DO NOT PAY LEIGHTON CLARK ASSOCIATES ANY MONEY UPFRONT

My company was cold called one day by
Leighton Clark offering to challenge our business rates.

I received and email from a lady in Manchester
arranging a meeting with their representative who was in the area next day
After 2 meetings we then paid a cheque for a considerable amount of money.
Having extremely high business rates for this part of London it sounded convincing but then I spent the next 8 months chasing them for any action or update on my case before I myself called the Valuation office and found out the
shocking truth.

I spoke at length with a two staff members on multiple occasions and was told on many occasions that negotiations with the VO office were always still on going.

They even sent a VERY unconvincing ‘surveyor’ after reminding them to do so on numerous occasions.


Then after calling their office again I received this said correspondence DATED 1ST June 2015

"At the moment you file is with our negotiator being checked over to see if there is any angles in the appeal process that may have been over looked, you will have to appreciate that these are the only documents that I have at this moment in time also most of the negotiations are done over the telephone and are not documented.

Please be aware that any correspondence you receive from the VO is meant to be forwarded onto us as per your agreement"

Unfortunately after ringing the VO office myself I found out the Leighton Clark has lodged a appeal in November 2014 but then had simply withdrawn it 5 months later on the 25th of March 2015 without taking any other action whatsoever.

So it seems clear they took the money and did nothing and then lied about the progress after they had already withdrawn the appeal.

So it seems easy money to trick businesses for £500.00 a time

My advice on rate challenges are that reputable companies don’t charge up front fees.