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

everettian

Zebedeee wrote: »

Congratulations everettian! Great to hear your good news. You are very fortunate not to have to go to tribunal. There must be someone with some sense in your local VOA!

Cheers Zebedeee,
I cant understand it really, seeing that I only had a letter from the tribunal service last week ? But not complaining, like you say, somebody ( with some sense) must have had a look again to build up their case for the forthcoming invalidity tribunal and decided not to proceed as I had a stronger one against them.
The letter this morning, was from a different officer ?:beer:

vivatifosi

Congratulations everettian!

That's great news. TBH I wasn't hopeful when I saw your initial post so its great to get such positive news. As Zebedeee said, thank goodness someone at your local VOA saw sense!

losgiganteskid

I have been in correspondence with the VOA over the last few months regarding what I feel is an error in the banding of my property. I had an initial, "get lost", then they graciously allowed me a "second review". This second review evidently was with another person who stated he came out to see my property ( just an outside visual, did not call to the property or come inside). My second review was also rejected. I spent several hours in the local library collecting data on house sales in my locality, and as I progressed through the archives I was getting ever more convinced that there was an error with the original banding of my house. I duly sent copies of my findings to the VOA, and have now received another communication stating that, and I quote "the crutial aspect in any council tax enquiry such as yours is to establish the correct band for the actual property under review. However, there are instances where the council tax payer refers to similar properties that are clearly showing inconsistencies in their bandings. That situation exists here. Some of the properties that you refer to appear to be banded too low"

The letter ends up with the words to the effect, go away, i've closed my file.

It must be the easiest job in the world dealing with enquiries such as mine, you merely say "we are right, you are wrong, now go away" - and there seems nothing you can do

Under the freedom of information act I would just love to know exactly how many cases of reviews my local VOA office have had to deal with - and of those how many were rejected, then overlay that against other VOA offices and see what % variations there are.

I can just see the guy who deal with (and I use the phrase loosly) my case, at the end of 3 months standing to attention at the desk of his manager stating - " I've has 200 cases to sort out this quarter boss, and do you know not one of them was eligible for a reduction in banding - didn't I do well, and is my quarterly bonus cheque in the post !!.

Zebedeee

I think you've made some very good points there, losgiganteskid. The VOA are often judge and jury, not to mention hangman. You have one last hope - if you can find a tribunal case in your area where the appellant won and the decision is relevent to you, then the VOA have to reopen your case and give you the chance to go to tribunal yourself.

Abvance

I first got the 'out of normal time' letter from VOA but fews days later got one saying someone will come to view the property. Is this a good sign and shall I left them come? I am band C but below me are band B, both same size. Interesting my rent is higher too, this might help me as my housing association are investigating that as well.

vivatifosi

Hi losgiganteskid,

Completely agree with Zebedeee on this one. Please, please if you can't find a valid tribunal, find someone who has recently moved in who may have a valid appeal.

But don't give up, they win that way. For sure, contact the VOA under the FOI and ask them your question. While you're at it you can ask them for the evidence on which they have based your case, their letter to you is just an overview, you want detailed facts. And never, ever, sign a withdrawal notice unless you are really sure you want to give up the fight.

This really reminds me of Maisie's case. I'm hopeful she will win one day too.

vivatifosi

Abvance wrote: »

I first got the 'out of normal time' letter from VOA but fews days later got one saying someone will come to view the property. Is this a good sign and shall I left them come? I am band C but below me are band B, both same size. Interesting my rent is higher too, this might help me as my housing association are investigating that as well.

Hi Abvance,

If someone is coming out to view the property that is a good step IMHO. They wouldn't even come and look at mine, but the ones where I know they have I would say have had a greater % likelihood of winning.

If the properties are the same I would make that point. If your plot size is the same it won't harm your case to download pictures from Google Earth or similar to show that your house is the same. These days its not uncommon for houses to have different frontages yet identical interiors. If you know this to be the case tell them that too, though they should hopefully have it on file!

linzijm

I live in Wales and was rebanded to a lower band in 2005, does anyone know if I can still have a rebate for all the years I was overpaying?

debbie2326

Hi, sorry if this has been answered? My house was built 1997 When we moved in I queried the band C but was just told..bog off really.
All of the houses around me are banded either A/B can I challenge the banding given??

everettian

debbie2326 wrote: »

Hi, sorry if this has been answered? My house was built 1997 When we moved in I queried the band C but was just told..bog off really.
All of the houses around me are banded either A/B can I challenge the banding given??

Is your house different to the others in the lower banding's ? If so that could be the reason why it is banded C, if not however and its identical, then you may well have a case.
You need to check via the VOA web site to be certain on your neigbours banding's and if you feel you have a case put in an appeal via the on line form, thats what I did.

I have lived in my property for over ten years, and I have just managed to get my house reduced from C to B without much of a fight from the VOA I must say.
But saying that,my house was clearly banded wrongly and this was plain for all, with any common sense to see, except moi, who has gone along paying too much council tax for ten years !!!