Council tax and direct debit.

dori2o

Finally got our council tax bill today, and on it it says...'Thank you for paying by Direct debit, you payments are shown overleaf'.

Now I do pay every year by direct debit, but I cancel the mandate every year after the last payment. Normally my bill arrives and I complete a new mandate each year which is usually attached to the bottom of the bill.

As council tax is agreed to be paid over 10 months only, should the council be retaining my bank account details after the 10 month period is over?

Secondly, how can I be sure that the direct debit I had in place has been cancelled and that the council will not try and take 2 payments once I set up another DD instruction.

CLAPTON

why do you cancel the direct debit?
what purpose does it serve?

dori2o

It's just something I do and have always done. I guess I'm just overcautious when it comes to money that is being taken directly from my bank. Plus I thought you were always told to cancel direct debits after whatever they were used for has stopped being paid?

CLAPTON

if you have online banking then you can usually see a list of DDs or ask your bank for a list of DDs

well I would always cancel a DD if e.g. I bought something and I'ld paid it off but for ongoing things like gas elect BT water or council tax I can see no point in cancelling and setting it up again.

CIS

The Direct Debit payments will only be taken if there is money outstanding otherwise there is no payment to be taken - I work in council tax and see loads of people cancelling direct debits but I can say that I have never seen any case were money has been taken after the balance has been cleared but I have seen lots of cases were people have forgotten to set up their direct debit again and ended up with a court summons.