CORNWALL Council has been made aware that some people have received more than one copy of their council tax bill.

 

The council has been in contact with its supplier to find out what has happened and the extent of the problem and they have been investigating further over the weekend.

 

Geoff Brown, Cornwall Council cabinet member for Communities said: ’May I sincerely apologise for any confusion this may have caused anyone. The printing and posting of council tax bills, including bills for business rates, is managed by an external supplier.

’Cornwall Council does not currently have the capacity or equipment to be able to do this in-house hence using an external company. The data we supplied to the company was secure and correct and the supplier has taken full responsibility for the error.

 

’Please be assured that neither Cornwall Council or therefore the council tax payer, will be charged for any additional postage that has been incurred for duplicate bills sent out in error.

 

’The one exception is where businesses are registered as a partnership as in these circumstances we are legally required to issue copies to each partner.

 

’We will continue to liaise with the company over this error but in the meantime please be reassured that residents and businesses are only being billed once so please ignore any duplicate bills received. We would also like to thank those people who took the time to contact us to point out the initial error.’

 

As part of council tax billing this year, the council is promoting the option to go paperless and pay by direct debit. This means that residents can view their bill online at any time during the year and will no longer receive a paper bill. Details of how to register for this scheme are included on the reverse of the paper bill so if you would like to reduce paper billing, then now is a very good time to sign up. Anyone who signs up before 30 June is in with a chance of winning an IPad Air. Find out how here: www.cornwall.gov.uk/gopaperless

Paperless billing means:-

 

.   You can set up a direct debit for council tax or business rates. It’s now even easier as the council offer four dates of collection in the month – 1, 7, 15 or 20 — you choose.

·         See full details of your account or claim.

·         Sign up for e-billing so you are no longer sent paper bills.

·         Check your council tax discounts and allowances.

·         Notify the council you are moving (council tax only).

·         Sign up for e-notifications so you are no longer sent paper benefit notifications.

·         See when your payments are due.

·         See how your charges or benefits are worked out.