Anyone got the 10k business Rates relief grant yet?

[create]

We now have £0 in our bank account. All direct debits and standing orders have been cancelled except for the important ones like insurance.
Just got a notification from Santander that there are insufficient funds. Unable to cover it personally.

I tried to speak to the council on Monday but apparently they are all working from home and the lady I spoke to wouldn't provide a contact number. She said however that you would send them an email and try and get someone to call us.
Nobody phoned however I got an email asking for our details which I sent back.
It's now Wednesday and still not heard anything. Just sent an email trying to explain how serious things are for us.

It's only a small council area (South Ribble) with a huge office block. We applied online back in March. Are people still waiting that applied then?

 

[Opinion87]

We now have £0 in our bank account. All direct debits and standing orders have been cancelled except for the important ones like insurance.
Just got a notification from Santander that there are insufficient funds. Unable to cover it personally.

I tried to speak to the council on Monday but apparently they are all working from home and the lady I spoke to wouldn't provide a contact number. She said however that you would send them an email and try and get someone to call us.
Nobody phoned however I got an email asking for our details which I sent back.
It's now Wednesday and still not heard anything. Just sent an email trying to explain how serious things are for us.

It's only a small council area (South Ribble) with a huge office block. We applied online back in March. Are people still waiting that applied then?

Really, really sorry to hear that buddy, must be awful.

Grant two of three came through on Thursday.

One £25k and one £10k so far. Still waiting on one more £10k. The first and third were applied for on the same day, the second a days later, so not sure on the hold up.

I had an email from the Council yesterday saying the third grant application has been accepted and will be paid out by the end of this week. She apologized and said they are "sinking under the level of work that has come our way in the last few weeks."

 

[anonuk]

We now have £0 in our bank account. All direct debits and standing orders have been cancelled except for the important ones like insurance.
Just got a notification from Santander that there are insufficient funds. Unable to cover it personally.

I tried to speak to the council on Monday but apparently they are all working from home and the lady I spoke to wouldn't provide a contact number. She said however that you would send them an email and try and get someone to call us.
Nobody phoned however I got an email asking for our details which I sent back.
It's now Wednesday and still not heard anything. Just sent an email trying to explain how serious things are for us.

It's only a small council area (South Ribble) with a huge office block. We applied online back in March. Are people still waiting that applied then?

Now I'm intrigued...we are South Ribble too...who are you?? haha.

I assume the payments are sent via BACs which would take 3 working days to arrive so if you sent details on Monday, they possibly got processed yesterday, then payment may land by Friday?

 

[create]

Now I'm intrigued...we are South Ribble too...who are you?? haha.

I assume the payments are sent via BACs which would take 3 working days to arrive so if you sent details on Monday, they possibly got processed yesterday, then payment may land by Friday?

I hope you are right. I wouldn't mind so much if they would actually reply to emails. I am worried that the details we provided are wrong or maybe they didn't even receive the application. They are not exactly filling me with confidence.

 

[anonuk]

I hope you are right. I wouldn't mind so much if they would actually reply to emails. I am worried that the details we provided are wrong or maybe they didn't even receive the application. They are not exactly filling me with confidence.

I'm with you on that. I've sent a few emails and had read receipts on each so I know they are at least opening the emails.

I get that they are super busy but really, how long does it take to reply to an email saying 'your application is/is not fine, leave it with us'.

 

[Anonxxx]

I hope you are right. I wouldn't mind so much if they would actually reply to emails. I am worried that the details we provided are wrong or maybe they didn't even receive the application. They are not exactly filling me with confidence.

I received grant 2/2 today. I reapplied as I too had doubts over my address info supplied (registered business address vs trading address) funnily enough as soon as I submitted the second application the following day (today) the Grant was paid. -Not sure if this was coincidence mind.

 

[AndrewFH]

It seems to be descending into farce for us. Applied on 30th March but not heard anything. Saw on a local forum that people who applied after us had received it. Finally spoke to someone on the 20th who said that a bunch of early applications have been 'missed' and that they would chase up our application. Not heard anything since.

Managed to contact my bank through Twitter. Yes that's right, Twitter. Tried to increase our overdraft until the grant arrives. Been told it may be 7-14 days before they will contact me.

