Don't Pay for Benefits Advice

Kent Trading Standards have received reports concerning a company offering free benefits advice. Although the advice is free there is a cost to this service. If consumers contact the company then they will visit the consumer in their home and fill out forms on their behalf, with regards to any benefits they may be entitled to.

The company work on the basis that they will take 45% of any back pay monies due to the consumer. This means consumers could end up paying the company considerable sums of money out of benefits that were due to them. The operation of these businesses is legal, but we wish to remind Kent Residents that the same advice is available for free from other agencies such as Citizen's Advice.

Kent Trading Standards is advising consumers to be wary of giving out any personal information over the telephone and to take their time to find out about free advice before agreeing to the service any business offers.

If you have been approached by the company you can also report the matter to Trading Standards on 08454 04 05 06.

Trading Standards operate a Buy With Confidence scheme so if you are thinking of having work done to your property visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk or call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 to find a trader who has been vetted by Trading Standards.