Branch & Lee Consulting Ltd will only cancel claims where the evidence shows that it is highly likely that another person over 18 years old resides in the property. As our fees are not based on the total number of cancellations generated it is not in our or the authorities interest to cancel SPD’s only for the customer to re-apply or appeal against the decision. It is essential to achieve long term financial returns as opposed to a quick but temporary income.
This firm must be complete idiots as it is perfectly legal to receive an SPD when more than one adult is resident.
What are they talking about, and, more worryingly, which councils are incompetent enough to employ them?
And how is it lawful for them to do this with personal data?
If you get any communications about your council tax from Branch and Lee containing misleading information to the effect that you are receiving a discount 'on the basis' that you are literally the only resident, send them via your MP to the DCLG, and also to the Local Government Ombudsman.
It was hardly a surprise to find that one of the apparent owners of this firm, Mr Lee, worked for the Audit Commission for some time. This may well be where he acquired the false beliefs about local government taxation law which the firm now passes on to the public and councils via its marketing material and web site. No points out of ten for Mr Lee. (Prior to that did he manage a department in Waitrose?)