 

[positiveplane]

i applied 31st march(medway) , not heard anything, not even a rejection email or phone call, re applied 9th april , still nothing, yes they are busy but they also need to understand the stress this is causing us, it takes 2 minutes to send an email, i will re apply once more, then write to them, then get my solicitor involed, i fit all the criteria for the grant......

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

i applied 31st march(medway) , not heard anything, not even a rejection email or phone call, re applied 9th april , still nothing, yes they are busy but they also need to understand the stress this is causing us, it takes 2 minutes to send an email, i will re apply once more, then write to them, then get my solicitor involed, i fit all the criteria for the grant......

2 mins to send an email. Times that by, say 500 businesses? That’s 16 hours, or two people all day. Wouldn’t you prefer everyone was working on getting the money out?

Everyone is stressed, but it’s not going to make anything any quicker unfortunately. And getting your solicitor on the case isn’t going to help proceedings.

 

[positiveplane]

firstly it wouldnt take 16 hours because it would be off a set of templates and sent to multiple addresses at once,they state funds will be paid within 10 days if application is successful, so at least send an email after that 10 days, and no i would not prefer they were all working on getting the money out, i would prefer if they were keeping people updated!

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

firstly it wouldnt take 16 hours because it would be off a set of templates and sent to multiple addresses at once,they state funds will be paid within 10 days if application is successful, so at least send an email after that 10 days, and no i would not prefer they were all working on getting the money out, i would prefer if they were keeping people updated!

Who is making these templates? Who is managing them? Does the template check back to see that the businesses contacted haven’t actually been paid? Does a person have to review all outstanding applications, see what still needs done and then put an estimate on how much longer they reckon it will be? And then if they miss that estimate they will be getting sued so they’re going to have to worry about that when estimating it.

I understand your frustration, really I do. I’m in the same boat more or less. If it went on for 100 days instead of 10 then yes that needs chased up but otherwise I would say just let them get on with it.

 

[anonuk]

I hope you are right. I wouldn't mind so much if they would actually reply to emails. I am worried that the details we provided are wrong or maybe they didn't even receive the application. They are not exactly filling me with confidence.

Doesn’t look like we will be getting our grant any time soon. Just had an email from the council to say that our grant still hasn’t been verified and that I need to reapply in the same name as the name on our account (even though I’ve explained we changed our company name almost a year ago).

If I reapply in our old company name it will get rejected again because they’ll attempt to verify our bank account and see the names don’t match.

I will say that I think the government have been very unfair in dumping all this extra work on our local councils who don’t have the manpower at the best of tomes, let alone in a crisis like this one.

 

[Anonxxx]

If I reapply in our old company name it will get rejected again because they’ll attempt to verify our bank account and see the names don’t match.
.

Maybe reapply in the old name as requested, then send an email including the FS Case ref, providing proof of company name change. It wouldn’t hurt to try

 

[Pot131]

Our predicament is as follows, any advice greatly appreciated

Our business moved into a property September 2018, it was empty for ten years since being built so had never been “rated”

For the last couple of months I’ve been fighting the VOA to rate us, been going round in circles getting nowhere (filled out all necessary forms) We would be zero rated

Anyway in the meantime I cannot get the grant we desperately need until I’ve been rated, council won’t do nothing until they hear from the VOA who are non responsive, even spoken to my MP who’s tried to help and can’t, losing the will to live

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

Our predicament is as follows, any advice greatly appreciated

Our business moved into a property September 2018, it was empty for ten years since being built so had never been “rated”

For the last couple of months I’ve been fighting the VOA to rate us, been going round in circles getting nowhere (filled out all necessary forms) We would be zero rated

Anyway in the meantime I cannot get the grant we desperately need until I’ve been rated, council won’t do nothing until they hear from the VOA who are non responsive, even spoken to my MP who’s tried to help and can’t, losing the will to live

Until it’s rated, there’s nothing that can be done. A friend of mine is in a similar situation and was told it would be December before they could get the grant. Even then, your application may be rejected as you’re not registered as rate payers on the required date.

So in summary, I would say assume you’re not getting it and look for another option.

 

[Pot131]

Until it’s rated, there’s nothing that can be done. A friend of mine is in a similar situation and was told it would be December before they could get the grant. Even then, your application may be rejected as you’re not registered as rate payers on the required date.

So in summary, I would say assume you’re not getting it and look for another option.

