Council tax cashback rip-off alert

A FAMILY has warned Oldhamers not to be fooled by companies offering help to reclaim council tax overpayments.

The warning followed the targeting of an 83-year-old woman who was told in an unsolicited phone call she had been paying too much council tax since 1991 and they could help her to reclaim around £3,000.

The call made her son and daughter-in-law wary - so they insisted on being present when a meeting with the caller took place.

The representative arrived with a contract that would tie the elderly pensioner to a £179 initial payment followed by a charge of 25 per cent plus VAT of any sum recovered by them - despite the process being free if undertaken online.

The daughter-in-law added: “I’m so glad my partner and I were around to send the woman packing. My mother-in-law has told us several of her friends in Greenfield have also been contacted.”

Companies aren’t acting illegally by offering the service.

Anyone can ask to have their council tax band reviewed free of charge. Contact the local Valuation Office Agency at www.voa.gov.uk