Council Tax Rebate Refused

lincroft1710

Marie_Williams wrote: »

I did contact the VA to ask why? Got told to contact another individul by e mail. She was on holiday and I am still waiting for the reply.

Contact VOA again and tell them you're still waiting for a reply. There have been several VOA office closures in the past few weeks, so with staff transfers, retirements and resignations, if this office you're dealing with was affected, your e-mail may have been forgotten. That is no excuse for poor customer service however.

Wilson_Kemp

I am a member of the Valuation Tribunal for England, and have heard many Council Tax appeals over the past 15 years. A private citizen homeowner is perfectly capable of bring an appeal to the VTE if they believe that their home is in an incorrect CT band; detailed guidance on how to do this is on the VTE website. Companies such as Randall & Vickers give the impression in their literature that they will represent your interests in person at a VTE hearing; in fact, they will not appear, and merely make written representations on your behalf, for which they will claim 25% of any savings achieved. Similar companies operate in the field of commercial rating, and submit claims for businesses to obtain a reduction in their business rates. The success rate of appellants (the term for those trying to reduce their CT band at a VTE hearing) is much better by appearing in person than if they rely on written submissions, be these their own or those compiled by a company such as Randall & Vickers.

busy_mum_and_childminder

I too have received a standard letter from Randall and Vickers. I have checked locally and dont believe any of my neighbours have had their band reduced as quoted in the letter, so think this is just to reel you in.
I purchased my property from new in 1991, the year the bandings were classified and am band F which at that time was for property values £120000 to £160000. I paid £127500 so always thought i was in the correct band, however a couple of things have come to mind since the R & V letter has caused me to give this matter more thought.
1. My original mortgage valuation report carried out by the mortgage lender to ensure the property is worth lending on, states that new build proprties carry an unquantifiable premium which meant I may not have achieved the full £127500 in the event of an early re-sale. So therefore was my house really a value of over £120000 at this time.
2. My house is a detached property with a house either side. On one side, my exterior house wall forms the boundary line so the gap between my house and the next belongs solely to my neighbours. 4 years ago my neighbours were able to build a side extension to their property which now leaves a gap of only 10cm between the two houses. I aapealed against the planning decision at the time but obviously lost. I have beeen advised that this build will greatly affect the value of my property as technically there should be a clear 1 metre between properties to class as detached.
Does anyone out there in the know, know if either of these factors would be accepted for lowering my band? If I thought I had any chance of a claim I would be tempted to try this process myself, having read so much negativity about R & V.
I was particularly horrified to read on here that R & V may require their 30% on any future savings as well as past savings.
Would be grateful for any feedback. Thanks.

blossomhill_2

busy_mum_and_childminder wrote: »

I too have received a standard letter from Randall and Vickers. I have checked locally and dont believe any of my neighbours have had their band reduced as quoted in the letter, so think this is just to reel you in

I think a FOI request would quickly get you the definiive answer
- don't ask about householders or specific properties, just a simple "how many properties in x street have been rebanded to a lower band since x date" - if the answer is nil you would know the company is lying

If you want to be a bit more specific you could ask for the info to be broken down by band

FOI through What Do They Know website for maximum coverage

System

blossomhill wrote: »

I think a FOI request would quickly get you the definiive answer
- don't ask about householders or specific properties, just a simple "how many properties in x street have been rebanded to a lower band since x date" - if the answer is nil you would know the company is lying

If you want to be a bit more specific you could ask for the info to be broken down by band

FOI through What Do They Know website for maximum coverage

I assume that you are talking about a FOI request to the council as you can only do it to public bodies

blossomhill_2

!!!!!! wrote: »

I assume that you are talking about a FOI request to the council as you can only do it to public bodies

Yes.........

lincroft1710

You do not need a FOI request when it refers to something which is in the public domain. All CT bands can be accessed via VOA website and the band's history can be viewed.
http://www.voa.gov.uk/cti/InitS.asp?lcn=0

lincroft1710

busy_mum_and_childminder wrote: »

as technically there should be a clear 1 metre between properties to class as detached.

There is no legal definition of a detached property, and plenty of detached properties are less than 1 metre from their neighbour.

You can appeal on the grounds of physical change in the locality and material reduction in the value of your home.

courgine

Just foud this thread. Oxford has had a deluge of letters from Randall & Vickers. After being targeted by advertising scammers, I learnt the Google Street View trick - go on-line to look where they work! R & V don't have a dedicated office - rent-a-desk, I guess - in a Manchester street - on halfof which is semi-derelict. I discovered an "investment wine" scam was being run from an accommodation address above an ink cartridge shop; the advertising fraud was run from a private house. Randall & vickers does NOT look like an established business premises!

lynx10

An elderly family member (age 90, living in Derby), received an unsolicited letter from Randall & Vickers of Manchester last month, saying:

"Your property is currently in band C with a Council Tax bill for this year of around £1290, however, we believe it may be in the wrong band because one or more of your neighbours from [named road] were also originally placed in band C but have since been reclassified as band B. We believe we could lower your council tax bill and secure you a refund for any overpaid Council Tax.
* If we are successful we would save you approximately £161 a year and secure you a refund dating back as far as 1993 or when you moved into the property.
* Refunds are often over £2,000"

However, after investigating the Council Tax valuation list for the corresponding road (VOA link in message above), there are 14 band B properties, each of which say: 'With effect from 01/04/1993' and without any accompanying court code.

So, according to the VOA, there's no sign of any classification changes of any properties in the relevant road to Class B since 1993.

Also, there appears to be a consistent logic to the banding, e.g., 2-bedroom semi-detached property as Band B, 2-bedroom detached as Band C, and 3-bedroom detached as Band D.

Re Oxford: "CHERWELL District Council has urged residents not to take up a company’s offer to seek a cut in their council tax bills. The authority said some people have received letters from Manchester law firm Randall & Vickers offering to challenge council tax bands on a no-win-no fee basis... "
Oxford Mail, Council warns over tax firm, 14th January 2013
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/10159031.Council_warns_over_tax_firm/