01204388189

Gary Davies is a con artist with a strong background in ripping people off.  Utility bill helpline strangely don't even provide a trading address, 'helpline' or even telephone number or email address.  Very hard to get in touch when things go wrong.  Www.uk-consumer-complaints.blogspot.com

I was telephoned regarding a reduction in my business rates from a company called Clements Agency Group. They requested over £600 for the pleasure which i paid.
They sent me certain pieces of paperwork and i checked the Valuation Office and seen an appeal had been raised.
I received no more letters and have tried to call Clements and it said on answerphone all our agents are busy i then tried many more times with the same response
i called the voa tribunal and they said that they think that Clements had gone into liquidation and wanted to know if anyone knows if they have gone and if anyone else has heard of or had a problem with this company.

Ask yourself for £600 how can a company afford to administer, survey and represent you at a valuation tribunal and make a profit?  It's impossible.  That's why they don't follow the appeals through like CVS and all the other Manchester companies.  All they do is lodge the appeal.  When it comes to a hearing where they are supposed to represent you, they either don't turn up or they withdraw the appeal.  And then the utility bill helpline slags them off, but they are doing exactly the same, and then applying to wind the company up.  There are decent companies out there who do what they say they wil do and no doubt get good reductions.  But Gary Davies and the Manchester bunch aren't a part of that.

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NOV
25
Gary Davies - Utility Bill Helpline Ltd
Gary and Marcus Davies have had a string of rip off business rating companies, and left a string of dissolved and wound up companies, having first fleeced small businesses out of upfront fees for non existent reductions.

Be very aware that the Director, Gary Davies, and Marcus Davies of the Utility Bill Helpline Ltd are obtaining money by deception and fraud.

If you have been a victim, please add your comment below.  If you are prepared to provide evidence to the Police in the form of a witness statement, I can be contacted through my google plus profile.  If we can get enough complaints of fraud, we aim to bring criminal proceedings against them.  If we are successful, we may be able to recover your money through an asset confiscation order.

Add your comments or get in touch...
Posted 5 days ago by David Glump

I am always concerned when I see businesses vocally criticising other businesses operating in the same industry - the reason they discredit competitors (possibly decently reputable companies in their own right) is usually to persuade you to sign up to their services at the expense of other companies - because it is firstly very poor business practice, and one usually finds problems closer to home.

I am therefore going to investigate www.utilitybillhelpline.co.uk to look at their own bold claims, and test the trustworthiness of their company using information already in the public domain.

On their website, they use the following contact address: Coopers House, 65a Wingletye Lane, Hornchurch, Essex RM11 3AT
This is their Registered Address as required by Companies House.  However they do not publish their actual trading address.  Why would a company not wish to provide this?
The Registered Address is a building used by Haines Watts Group which is an Accountancy firm - and presumably their accountants - so should you have a complaint against Utility Bill Helpline Ltd, you would not be able to physically find them.
They do NOT provide a telephone number, NOR an email address, so contacting them could prove problematic.
The Company Director as recorded at Companies House is Mr Gary Davies.
Gary Davies has a string of dissolved companies behind him which have been G DAVIES CONSULTANTS LTD (which was struck off after going into voluntary liquidation) and BUSINESS RATES HELPLINE LTD (which is showing as dissolved with a First notification of strike-off action in London Gazette (Section 652).
At the same home/service address provided to Companies House, Mrs Carron Davies, and Mr Marcus Reece Davies were Director and respective Company Secretary of DUNCAN REGENT ASSOCIATES LTD which was dissolved after being struck off after going into voluntary liquidation and was also a Business Rating Appeals Company which has been reported to be a SCAM COMPANY.
There is a lot of unhappy clients here http://www.unknownphone.com/search.php?num=01204388189 who claim they were RIPPED OFF.

Already there seems to be a string of Business Rating Appeal Companies who appear to have misled and lied to companies, running off with substantial Up Front Fees.  The very thing Utility Bill Helpline are alleging other companies are doing before telling us that they have amazingly managed somehow of getting up front fees back to companies who have been ripped off by other companies!!!!!  How?  And then claiming to have saved them thousands of pounds through their own appeals?!!!!  Is that really a likely story?  When DUNCAN REGENT ASSOCIATES LTD and the BUSINESS RATES HELPLINE LTD seem to have developed quite a negative reputation of their own doing?  It doesn't convince me I'm afraid.

