Council tax text/email messaging service

We are using a new messaging service to contact our customers who are in arrears.

If your Council Tax account falls into arrears we may contact you using a text and/or email reminder before taking further recovery action if we have your contact details, before issuing formal notices.

Why are we using this service?

This service can prevent statutory recovery notices such as council tax reminders being issued, and may help you avoid paying expensive costs.

Whilst this service is offered to prevent customers from falling further into arrears, it should not be relied upon.

It is your responsibility to maintain the instalments due on your account in line with your bill. Failure to do so may result in recovery action being taken.

How will we contact customers?

We may contact you using one or more of the following:

• text message and verification screen
• email and verification screen

I have been contacted - how do I know if this is genuine or not?

Below are examples of the text message/verification screen and email/verification screen we may send.

Text message and verification screen examples

If you click the link in the first message you will be shown the second screen to verify your postcode.

You will then receive a further message with details of how to pay your remaining Council Tax:

Email and verification screen example

If you receive a text message or email about your Council Tax arrears but are not sure it is genuine, you can view your council tax account online at www.stoke.gov.uk/myaccount.