Payments
Rates can be paid in a variety of ways. Council’s preferred method is by direct debit. This is the safest and most convenient method of payment.
Key dates
- You choose whether you wish to pay weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly or annually. A fixed amount will come out of your account on the day you have specified.
- Spreading the payments over the course of the year allows you to budget more easily, which means you will not receive large bills at the end of each quarter.
- The amount of your direct debit may change after the rates are confirmed for the new rating year, or if a payment is missed. We will write to you telling you what the new amount will be and change it for you if this is the case.
- You can forget cheques, stamps, posting payments or queuing at counters.
- Once your direct debit payments have been set up you do not have to remember payment dates, removing the possibility of late payments and penalty fees.
- We will send you a quarterly invoice that will show how much you have paid.
- Download and complete the direct debit authority form or call us on 03 520 7400 and we can send the form out to you with a reply paid envelope.
- Complete it, sign it, and either drop it back to us or post it to us. The forms must be returned to Council, rather than your bank, so that we can load your direct debit information onto your rate account, which allows the payment amount to be calculated.
- We will send you a confirmation letter when we have processed your application. The letter will include the amount to be direct debited and confirm the starting date.
- Most people set their direct debits up to go out a few days after their wages have gone into their bank account; this way there is always enough money in the bank to cover the payment.
Information regarding payment of rates by direct debit (202 Kb)
Authority to accept direct debits* (415 Kb)
- Payments can be made weekly, fortnightly or monthly to suit your budget
- Unlike direct debits, you need to change automatic payment amounts when your annual rates amount changes
- You may be charged a penalty of 10% of the instalment amount remaining unpaid on the ‘last date for payment’. In addition a further penalty of 10% will be added to all rates and charges that remain unpaid on 30 June.
- Download and complete the automatic payment form below or call us on 03 520 7400 and we can send the form out to you with a reply paid envelope.
- Complete it, sign it, and either drop it back to us or post it to us.
- Most people set their automatic payments up to go out a few days after their wages have gone in to their bank account; this way there is always have enough money in the bank to cover the payment.
Authority for Automatic Payments (40 Kb)
- Most banks are set up for this and know our bank account number and the required format for information. Tell your bank the amount you want to pay on, or before, the penalty date shown on your current rates instalment notice.
- Telephone banking transactions are processed within 48 hours. If your payment does not show up on your statement, contact us as soon as you can.
- If you have any problems, let us know on 03 520 7400.
- It is your responsibility to ensure that the full amount of the instalment is paid by the due date.
- You will be charged a penalty of 10% of the instalment amount remaining unpaid on the ‘last date for payment’. In addition a further penalty of 10% will be added to all rates and charges that remain unpaid on 30 June.
- Our bank details:
- Bank: BNZ
- Account Name: Marlborough District Council Rates
- Account Bank Account Number:02-0600-0202861-02
Information that you must enter when setting up the payment so it is shown clearly on our bank statement:
Your six digit property number is required (top right hand corner of your rates invoice) for the reference and use the word "rates" for the code. Your name.
If paying from overseas your bank requires our Swift number: BKNZ NZ22.
- Post your cheque to the council in the reply-paid envelope supplied to be received by Council by the due date otherwise penalties will apply.
- You can pay by cheque and use the quick drop off facility (during the last week of payments being due) at Blenheim or Picton Customer Service Centre.
- You can pay by cash, cheque or eftpos at Council’s Blenheim or Picton Customer Service Centres.
- We are currently not able to accept credit cards.
You can amend or stop your existing direct debit at any time by calling (03 520 7400, emailing mdc@marlborough.govt.nz or writing to us PO Box 443, Blenheim). You will then need to complete a new form and send it to us with all the new details.
- If you are having difficulty paying your rates on time you should contact us as soon as possible and we can make arrangements for you to continue paying without falling into arrears. It might seem easier to miss a payment when budgets are tight but by doing this you may have penalties added.
- By making contact with our rates office as soon as possible you may be able to arrange a mutually acceptable repayment plan to bring your rates account up to date and reduce or avoid further penalties.
- Avoiding penalties could be as simple as signing up for a direct debit.
- You may qualify for Rates Rebate if your household income is below a certain threshold.
- The number to call for assistance is 03 520 7400.
The agencies listed below may be able to offer you advice and assistance in dealing with money and debts:
Budget Advice Services/Citizens Advice Bureau – 25 Alfred Street, Blenheim, 03 578 2006.
Bread of Life Trust – 14B Stephenson Street, Blenheim, 03 578 1355.
Who is Receivables Management (NZ) Ltd?
They are a debt management company that works on behalf of the Marlborough District Council to recover unpaid rates. We use Receivables Management (NZ) Ltd prior to applications to mortgagee companies (e.g. your bank) and the District Court for recovery of the outstanding rates. If you have received correspondence from Receivables Management (NZ) Ltd you will need to contact them in order to arrange payment.