Council tax payers entered into £25,000 lottery (From Times Series)

Barnet council tax payers entered into £25,000 lottery

2:47pm Tuesday 12th June 2012 in News By Emma Innes

Barnet’s council tax payers are being offered a chance of winning £25,000 if they sign up to pay by Direct Debit.

The borough is one of 17 across London which will enter all householders who pay their council tax by Direct Debit into the prize draw.

The competition is being run by the local authorities and Bacs Payment Schemes Ltd, the not for profit organisation behind Direct Debit.

To be entered into the competition you must have signed up to pay your council tax in this way by July 12.

Councillor Daniel Thomas said: “Direct Debit is a much cheaper way for us to process payments and the money we save can be used for the benefit of local residents.

“Switching also helps the resident to budget and we’re encouraging as many people as possible to switch to Direct Debit and be in with the chance of winning the £25,000 prize.”

To switch to Direct Debit return a completed paper Direct Debit Instruction to Barnet Council; sign up to Direct Debit on the council’s website www.barnet.gov.uk; or give them a call on 020 8359 2608.

People who already pay their council tax bill by Direct Debit will be entered into the prize draw automatically.

Other boroughs involved are Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Brent, City of Westminster, Ealing, Enfield, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Kensington and Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Redbridge and Southwark.

Last year’s £25,000 prize was won by a Southwark resident, while in 2010 the winner lived in Haringey.

This year’s winner will be drawn on July 17.