SHOPKEEPERS in Tendring are being warned not to pay out unnecessary cash.
Tendring Council said companies are contacting people about their business rates and offering to get them reductions for a fee.
But it said no one needs to pay a firm to make any arrangements – they just need to contact council if they want to discuss their bill.
The council said it has recently received a number of calls from ratepayers who have been contacted by a company which has led to some paying an unnecessary bill of £399.
Paul Honeywood, cabinet member for benefits and revenues, said: “If anyone is contacted by one of these companies and offered this service for a fee I suggest they contact us first before doing anything else."
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