[Dallas McConnell]

One of our Councillors is putting forward a motion at the next Council meeting (29 January 2019), for WCC to undertake actions to put in place the use of centrepay to receive payments from ratepayers towards the rates.

The Councillor advised water, gas, electricity and rent are able to be paid using this facility. Fortnightly payments through this method will assist ratepayer to find funds on a fortnightly basis.

Previously when I have looked at this option the costs were around $1.00 per transactions, I believe you could expect to receive payments in the vicinity of $20.00 – $30.00 per transactions. Seems a tough pill to swallow paying a 5% transaction fee, especially when we have 6 other payment methods including direct debit.

Can anyone provide some information on the pros/cons from a customer and operational perspective?
Current costs for the service?

Any other information that may assist?

[Andrew Butcher]

Hi Dallas

We have been offering Centrepay for Childcare fees for about 10 years now and for rates about 5 years.

The rates payments came about following a circular from the OLG recommending Centrepay as an option to help manage debt, we monitored those that signed up and found it to be purely transitional, that is people were paying just by another method. in the last twelve months we received around 480 payments, 260 Childcare, 188 Rates and 32 Debtors.

We don’t have an agreement for debtors but that doesn’t stop people paying onto their rates and/or Childcare account then requesting a transfer across. Most recently we have seen an increase in the error rate in customer payments supposedly set up for rates but applied to Childcare. Customers advise that they have tried to make changes however it is difficult to do so.

Operationally its easy to setup in Pathway and is just another import at the end of the day.

Hope this is helpful.

Regards,

Andrew

[Suzi Flynn]

Hi Dallas,

Someone else may be able to confirm this but I understand that if you allow Centrepay as a payment option, it will be available to anyone who receives any sort of payment from the government. You can’t restrict the payees to just your pensioners. However, the number of users at Campbelltown quoted by Andrew might indicate it’s not a very popular payment method anyway. Further numbers from other councils might help you to advise Councillors on anticipated costs and benefits. It’s not offered at the City.

Suzi

[Michael Cherry]

Hi Dallas,

We’ve had Centrepay for around 5 years now – for rate payments only. We only average approx. 400 payments per annum. Like Andrew we introduced it following a circular from the OLG recommending Centrepay as an option to help manage debt and it has hung around since. As you mention most payments are for smaller amounts. It’s cetainly not cost effective but the elected Council thought it was a great idea!!!

[Dallas McConnell]

Thanks for the information, and thanks to those that contacted me directly.

Ill keep you posted with what happens here but im feeling like its inevitable.

Regards,
Dallas

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