Rates firm loses again
aLovely to see a dodgy firm of supposed business rates consultants lose another court case.
RVA Surveyors, run by Stephan Hughes, says it can cut business rates bills in return for a 45% slice of any reduction.
As I’ve previously reported, it sues customers for its fee even when it’s done nothing useful.
In the latest case, it sent a bill for almost £1,500 for supposedly securing small business rates relief for London property company IMA Group.
It sued when IMA refused to pay. IMA said that after a cold call, a rep from RVA arrived at the company when the director was away and convinced an employee into agreeing to some paperwork.
“They misled us,” IMA told the court. “They had no authority from us to contact our local rating authority and yet did so.”
RVA lost and was ordered to pay costs of £370 to IMA Group.
IMA director Ishil Mehta said: “The judge ruled against RVA on a finding of fact. This was therefore very difficult for them to appeal – they tried.”