In the week that new rates bills come into effect, business people in North Yorkshire are being urged: "Avoid the cowboy business rates advisers."

The warning comes from Charles Partridge, rating spokesman for the Yorkshire branch of the Royal Institution of Chartered Engineers, who urges companies to contact a special RICS business rates helpline on 0171 222 7000 to clear up uncertainties.

Mr Partridge said: "The RICS has received numerous complaints about firms being misled by advisers who persuade them to let them organise a rating appeal on their behalf, holding out the prospect of a rebate.

"Money is paid up front and more often than not, the firm never hears from the adviser again."

He pointed out that at best the rating system was a difficult maze to negotiate.

"The last thing businesses need is to be duped by these cowboys offering false hopes of a successful appeal.

"What these people are doing is not illegal because they do go ahead with lodging an appeal. What their victims do not appreciate, however, is that the appeal often has little chance of success."

One continuing scam is to indicate that a minimum fee becomes payable only in the event of an appeal being accepted.

"What is not made clear is that the valuation officer who receives appeals has a statutory obligation to accept almost all of them, in the sense that they are to be investigated. Acceptance of an appeal is, therefore, no more than a formality and does not mean that there will be a rate reduction."

Some firms indulging in this practice have been exposed in the press, yet continue under a different name. One or two had even adopted names that seemed deliberately similar to reputable rates advisers.

Phoning the rates helpline means that the business person gets up to 30 minutes' advice free of charge.

If extra help is needed callers are referred to bona fide local chartered surveyors.

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