Public reminded of changes to ways of paying Council bills

Highland householders are reminded by The HighlandCouncil of new and extended ways of paying their Council Tax, rent and other Council bills, which took effect from today (Friday 1 April) – the start of the new financial year.

The public will be able to pay by cash at any Post Office and more than 300 PayPoints and Payzones throughout the Highlands. Some will also accept payments by cheque.

The public is no longer to pay by cash or cheque at a Council Service Point, although they will continue to be able to pay by debit or credit card.

As a result of the new arrangements, the HQ cash office on Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, closed permanently on 31 March.

Already more than 68,000 people pay their Council Tax by direct debit, so they will not be affected by the change.

The Council is following a number of other Councils throughout the United Kingdom in modernising the way it accepts payments from the public to ensure it does so in the most efficient and effective way.

"Ways to Pay.pdf (537kb pdf)" leaflets advising the public of the changes have been included in the 116,500 Council Tax demand notices which are arriving on doorsteps ahead of the implementation date. The change will also be prominently featured on the Council’s web site and posters are being displayed in public offices.