[Trevor Holland]

Good Afternoon Everyone

No doubt everyone is back into the swing of things after the conference.

Just reviewing how we handle the situation where a payment is received from Australia Post and the rate or debtor account is incorrect or unable to be identified.

Would be interested in hearing everyone’s opinion and finding out how they handle these types of transaction.

If anyone has put together a procedure it would be great if they could share it with everyone.

thanks in advance.
Trevor

[Simone Fisher]

Hi Trevor, we hold the payment in a suspense account for 2 instalments in the hope that the ratepayer will contact us once they receive a missed instalment notice or the next instalment notice. If they do contact us we ask for a proof of payment (bank statement showing payment) & then transfer the payment to their account.
If they don’t contact us & we still can’t identify the account we refer the details of the payment to Post Billpay & request that they reverse the payment back to the credit card used to make the payment.
When I first requested Australia Post do this they were reluctant but we’ve since sent several lists to them, usually with 5-10 different payments at a time & they’ve processed reversals for all credit cards that were still current.
Thanks,
Simone

[Carla Mete]

Hi Everyone,
I was just wondering how many Councils have ceased using Australia Post as a payment option?
Thank you

[Lee Howard]

Great Lakes stopped Australia Post payments in 2009 we copped a bit of flack for the 1st year but nothing much now. We sent out flyers with the rate notices advising ratepayers & asking them to use direct debit. A lot of our ratepayers live outside the area so they did complain a bit but most have now changed to either direct debit or bPay.

Now we are merged with Taree & Gloucester who are still both using Aust Post.

[Carla Mete]

Hi Simone
Do you have a contact name or email address for Post Billpay? We would like to look into sneding back unallocated payments to them too.
thanks Carla

[Simone Fisher]

Hi Carla,

Last time we requested this Agency Services were able to assist.
NSWAgencyServices@auspost.com.au

Thanks,

[Author]

Posts