direct Debit due to be taken from my account?

Your bill shows the due date of your direct debit in the bottom third of the bill with the payment method.

I previously paid by Standing Order, do I need to set up a new one for the new financial year?

Yes.  You will find a new standing order form included with the bill.  Please complete and sign this form and take it to your bank for payments to be set up.

Standing order is more expensive than payment by direct debit and there can be a delay in payments reaching your account which may result in the issue of recovery notices.

Please consider changing your method of payment to direct debit.

I get Single Person Discount, do I need to reapply?

No.

If the council is already aware you live alone the entitlement to single person discount will be shown on your bill.

Of course if your circumstances change and you are no longer entitled to the Single Person discount you must let us know within 14 days of the change.  Please note that failure to notify the Council of a change may result in a penalty of £70 for the first offence rising to £280 for a subsequent failure.

I live alone and do not get a single person discount

You may apply for the discount by writing to the council or by contacting us on 01303 853555

My instalments are spread over 10 months April to January.  Can I have them spread over all 12 months?

No.  The Law states that we have to offer payment over 10 monthly instalments in a full financial year (April to March).  The number of instalments reduces as the financial year progresses.

Why do you send me a new bill every year?

The amount you are charged each year changes and we are required by law to send you a new bill.  We now offer the facility to  receive your bill electronically. You can find further details and an application form by visiting our web site at: Electronic Billing

I cannot pay the instalments requested by the due date, can I change it?

Yes, you may opt to pay on one of the following dates each month

1st   8th   16th   26th 

You will need to ensure that you make payment with sufficient time for the payment to reach your account by the due date.

I cannot afford the monthly instalments

The instalments may only be reduced if you are entitled to Council Tax Benefit.  Otherwise they are due as billed.

Please contact the council on 01303 853555 to discuss making a claim for Council Tax Benefit.

My bill shows a balance brought forward which I have paid in the last few weeks?

In order to give us time to issue the bills there is a cut off point for payments received.  Your bill includes all payments received up to and including 26 February 2010.  If you have paid any money after that date it will not show on your new bill.

Please also note that payments made by standing order take several days to reach your account therefore any payments made using this method of payment in the week prior to 26 February 2010 may not show on your bill.

My bill shows a balance brought forward from last year.  Do the instalments on my bill include these arrears?

No.  Any arrears brought forward from the previous year are payable immediately.  If you are unable to pay you need to contact us on 01303 853555 to make an arrangement to clear the outstanding amount if you have not previously done so.

My bill shows a credit carried over from the previous year.  Do the instalments on my bill include the credit?

Yes.  Any credit has been deducted from the total due prior to the calculation on your instalments.  Your bill includes all payments received up to and including 26 February 2010. If you have paid any money after that date it will not show on your new bill.

There is an error in the details showing on my Council Tax bill

You need to tell us about any error showing on your bill.  You can do this by writing to us, by email revenues.benefits@shepway.gov.uk, by visiting us at the Civic Centre or by phoning us on 01303 853555.

I disagree with the property band my house is in

Shepway District Council is not responsible for the banding of your property.  Appeals and queries should be made directly to the Listing Officer at the Valuation Office, Palting House, Trinity Road, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2AP (Telephone 01303 852900),
or contact through website www.voa.gov.uk.

We hope this page has been of some assistance to you but appreciate that you may have enquires that you need to contact us about.  Please remember that 48,000 households have just received a new bill, although we will endeavour to answer all enquiries as quickly as possible, please be patient.