Council tax refund scams predicted to rise ahead of April price hike – expert offers advice
- The government has permitted six councils to boost council tax rates above the usual 5% from April.
- More than two million people are set to see increases of between 5 and 10%.
- An expert warns residents against falling victim to a council tax refund scam that may rise in prevalence ahead of the price hike.
Following the announcement that six English councils have been authorised to increase council tax bills by up to 10% from April, an expert from QR Code Generator has issued a scam warning.
The government has previously issued a warning regarding council tax refund scams, where residents are informed that they have paid too much and must send a fee to correct the mistake and arrange a refund.
The scammers may reach out via telephone calls, emails or texts and urge people to respond or else face court action.
Six councils have already confirmed that council tax bills will increase from April. Windsor and Maidenhead and Newham residents will see bills rise by 9%. Bradford’s council tax is increasing 10%, and Birmingham, Somerset and Trafford councils are raising rates by 7.5%.
Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator PRO S.L, has further warned residents against responding to these scammers, saying:
“With council tax rates set to increase, many residents will be feeling anxious about what the new bills mean for them – especially if they were already struggling to keep on top of their budget prior to the hike.
“Scammers will be looking to take advantage of this vulnerability and will approach bill payers with the promise of a council tax refund at a time when concerns are high. However, it’s essential that you look out for these scams so that you aren’t taken advantage of, and end up out of pocket before prices increase.
“If you’re contacted about a council tax refund, do not give out any personal information, especially bank account details, and contact your council directly to validate any correspondence regarding your bill before acting.
“Some of the key warning signs that may indicate a scam include language that pressures or urges you into making a decision, being threatened with disproportionate legal action, an unrealistic timeline to act, and asking you to transfer money in order to receive a refund or discount.”
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