I’ve got it in writing (Which I made sure I did) that I am eligible for the grant, this was from the local council, so I’ll keep that just in case it’s needed! In theory I’ve been in the property and need to backdate to September 18, if it was the other way round and I owed them rates they would expect them from sep 18 wouldn’t they? I’ve looked at all other options, if I don’t get the grant within two weeks it’s game over on all fronts

 

[anonuk]

I’ve got it in writing (Which I made sure I did) that I am eligible for the grant, this was from the local council, so I’ll keep that just in case it’s needed! In theory I’ve been in the property and need to backdate to September 18, if it was the other way round and I owed them rates they would expect them from sep 18 wouldn’t they? I’ve looked at all other options, if I don’t get the grant within two weeks it’s game over on all fronts

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but even if everything were in place you’d struggle to get the grant within two weeks, but your council are not going to be able to pay you a grant until your premises has been rated. That usually involves someone from voa attending your premises which they are not likely to do in the current climate.

 

[Pot131]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but even if everything were in place you’d struggle to get the grant within two weeks, but your council are not going to be able to pay you a grant until your premises has been rated. That usually involves someone from voa attending your premises which they are not likely to do in the current climate.

Oh really?!?!? Thanks, I did not know they had to come out and visit, this has just made my mood even lower Someone from the VOA actually phoned me two weeks ago, asked me to confirm measurements of property which I did, then said they would now rate me, I expected this to mean it was done, however the council as of yesterday have not heard a peep from them about it!

All in, do you think I will get this eventually? Or won’t even get this?

Thanks

 

[anonuk]

Oh really?!?!? Thanks, I did not know they had to come out and visit, this has just made my mood even lower Someone from the VOA actually phoned me two weeks ago, asked me to confirm measurements of property which I did, then said they would now rate me, I expected this to mean it was done, however the council as of yesterday have not heard a peep from them about it!

All in, do you think I will get this eventually? Or won’t even get this?

Thanks

That may be due to the current covid issue which would be a good & positive thing as it’ll mean they won’t need to visit.

Have you checked the voa website to see if you’ve been rated yet?

 

[Pot131]

That may be due to the current covid issue which would be a good & positive thing as it’ll mean they won’t need to visit.

Have you checked the voa website to see if you’ve been rated yet?

Yep checked a few minutes ago, nothing

The council told me they receive lists only on a Thursday, so I’ve emailed this evening to the (getting pretty fed up and abrupt council officer!) to ask if I was on today’s list but I highly doubt it, I’ve lost all hope now

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

My understanding is you need a visit to get rated, and visits are not currently happening.

 

[Mr D]

2 mins to send an email. Times that by, say 500 businesses? That’s 16 hours, or two people all day. Wouldn’t you prefer everyone was working on getting the money out?

Everyone is stressed, but it’s not going to make anything any quicker unfortunately. And getting your solicitor on the case isn’t going to help proceedings.

Years ago in the council people used to get solicitors involved. Slowed the work right down - could add a couple of hours work onto a case per letter.
And just like now everyone needed their case dealt with urgently. Perhaps only the most urgently urgent who happen to be top of the pile get done first. Rather than the urgently urgent who are in a box of files awaiting someone to work on them.

 

[AndrewFH]

Years ago in the council people used to get solicitors involved. Slowed the work right down - could add a couple of hours work onto a case per letter.
And just like now everyone needed their case dealt with urgently. Perhaps only the most urgently urgent who happen to be top of the pile get done first. Rather than the urgently urgent who are in a box of files awaiting someone to work on them.

How would they decide who the urgently urgent are?

Some people (who may be classed as conspiracy theorists) might put forward an idea that if you own a local business and are friends with a local councillor, that may help push your application to the top of the pile.

 

[Mr D]

How would they decide who the urgently urgent are?

Some people (who may be classed as conspiracy theorists) might put forward an idea that if you own a local business and are friends with a local councillor, that may help push your application to the top of the pile.

Or could be the urgently urgent happen to be the ones who get through on the phone.
Disadvantage of that is - there may be no time between calls to process payment.

Yes, being friends with local politician may get some interference. And slow things down in order to reply to said politician regarding the application.

 

[Pot131]

My understanding is you need a visit to get rated, and visits are not currently happening.

Just had a bit of a breakthrough, I’ve now been rated, (visits not currently happening because of obvious reasons)

Now back to the council to get my account etc setup and see what happens next

 

[Gordon - Commercial Finance]

Just had a bit of a breakthrough, I’ve now been rated, (visits not currently happening because of obvious reasons)

Now back to the council to get my account etc setup and see what happens next

Great news! Well done

 

[AndrewFH]

I suspect that the backlog of applications will not be processed until the government eases or cancels the lockdown and we'll all be told we can now trade as normal and don't, therefore, need the grant.

