Business Rates appeals

[Chris M]

With the new RV assessments about to come into force, the appeals firms are coming around. I appreciate that an appeal could probably be lodged by ourselves, but I know from experience that we won't get around to doing it.

Since we have a rateable value of £15,600 the potential savings are large, and the RV looks like a lazy effort by the VOA - just above the releif threshold.

Would anyone recommend a company to do an appeal for us? What would be a reasonable cost? The one company I've spoken to so far wants £700 + 30% of the first year's savings.

 

[The Byre]

The trouble with appeals, is that they nearly always fail, unless you really have concrete and legal grounds that can establish that your rates are just plain wrong.

The good thing about appeals, is that they waste council money and officials' time. If everybody appealed, putting up the rate would get hopelessly bogged down.

They cost nothing and standing in front of the appeals board, pleading your case is fun.

 

[Chris M]

We obviously have different ideas of 'fun' . A neighbouring business has well over 3 times our potential revenue, but their RV has come down from about 3x ours to about 2x. Anyone else have any input?

 

[Tina S]

Hello forum members,

I am new to this forum so would appreciate your help.

I need some advise regarding a third party (not sure if I can name them here) who I signed an agreement with to appeal business rates. At the time I was verbally informed (back in Oct'17) that I've been over-paying rates and that they can claim a refund going back to 2015 and it will amount in thousands. Their fees become payable on signing of the agreement.

However in Dec'17 the company who I had signed with had transferred all their clients to another company who then started chasing me for payment. I tried to explain that I wanted to cancel but they would not have any of it. Now they have said that the any refund if appeal is a success would only be back-dated to current year. Considering that I am having to pay £1700 for this appeal to this company with firstly no guaranteeing of winning and secondly if we do win then there will be a small refund as its only for this year.

Also this company has a lot of bad reviews on google where business owners have claimed that they've been scammed. I just wish I had read these before signing on the agreement,.

So my question to you experienced business owners is:
1. Can i terminate the agreement based on the fact - although verbal I was told that the refund will go back years.
2. I had signed the agreement with the company and they have now transferred their client base to a new company.

Please advise.
Thank you.

Regards

Tina

 

[Mr D]

The trouble with appeals, is that they nearly always fail, unless you really have concrete and legal grounds that can establish that your rates are just plain wrong.

The good thing about appeals, is that they waste council money and officials' time. If everybody appealed, putting up the rate would get hopelessly bogged down.

They cost nothing and standing in front of the appeals board, pleading your case is fun.

How can appeals both waste council money and cost nothing?

 

[g]

1. Can i terminate the agreement based on the fact - although verbal I was told that the refund will go back years.
2. I had signed the agreement with the company and they have now transferred their client base to a new company

It depends on what was agreed and what can be proven... for which a signed written agreement is much stronger than anything verbal.

• Although verbal statements would have influenced your decision and could have been understood by you to constitute the service to be provided, without proof they'll not be considered.

• The agreement may contain provisions for cancellation, but won't be of use toward a refund of money already paid.

• If they've not performed as agreed (that's 'what can be proven to have been agreed'), you could take action toward a refund.

It's something for which you should get appropriate legal advice.