It is deeply concerning that the Utility Bill Helpline Ltd, also seems to be very much centred upon offering the services of Business Rate Reductions and would definitely occur to me to be a very large red flag.

This company has a LOT of Testimonials which name Companies which Gary Davies claims have misled and lied to consumers, and defrauded.  Having looked at the evidence, there are a tremendous amount of similarities between the 'customer testimonials' which lead me to form an opinion that they are fake.  Remember this is only my own opinion.  However, if they are fake, then please be wary of the comments they have made in relation to other companies in the same industry to them, because they may be lies.

Trading Standards will be asked to look into this case, and it will be up to Gary Davies to substantiate his Testimonials.  If they are indeed false, this constitutes 'canvassing business away from a trade or business' which is a criminal offence, by means of false representation (which is another). Not a concern when the whole thing has the potential of being a scam; locking customer's into costly and lengthy contracts on unfair terms.

If you trust this company or any of it's Claims and fantastic 'Testimonials' on their website, then look at the facts before you believe what you are told.

Did you have any further outcome?

LOL

Steve Barlow; William Holland; Gary Davies; Carron Davies; Marcus Davies are all waiting att he UBH to con you into taking out a subscritption for nothing. They have wafted here from Manchester and pretend to be in Romford...they do not give a telephone number or addresss....waiting for the mugs to roll in

Interested people may find this useful:

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, today (Monday 16 March) launched the most wide-ranging review of national business rates in a generation – paving the way for changes to how businesses across England pay the tax.

The review, set to report back by Budget 2016, will examine the structure of the current system which is paid annually on 1.8 million properties in England. The review will look at how businesses use property, what the UK can learn from other countries about local business taxes, and how we could modernise the system so it better reflects changes in the value of property.

The Chief Secretary launched the review during a speech to local businesses in Cambridge.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said:

“Our system of business rates was created nearly 30 years ago. Since that time, the worlds of commerce and industry have changed beyond recognition. I’ve been impressed by the representations made by the business community and I know that business rates are a considerable cost.

“The government has taken measures to help businesses by capping rates and introducing reliefs for smaller businesses. But now the time has come for a radical review of this important tax. We want to ensure the business rates system is fair, efficient and effective.”

Today’s announcement follows the government’s commitment in December 2014 to conduct a review of business rates and implement a £1 billion package to reduce the cost of business rates in 2015-16, with particular support for the smallest businesses and the high street.

From 1 April 2015 the government is:
•increasing help for the high street: increasing the business rates discount for smaller retail premises with a rateable value of £50,000 or below to £1,500 to 31 March 2016, benefiting around 300,000 shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants
•doubling small business rate relief for a further year to 31 March 2016 to provide support for 575,000 of the smallest businesses, and ensuring 385,000 small businesses pay no rates at all
•capping the rise in the business rates multiplier at 2% to benefit all businesses
•extending transitional rate relief to support 16,000 small business facing significant bill increases due to the ending of transitional rate relief

The Treasury has published a discussion paper today (Monday 16 March), outlining the following questions for the review:
1.What, in your view, does this evidence suggest about the fairness and sustainability of business rates as a tax based on property values?
2.What evidence is there in favour of the government considering a move away from a property based business tax towards alternative tax bases? What are the potential drawbacks of such a move?
3.If business rates remain a property tax, how do you suggest business rates could take into account the individual circumstances of businesses such as their size or ability to pay rates?
4.What evidence and data can you provide to inform the government’s assessment of the trends in use and occupation of non-domestic property?
5.Is there evidence to suggest that changing patterns in property usage are affecting some sectors more than others?
6.What examples from other jurisdictions and tax systems should the government consider as part of this review? What do you think are the main lessons for the business rates system in England?
7.How can government use business rates to improve the incentive for local authorities to drive local growth?
8.What impact will increased local retention of business rate revenue have on business growth? What will the impacts be on local authorities?
9.What other local incentives should the government consider to further incentivise business growth?
10.Should business rates be reformed to make them more closely reflective of wider economic conditions and if so, how?
11.How does the proportion of total operating costs accounted for by business rates vary by the sector and size of a business?
12.What is the impact of the business rates system on the competitiveness of UK businesses? Are there any particular impacts on SMEs?
13.How could the government better target support for SMEs given that the size of a company may not be reflected in the rateable value of a property it uses?
14.Should investment in plant and machinery, energy efficiency improvements or other similar property improvements be treated differently by the business rates system? If so what changes could be made?
15.What evidence and analysis should the government take into account when evaluating the impact of and any changes to the range of reliefs and exemptions present in the business rates system?

