Concerns raised after blind Harborough resident was initially unable to pay garden waste fee with a cheque

After initially refusing, Harborough District Council said it will now accept her cheque – and each cheque request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis

A Harborough resident, whose mother is registered blind, has called on the council to resume cheque payments for its garden waste service.

Richard Nichols contacted the Mail after the council did not reply to his concerns over the move to scrap cheque payments, since his 89-year-old mother Christine struggles to see her card and does not use internet banking.

Mr Nichols, who is authorised to withdraw cash and produce cheques for bills on her behalf, explained Christine did not like direct debits and the many obstacles they were up against when it came to internet banking.

He said: “The local authority notice that they were no longer accepting cheques has thrown her a bit.

“She cannot do internet banking as she can't see, I cannot pay over the internet due to new authorisation rules with her current account bank as she has ceased using her landline. She can't change telephone details with her bank as she cannot get there now so she is between a rock and a hard place.

I have offered to pay the green bin fee and then collect the money from her but, as she says, why should I have to?”

Since Mr Nichols got in touch with the Mail, the district council has accepted a cheque from Christine.

The council has responded that requests for cheque payments would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

A spokesperson told the Mail: “Paying online is the quickest and easiest way to pay for the garden waste service. If a customer does not have access to the internet, they can call the contact centre to pay over the phone. Cash payments will not be accepted.

“If a customer does not have a credit or debit card, or is unable to pay for the garden waste service using a card, they can request that a cheque payment is made. The processing of cheques costs the council money and therefore such requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. In the case of this customer, their request to pay by cheque was agreed due to their personal circumstances.”