Manchester-based Ellis and Co Surveyors Limited is to liquidate after the High Court heard the company was misleading clients over the success rate of reviewing their business rates.
The Insolvency Service investigators found the company was exaggerating the likelihood of successful appeal on their business rates and the potential amount of money saved.
The company’s success rate was no higher than 15%.
The Manchester-based surveyors would cold call prospective businesses, follow-up with site visits and secure long-term contracts with the promise of high success rates.
It was also revealed in court that the company appointed a decoy director to hide the identity of Joanne Boslem, who had been running the surveyors to hide her activities as principal shareholder of David Scott Surveyors Ltd and C & R Surveyors Limited. Both companies were also wound up in court for similar trading activities.
“Our investigations proved that Ellis and Co Surveyors Ltd misled their clients and the court agreed in granting the application. By winding up Ellis and Co Surveyors Ltd, the Insolvency Service have put a stop to the company’s activities, preventing further harm,” said Scott Crighton, chief investigator for the Insolvency Service.
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