Pay your rates now and receive a 5% discount, is the message from Douglas Borough Council. Ratepayers are advised that they will receive 5% off their bill if they pay in full by June 30th 2009 – or face extra legal costs to pay in July.

 
The Council has seen 963 customers choose to pay by direct debit, whilst still benefiting from the five per cent discount. Payments may be made in three instalments from April to June or in one lump sum in June.  It is also possible to arrange to pay in 10 instalments from April to January, in which case the discount will not apply. A total of 3,398 ratepayers now pay by direct debit.
 

The Council continues to take legal action when required to collect overdue rates. In the year ending March 31st, 512 Court summonses were sent to non-ratepayers. The Council is working to reduce this number by encouraging prompt payment, thereby avoiding the need to levy additional charges on those who fail to pay by the due date. The consequence of this approach has beenthat arrears levels are kept low, with only 0.3% remaining outstanding March 31st, 2009.
 

Council leader David Christian (pictured) said ‘Douglas Borough Council is making every effort to encourage Douglas ratepayers to make prompt payment and benefit from significant savings – even the Council’s website, www.douglas.gov.im, shows a countdown to the discount cut off date for online payment. And for those without internet access, setting up a direct debit to pay before June 30th or paying in full, by other means, will still attract a 5% discount. 

'Net arrears continue to be kept low, but with the co-operation of Douglas ratepayers, I am confident we can substantially improve on last year’s figure and reduce the administrative and financial implications which arise when Court summonses have to be issued.’