End of Cheque Payments

Pay Online

We're saying cheerio to cheques from 21 May.

Timaru District Council will stop accepting cheques from 21 May due to the phasing out of the service by New Zealand banks.

At the same time the council will be removing all transaction fees from online payments through its website at timaru.govt.nz/pay-online.

There are a variety of easy ways to pay now that cheques are no longer being accepted.

Timaru District Council will stop accepting cheques from 21 May due to the phasing out of the service by New Zealand banks.

At the same time the council will be removing all transaction fees from online payments through its website at timaru.govt.nz/pay-online

While council will no longer be accepting cheques, there are lots of other ways you can pay:

  • Direct Credit via your internet or phone banking for Rates our payment details are at the bottom of every invoice we issue or on your rates payment slip below. You just need to set up payment once using your name as the particulars (example in blue box), property ID (red box) and RT as the reference then you can make payments each time.

Picture of an example rates bill payment slip

  • For other invoices the payment details are at the bottom of the invoice (marked here in green) The Particulars are your Debtor Account number (marked here in red), and the code is the invoice number (marked here in blue)

Picture of an invoice

  • Rates Direct Debit This is the easiest way of ensuring your rates are paid in time and our preferred method. Just download and fill in the form here, and we'll take the required amount automatically on the due date. We'll update it each year with how much you need to pay, so there's no need to worry.
  • In person with cash, eftpos or credit card at the council offices or Temuka or Geraldine Library and Service Centres.
  • Via our website at timaru.govt.nz/pay-online with a debit or credit card, and from 23 May without any transaction fees.

FAQs

Why are you stopping accepting cheques?

This is being done in response to a phasing out of cheques through 2021 by all of New Zealand's main banks. The timing is in line with the removal of cheques by the major banks.

My rates bill/parking ticket/other invoice said I could pay by cheque, why can't I?

Much of the paper stock we use was bulk printed at the start of the year, prior to the banks announcing the removal of cheque facilities. We don't want to waste resources by throwing them out, so will continue to use this stock until it is exhausted, then replace it with updated wording.

My bank says they are still accepting cheques after May 21.

We picked a date when the first major bank was stopping their cheque facility, rather than have four or five dates depending on what bank you are with (and which one we are with!) we decided to follow the approach of most organisations and go for one standard date.

Does this mean I have to do online banking?

Your bank can help you set up Timaru District Council as a payee on telephone banking. You can also pay with cash or eftpos at our offices or service centres, or for peace of mind with rates payments you can sign up for direct debit, then payments will be made automatically on the due date.

Last updated: 04 May 2021