A Glen Eden family of five has won $2500 in an Auckland Council competition designed to encourage people to sign up for e-rates and payment by direct debit.
Karin Grimmer says she has always paid her rates by direct debit because “it’s easier and spreads the load”.
“I thought it was a hoax when I got the call. I didn’t a hundred per cent believe it was real until the money was in my bank,” she says.
The Grimmers nearly missed out on being eligible for the prize draw.
“We were planning to sell our house and the settlement date would have been the Friday before the draw took place, but the sale didn’t proceed and we’re glad we stayed,” she says.
The windfall could not have come at a better time. With three children and the holidays looming, Karin says they’ll be able to enjoy their time together more and spoil themselves with a few luxuries they wouldn’t otherwise have.
How to win
Ratepayers who opt to pay their rates by direct debit and receive their bills by email are automatically entered into a quarterly draw, which runs until May 2017.
The prize money is sponsored by ASB Bank.
