News MBC encouraging cashless payments
Maidstone Borough Council has reviewed the way it accepts cash payments at the Maidstone Link as the two payment machines will come to the end of their lease in 2020 so has decided not to renew them.
Maidstone Borough Council has reviewed the way it accepts cash payments at the Maidstone Link as the two payment machines will come to the end of their lease in 2020 so has decided not to renew them.
Therefore, MBC will be removing both payment machines situated in the Link by April 2020 and cash payments will no longer be able to be made there. The first will be taken out by 1 January 2020 and the second by the 1 April 2020.
Maidstone Borough Council is encouraging all residents to go cashless and pay bills by direct debit or by using the online payment method.
The Council has apologised for any inconvenience this may cause to residents and will be working hard to help and advise anyone who may have problems with these new payment methods.
MBC appreciates this may be a big change for some customers which is why it is phasing out the machines over a three-month period. Carrying large amounts of cash can be unsafe. As the majority of people now have access to a bank account or manage their financial affairs electronically the MBC online services are becoming a more popular, secure and convenient way to pay for council services.
Currently 77% of residents already pay their council tax by direct debit and more than 136,000 payments were made to MBC online or using the automated payment line in 2018 which is the easiest and safest way to pay. It is quick and easy to set up with a choice of two payment dates and will ensure bills are paid on time.
Using the MBC 24 hour automated payment service, Maidstone residents can pay for the following: Council Tax, business rates, benefits over payments, Penalty Charge Notices (PCN), fixed penalty notices, invoices for waste services.
In addition, the new £20 bank note will come into circulation in February 2020 and the remaining machine will not be updated to take these new notes. Therefore, if residents do wish to use the remaining payment machine between February and April they will need to pay using other bank notes.
Customers should note that they will need to arrange another method to pay their Council Tax after 1 April 2020.
Anyone wishing to change to paying their Council Tax by Direct Debit, please go to the Council’s website https://www.maidstone.gov.uk to complete an instruction online or speak to one the customer service advisers at The Maidstone Link on 01622 602003.