Save time and money - pay council tax by direct debit

Did you know that you  can save money and time by paying the council by direct debit?

This is the easiest and cheapest method and allows customers to choose a payment date during the month to suit your lifestyle.

The overall budget requirement for 2009/10 is £261.8 million, which is 2.3 per cent above the 2008/09 figure. The government's increase in grant was 1.75 per cent this year, which means that the council must raise over £100 million from council tax. The budget was agreed at a council meeting on 2 March and the Band D council tax for Brent services next year will be £1,058.94, an increase of 2.5 per cent, or just under 50p per week.

Visit the council tax pages  and complete the Direct Debit instruction or call the One Stop Service on 020 8937 1200. Customers paying other bills by debit card or personal cheque are not charged but there is a charge of 1.25 per cent when people choose to pay by credit card. This is to offset the additional cost to the council of processing the payment.

The council's card payment hotline is 020 8937 1717 and operates a speech recognition service. When phoning the hotline customers will hear recorded guidance on how to use it and will then be taken through the process by recorded questions and instructions.

There will soon be a facility to come out of speech recognition and revert to using the telephone key pad if desired. Customers requiring help or who wish to claim council tax benefit or report a problem should contact the One Stop Service on 020 8937 1200.