Pay your rates before it's too late!

Tuesday 04 June 2019

Vale Douzaine is reporting that around a quarter of households are yet to pay their parish rates - which are due on Friday.

As of yesterday, the Douzaine reported on its website that 1,281 households have yet to clear their bills out of the 4,697 sent out.

Those who do not pay by the deadline are liable to face a fine of £25 or 10% of the amount outstanding, at the discretion of the Constables.

'Obviously, the last thing we want to do is impose a penalty but we have an obligation to collect all rates due otherwise we cannot maintain and provide parish services," said Vale Senior Constable Richard Leale. "And if some people don't pay, that means we would end up having to charge everyone else more, which clearly wouldn't be fair.'

Mr Leale said there is more than one way to pay. 

"Some people think they can only pay in person or by sending in a cheque and that's not the case,' he said. "In fact, parishioners can do so over the phone, when we will take a card payment, or they can do so through their own online banking facility or mobile app."

More details about payment options are available on the parish website.

Parish rates across the island are due in at different time. St Peter Port, for example, is also due in this Friday, while rates in St Sampson's are due in the Friday after that (14 June).

Castel collect their parish rates earlier than most and this year set the deadline at 11 April. Eight weeks after, only around 150 households' rates remain outstanding out of more than 4,000.