Business Rates - help please!

bono7861

here is an article that will assist anyone with complaints. I would strongly recommend following what these business owners did and report anything to your local MP. If you get enough complaints it will be be raised on a national scale. I cannot post any links but google: rochdale online small businesses being targeted over governments business rates discount says simon danczuk

Anything else please don't hesistate to ask.

Bobarella

Ojilli wrote: »

Hi

I lease premises which are detailed on the business rates bill as wine bar and premises. The business rates seem astronomical especially since I am not doing anything inherently different from the many pubs I am surrounded by and yet their rates are a fraction of mine.

My question is what is the best avenue to go down to try and reduce them - I'm presuming to have the business recategorised - in fact at the moment we rely on wet sales but are introducing food and as such our opening hours etc will change - I am presuming in the business rates jargon this could be a 'material change of circumstances'? Is it worth employing someone like CVS (business rates specialists) to attempt to do this on my behalf and does anyone know what they charge or is the system simple enough to tackle on my own?

The rates have been appealed before on the grounds that they weren't accurate (I think) and the appeal dismissed.

Thanks in advance........

Ok my business is different to yours, a cafe, but let me share an example with you. When I first took on my premises, I was paying £440 a month for several months before opening as that is what the council asked for. Someone then told me about SME rate relief, I applied for that, my rates halved to £220 a month.
Then last year, I had a serious issue at my business (water damage) and had to close up for 6 months. I appealed to the council for hardship relief, and then they told me that as I am a cafe, I count as a community service and am entitled to a further large reduction of £1000 a year. All in all I am now paying £84 a month. I have also stretched it to over 12 instead of 10 months but still an enormous reduction.
My advice to you? Dont assume you are getting everything you're entitled to. It may well be worth paying an expert as the money you save could be substantial. Then again as I say, I dont know about pubs, but if I have had this experience....

Bobarella

Sorry just seen this thread is from 2013...

capeverde

Business rates are legalised theft. Im in an enterprise zone so whilst my existing premises dont qualify for a large amount of relief due to their size, I do get my rates back in full every April. I am now trying to move to larger premises 25,000 sq ft, but they are claiming the scheme finishes in 2016 and I cant transfer from my existing premises. As my rateable value is 62k and I pay around 48% of this, it is a bit of a killer. Enterprise zone has written to welsh assembly recommending they support me due to the extra jobs I will be creating. We shall see what happens.

crwni

telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/11640630/Business-rates-giant-CVS-slammed-by-customers-for-unfair-treatment.html

Bluer1234

Dear Gareth,
Could you give me more information regarding your court case. I've got a complaint ongoing with CVS regarding misleading information given by the sales person who signed me up its was a cold call visit also the surveyor visit, lack of contact and information of what they now intend to do its a mess.
They just refer me to the small print in the contract