Trading Standards Warning

Merthyr Tydfil Trading Standards are warning residents of unsolicited telephone calls from persons claiming to represent the Poll Tax Team who are advising the consumer that they are due a refund back dated to 1993. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A local resident has reported a suspicious telephone call received from a male with an English accent claiming to work for the Poll Tax Team. He claimed she had been over paying on her Poll Tax and for an upfront fee of £65 and a percentage of the total refund he could process the refund for her. He gave his name as Sean but later in the conversation said his name was Alan, he gave a telephone number beginning 03000 which, when checked, doesn’t exist. Thankfully the resident ended the call and reported the matter to us immediately. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Trading Standards advice is never give personal or financial details to unsolicited telephone or personal caller, even the most basic details can be used by criminals. If you aren’t expecting contact tell the caller to write to you without confirming your name and address, if the call is official they will have your details already. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Local Authority do not make unsolicited telephone calls if an over payment has been made, you would either receive a letter or the overpayment highlighted on your annual statement. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If any resident has concerns or thinks they may have given details to such a caller report the matter to Trading Standards on 03454 040506 ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Please pass this warning on to family and friends. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​