Key facts about business rates:
•1990 – national business rates system introduced
•business rates are paid by occupiers of non-domestic properties (e.g. shops, offices, warehouses, factories, guest houses)
•the main aim of business rates is to help raise revenue to pay for local services
•business rates are devolved within the UK
•business rates are paid on 1.8 million non-domestic properties in England each year
•£20.5 billion was brought in from business rates in England in 2013-14
•April 2013 – government introduced the ‘business rates retention scheme’ to allow local government in England to keep 50% of all business rates receipts and therefore 50% of any growth
•some properties are eligible for relief on their business rates (e.g. small business rate relief which has been doubled until March 2016)
•local councils send out business rate bills in February or March each year. The bill is for the following tax year. Some councils offer payment in 12 instalments
Caller: Danny Alexander
Call Type: Survey
Reply!

LOL

Having been one of the most hotly-debated economic topics in recent years, companies throughout the UK could be rejoicing or commiserating after predicted changes to local business rates.

British high streets in areas such as Rochester will actually benefit
After the British government announced plans to launch a review of the business rates system in March 2016, a later postponement of such a development left many feeling the powers that be did not sufficiently understand the pressure felt by business owners.

Indeed, in the run up to the general election in May, opposition parties, and in particular Labour, made business rates a big part of manifestos and business pledges. Former shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna declared that business owners have been “clobbered” by hikes in business rates and that a cutting, and then freezing, of business rates was necessary.

In the Summer Budget in July and Autumn Statement in December we heard little to nothing when it came to business rates – the government instead focusing on things like apprenticeships, corporation tax and the wider economy.

Now, however, new research has suggested businesses are “sleep walking” into major business rates changes that are going on below the surface.

Despite January 2016 being the mark when the government will have finished assessing three-quarters of properties for new business rates, each will not know the results until October 2016.

As such, it will come as a surprise to the 76 main towns and shopping centres that are predicted to experience an increase to business rates. Furthermore, parts of London could see a hike of more than 400 per cent.

To combat the surges some parts of the UK will experience, Colliers International research suggested the Midlands, North of England and Wales will benefit from business rates decreases.

Showing the extent of the changes, Dover Street, a shopping street in the capital home to brands such as Victoria Beckham, could witness a rate increase from around £80,000 to nearly £400,000 by 2017.

Alongside the swanky shopping and entertainment street, Brixton at 128 per cent and Fulham at 187 per cent will also be hit particularly hard.

John Webber, head of rating at Colliers International, said: “The 2017 rating revaluation will produce the largest changes to business rates for high street retailers in a generation. We now understand that the bulk of assessments have been made and local councils are very nervous about widespread reductions in business rates revenue.

“Our message is clear: retailers need to start planning for these changes. Retailers in London and the South East will, in some cases, face significant rate rises. Budgeting to allow for this should be addressed now and we hope that our data serves as a wake-up call a clear 12 months before the government publishes the final details. For retailers who are considering closing unprofitable shops in the North and the Midlands, this report should be good news with likely rates’ cuts only round the corner.

“For retailers who can expect a reduction in business rates, it’s important to be clear about rate liability. This knowledge offers leverage for both landlord and tenant when it comes to rent negotiations. Retailers who could be sleep walking into rates changes are threatening the sustainability of their stores. We strongly urge them to wake up and act to protect their shops and the jobs which rely upon them.”

