Beware Council Tax Scam!

Press Release Date: 20 June 2012

Borough residents are being urged to be on their guard against companies offering to reduce their council tax for a fee.

The call has come in response to Tameside residents who are being cold called by firms offering the service for an up front charge. If the claim is unsuccessful, they refund half of this fee. If the claim is successful, the company charge a fee of 25 per cent of the amount awarded.

Residents are being warned that this may be a scam and to say no to cold callers in general. Besides which residents can check if they are being charged too much themselves for free by contacting the council directly themselves.

Charging a fee for a service that the resident could do for themselves is not illegal but company representatives may give the customer the impression that they are working with the local council or the Valuation Office .

Executive Member for Trading Standards Cllr Catherine Piddington said: “We need to ensure that our residents are aware of this type of practise and hope that anyone who has been targeted by them will come forward with details that can be used to prevent these scams.

”The basic rule with this type of thing is that if it appears to be too true it probably is. If anyone has been contacted by these companies I would urge them to phone the council on 342 8355 and report it so we can investigate.”

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Trading Standards Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne OL6 6DL  View local map
0161 342 8355
0161 342 2288