Whether to pay a company when you have logged a complaint

eggmar

Hi all
Hoping someone can help me with the following:
I have recently fell into the trap of signing a contract with a council tax review service agent where they take 60% of your council tax refund if you have been in the wrong band. 
I have just written a substantial letter to the Citizens Advice highlighting with some justification that I believe I was pressured and decieved into signing and it also outlines the little work and risks actully involved for them verses the large percentage taken.
I have now had the FINAL REMINDER invoice for the 60% from them and worried they are now going to take the next steps.
I am happy to pay 20% for their services.
My question is, as I have logged a complaint which may get to Trading Standards and they may investigate, do or should I still pay them?
Any thoughts much appreciated

Clive_Woody

As you signed a contract agreeing to make the payment I'm not sure you'll get far now that you have changed your mind. Yes, it's minimal work for a potentially significant payout, but the time to research this was before you signed and they did the work.

PHK

Not sure why you've written to Citizens Advice, any complaint would need to be made to the company/agent you're complaining about.

Trading standards don't investigate individual complaints .

As far as I know these companies aren't regulated. 

This will all come down to the contract you signed, where you signed it,  whether you're entitled to a cooling off period etc

No-one will be able to give specific advice  I'm afraid but the general advice would be to complain to the company/agent. If you needed help with that then that is something Citizens Advice can help with.

I

HillStreetBlues

eggmar said:

Hi all
Hoping someone can help me with the following:
I have recently fell into the trap of signing a contract with a council tax review service agent where they take 60% of your council tax refund if you have been in the wrong band. 
I have just written a substantial letter to the Citizens Advice highlighting with some justification that I believe I was pressured and decieved into signing and it also outlines the little work and risks actully involved for them verses the large percentage taken.
I have now had the FINAL REMINDER invoice for the 60% from them and worried they are now going to take the next steps.
I am happy to pay 20% for their services.
My question is, as I have logged a complaint which may get to Trading Standards and they may investigate, do or should I still pay them?
Any thoughts much appreciated

As you are willing to pay 20% seems like  some council tax  has been refunded.
IMO now too late to bid them down, this should have been done at the time and formed the part of agreement (contract).

TELLIT01

As a matter of interest, in what ways do you feel your were pressured and deceived?

user1977

Are you complaining about them actually breaching your contract, or is this just buyer's remorse and you want to renegotiate the price?

lincroft1710

If they were successful in obtaining a reduced CT band then they are entitled to their pre-agreed fee

tightauldgit

Trading Standards won't do anything to get your charge reduced - that's not their business. 

However, if you have a reason to dispute the charge then write to the company and set out your argument, and make them an offer of what you believe is fair and why and see what they say. 

It would be up to them to pursue it further and take it to court etc if you dont pay - how much are we talking about? 

born_again

eggmar said:

Hi all
Hoping someone can help me with the following:
I have recently fell into the trap of signing a contract with a council tax review service agent where they take 60% of your council tax refund if you have been in the wrong band. 
I have just written a substantial letter to the Citizens Advice highlighting with some justification that I believe I was pressured and decieved into signing and it also outlines the little work and risks actully involved for them verses the large percentage taken.
I have now had the FINAL REMINDER invoice for the 60% from them and worried they are now going to take the next steps.
I am happy to pay 20% for their services.
My question is, as I have logged a complaint which may get to Trading Standards and they may investigate, do or should I still pay them?
Any thoughts much appreciated

Unless you have a actual complaint logged with them, then they are not aware of any issues.
There next step could well be taking you to court for non payment.

I would have thought that their 60% would be deducted from any refund. Before sending that refund to you.

Aylesbury_Duck

How were you deceived?  Have they changed the percentage commission you agreed?

km1500

did they find that you were in the wrong band and did you get any council tax refunded ?