New rogue trading practice – don’t get caught out

A NEW rogue trading practice which tries to get people to part with their money could affect Barnsley residents, council Regulatory Services warn.

The current trend is offering to help people recover money they might have never owed in the first place. Most of the complaints have come from elderly vulnerable people who get pressurised into making instant decisions without talking matters over with someone else and, before they realise it, money is taken out of their bank account.

Scams reported include:

• Companies who state they can help recover bank charges for a fee, usually from £99.99 to £125.00.  All some consumers have received is a template letter and a blank County Court claim form. More than one amount has even been taken from some consumers’ bank accounts,

• rogues posing, during telephone calls, as officers from Trading Standards or the Office of Fair Trading to dupe people into giving their bank details,

• companies telephoning people and stating that they can claim back overpaid council tax - again for payment of a fee and requesting bank account details,

• a person telephoning claiming to be from British Telecom.  They claim that the person called owes money and if debit card details are not given to pay the outstanding amount they will not be able to make any telephone calls with immediate effect. If people refuse they are told that after this particular call is made they should try to call someone, they will find that they cannot.  This is not because they have been cut off, the caller does not hang up when the call is finished, this means the line is still busy meaning that the person called cannot make or receive calls.  The scammer then calls back and tells the “debtor” that they will restore the line when the debt is paid.
 

Cllr Miller, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regulatory Services, said:
“The advice is to never give your bank account details over the telephone. If you are called out of the blue ask the caller to write to you with details of their service.  Always check with a trusted friend or relative before committing yourself to any offers or sales made over the telephone. People can also register with the Telephone and Mailing Preference Service to stop unwanted calls and junk mail. Registration forms can be obtained from Consumer Direct by calling 08454 04 05 06.”

ENDS