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Rents Payment - Do It by Direct Debit

Prize draw details

Paying your rent by Direct Debit is the easiest way to pay.

Not only is Direct Debit the easiest way for you to pay but it is also the easiest way for us to collect your payment and this means that service costs are reduced which allows us to spend more on services which tenants want.

Therefore as a way to say “thank you” for choosing this option we have launched a new competition.

Everyone paying this way will be entered in a draw for three cash prizes every three months worth up to £250.

Once you have set up your Direct Debit, you can relax in the knowledge that your rent will be paid correctly and on time, without you having to do anything.

You don't have to worry about getting to the bank, visiting a council office, making a call or logging on and paying online. All the worry and pressure of making your rent payment on time is taken away.

The correct amount will automatically be taken from your bank or building society account, and if that amount should need to change, for example when the rent goes up we will write and let you know first.

Your bank details are completely safe, and in the unlikely event of a mistake being made you are protected by the Direct Debit guarantee.

We evicted 90 households last year because of rent arrears, so making sure that the rent account is up to date is something all tenants need to do.

Setting up a Direct Debit
You can set up your Direct Debit by:

Calling us on 020 8227 2926

Downloading a form by using the link on the right-hand side of this page

You can pay weekly, fortnightly, monthly. Monthly dates are the 1st, 8th, 15th, and 22nd of the month. There is also an option to pay every 4 weeks.

Payments which are not made weekly, must be made in advance.

You must be able to ensure that you have the correct amount of money in your account to cover the payment at the due date.

Please note: Direct Debits cannot be made from certain types of account, for example a savings account. Please check with your bank if you are unsure.
The Competition
If you choose to pay your rent by Direct Debit then you will be automatically entered into a prize draw with the chance to win the following prizes*:

1st prize: £250

Two second prizes of £100

The prize draw will be held quarterly.

Please note: If you already pay your rent by Direct Debit then you do not have to do anything, you will be automatically entered into the prize draws, as long as you are still paying by Direct Debit at the close of the competitions.

*Terms and conditions apply, please see below.
Terms and Conditions
To enter this competition you must pay rent as a council tenant (any tenancy type) to the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Only one entry per household is allowed. (You cannot cancel your DD mandate and re-set it up again to gain more entries).

You must have maintained a clear rent account for the previous 3 months. The need for a clear account will include your garage rent account if you rent a garage. Any garage tenancy must also be paid for by DD.

There is one main prize and two additional prizes.

The main prize-fund is a total amount of £250.

The two subsequent prizes are each for a total amount of £100.

If you accrue arrears after the draw date your prize fund will be used (in part or in full) to reduce your outstanding debt.

Tenants must have been on Direct Debit for the preceding two months.

The draws will take place in January, April, July and October 2012. The draws will be made by an individual not employed by Barking and Dagenham Council.

We reserve the right to amend the competition end date at any time.

If you are a winner, we will notify you by phone and post. The judges’ decision will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

The prize will not be transferable to another person.

We reserve the right to amend these rules, and the competition, at any time. If we do this we will publish the amended and/or new competition rules on the relevant website pages.

We will endeavour to send prizes within three weeks of the competition draw date but we cannot guarantee this delivery time.

By entering the competition the winner agrees to participate in such promotional activity and material as we may decide. However individuals will retain the right not to have their name or address publicized if they request that we do not do so when we contact them about their prize.