Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
They’re nothing but wind-up merchants
Rates outfit threatens clients with bankruptcy and closure orders
TIMES are tough enough for shop owners without being hounded by a bunch of chancers.
Like Rating and Valuation Company Limited, a firm that claims to help cut business rates.
I’ve heard from retailers who say they have been hit with hefty invoices by this company, even though it hasn’t reduced their rates.
It wants a 15% commission from its clients off the back of the business rates cuts announced by the Government to help firms survive the coronavirus crisis.
Malcolm Sibson runs Copplestone Bridal in Liverpool and had signed a contract with Rating And Valuation Company, paying £695 plus 15% of any rates reductions it achieved.
“Rating And Valuation Company achieved nothing, the rates reduction has been entirely due to the Government,” said Mr Sibson. “They had challenged my rates with the Valuation Office Agency but this was rejected and so was their appeal.”
Yet this lot are claiming their commission, pointing to a clause in very small print that states it can demand payment following a rates reduction “whether or not achieved by Rating And Valuation Company”.
Its invoice, including legal costs, comes to £5,059.
The correct way of dealing with a disputed debt like this is to take the matter to a County Court for a judge to decide on it. Instead, Rating And Valuation Company has issued a statutory demand to circumvent any court procedure, threatening Mr Sibson with personal bankruptcy and his company with being wound-up.
Another of its clients is Tommy Badham, who owns Worcester restaurant Ostlers and who is so upset he has set up a Facebook page called Rating and Valuation Company – Scam.
“They have invoiced me for 15% of the reduction the Government has awarded because of Covid-19,” he says.
“They are threatening that if I don’t pay, then I will have to pay a termination fee of £995 plus VAT and court fees which could be between £5,000 and £6,000.
“I have been in touch with my local council and was told that Rating And Valuation Company have made two challenges against my business rates, the first was rejected and the second is still ongoing.”
Hylton Haylett runs the Oak Inn in Staplow, Herefordshire, and describes Rating and Valuation Company as bullies after they billed him for a rates reduction. “We checked with the Valuation Office and found that their challenge on our behalf had been rejected,” he said.
“We said they’d lied to us and wanted nothing more to do with them, so they then sent an invoice for a £900 termination fee and £200 administration fee.
“When the Government announced the Covid-19 rates suspension they sent another £900 invoice, claiming 15% of the saving that they’d had absolutely nothing to do with.
“They wanted £2,700 in 14 days and threatened me with a winding-up order.”
Andrew James runs family furniture shop James Furnishers in Rugeley, Staffs.
“We paid £1,200 upfront but were told we would get it back if they did not recover anything, so they said it was risk-free,” he said.
Now he’s been billed for £2,840 after the Government suspended business rates and has also been threatened with a winding-up order.
He says: “You literally need a magnifying glass to read the small print on the back of the contract” and insists that the crucial clause in which Rating And Valuation can claim commission even if someone else brings about a rates reduction “should be in readable font on the front”.
“They’re just trying to see if we will buckle and my advice to anyone in the same position is do not pay.”