Council urges residents not to pay to register to vote

Council press release:

Haringey Council and the Electoral Commission are urging people not to use a paid-for service to register to vote.

The independent elections watchdog has contacted ‘UK Electoral Roll’ after it was alerted to the company offering a £30 ‘assisted service’ to complete electoral roll registrations.

The company also uses a £1.53-a-minute premium rate number to take questions from its customers.

Nick Walkley, returning officer and chief executive of Haringey Council, said: “It is free to register to vote and I urge people in Haringey not to use this company, which is clearly ripping people off.

“Nobody should pay for what is a fundamental right of everyone in the borough.”

The Electoral Commission has asked the company to remove its advertising and informed the Office of Fair Trading and Phone Pay Plus, who regulate premium rate numbers.

Residents can register for vote for free by visiting www.aboutmyvote.co.uk, calling freephone 0800 3 280 280 or visiting the Haringey Council website.