Warning to residents about Council Tax Valuations
Residents are again being warned not to be taken in by companies offering council tax rebates, following the recent prosecution of Jack Daryl Henry by West Yorkshire Trading Standards.
Henry was given a nine month suspended sentence, ordered to undertake 150 hours unpaid work and pay costs and compensation totaling £12,500 by Bradford Crown Court earlier this month for his involvement in scam, which received hundreds of complaints from across the UK, including a number from residents in the East Riding.
Trading standards at East Riding of Yorkshire Council have now had several reports of other companies, claiming to be from the authority, telling residents they are in the wrong council tax band.
A substantial refund is promised to residents by the companies, which ask for an up front fee of as much as £195, refundable in the event that the revaluation claim is unsuccessful.
Councillor Jane Evison, cabinet portfolio holder for rural issues and cultural services, said: “These companies are making claims that are probably too good to be true; most properties are and always have been in the correct valuation band. They ask you to pay money up front and appear to do little in return. If anyone wishes to have a revaluation done on their property they can do this free of charge through the local valuation office.”
Anyone who requires further advice or wishes to report any similar activity within the East Riding is urged to contact Consumer Direct 0845 40 40 506.
To contact the Valuation Office Agency for the East Riding of Yorkshire area:
Call: 03000 501501
Email: ctnorth@voa.gsi.gov.uk
Write to: Valuation Office Agency, King William House, Market Place, Hull, HU1 1RT.