Help - rating advisory bureau

littlemissw

I would really like some advice on the following issue:

I've been given the responsibility of trying to find ways to save the company money and I've been contacted by a Rating Advisory Bureau. We currently have a rateable value of £30250 and the unit opposite has a rateable value of £34250 but is slightly bigger.

The specialist tried to convince me that he could save the company money dating back to 2005 roughtly 15-20% and the saving would continue for years to come. The drawback of course is the initial charge of £795.00 plus 25% of one year's saving. My apprehension is that what if the saving ends up less that the outlay. I would probably end up losing my job instead of making the company a saving.

All advice is very welcome.
Thank you.

purplepardalis

Can they provide references from other happy customers? That might show the likelihood that they will be able to save you some money

AlwaysWorking

Hi. Could you perhaps tell us what part of the country you are based in? Then if someone works in rating in that area, they could give you some advice. I used to work in rating in Northern Ireland and know that you can fill in a form to have your ratable value looked at if you think it may be incorrect. A valuer will then visit your property and discuss this with you, free of charge.

Bristolboss

My experience of the Rating Advisory Bureau is not good. One of our buildings was extended and the rateable value went up by some 50k to well over 100k. A salesman from the RAB soon contacted us claiming that the rates were "out of tone" with other properties in the surrounding area and for £795 they would survey the building, lodge an appeal, make us a good saving and take a 25% of the 1st year savings.

We reluctantly agreed, paid the £795 and then never heard anymore although an appeal against our rateable value was eventually lodged by the RAB to be heard some 15-months later (actually in hindsight very easy to do yourself). There was never a survey undertaken by the RAB as promised and two weeks before the appeal was due to be heard the RAB withdrew the appeal without our knowledge.

When I enquired I was informed that the RAB had withdrawn the appeal as our building was "in tone" with other properties in the surrounding area which is a complete contradiction to what the RAB salesman had said and the only reason we paid the £795 and signed up with the RAB in the first place! Very unhappy.

I tried to contact the RAB but they wouldn't answer my calls or emails so pretended to be a new potential customer and they soon phoned me back then!

Anyway after numerous telephone calls and letters they refuse to recognise my complaints and just quote the contract at me saying that they cannot comment on what their salesman said.

PERSONALLY I WOULD GIVE THEM A WIDE BERTH.

exvoperson

Having worked in the Valuation Office for some 20 years and am now self employed I have seen many cases of appeals by RAB being withdrawn or else they have accepted a minor reduction when often a larger reduction was justified. I also have concerns about their list of clients as I know some of their so called clients have their rates dealt with by national surveying firms. I would advise people not to use them, you will generally get a better job done by doing it yourself or use a local surveyor

dark1

Agreed with all said up to yet.

A reputable agent will conduct a survey of a premises before lodging an appeal as it is impossible to say if the rateable value is excessive without one. I have known of many businesses who have used 'cold calling' agents like this one, and have received nothing but an increase in rateable value due to the VOA resurveying their property and finding improvements not previously accounted for. Tread very carefully.

Look at the summary breakdown of your valuation yourself, available from the VOA's website. Do the areas and area descriptions look right? Also check the information of your valuation scheme; does your property sound like what it describes?

If something doesn't look right and not in your favour, contact the VOA and tell them. They'll review the factual details of your assessment. Alternatively, contact a reputable agent (RICS should be able to point you to one), and ask them to look into it. They will only submit an appeal if they believe a reduction is a distinct possibility.

Good luck.

heretolearn_2

We've got an agreement with a company to do rates appeals for our clients but there is no up-front fee, just a % if successful. This means that a) it's fairer to clients and b) they only take on cases they are 100% sure will result in a reduction.

Marketing_Joe.

Hello.

I've had positive results from these guys over the years. Recently i've been 'harassed' (if thats not too strong a word) by people phoning me up and offering similar services. I've stayed with Ratings Advisory as they were able to provide me with a ratings discount that was most unexpected and very welcome.

I'm not prone to following discussions such as this or indeed replying, but i do get the sense that Ratings Advisory are being targeted with 'bad press' from new companies offering similar services? Disgruntled former employees perhaps? After all, they have been in business for almost a decade and have an impressive client base, surely if as some of these posts suggest they operate 'in the grey area' then something would have been done already?

As i say, i've been more than happy with their services.

Googlewhacker

Marketing_Joe. wrote: »

Hello.

I've had positive results from these guys over the years. Recently i've been 'harassed' (if thats not too strong a word) by people phoning me up and offering similar services. I've stayed with Ratings Advisory as they were able to provide me with a ratings discount that was most unexpected and very welcome.

I'm not prone to following discussions such as this or indeed replying, but i do get the sense that Ratings Advisory are being targeted with 'bad press' from new companies offering similar services? Disgruntled former employees perhaps? After all, they have been in business for almost a decade and have an impressive client base, surely if as some of these posts suggest they operate 'in the grey area' then something would have been done already?

As i say, i've been more than happy with their services.

lol oh come on!

CDWIng

It's apparent that local councils and trading standards are very concerned about bogus rates agents, you only have to look at their warnings online! There is no formal regulation of agents only a code of practice and consumer guidelines published by the VOA and RICs etc. This means that anyone with a little knowledge of rates can set up in business to appeal rates on the behalf of the consumer, charging what they like and making promises they cannot keep, swamping the VOA with appeals that get withdrawn, wasting time and money of all concerned. I'd be really interested to hear of the experiences of business property owners who have fallen foul of this type of unscrupulous practice.

dhickman-moron

What I want to know is what does Dhickman get from all this because I am sure he is not being a knight in shinning armour to all these poor hard done by clients that he claims (and probably posted).
Smacks of an ex employee with a serious axe to grind to me.