Broadland District Council scoops Council Tax/Business Rates Direct Debit award

Published: 15/09/2006

Capita Software Services congratulates Broadland District Council on being awarded in the 2006 BACS Local Authority Direct Debit Challenge for the highest increase in Direct Debit (DD) transactions in the past 12 months. In addition Broadland have been commended in the Quality category of the awards for their promotion work on Direct Debit and for improving their processes.

In the past 12 months Broadland have increased DD take-up by over 4,000 principally by moving from payment vouchers to swipe cards. Part of the promotional campaign to achieve this involved a mailshot to promote DD offering a new DD instalment date and offering DD payment over 12 months. The council utilises the Capita's Academy software within its Revenues, benefits and housing teams, the software provides flexible options for setting up customers DDs including the ability to offer multiple DD dates.

Broadland were awarded a cash award of £500 from BACS which they have donated to the NSPCC.

John Reeve, Head of Revenues at Broadland District Council commented: "On behalf of our team I am delighted that we have achieved this excellent standard of recognition from BACS. It is through our commitment to citizen services and continuous improvement that we have realised this success and with the help of Capita's Academy software we look forward to achieving even better results in the future."

Information about the 2006 BACS Local Authority Direct Debit Challenge

An annual competition where BACS invite local authorities to submit an entry to gain a Council Tax/Business Rates Direct Debit award in one of three categories;

  • Increase in DD penetration award - winners are the Local Authority that achieves the highest increase in DD penetration for council tax over the preceding 12 months
  • Quality Award - Six quality awards, one for each of the six categories for the Local Authority that demonstrates organisational improvements to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction
  • Best Promotion Award - An award for the work which best displays effectiveness through innovative creativity
Read more about the Direct Debit Challenge here.

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