Make a payment
» Parking payments for penalty notices issued for parking, bus lane and moving traffic violations
Frequently asked questions about online payments
- Security questions
- Do I need to use any new software?
- What can I pay online?
- Is it safe?
- What if it doesn't work?
- When will my payment be processed?
- Which cards do you accept?
- Can I have a receipt?
- What if my card is refused?
- Why is Waltham Forest offering online payments?
- Paying by Direct Debit
- Legal statement
Security questions
Security for online payments
Additional security checks are now required on all card payments. This is to reduce any possible fraudulent use of cards for on-line transactions. These checks mean you may now be asked additional questions to confirm your payment:
CV2 number
The entry of the three digit card security code on the signature strip on the back of the card (CV2 in the picture below). This code is mandatory
Verisecure password
If you have signed up to Verisecure, an additional screen will appear for you to enter a second password for on-line transactions
Do I need to use any new software?
You may need to download a specific browser to use our online transactions service. This is a free download. The information you need is available below under the 'Is it Safe?' heading. You may not be able to use the online payments facility if you do not use the recommended software.
What can I pay for online?
You can pay for Council Tax, Business Rates, BID accounts, housing rents, Housing Benefit overpayments, and other council accounts (sundry debtors).
- We accept credit and debit cards for payments for sundry debtors, Council Tax, Business Rates, BID accounts, and Housing Benefit overpayments
- However we only take debit cards for housing rents
Is it safe?
Yes, it is safe. Your transaction will take place within a secure payment system. We use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology, a standard supported by major internet browsers. This means that all of your personal and card details are protected by 128 bit encryption (encoding) when transmitted over the Internet.
If you are in a public place, we strongly advise you to make sure that you are not overlooked when you enter your details, to prevent them being misused by somebody else.
128-bit encryption
Your browser must support 128-bit encryption for it to work securely. Some browsers that have 128-bit encryption are listed below. If your browser does not support this level of encryption, you can click on one of these browsers to upgrade your browser or select an alternative (please read our disclaimer first):
Microsoft Internet Explorer (Windows)
What if it doesn't work?
If you can't get into the payments page when you click on "Make a payment", this is probably because your browser doesn't support 128-bit encryption. You are therefore prevented from making a payment since anything less than 128-bit is not safe. In order to make the online payment, you may have to update your browser's encryption, or use another browser. This can be very easy to do and needn't you anything - details are given above.
When will my payment be processed?
Although you can make online payments at any time, your payment can only be credited to your account during the week. Payments taken over the weekend and on bank holidays will be credited to your account the next working day. All payments paid up to 3.45pm (15.45) on a normal working day will be credited to your account on the same day. All payments taken after that time will be processed the next working day.
Which cards do you accept?
You can pay by Visa, MasterCard, Visa Delta, Electron, Switch, and Solo.
- We accept debit cards for all online payments
- Credit cards are only accepted for Sundry Debtors ("miscellaneous invoices"), Council Tax, Business Rates, Benefit Overpayments, and prepayments.
- We regret we do not accept payments by American Express and Diners Club.
Can I have a receipt?
You will receive details of your payment on your screen after you make the payment. You can print this out as confirmation.
If you give your email address during the payment transaction, we will also send confirmation of your payment to that email address.
What if my card is refused?
Cards are not refused by Waltham Forest - they are refused by your bank. There are many reasons why this may happen and we suggest you contact your bank directly.
Why is Waltham Forest offering online payments?
Delivering council services electronically is part of the modernising government agenda, and making it possible to pay for services online forms part of our Access to Services Strategy.
Paying by Direct Debit
If you don't want to pay your bills using your debit or credit cards, you can always ease your mind by paying by Direct Debit:
- About Direct Debit
- Set up a direct debt online for Council Tax
- Direct debit application form for Housing Rents (50KB PDF file)
- Set up a direct debit online for Business Rates
Some of these documents are in PDF format . To view them you may need to download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Legal statement
The data that you provide during this transaction will only be used for the purpose of recording your payment. We shall abide by the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 and ensure that the data is used for no other purposes and is disclosed to no third party other than those involved in the banking transaction.
Contact us
Julie Coulson
Manager Waltham Forest Direct
Blackhorse Lane
Walthamstow E17 5QJ
Tel 020 8496 3000
Email wfdirect@walthamforest.gov.uk