Britain's current system has been widely criticised because of the way that rates are charged to retailers based on the value of the company's shop or other commercial property, rather than turnover or profit. Business rates bring in around £25bn annually to the Treasury, but retailers argue that they are not closely related enough to actual profitability and say the system gives online retailers an unfair advantage.

Earlier in 2015, Real Business heard from Askar Sheibani, CEO and founder of telecoms repair and support company Comtek, that his business was paying thirty times more for business rates in the UK than it was for other operations in the UK.

“While the government has taken steps to lower the business rates for some organisations, such as those adhering to specific criteria and located in Enterprise Zones, the it must overhaul the entire process. Instead of basing the rates calculation on property value, more focus should be placed on profitability and performance, so as to encourage, rather than hamper, business growth.”

So, which areas are likely to be raising a glass and which will be drowning their sorrows?

Top 10 UK winners with business rates reductions:
Newport: 80 per cent reduction
Port Talbot: 64 per cent reduction
Tamworth: 56 per cent reduction
Neath: 56 per cent reduction
Ealing: 46 per cent reduction
Torquay: 45 per cent reduction
Pontypridd: 44 per cent reduction
Dewsbury: 43 per cent reduction
Llanelli: 43 per cent reduction
Kidderminster: 42 per cent reduction

Central London – Biggest increases
Jermyn Street: 133 per cent increase
James Street: 72 per cent increase
Strand: 93 per cent increase
New Bond Street: 69 per cent increase
Old Bond Street: 169 per cent increase
Coventry Street: 186 per cent increase
Leicester Square: 239 per cent increase
Marylebone High Street: 146 per cent increase
Redchurch Street: 131 per cent increase
Bishopsgate: 181 per cent increase
Dover Street: 415 per cent increase

Outer London – Biggest increases
Putney: 12 per cent increase
Clapham Junction: 78 per cent increase
Hammersmith: 89 per cent increase
Islington: 53 per cent increase
Hampstead: 29 per cent increase
Wandsworth: 67 per cent increase
Camden: 10 per cent increase
Westfield London: 102 per cent increase
Brixton: 128 per cent increase
Southall: 91 per cent increase

For info on where all of the biggest changes are, have a look at the Colliers International research

LOL

Every body be-aware of clements agency.
They call you about rates relief and take lots of commission and don't do anything.
This company is really fraud company and staff is very rude. They called to people and lie about everything to gets rates relief. This is my advice don't deal with those people.

British retailers are facing prolonged misery after the Government delayed its highly anticipated overhaul of business rates until next year’s Budget.
The extra wait comes despite repeated assurances from the Government that there would be a decision by the end of this year, in line with the Conservatives’ manifesto.
The Government closed its consultation in June into reform of business rates, which cost UK businesses £2.40 for every £1 in corporation tax.
“Businesses will be distraught that, yet again, their calls have been ignored by the Government, instead treating English businesses as a cash cow that can be milked until it is dry,” said Jerry Schurder, head of business rates at Gerald Eve.
Business rates, which brought in £27.3bn this year, are forecast to rise by £500m next year, and to rake in £32.4bn for the Treasury by 2020.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said that the rate rises combined with the additional costs of the new living wage and the apprenticeship levy would mean retailers have to find an extra £14bn over the next five years.
The BRC said that it was better that the Government took “the time to get the solutions right on the first go and design a system that is fit for purpose.”

However, some sector sources suggested that the Government was simply buying more time and said that retailers “shouldn’t hold their breath”.
"The retail sector continues to face significant cost increases from the already announced national living wage and was hoping for earlier reform of the business rates from the promised review," David McCorquodale, head of UK retail at KPMG said. "However, the Chancellor has kicked the 'business rate can’ further along the road until the Budget."
The delay came as the Chancellor also confirmed that universal business rates would be scrapped in favour of devolving to local councils, who will now collect 100pc of the tax.

Local councils will now be given the power to reduce business rates for struggling firms but only city elected mayors are able to increase them to help “fund key infrastructure projects”. However, councils will also be left balancing the books as they will no longer receive core central government grants.
“The planned devolution to Local Authorities is discouraging,” said independent retail analyst Richard Hyman. “Their track record in understanding business in general, and shopping in particular, is a worry.”

