Paying council tax

ollieu1900

Hey, 

I pay council tax online every month by debit card but with all the fraud going around at the moment I'm looking to start using my credit card instead. 

Are there any additional cost for using credit card on the council tax website? 

kuratowski

I would think direct debit is easier and less prone to mishaps, as compared to making manual payments each month.

nick74

Retailers (including councils etc) are no longer allowed to make any additional charges for paying by personal credit cards. You may find though that the council won't accept credit cards at all. You'd be better off asking them as every council will have a different policy on this.

For what it's worth the risk of card fraud arising from paying on an official council website is pretty much zero. However why not set up a direct debit instead?

ollieu1900

I've been to my local councils website to check it and it says 

"Before making an online payment make sure you have the following information ready:

• Council Tax Account Number (found at the top right of your bill beginning with 6)
• Debit or credit card details"

So I'm guessing it is accepted? 

molerat

Hopefully the card provider will treat it as a purchase and not a pseudo cash transaction.

PennyForThem_2

why not by Direct Debit?

sheramber

The OP seems to think Direct Debit is more prone to fraud.

nick74

Direct debit must be about the least fraud-prone payment method in existence?

molerat

I know someone who pays in cash at the PO.  They don't trust the council with a direct debit and don't do internet money things (except they are quite good at shopping on Amazon !) Good fun in these times and they regularly get snotty red letters from the council.

etienneg

sheramber said:

The OP seems to think Direct Debit is more prone to fraud.

I can't find this in the thread. The original post said: "I pay council tax online every month by debit card but with all the fraud going around at the moment I'm looking to start using my credit card instead." I read this as saying that he/she thinks credit card payment is less prone to fraud than debit card payment.

Personally I can't see why the OP thinks this, and if he/she is looking for the least fraud prone method, direct debit would certainly be my suggestion.

Best of all would be if the OP told us if my understanding is right or wrong!

sheramber

I can't find this in the thread. The original post said: "I pay council tax online every month by debit card but with all the fraud going around at the moment I'm looking to start using my credit card instead."

I read this as saying that he/she thinks credit card payment is less prone to fraud than debit card payment.

Is that not the same as direct debit is more prone to fraud?