 

[motpo]

How would they decide who the urgently urgent are?

Some people (who may be classed as conspiracy theorists) might put forward an idea that if you own a local business and are friends with a local councillor, that may help push your application to the top of the pile.

Funnily enough, the very same day that I got in touch with my local councillor who is also the deputy leader of the council, to complain about my £10k grant not coming through, it came through.

 

[Mr D]

I suspect that the backlog of applications will not be processed until the government eases or cancels the lockdown and we'll all be told we can now trade as normal and don't, therefore, need the grant.

The council in the meantime happy to hold the money....

 

[create]

We finally got a reply from the council to say there was an issue with the application. Apparently their 'folder' doesn't match the name on the application.
they would not provide any more information and asked me to contact revenues on a different address. I have written to them twice since and have had no contact.

 

[create]

What do you think they mean when they say:
"The application hasn’t been verified because the applicant and the account folder do not match"?

 

[anonuk]

What do you think they mean when they say:
"The application hasn’t been verified because the applicant and the account folder do not match"?

This is the reply we got as well. They mean the ‘account holder’, not ‘folder’.

The name on your bank account needs to match the business name on your business rates bill.

 

[create]

This is the reply we got as well. They mean the ‘account holder’, not ‘folder’.

The name on your bank account needs to match the business name on your business rates bill.

Thanks. I would think it would do although I would need to check the council's bill. The bank account is a ltd company. Business rates might be a trading name.
i did think this was all asked in the application though.

 

[anonuk]

Thanks. I would think it would do although I would need to check the council's bill. The bank account is a ltd company. Business rates might be a trading name.
i did think this was all asked in the application though.

In our case, our business rates was in the old name of our ltd company with our new name as a trading name, but we changed the ltd company name almost a year ago and didn’t update our business rates bill.

Sent them the information to the revenues email on Thursday and not heard anything since.

 

[jimbof]

It does seem right for them to be a little cautious here as otherwise there are very obvious routes for fraud to take place.

 

[UK Contractor Accountant]

Have a client who was turned down by Braintree DC for the £10K grant citing changes to the rating list after 11 March 2020 should be ignored for eligibility.

They moved into the offices on 10 Feb 20 but were not accessed/added to the rating list until 24 March 2020.

"Rating List Changes25.No changes made to the business’s rateable value or rating assessment after 11 March 2020 will be accepted for the purposes of determining eligibility"

Is the Council playing games here on the strict interpretation of "no changes"

 

[ville1401]

What do you think they mean when they say:
"The application hasn’t been verified because the applicant and the account folder do not match"?

I had this, except its acct holder.
I hadn't noticed an old trading name on the bill as it had been zero rated for so long, and came in once a year, it was alwys filed in the bin and never loaded into the accts.
Emailed load of relevant info to revenues, eg lease, bills etc etc and gave ltd co number and link to co house site showing the address there etc. Then, crucially, bothered them on the phone and lo and behold, it was approved that day and paid the next, on the third tel call. Just keep going with it.

 

[ville1401]

The governments own document , governments business supports grants local authority guidance, page 6 sections 32 & 33, says....


“Who will receive this funding?

32. The person who according to the billing authority’s records was the ratepayer in respect of the hereditament on the 11 March 2020.

33. Where the Local Authority has reason to believe that the information that they hold about the ratepayer on the 11 March 2020 is inaccurate they may withhold or recover the grant and take reasonable steps to identify the correct ratepayer. Local Authorities should make clear to recipients that the grant is for the ratepayer and may be liable for recovery if the recipient was not the ratepayer on the eligible day. “

 

[Pot131]

Great news! Well done

Thanks! Just checked we are on the government website as of today as well, next step is back to the council, still wouldn’t say I will definitely get it yet, particularly how there’s a post a few posts up from someone saying they got denied because they weren’t rated until after the March date, even though they had been in the property before that so the waiting with baited breath and sleepless nights carries on for now!

 

[ville1401]

One other thing I was told by the council, set up a direct debit mandate for the rates, even if they are zero. Then they have your bamk acct details and it's easier for them to decide it's not fraudulent and pay the money.