Scarborough Borough Council

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Customers and businesses to benefit from new ways to pay

From 1 March 2012, residents in the borough will be able to pay their Scarborough Borough Council bills in cash at a convenient retail outlet near to their home rather than having to make their way into a council Customer First centre, which for many, can be a journey of significant distance.

Anywhere displaying the PayPoint sign will be able to accept cash payments for things like council tax, business rates and overpaid housing benefit, providing a person takes with them the bill they have received from the council containing the unique payment barcode.  The council is currently working with a number of businesses across the borough to ensure that as many residents as possible can access a participating outlet in their local community.  Council customers will also be able to pay by cash or cheque at their local Post Office.

Anyone wishing to find out their nearest PayPoint outlet can visit www.allpay.net/outlet or alternatively contact Customer First by emailing customer.first@scarborough.gov.uk or calling 01723 232323.  Customers can also call in to any Customer First centre and ask a Customer First Advisor for assistance.  Centres are located on St Nicholas Street, Scarborough, Skinner Street, Whitby and Evron Centre, John Street, Filey.

To coincide with these service changes, the council is moving away from accepting cash or cheque payments for bills at any of its Customer First centres.  For miscellaneous payments such as purchasing a brown garden waste bin or paying a parking fine, customers are encouraged to pay via the council’s website http://www.scarborough.gov.uk/ but anyone without access to the internet can make a card payment, either over the phone by calling the automated freephone number 0800 083 0493 or in person at any of the Customer First centres.

Elaine Rhodes, Scarborough Borough Council’s Customer Services Delivery Manager said:

“By introducing these new ways for customers to pay their council bills, we are able to increase customer choice and convenience; residents will have a wide choice of outlets to choose from, located only a short distance from where they live.  Using the PayPoint services also helps to support local businesses and allows the council to work in a much more efficient way.”