Rate cuts could appeal to more

Companies in England and Wales could be wasting up to &\#163;3 billion a year on rates payments according to research from property and construction services group Fletcher King. It states that only 40 per cent of rating assessments are subject to an appeal, and it estimates that more than half of the rateable properties could find their rates reduced on appeal. In a case study, the firm saved 24 per cent on appeal on rate payments at Bausch & Lomb's Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey head office, a reduction of &\#163;113,000. B&L financial controller Frank Walsh says: 'There must be a great many businesses that do not believe an appeal is worth the time or money, but our case proves quite the opposite.' Bob Dickman, head of Fletcher King's rating division, adds that for every 100 rate appeals, 80 are successful, with an average reduction of 17 per cent. - Details on: 0171 493 400.