lost money - claim to be able to recover money

[hardwareguy]

Hi

A few years ago we 'lost money to' a rates company called SJ Associates. Through their rep, Andy Barker, they promised various things they didn't deliver on. Being younger and not as wise to the pitfalls of owning a business as we are now, we fell for it.

Anyway the upshot is we are £900 down as a result and have nothing to show for it.

Latterly (couple of years later) another company called Utility Helpline have been ringing to say that if we subscribe to their services they can guarantee to get us our money back. I am very wary of this claim but I would like the £900 back! I don't know how they got our details but they know all about our claim. Possibly public information via the rates office? They claim they have successfully recovered money from for lots of other companies in the same boat as us.

I will not be going with them unless at least a couple of people on here can recommend or vouch for them.

Anyone?

 

[Anonymouse72]

this utility helpline? they appear to be energy brokers with business insurance sales thrown in. they are going to get your money back from SJ Assoc? or are they actually offering a similar service i.e. they say that you're overpaying on utilities/business rates & they will get your money back? i'm probably missing something here...?

edit: or is it utility bill helpline ? which appear to offer a similar services to sj assoc, but you can also sign up for their 7 day free trial where you can get advice if you were mis-sold/victim of a scam re:business rates (can't copy & paste info from their site for some reason, clicks off the page as soon as you copy it).

if the latter, i can't find any business recommendations anywhere, not even anything on twitter, apart from their own reviews/testimonials. there are 2 comments on facebook end of 2014 saying not had any refunds yet, but they're likely to be consumer?

 

[NickGrogan]

I don't see how Utility Helpline is going to get anything back from SJ Associates. More likely that want to appeal your business rates. The £900 is gone, unless you want to take action against SJ, but that will cost you more, and you may not win.

Did they actually submit an appeal? What was the result?

Depending on the type of building you are in, and the last time it was individually assessed, your business rates are probably wrong, but how wrong and in who's favour? You are as likely to be paying too little as too much.

Did SJ give a reason for appealing?

If you think you have a reason to appeal, speak to a chartered surveyor, who specialises in business rates.

(Ran rating appeals company for 4 years)

 

[OldWelshGuy]

Or did the new company get your details from the old company as they are connected?

I have edited the post top remove potentially libelous comments.

 

[DavidWH]

SJ Associates are no longer trading, as far as I am aware, I am 99% sure we received documents from the receivers... assuming this is the same company we had dealings with.

Therefore you will not receive a penny back.

 

[Anonymouse72]

feel like i'm on a treasure hunt here, wish the OP would come back!

these sj-associates.co.uk who deal with business rates are still trading, are we talking about a different variation on the name?

 

[hardwareguy]

Sorry! I'm back. The SJ Associates I'm talking about are alive and well. Seemingly. They're still tweeting and their website is sj-associates.[co].uk

 

[NickGrogan]

Did you find out if they submitted an appeal? What is your postcode?

 

[Newchodge]

OP You have to understand that, once someone has shown themselves to be open to a con trick, their details get passed around to others who may also be able to con them.

If you want your £900 back go and see a high street law firm and ask them if you have any chance of recovering your money. They may give you a free consultation or they may charge you £120 for their advice. You may as well throw away £120 that way as any other.

If something sounds too good to be true it is probably ....

 

[Richard Bonelle1]

Hi, Utility Helpline has nothing to do with this issue and the title is very misleading. You have mistaken our company for another with a simliar name "Utility Bill Helpline". We do not cold call or pester people.

 

[japancool]

Hi, Utility Helpline has nothing to do with this issue and the title is very misleading. You have mistaken our company for another with a simliar name "Utility Bill Helpline". We do not cold call or pester people.

You're a year too late to the party. I hope your customer services are faster.

 

[dy-ven]

Whoops just reread the old post, looks like i was a year too late as well

If they company is still trading, and you still have evidence which backs up your case I would be tempted to pay the £60 to the small claims court online (I cant post the link as I dont have enought posts but google small claims court and ensure it a .gov.uk website and not via someone else who will try and rip you off by charge you the £60 and another £60 on top just to redirect you to the same website!!). Very simple to do