What is Self Service and how to use it

How to set up your Self Service account - video

You can go to the YouTube site to access the How to set up your Self Service Account video with an interactive transcript - select the 3 horizontal dots icon and choose "Open transcript". Please note the video may autoplay.

Transcript

[About your self service account]

Did you know? You can do it all online.

  • Tell us about a change of address.
  • Set up a direct debit for council tax or business rates.
  • Check your housing benefit and much more.

Head to the Slough Borough Council website www.slough.gov.uk/council-tax  [link is read out loud in the video. It is to the main Council tax page]

[About the council tax page]

[Video shows a recording of what you will be on the screen at each stage, starting with the Council tax information page.]

From this page you can find:

  • information about the different way to pay your council tax
  • you can get advice about what to do if you are having problems paying
  • you can tell us about any changes in your circumstances that may affect your council tax and
  • you can sign in or register to view your account.

If you select this option you will be taken through to the Self Service homepage.

[Setting up your account]

[Step 1 – Your details]

[Image on screen changes to the Self Service homepage.]

The first step is to give your details.

  • So start by filling in your email address – you will need to enter this twice to confirm the spelling.
  • Next you will need to create a username – this can be your email address or something else.
  • Then you need to create a password – this must be at least 8 characters long and you need to confirm it by typing it a second time.
  • Set up a security question. [Drop down list shown on screen.]
    You can choose from questions like:
    • what is the name of your favourite childhood friend?
    • what is your eldest son’s birthday month and year? (e.g. January 1980)
    • what is your eldest daughter’s birthday month and year? (e.g. January 1980)
    • what is the name of your eldest child?
    • what primary school did you attend?
    • what is the name of your pet?
    • what is your mother’s maiden name?
    • what is the name of the town where you were born?
  • And fill in the answer to that question.
  • And select next.
[Step 2 – setting up services]

The next step is to set up any services you want to use on your self service account.

You can do this now, or you skip it, and do it later when you have all the right information to hand, such as your council tax account number.

[Council Tax]

If you add Council tax:

  • you can receive notification of any bills and access them online
  • you can sign up and amend your Direct Debit details and
  • you report a change of address.
[Business Rates]

If you add Business Rates:

  • you can receive notification of any bills and access them online
  • you can sign up and amend your Direct Debit details.
[Housing Benefit]

If you add your Housing benefit:

  • you can check your current award for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support
  • you can access next and previous payment details, including details of any Housing Benefit overpayments
  • you can receive notification of any changes to your award and access them online.
[Landlord]

If you add Landlord access:

  • you can check the current award for Housing Benefit for any of your tenants
  • you can access next and previous payment details, including details of any Housing Benefit overpayments
  • you can receive notification of any changes to your tenant’s award and access them online.

[Step 3 – Verify your email]

After you have decided if you are adding any services or not, the next step will be to verify your email address. Your account will not be set up until you have done this.

What this means is you will receive an email with a link you need to follow, in order to confirm your account. You will get this email within 24 hours of setting up your account. If you can’t find it in the Inbox check your junk or spam folder.

[Image on screen of what the email may look like.]

The email will be called “Registration Activation”. Follow the link to go to the welcome message.

[Step 4 - Account is now set up]

[Screen now shows the welcome message on the Self Service home page.]

Your account is now set up and you can take a tour which will advise you on how to set up services, or you can log out and do it later.

All this and more available from our website www.slough.gov.uk [ [link is read out loud in the video. It is to the home page.]