The Redbridge Citizens Advice Bureau is warning residents to put the phone down on cold callers offering to help reclaim Payment Protection Insurance.
A national survey showed that nine out of 10 people had meet contacted by claims management companies within the last year.
Redbridge CAB said the companies charge large fees and take percentages of successful claims when residents can make claims through banks for free.
Some people are led to believe they can make a claim for PPI even if they were never mis-sold a policy.
Operations manager Ray Wood said: “People in Redbridge are sick and tired of being pestered by claims firms encouraging them to make a claim for mis-sold PPI.
“We’ve seen a lot of people who have ended up out of pocket because of the excessive fees they’ve had to pay to the claims firm and in some cases they have never got a penny of a payout.”
For more information and advice, go to Redbridge CAB in Cranbrook Road, Ilford, or visit www.adviceguide.org.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here