Rates late payers asked to pay or contact the office

The Constables are always reluctant to do that but have a legal obligation to collect money that is owed by law to the parish and so have to consider going to court where people are in arrears and haven't spoken to the office.

In total, 425 accounts were unpaid by 4 June, the deadline. That number is now down to 290 so the Constables are urging these households either to pay or contact the office (details below) to make arrangements to do so.

Those still outstanding have a few days left before the office makes contact and imposes a late payment "fine".

Penalty
Under the Parochial Taxation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2008, late payment can be subject to an additional charge of £25 a month or 10% of the amount outstanding and the Constables want to avoid parishioners being subject to the penalty.

"That's why we are urging people who haven't paid or who are experiencing difficulties to contact us immediately," said an office spokesperson.

The douzaine has an obligation to collect all rates due and relies on the income to run the parish, collect household refuse and maintain the parish cemeteries, which is why it has to treat payment so seriously. This year, a total of £250,000 needs to be raised to meet the running costs of the parish plus an additional £456,300 to cover the cost of collecting and disposing household refuse.

Anyone not paying their rates inevitably means that the remainder have to pay proportionately more, hence today's reminder.

Constables' Office
The Constables’ Office is located at Maraitaine Road, Vale, Guernsey, GY3 5QE.

Telephone: 01481 244155

Its opening normal hours are: Monday - Friday 10.00 - 13.00

Email: [email protected]