A phone call that promises to lower your Council Tax banding for a fee of up £120 may sound like a great offer, but you can find out if your band can be lowered for free.
Sedgemoor District Council is warning residents to be aware of Council Tax scammers who may offer you deals to reduce monthly payments or reduce your banding. SDC has taken calls from worried residents, so are warning everyone not to be duped.
One current scam that has been bought to the district council’s attention is from a company claiming to be called ‘All Claim Solutions’ who say they are calling on behalf of the Valuation Office or Sedgemoor District Council and ask for £120 to lower your Council Tax banding. Please note this is not a phone call from Sedgemoor District Council or the Valuation Office, despite their phone number being very similar to that of SDC. Council Tax bands are set by the Valuation Office Agency and can only be changed under certain conditions. Details can be found at www.gov.uk/council-tax-appeals. You will not be charged for the service.
If you are struggling to pay your Council Tax bill and need help, speak with a member of the Council Tax Team on who will be able to offer help and advice on 0300 303 7801.
If you have given over personal details, we would advise you to call the Police straight away on 101 and report the matter as an identity theft scam. The Police will also direct you to the Action Fraud helpline on 0300 123 2040.