Sponging Off The Covid Rates Relief

Chancellor axes business rates and sharks seek 45% of saving.

- Andrew Penman

Here's a blatant example of claiming credit for something you didn’t do, courtesy of RVA Surveyors.

This firm claims to help companies get reductions in their business rates and has just billed garage owner Ben Byrom for its supposed services.

Mr. Byrom signed a contract with RVA in 2017 and now it is demanding a 45% cut of the savings he’ll make on his rates bill this year.

Like all other retail outlets, Mr. Byrom will be paying nothing after Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced last month a suspension of business rates for a year as part of the Government’s pandemic rescue package.

“We have been given a business rate-free year by the Government to help get us through this very rough patch,” said Mr. Byrom.

“I am now being billed by RVA, even though they have carried out no work to get this rates relief.”