STAFF at a Huddersfield council tax claims firm have told a disgruntled customer they are working for nothing.

Bus driver Neil Hinchliffe, 60, is chasing Re-Band UK for money he says he is owed.

When Mr Hinchliffe went to the firm’s offices he was told they had no money – and staff were working for nothing.

Re-Band UK, formerly known as Council Tax Review, has taken fees off householders on the promise of securing thousands of pounds in rebates.

Many have complained they have heard nothing back from the firm and have demanded refunds.

The firm’s boss, Jack Darrell Henry, appeared before Bradford Crown Court in January over the operation of his business.

He admitted 14 breaches of consumer protection regulations and received a nine-month suspended jail sentence.

In March the Examiner reported how 12 former staff had been awarded a total of more than £30,000 against Mr Henry over unpaid wages.

Mr Hinchliffe said he had paid £185 to what was then Council Tax Review in November 2010.

The firm’s representative had told him his end terraced house in Shelley should have been in Band A not B and that they could reclaim £3,000 on his behalf.

Mr Hinchliffe went to the firm’s offices in Fitzwilliam House, Fitzwilliam Street, Huddersfield, on Tuesday June 12 for a pre-arranged appointment to see a manager called ‘Caroline.’

When he arrived he went to the firm’s top floor offices only to be told Caroline wasn’t there.

“It’s a fairly big, modern office, fully-furnished and with four or five big computers,” said Mr Hinchliffe.

“There were four staff there – two men and two young women – and I asked for my £185 back in cash or by cheque.

“They said the company didn’t have any money and that they were all working for nothing.

“I asked why they were working for nothing and how they managed to pay their bills. It just didn’t make sense.

“I asked who was paying for the office and the electricity if the company didn’t have any money but they said they didn’t know. It’s ridiculous.”

Mr Hinchliffe paid his £185 by credit card. He has tried to claim against Lloyds Banking Group but was told by the firm that his claim was outside its 120-day limit.

Mr Hinchliffe is now considering taking Mr Henry’s firm to the Small Claims Court.

The Examiner understands that the group of former employees who won a tribunal case against Mr Henry may attempt to force the firm into liquidation in a bid to secure what they are owed.

Re-Band UK Ltd has a patriotic new look to its website with a map of Britain emblazoned in the union flag on its homepage.

It also has the slogan “Council tax, it’s PAYBACK time.”

In a statement Mr Henry said the manager Mr Hinchliffe had been due to meet left the company a few days before.

He said under the terms of the contract signed by Mr Hinchliffe he was not due a refund at this stage.

The statement added: “The refund policy kicks in when we have exhausted our attempts to reduce the banding via a valuation tribunal.

“Work done to date for this client is extensive but briefly our surveyor has done a drive by survey, the property has been measured for size and a number of other properties have been identified from our extensive list of successfully re-banded properties and submissions have been made to the Valuation Office Agency on the client’s behalf.”

Mr Henry added: “I am not prepared to comment on the ludicrous comments made about our staff working for nothing.”

He said the firm had a large number of satisfied clients and documents were available for inspection.