Council Won't Accept Cheques

choille

The council here (Highland) won't accept cheques. They wish on-line banking or bank credit transfer, or by debit or credit card - which they charge you 2% on. It's tricky for our business as we deal with the council lodging Planning Applications & building warrants & were getting clients to write a cheque to the council with the lodging fee.
Now it's not as straight forward.

What I was wondering is is it legal to refuse a cheque or even cash, which they have done.

Thanks in advance for replies.

Buzby

Yes, they can stipulate what payment methods they'll accept - so if cheques are disallowed, you need to find an alternative. Whilst you might think getting your customers to remit a cheque you pass on with their application (Planning & Building Warrant, I assume?), it really is a an antiquated process. Sure, your customer might not assume your fees are rather high (because the cheque is payable to the Council) but you could credit them with the task of paying the Council directly?

Our Council offers web payment systems for applications, and even local offices too.

choille

Thanks.

I didn't know that they could refuse cash - ie when I went to pay council tax with money they refused it. I thought that was not okay to refuse cash.

A lot of people do not want to do on-line banking - believe it or not, nor do they wish to use a card. Seems like cash is becoming a thing of the past & I did know they were phasing cheques out.