fine payment systems

Defendants are instructed to place their fine payment (cash or cheque) within a special sealed envelope. They then key-in details such as fine/account number, plus amount of payment, before inserting their envelope in the payment machine.

A unique and detailed acknowledgement slip is then issued automatically by the machine, this being retained by the defendant for their records.

Mr. Lyn Harding, Head of Courts Administration at Gwent Magistrates’ says:

“Following centralisation of our finance and enforcement office in Cwmbran, there were no facilities for defendants to pay at outlying courts. This caused a drop in collection rates and in the payment rate indicator.

After discussions I purchased self-service payment machines from Banking Automation for my busiest sites. Since their introduction my Finance staff and I are very impressed with the machines. They are a significant tool in our efforts to increase fine collection rates.”

The payment hall where council tax and sundry accounts were collected was staffed by five cashiers, but became so busy at peak times that long queues formed. At times, there was customer hostility because of the time taken to process payments - at other times cashiers were under occupied. The alternative method of payment was at the Post Office where transaction charges were levied for Council Tax accounts.

Coventry City Council now operates 2 Self-Service Pay-In Machines, in addition to a smaller, manned counter facility. The use of both technologies allows queues at peak times to be reduced, particularly when monthly Council Tax payments are due. On those days it is usual for each Pay-In Machine to accept several hundred envelope deposits from customers - a quantity of transactions that would otherwise clearly cause problems for existing counter staff.

Because Coventry City Council has deployed Pay-In Machines for a great many years, their customers and staff are very comfortable with the concept and day-to-day operation of them.

Once Pay-In Machines have been deployed in a location for any period of time, it is found that customers quickly embrace them and adopt the automated Self-Service method of making payments. A Local Authority considering withdrawing a Pay-In Machine would no doubt meet with a loud shout of disapproval and objection!

Benefits to the Council:

• More efficient deployment of staff
• Post Office fees are reduced as more payments made through Self-Service machines
• Better service to customers
• Cost effective and reliable