Payment of Creditors by BACS Direct Credit

Registration of Creditors by BACS Direct Credit online form

The Council is continually looking to improve its services and make best use of technology. The Government is also encouraging all Council's to improve accessibility, quality and cost effectiveness by delivering services electronically. Gosport Borough Council has a number of projects to achieve these aims and a number of them will improve the way you and the Council do business. They include:

• Payment of the Council's Creditors by BACS Direct Credit
• Electronic remittance advices for BACS Direct Credit payments
• Automated processes to improve performance times for payment of invoices

Payment of the Council's Creditors by BACS Direct Credit

Perhaps you are already receiving payment from other suppliers by Direct Credit, or pay some of your own suppliers this way, in which case you will already be aware of the benefits. However, if you need further reassurance, these are the major benefits:

• Payments arrive in your account as cleared funds, this means the money can earn interest straight away and you do not have to wait for the cheque to clear
• There is less time spent handling and banking cheques, which means more time attending to your daily business and consequently less cost
• Cheques can be mislaid or delayed, whereas a Direct Credit payment goes straight to your account
• Bank charges for a Direct Credit are often substantially lower than for a cheque

N.B. You still receive a remittance advice providing details of the payment being credited to your bank account electronically.

Do you want the Council to pay you by BACS Direct Credit?

If the answer to this question is YES we will need to know the sort code and account number of your bank account and you can provide this information electronically. Registration of Creditors by BACS Direct Credit online form Please be assured that this information will be protected and will not be passed to any other organisation.

N.B. you will need your supplier reference number to register online. Your supplier reference is quoted on the remittance advice that accompanies your cheque. If you do not know your supplier reference, please contact us to find out how you can register.

If the answer to this question is NO, you need take no further action and the Council will continue to pay your invoices by cheque. However, are you sure that you have not underestimated the benefits of BACS Direct Credit? If you would like more information on BACS Direct Credit please contact Accounts Payable on Tel: 023 9254 5315 or e-mail accounts.payable@gosport.gov.uk

Electronic Remittance Advices for BACS Direct Credit Payments

It is now possible to issue an electronic remittance at the time of making payment to you electronically.

When you register online for BACS Direct Credit you are asked to provide an email address, if one is not supplied a paper remittance will be posted by second class mail. If you are receiving payment by BACS Direct Credit, but are not receiving your remittance electronically, please contact Accounts Payable on Tel: 023 9254 5315 or e-mail accounts.payable@gosport.gov.uk with your email and we will arrange for you to receive an electronic remittance with future payments.

Other steps you can take to help us pay your invoices promptly

• Orders for goods and services should only be accepted from Council Officers who use an Official Order - please request an order number every time
• Please quote the Official Order number on your invoices
• If your invoices relate to a contract and you do not therefore have an official order, please quote the contact person here at the Council on the invoice
• Please address your invoices correctly. The purchase order will show a delivery address relating to a department or Council building

Your assistance in this area will help us to be more efficient and pay your invoices on time.