Martin Lewis has warned UK homeowners of the risk of them not filling in their Household Enquiry forms.
The form, which may at first seem like junk mail, is designed to check whether or not voter registration records are correct. By law, if they are not filled in by the deadline this may result in a hefty £1,000 fine.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, the Money Saving Expert said: "Many people between July and November get sent a Household Enquiry form.
"This is a form from the council right across the country. It’s effectively asking you to check whether the right people in your household are registered to vote.”
Even if all the details are correct it is important that the form is still returned to the council. Each council sets its own deadline but must publish a revised register by December 1.
The form will normally come in a brown envelope with slogans about registering to vote written on it. The form contained inside will state that it is a household enquiry form and will have a teal coloured surround.
Martin Lewis went on: "Now if you don’t deal with that properly – check and tell them the difference – there can be a thousand pound fine.
It’s rare but the problem with this form is that I always think it looks like junk mail."
Unlike the Open Register, which is a register for companies to know whether or not they can market to you, you cannot opt out of completing the Household Enquiry form.
The financial guru explained: "People often get confused and think that they get junk mail because they’re on the electoral register. Now there’s a separate thing called The Open Register, where companies can market to you.
"You can opt out of the Open Register. It will not affect your credit file and you won’t get the junk mail, but you will still be registered to vote."
If you do not think you have received the Household Enquiry form or think that you may have thrown it away then you must contact your council.
