Frequently asked questions
Which services accept online payments?
The online payment service allows you to make debit and credit card payments directly and securely to the council for all of the following:
Council tax
Business rates
Housing rent
Green waste collections
Refuse collections
Housing benefit overpayment
Social care invoice
Debtor invoice
Careline invoice
Mortgage payment
Leasehold service charges
Leasehold major works invoice
What type of card can I use?
We welcome payments using any of the following cards:
Debit cards: Maestro, Delta
Credit cards: Visa, Mastercard
Are my PC and Internet Browser compatible?
To use our online payments service your browser must support 128-bit encryption strength. If your browser does not support this level of encryption technology you will not be able to pay for services online.
The way to check this setting varies according to the software you have installed but for most people you can show the level of encryption supported by clicking "Help" then "About" on your browser toolbar, then checking the "Cipher strength" (Internet Explorer) or "Version Support" (Netscape) values. This screen normally provides a link to download any software you may require.
What security levels does Southampton city council have for online payments?
All payments are encrypted using 128-bit encryption to ensure your payment information can't be intercepted on the internet. We do not store your debit or credit card details so there is no risk of this data being accessed by third parties after the payment has concluded.
When you are entering your payment information, ensure that your browser shows a "padlock" icon indicating that the transaction is being protected using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption. When you send your card details to us they are transmitted in a format wheich prevents access by anyone else on the internet. Likewise the transmission to the bank to validate the card and payment details and the data kept on our cash receipting database are protected using an encryption process agreed with the banks.
When will my account be credited with my payment?
Payment details are transferred to customer accounts each weekday at 17:00 hours. Payments made online after 17:00 hours or over the weekend will be transferred at 17:00 hours on the next working day.
Is there a limit to how much I can pay in one transaction?
Yes, the limit for a single transaction is £2,000.
What should I do if I am having problems with online payments?
If you are having technical problems with making a payment online you should first check that your PC and Browser are compatible.
If you experience further problems, please call the Southampton Parking Services team on 023 8083 4600 during normal working hours.
If you experience problems making any other type of payment, please call our cash office on 023 8083 2654 between the hours of 09:00 am and 16:30 pm, Monday to Friday, or email cash.office@southampton.gov.uk.
Last updated: 16 September 2006
