Anger has been expressed by a Largs businessman of alleged ‘underhand’ tactics by North Ayrshire Council after he was wrongly told that he was entitled to 100% rates relief on his premises.

Andrew Hudson who runs Sale Room furniture shop in Aitken Street, Largs, fears he now risks going out of business after he received his rates bill at his home address, and was told he was only entitled to 25% rates relief.

Mr Hudson said: “I opened a new business in Largs last year; business has been fine, had a great trade and have loved getting to know all of the regulars and local people of Largs.

“I hadn’t heard from North Ayrshire Council regarding my business rates, so I contacted them to find out what was happening. The lady explained to me that all of my letters regarding the bill were being returned unopened to them.

"I don’t have a letter box on my premises, but every now and again a postman slides it under the door. Anyway, she went on to explain to me that given the size of my premises and, that I have no other business operating in Scotland, I was eligible for 100% rates relief fund, and to get it all I had to do was fill in a form. So to get the form I gave the lady my home address.

“The forms arrived a couple of days later and I filled them all in and sent them off.” He continued: “The following week I received a new rates bill, which was for the full amount. Confused I called the department again, and, luckily, got the same lady who I had previously spoken with.

"I explained to her about the letter to which she replied ‘you’re only entitled to 25% discount’. I asked her why she had told me it was 100% discount, to which she first denied, but after further probing she agreed that “maybe” she did say that, but it was in error.

“When I asked her if it was common practice to lie to people in order to get home addresses to hound them for money, she warned me not to say such things, to which I replied “why did you blatantly lie to me? That’s morally not right” to which she hung up the telephone to me.” The businessman who did not tell the ‘News’ how much the bill was for added: “I am sickened that North Ayrshire Council take this bully approach to business rates. Thanks to the rates being so high, I now face closure of my shop because I simply cannot afford to pay such ridiculous prices.” Following e-mail correspondence with NAC, Mr Hudson received a message back from the council that the initial information given was incorrect.

He commented: “I am sure they were being underhand. She kept encouraging me and said I was eligible for the rates relief. She kept pushing me saying ‘You’d be silly not to’, I think it was just a way of asking for my home address. It all depends on what your rateable value is and you need to be under £10,000 to get the discount. It is now working out at an extra £600-700 per month - to have put so much into the business and have to walk away would break my heart.” Mr Hudson is seeking legal advice on the situation.

A council spokesperson said: “During an initial phone conversation with Mr Hudson one of our advisors mistakenly provided incorrect information. We have apologised for this unintentional error.

“Mr Hudson’s written application for the Small Business Bonus Scheme was assessed against criteria including the property’s rateable value. This is exactly the same process as any other application to the scheme.

“Mr Hudson’s business does not have a letterbox; therefore, it was agreed that his home address would be used for this correspondence. It has not been used for any other purpose.

“Our staff always operate with high levels of integrity, consistency and fairness.”