British retailers are facing prolonged misery after the Government delayed its highly anticipated overhaul of business rates until next year’s Budget.
The extra wait comes despite repeated assurances from the Government that there would be a decision by the end of this year, in line with the Conservatives’ manifesto.
The Government closed its consultation in June into reform of business rates, which cost UK businesses £2.40 for every £1 in corporation tax.
“Businesses will be distraught that, yet again, their calls have been ignored by the Government, instead treating English businesses as a cash cow that can be milked until it is dry,” said Jerry Schurder, head of business rates at Gerald Eve.
Business rates, which brought in £27.3bn this year, are forecast to rise by £500m next year, and to rake in £32.4bn for the Treasury by 2020.
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said that the rate rises combined with the additional costs of the new living wage and the apprenticeship levy would mean retailers have to find an extra £14bn over the next five years.
The BRC said that it was better that the Government took “the time to get the solutions right on the first go and design a system that is fit for purpose.”

However, some sector sources suggested that the Government was simply buying more time and said that retailers “shouldn’t hold their breath”.
"The retail sector continues to face significant cost increases from the already announced national living wage and was hoping for earlier reform of the business rates from the promised review," David McCorquodale, head of UK retail at KPMG said. "However, the Chancellor has kicked the 'business rate can’ further along the road until the Budget."
The delay came as the Chancellor also confirmed that universal business rates would be scrapped in favour of devolving to local councils, who will now collect 100pc of the tax.

Local councils will now be given the power to reduce business rates for struggling firms but only city elected mayors are able to increase them to help “fund key infrastructure projects”. However, councils will also be left balancing the books as they will no longer receive core central government grants.
“The planned devolution to Local Authorities is discouraging,” said independent retail analyst Richard Hyman. “Their track record in understanding business in general, and shopping in particular, is a worry.”

What does that have to do with nuisance calls?

1. How it works
From 6 April 2016, you’ll pay the Scottish rate of Income Tax if you live in Scotland.

This means some of your Income Tax will be paid to the Scottish Government.

It applies to your wages, pension and most other taxable income.

Your Personal Allowance - the amount of income you don’t pay tax on - stays the same. You’ll also pay the same tax as the rest of the UK on dividends and savings interest.

What you’ll pay under the Scottish rate
The Scottish rate of Income Tax is 10% but you’ll pay the same overall rate of Income Tax as people in the rest of the UK. This is whether you pay the basic, higher or additional rates.

The table shows the total rate you’ll pay from 6 April 2016, if you have a standard Personal Allowance (which will be £11,000). You don’t get a Personal Allowance if you pay additional rate tax.

UK rate for England, Wales and Northern Ireland    Income band    UK rate paid in Scotland    Scottish rate    Total rate for Scottish taxpayers
Basic rate 20%    £11,001 - £43,000    10%    10%    20%
Higher rate 40%    £43,001 - £150,000    30%    10%    40%
Additional rate 45%    Over £150,000    35%    10%    45%
Who pays the Scottish rate
You’ll pay the Scottish rate if you live in Scotland.

Work out if you’ll pay the Scottish rate if you do any of the following from April 2016:

move to or from Scotland
live in a home in Scotland and one elsewhere in the UK, eg for work
you don’t have a home and you stay in Scotland regularly, eg you stay offshore or in hotels
The tax year is from 6 April to 5 April the following year.

What happens next
You’ll get a letter from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if they think you should pay the Scottish rate of Income Tax.

You must update your address with HMRC if your main home is in Scotland and you don’t get a letter by the end of February.

How you pay the Scottish rate
If you’re employed or get a pension, from 6 April 2016 your tax code will start with an ‘S’. This will tell your employer or pension provider to deduct tax at the Scottish rate.

Most people’s tax code will be S1100L if they pay the Scottish rate and get the standard Personal Allowance.

If you fill in a Self Assessment tax return for the 2016 to 2017 tax year, there’ll be a box for you to tell HMRC you pay the Scottish rate.