Trafford Council warns of tax band scam (From Messenger Newspapers)

Trafford Council warns of tax band scam

2:53pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News

TRAFFORD Council and police are urging residents not to pay money upfront to companies claiming to offer people the chance to change their Council Tax banding.

A spokesman for Trafford Council said: “Companies operating in this field sometimes claim to be working in conjunction with local authorities but Trafford Council is not linked in this way to any such business.

“If residents genuinely believe they are in the wrong band they are advised to discuss this, for free, with HM Revenue and Customs' Valuation Office Agency, which is responsible for the banding system.”

There have been reports of a company called Dalton Estates contacting people in Urmston, including Mr Ogden: “They rang up telling me I was entitled to a £2,000 rebate but I had to pay £160 upfront.

“Look at me, a pensioner, they get your hopes up and it’s not on.”

A spokesman for Urmston Police said they are investigating Dalton Estates and advised residents not to let anybody intot heir homes without checking they are genuine and asking for ID.

If you would like to lodeg a complaint about an approach from such a company, call the Citizen’s Advice Consumer Helpline on 08454 040506 or The Valuation Office Agency on 03000 503600.