Don’t get fleeced!
Posted by Kevin Nuttall, published on 23-02-2009
There is growing concern about a company called Benefits Helpline www.benefitshelpline.com that is providing advice on welfare benefits through a £1.50 per minute premium telephone service. Not only is this extortionate, but customers have reported being inundated with texts and emails urging them to use the service further. It's also worth noting that they come up prominently if you Google 'benefits advice', so the unwary may be easily caught.
Whilst anyone can choose to use this business if they don’t object to being fleeced, they are unlikely to receive any more or better information than they would through free-to-access services. Free-to-access benefits advice services are widely available and include those run by various charities, local authorities and Citizen’s Advice.
People with a visual impairment in need of benefits advice are always welcome to contact your local Action for Blind People team or you can contact us through the RNIB Helpline by calling 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk . Wherever possible they will ensure you are put in touch with your local Action team for information, advice and support.
So, if you want a good piece of benefits advice
AVOID www.benefitshelpline.com LIKE THE PLAGUE!
Kevin Nuttall
Kevin is Welfare Rights Officer at Action for Blind People in Lancashire. Share the pleasures and occasional disappointments as Kevin helps visually impaired people sort out their benefits.
Your Welfare Rights
We believe that visually impaired people should get all of the benefits they are entitled to. Our Welfare Rights Service aims to guide visually impaired people and their advisers through the benefits maze.
Your comments (1)
1.
Yeah just had a look at the "benefitshelpline" site. One thing, just from looking at it, that really stands out is that the phone tarrif information is on the website but has been added as an image. This is what you would do if you wanted to conceal this information from someone using a screen reader. Disgusting behaviour.
posted by polybore on 31/03/09