Paying by Direct Debit — everybody wins!

A care home for adults and young people with learning disabilities has won the top prize in North Norfolk District Council’s direct debit prize draw.

A care home for adults and young people with learning disabilities has won the top prize in North Norfolk District Council’s direct debit prize draw.

Worstead Lodge, a private residential and day care facility near North Walsham run by Independence with Care, intends to spend its £200 prize — kindly donated by the Co-operative Bank — on recreational equipment for its clients.

The prize draw was open to all customers who pay their council tax or business rates by direct debit, both new DD payers and those who were already signed up, making life easier for them and helping NNDC make more effective use of its resources. Worstead Lodge pays is business rates by direct debit.

The other winners were:

• Messrs R and J Craske, Mundesley Butchers, who won a pair of tickets to the Christmas Seaside Special courtesy of Openwide Coastal, who manage Cromer Pier and Pavilion Theatre for NNDC;
• Mr D and Mrs R Studd, Fakenham, who win £30 to spend at Homebase in Cromer, courtesy of Homebase;
• Mr J Corson, Irstead, winner of a month’s family swimming pass courtesy of DC Leisure, who manage the Victory and Splash leisure and fitness complexes and Fakenham Sports Centre for NNDC;
• Mr and Mrs Magnus, Stalham, who win a six-month short-stay car park pass from North Norfolk District Council.

Councillor Peter Moore, NNDC Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “Congratulations to all these winners, and sincere thanks to those organisations who gave prizes so we can draw attention to the benefits of paying by direct debit.

“In these times of financial hardship, paying by direct debit can give our customers the peace of mind of knowing that some of their most important bills will be paid. And it keeps the District Council’s costs down, which is good for all our taxpayers.”

Picture caption

• The attached picture shows Councillor Peter Moore (front left) and Worstead Lodge managers Rachel Tatchell and Tracey Howard (rear left and middle) with some of the care home’s residents, Tracy Spelman and Joseph Rickett who will benefit from new leisure equipment thanks to the £200 prize from the Co-operative Bank.

Notes for editor

• There are around 53,000 homes in North Norfolk, of which nearly 42,000 pay a council tax bill. Of those, 32,500 pay by direct debit.
• There are 5700 businesses in North Norfolk, and 5400 pay a business rates bill. Of those, 3220 pay by direct debit.
• Each direct debit transaction costs North Norfolk District Council roughly 1.9p to process (or 19p for the usual 10 transactions a year). Payments by swipe card at a Pay Point cost the council 40p each, or 47p in a post office — as much as £4.70 a year for council tax payers.

ENDS