Warning about council tax rebanding calls

Shropshire Council is warning residents to be wary of any calls from companies claiming to be able to reduce their council tax bills.

The council has received a number of enquiries from people who have been called by a company which claims to be representing Shropshire Council in relation to council tax banding appeals.

The company is offering “thousands of pounds” in potential repayments due to people’s homes being in the wrong council tax band, and claims the council is undertaking a banding review.

Shropshire Council is not undertaking any such review, and Trading Standards are investigating whether the company is acting unlawfully following similar complaints in other parts of the country.

Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for trading standards, said:

“Residents should be very wary of any company asking for personal details, and we have heard reports from elsewhere that this company may be asking for upfront payment before the alleged savings are realised.  As always, never give your bank details to anyone who approaches you without prior arrangement, and if a deal seems too good to be true it’s normally a scam.”

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) deals with council tax banding, and the agency has issued its own warning about unscrupulous companies – visit the VOA website for more details.

For general advice on avoiding scams, go to the Trading Standards web pages or call Trading Standards on 0345 678 9000.  There is also some useful information on the Consumer Direct website and via the phone number 08454 04 05 06.

Trading Standards will be making enquiries to determine whether any unlawful activities have taken place in Shropshire, and is liaising with other colleagues following similar concerns being raised in other parts of the country.