Our friendly staff look forward to assisting with your enquiry.
If you are having difficulty paying your council rates and charges, we are here to help.
There are many ways that we can assist you. If the payment options do not suit your needs or you have rates that are already overdue, please contact us for a confidential discussion and we can work out a way to best support you.
The earlier you contact us the better.
We are committed to providing support to our ratepayers who are experiencing hardship.
We will continue to participate in training to better understand the issues and provide necessary support and assistance. We will apply our learnings to improve the services offered and support our ratepayers to meet their payment requirements.
We can also refer you to a free financial counselling service provider who can help you assess your financial situation, as well as give you information and options about your debt issues and help you develop a plan to improve your situation.
Financial counsellors aren’t judgmental about your circumstances and are there to offer you free, confidential and independent advice.
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Flexible payment plans
If your rates are overdue, we can work with you to set up a payment plan.
Payment plans allow you to pay smaller amounts either weekly or fortnightly, and these payments can extend over multiple years.
Payment plans are easy to apply for - just call us.
If you are on a payment plan you will not be charged interest, and no legal action will be taken to recover your debt. You will have an extended time to pay without penalty.
You can manage your own repayments, or we can assist you to set up a regular deduction through Centrepay, or we can offer you a direct debit arrangement.
Please contact us for more information.
Hardship assistance
During times of financial difficulty, mounting bills can feel incredibly overwhelming. We are here to help you get back on track and improve your financial situation.
If your rates are overdue and you cannot commit to a payment plan there are other forms of assistance that we may be able to offer you.
You may apply for a reduced payment plan, an extension of time before your rates are due to be paid, or a full or partial waiver of your rates and charges.
This type of support is offered to all ratepayers who are experiencing hardship or financial hardship.
You will need to complete a hardship application form to ensure you are eligible and to assist us to determine the best way to support you.
You can get an application form by calling or writing to us.
All applications are treated in strict confidence and only made available to officers involved in the processing of your application.
You may use the services of a financial counsellor to help you complete your application.
If you want more information on how we can help please contact us.
Support services
There are many third-party support services that you may benefit from, these include:
Financial support services
Anglicare Bairnsdale
Offers free and confidential financial information and counselling.
Rural Financial Counselling Services
Provides agricultural industries and small rural business with free, confidential, and independent planning and support services.
Rural Financial Counselling Services
Latrobe Community Health
Provides free and confidential financial counselling sessions for members of the community impacted by gambling (either directly or indirectly).
1800 242 696
Latrobe Community Health Service Bairnsdale
Money Smart
Free calculators, tips and guidance to support people having problems paying their bills.
National Debt Helpline
Free and confidential financial information and counselling.
Mob Strong Debt Helpline
Free nationwide legal advice and financial counselling service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Small Business Debt Helpline
Free, independent, and confidential financial counselling advice for small businesses.
Other support services
1800 Respect
Free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week support to people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence.
SafeSteps
24/7 specialist support services for anyone in Victoria who is experiencing or afraid of family violence.
Mensline
Free telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere, anytime.
QLife
Anonymous and free support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.
InTouch
Provides services, programs, and responses to family violence in migrant and refugee communities.
Lifeline
Providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
Beyond Blue
Provides mental health information and support to people to help all Australians to achieve their best possible mental health.
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