If you do not pay by Direct Debit, or if your Council Tax account falls into arrears, we may contact you by text message or email with important information about your account.
This service is designed to help customers avoid falling behind with payments and prevent unnecessary recovery action and additional costs.
What messages might we send?
We may contact you about:
- Upcoming Council Tax payments
- Missed or overdue payments
- Council Tax arrears
- Payment reminders
- Support available if you are struggling to pay
Please note that receiving a text message or email reminder does not remove your responsibility to pay your Council Tax on time.
How we will contact you
We may contact you using:
- Text message (SMS)
How to recognise a genuine message
Text message
Genuine Council Tax text messages from the City of Wolverhampton Council will:
- Clearly identify the Council as the sender
- Include a secure link to a Council-approved website
- Direct you to information about your Council Tax account or payment options
- Never ask you to send bank details by text message
- Never ask for your personal details
Genuine Council Tax emails from the City of Wolverhampton Council will:
- Clearly state they relate to your Council Tax account
- Include information about your payment status or account
- Contain links to official Council webpages
- Never ask you to reply with your bank details
- Never ask for your personal details
Example of a genuine text message
Secure Authentication Page
This link takes you to a secure verification page provided by the Council. To help protect your personal information, you will be asked to enter your postcode to confirm your identity before viewing any details relating to your Council Tax account. This is a standard security measure designed to ensure that sensitive information is only accessed by the correct person.
Secure payment pages
If you follow a link from one of our messages, you may be directed to a secure page where you can:
- View payment options
- Make a payment
- Access support and advice
- Get information about your Council Tax account
Examples of a genuine payment page
Messages will only be sent if we hold your current contact details. Text messages will be sent from 'WolverhamC', and emails will be sent from 'noreply@collections.wolverhampton.gov.uk'.
If you receive a text message or email, you can make a payment using our automated payment line on 0800 180 4464, pay online using this link Pay · Customer Self-Service or contact us on 01902 551166. These are genuine City of Wolverhampton Council payment contact methods.
How to spot a scam
A message claiming to be about Council Tax may be fraudulent if it:
- Asks for your bank details or card details by text message or email
- Promises a Council Tax refund you were not expecting
- Offers to write off Council Tax debt in return for a fee
- Contains spelling mistakes or poor grammar
- Uses suspicious web links that do not appear to belong to the Council
If a message seems suspicious, do not click any links or provide any personal information.
Always check that links direct you to a website ending in wolverhampton.gov.uk before entering any information.
What we will never do
The City of Wolverhampton Council will never:
- Ask you to provide bank details by text message or email
- Ask you to reply with confidential financial information
- Use threatening language
- Request passwords or online banking credentials
If you are unsure whether a message is genuine, please contact us directly before taking any action.
If you are struggling to pay
If you are having difficulty paying your Council Tax, support and advice are available.
Visit Struggling to pay your Council Tax
We encourage you to contact us as soon as possible so we can discuss the support options available.
What happens if you do not pay?
Ignoring payment reminders or overdue notices may lead to further recovery action and additional costs being added to your account.
Visit What happens if I don't pay my Council Tax
Create an online account and sign up for paperless billing
Managing your Council Tax online is quick, secure and convenient.
You can:
- View your Council Tax account
- Check balances and payments
- Receive paperless bills and notifications
- Manage your account online at any time
Need to contact us?
If you have any doubts about a text message or email you have received, contact us directly before making a payment or sharing any personal information.
Telephone: 01902 551166
Online: Contact Council Tax | City Of Wolverhampton Council
Important
This messaging service is intended to support customers and help prevent accounts from falling further into arrears. However, you remain responsible for ensuring your Council Tax payments are made on time, regardless of whether you receive a reminder.