Inspired by letissier14's investigation of GOODF's last phone helpline, I Googled the number 0800 246 5285. It turned up http://www.counciltaxadvisorsscotland.com/, though they seem to have a new 0800 number. It is a Scotland-specific site, with links to http://www.counciltaxadvisors.co.uk/ for other parts of the UK.Bones wrote:Anyone have any info on who the "partners" ? I am guessing as haining is involved it may be the other dwarfs (yes I went there)
At first glance, this looks like a legit debt counseling service. Their advice is along the lines of working with your council to set up payment plans. I could not find any A4V/Promissory Notes/three letters type crap. They are also a member of Advice UK. However, some of their claims are a little borderline:
While that sounds like something Ceylon would say, it's certainly plausible that bailiffs overstepped their bounds against someone who had a legit grievance.Council Tax Advisors was formed as a direct result of our founder’s personal experiences with Bailiffs/Enforcement Agents. He owed Council Tax after a period of ill health and the Bailiffs that attended his property acted outside of the law. Subsequently, one Bailiff had his certificate revoked and the other, retired to avoid any further embarrassment.
http://www.counciltaxadvisors.co.uk/about-us/
If I have sussed all this correctly: why does GOODF's new helpline have Council Tax Advisors Scotland's old phone number?
- A terrible coincidence from the random re-assignment of phone numbers?
- Some kind of collaboration between GOODF and Council Tax Advisors, perhaps with CTA not knowing the true nature of GOODF's advice to debtors?
- CTA is a more respectable-looking but ultimately FMOTL outfit?
- GOODF specifically requested the old phone number of a legit agency so as to hijack people seeking legit advice with an outdated phone number?
- Someone tricked GOODF into publishing the number of a legit debt counseling service, thus routing GOODF visitors to proper assistance?
