BUSINESSES will be receiving new rates bills for their commercial premises this month and can appeal if they believe them to be incorrect from April 1.

Businesses can appeal by themselves, but a skilled professional advisor is crucial to ensure maximum chance of success.

Professional rating advisers who are Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) members are governed by a strict code of practice and are experts in both valuation and the rating system.

The RICS has set up a helpline offering business rates advice. For a free half-hour consultation with a local RICS firm call the RICS Business Rates helpline on 0870 333 1600.

The new bills follow the recent quinquennial (five yearly) review of business rate assessments. This assessment is known as a rateable value.

It is important businesses ensure they have been assessed correctly because their new assessments will form the basis of their new rates bills up until April 1, 2010.

Trevor Hines, RICS South East director, said: "Businesses should beware of opportunist, unqualified ‘cowboy’ advisers or consultants who make claims that they can definitely reduce business rates.

"It is important to ensure that the professional you hire is in fact who they say they are. The validity of an RICS member can be checked by calling RICS Contact Centre on 0870 333 1600 or by emailing contactrics@rics.org."