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03 Apr 2008

The way you can change your rate bill is changing

Land and Property Services (LPS) is making changes to the ways in which householders can pay their rate bills from 1 April 2008.
While ratepayers will no longer be able to pay their rate bill in cash at any of the LPS local offices, they will be able to take advantage of a wider range of easy and convenient payment methods.
These include:
  • by direct debit;
  • at local shops or garages displaying the Payzone network logo;
  • at Post Offices, banks and building societies; and
  • by standing order, telephone and internet banking.
John Wilkinson, Chief Executive of LPS, explains:
“These changes will help to make sure that payment methods are easy and convenient for our customers, as well as helping us to be more effective.
"We are writing to all ratepayers who currently pay by means other than direct debit to tell them about these changes.
"While people will no longer be able to pay by cash at our local offices, they can still do so at Post Offices, banks and building societies - please note that our local offices will remain open and available for people to come in to talk to us if they have questions or problems regarding their rate bills.
“If anyone has any questions about these changes I would encourage them to contact our helpline where our staff will be pleased to help them.”
The helpline number is 084 5300 6360, minicom 084 5300 6361.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. Land and Property Services (LPS) is the new executive agency within the Department of Finance and Personnel, formed by the merger of the former Valuation and Lands Agency and the Rate Collection Agency. From 1 April 2008 it has been joined by Land Registers of Northern Ireland and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
  2. The change to methods of payment is likely to affect a small number of ratepayers who still pay their rates in cash.
  3. Land and Property Services (LPS) will write to the 300,000 ratepayers who currently do not pay by direct debit to tell them about these changes. Detailed information about the full range of ways to pay their rate bills will be provided.
  4. Rate bills for 2008/09 will be sent out from the week commencing 7 April.
  5. Media enquiries only to DFP Communications Office on 028 9052 7374 or 028 9052 7375. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.