Cold Callers Council Tax Scam Alert
Cold Callers Council Tax Scam Alert
Table of Contents
Warning from Hampshire Trading Standards Service
Hampshire County Council Trading Standards Service is repeating an alert from last year, urging residents to be alert to cold callers at the door and/or phone claiming to be from ‘the Council’.
The callers may claim the resident’s property is in the wrong Council Tax Band, and that they are due some money back.
They offer to investigate further but ask for a upfront fee, often at the door.
Reports have been received from the Basingstoke area, but warning applies countywide
Doorstep/Phone Callers – Council Tax Bands
Be alert to Cold Callers at the door/phone claiming to be from ‘the Council’, and offering to investigate the resident’s council tax band as they could be owed money back.
An up front fee is asked for.
Councils will not cold call or ask for money at the door
Residents can check their Council Tax band for free by calling the Valuation Office Agency on 0300 0501 501
For advice on scams, or to report a matter to Trading Standards, contact our partners at the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06.
You can find further information from gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-and-business-rates-scams
Poster-Warning-Doorstep-Callers-Council-Tax-Bands.pdf