Council Tax Cost Cutting: reduce your band and grab any discounts Discussion Area

Maisie

alfie3 wrote: »

Thank you ,we checked with the voa and yes we have been in the wrong band for 14 years. We were in band D and have been moved to band C and we recieved a cheque for £1294.81.:T :j

alfie. That's great news.

Maisie . original poster..

grace21

Rooster_Booster wrote: »

Thanks for the link Maisie. I did manage to find it the other day. But thanks anyways.

I used the Statute argument, in my email to the Council. No reply as yet, No surprise there !!!!

Did ask the VOA regards the Councils "lack of Data" and interest.

They did reply and stated that if there was an error in the banding process circa 1993, then its their department that is responsible for the interest payment. And that it would be calculated using building society rates. This I should take this up with my local VOA office.

He also said that he was surprised the Council didnt have the data required to compensate me back to 1993.

So I'm going to wait for the councils reply. Then hit them with a small claims. Just like they would do if I owed them money.

See if that gets their lazy !!!!!! moving. Might even give the local rag a call to see if they are interested.

Rooster

Hi Rooster,
Keep us posted on your progress.What do you mean by the Statute argument??
Good luck,
Grace

Dribble_2

In my case I then found reference to a second estate built in 1991 and marketed at the same time as the AVD. So I had two pieces of evidence to the same effect. It will be much easier to use the RICS data if you have that second piece of data for the locality. If you don't they may uphold the VOA's local evidence. The Tribunal panel actually asked the listing officer what evidence he had to contradict mine and he couldn't provide any other than the historic trend that had been established.............

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Hi vivatifosi,

Understood. In my case I'm short of an estate, Damn !! But luckily the VOA accept 'modern' properties similar to mine were selling below the £88,000 (D) banding figure in 1991 so we're haggling around 1997 prices in the upper £90,000's (and above as the development progressed)

We are all familiar with the inflated prices paid when purchasing new-build properties.The download info you have provided will add common sense from a professional source to proceedings. At the moment the the debate is based around those historic trends and sizes etc which are suspect......

Ain't life interesting ? Thanks again.

alm721

Hi folks. I've just recieved a letter from the VOA saying that they have changed my banding from E to D with effect from 1996 when we had the house built. :jThis took loads of effort and I was refused twice but kept persiting. I almost think the changed it stop me hassleing them! Anyway I imagine that the council will give me a refund however I fully intend to try and recover the interest and was wondering the best way to go about it. I've noticed that a couple of people have mentioned it but I'm not sure of how to do it, so you request it from VOA or council? and how do you calculate what the interest would be? Any advice gratefully recieved.

Thanks

Keith1956

Hi Alm721

The VOA will have told your council about the banding change. The council will work out your refund. The council don't pay interst so write to the Customer Service Manager at your VOA and request the interest back to 1996. They may well refuse your claim. Mine did but with very flimsy "facts" as to why they refused. Then write to the Chief Executive's Office of the VOA and again ask for the interest. I received £563 on a £2,499 refund so it's certainly worth doing. I only waited about 4 weeks for the Chief Executive's Office to reply.Also they were very polite and helpful.

Best of luck.

Keith

abbottw_2

I started the process of trying to have my council tax rebanded on 15th Feb 2007 and I am still no nearer to getting it sorted out. I have read all the postings and followed a lot of very good advice on this website. There are approx 40 houses in my street that are all the same 37 are in band C and 3 (mine being one of the three is in Band D). I contact the estate agent that we brought our house through asking if they had any proof of property prices in 91 (when the banding was done) he gave me addresses of houses that were exactly the same as mine with the prices that they went for, this information I sent with my last letter to the VOA also stating that under the FOI I would like to request the details of size/area of all other properties in my street. I have tried on several occasions to contact the man dealing with my rebanding request, only to be told he is out of the office or on the phone etc. I am really being given the run around, and am not to sure why. The last letter I received was dated 27th June were I have been told “ due to a rather complex situation with the sales evidence for Ferndale Road in 1991, I had referred the matter to my superiors for further consideration. I am sorry to have to inform you that that remains the case, and I am still waiting for a decision to be made”. Can any one help, or advice me what to do next, I am seriously considering contacting a solicitor to see if they can help.

vivatifosi

Hi abbotw

See what others say, but personally I wouldn't bother with a solicitor as you could end up running up costs that you have no need to incur. You started your case after mine and mine has only just been resolved too. Although you can see on the successes board that there are people who get an instant response and rebanding, this often isn't the way, as many people on this board will testify.

The issue is still moving forward, and this is a good thing. How about writing back and saying something along the lines of 'in order to keep good lines of communication and channels open, can I please request the name of the person my case has been escallated up to'. If that doesn't work, you could always request a visit to view the complex sales evidence (if you are entitled to a full tribunal, you are entitled to view the evidence). That would possibly stick a cat among the pigeons!

Good luck!

abbottw_2

Hi Vivatofosi, Thank you very much for the advice and I will do just that, will keep you posted.

Regards Wendy

Rooster_Booster_2

@Grace21 ...The "Statue argument I ripped from Guppy's Page 30 #1197.
The Council stated the statute of limitations as their reason for not back dating the refund past 2000.

No reply as of yet.

Hope thats clearer Rooster

guppy

Rooster_Booster wrote: »

@Grace21 ...The "Statue argument I ripped from Guppy's Page 30 #1197.
The Council stated the statute of limitations as their reason for not back dating the refund past 2000.

No reply as of yet.

Hope thats clearer Rooster

I was put on to the Limitation Act by this post on the Successes board:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=4849828#post4849828

Let us know how you get on, Rooster.