A FIRM offering council tax reductions took in more than £200,000 in fees from more than 1,100 people in just six months.

But in that same period, the controversial company paid out rebates to just SEVEN people.

Now the Huddersfield firm has been shut down by Government officials after misleading thousands of people that they would secure council tax refunds.

Reband (UK) Ltd was yesterday wound-up “in the public interest” by a judge at the High Court in Manchester.

The firm, run by Jack Darrell Henry, claimed that it had helped thousands ensure that they were in the correct council tax band.

It stated in its publicity that this had led to hundreds of thousands of pounds being refunded to homeowners.

The Fitzwilliam Street-based firm received more than £200,000 in upfront fees from more than 1,100 people in just six months, between August 2011 and February 2012.

But an investigation by the Insolvency Service found that the firm had successfully obtained a reduction in council tax for just seven householders.

Henry was not present at the brief hearing, nor did he have any representative there.

District Judge Graeme Smith stated yesterday: “It’s quite clear to me that this company should be wound-up in the public interest.”

The Insolvency Service had brought court action against the firm.

Simon Charles, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, said that the company had embarked upon a number of “objectionable” trading practices.

He said that the firm would “cold call” potential customers without undertaking any screening process to see if the customer was registered with the Telephone Preference Service.

Mr Charles said: “Few steps were taken to see if the customer had any real prospect of being able to lower the council tax brand of their property.

“There were examples where the company called householders who didn’t even pay council tax and tried to sell them services.”

Mr Charles said that “misleading” information was given to customers about their prospects of success and the fees that would be charged.