Cash costs less

Stratford-on-Avon District Council offers a wide range of payment methods for the public and businesses.  These can be made in person at any of the District Council Offices across the District, at the bank, the post office, by phone, by post and via the Internet.  

However by offering different types of payment methods this comes at a cost to the District Council and during the last year the District Council has had to pay over £40,000 in commission charges in relation to the use of credit cards.  

As the collection authority for the Council Tax and Business rates the District Council has to pay all the associated costs involved with the different method of payment options available.  

In line with other Councils, including all of the other Warwickshire District Councils, Stratford-on-Avon District Council has decided to introduce a surcharge for credit card payments, this will be 2%.  The surcharge is applied to cover the charges levied by the bank to the District Council in relation to these credit card transactions and is non-refundable.  The surcharge does not apply to Debit Cards and other payment methods.  

Signs explaining the surcharge will be available soon in all District Council Offices.  

There are still a variety of payment methods that don't incur any surcharges these include direct debit, cash, cheque, postal order and debit card.