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

Zebedeee

Mr_Kennedy wrote:

Would like some advice.

My band atm is C and looking at prices in 1991 and 2005 (last house sold on my road) my band should be A according to the table.

Now most of my road is C so i'm not the odd one out. But the problem is i'm in Wales so not sure what the right way to go is as i got rebranded in 2005. I moved in July 04.

Any help?

It would be a good idea to check to see how much houses the same as yours in your road sold for around April 2003 (eg. use https://www.nethouseprices.com as Martin suggests). Then check that value against the table for houses in Wales. That should give you a good idea of the correct banding.

Hope that helps.

rammy007

I have checked the bandings on my property and my neighbours and it seems we are all in the wrong band,or i was in the wrong band before we had our extension last year now i think our banding is right,the thing that really annoys me is that when we moved here in 1993 we appealed against the banding and didnt get anywhere,and it seems now we were in the wrong band after all.Does anyone know if we can do anything about those years before we had the extension where it looks like we were overpaying,all my neighbours who havent extended their houses seem to now be in the wrong band.There is 2 or 3 houses on the estate who are in the lower band and the houses are exacly the same.I have printed off all the house prices that were sold since 2000 and checked them all on the nationwide house price checker and then compared the bands it seems they should be all B instead of C exept 2,one of which is a larger detatched property which should be c,the other is a semi like the others which with its new extension has now taken it to band c which it is in(although this extension is recent so it didnt have this in 1991).Do you thing i should try and get some of the overpayments back or are you able to do this bearing in mind i appealed against the banding when we moved here in 1993 but i didnt have all this info then.

peter999

essexmate wrote:

At least you were able to do a search though! Im sure the front door has been closed on purpose until it all dies down and people forget all about it.

It's 3am & I still cannot get through the frontdoor !!
The frontdoor is firmly bolted against invaders.

Anyone got a a battering ram ??

It's a conspiracy !!

Frontdoor:
http://www.voa.gov.uk/

Backdoor:
http://www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax/cti_home.htm

peter999

Ps: I checked our road & 5 properties are at a higher band
(all properties in road are the same).

Bob_Roberts

MSE_Martin wrote:

Dear Bob

Thank you for reposting in this thread.

I refer you both to the council tax article and my earlier post which explains where the likely funds from substantial rebates come from. It is unlikely to put others council tax up - bizarrely (as explained earlier) it could actually have the opposite impact due to central government subsidies of areas with more lower bands.

Yet again let me stress this is about people who have OVERPAID council tax, it's not a loophole - its about checking you haven't been a victim of injustice. As for 'many bought those houses' knowing the band.... actually as you'll read many have windfalls back from 1993 when council tax started - and were unfairly banded back then without realising it, and before the power of the internet enabled an easy check. Plus even those who moved in later - much like with the bank charges argument - the fact people were aware of the charge - without being aware it was an overcharge - doesn't mean it should be accepted - why should people lie down and be walked all over.

I find the allegation that I should 'concentrate on real injustice' rather laughable to be honest.

This site has

1. Focused on how to cut council tax overpayments for all those who've been paying too much - this includes many of the elderly you wish to protect
2. Had over half a million template letters to reclaim unfair bank charges downloaded in the last 2 months!
3. Had countless people successfully reclaim endowment misselling compensation

All are victims of injustice and all have done it through this site without being charged a penny at any point.

Plus of course this site shows how to beat the system of debt, get the best deals, and take the marketing might of UK corporate britain on.

So with regards to your comment, "I am concerned that self-interest is becoming so widespread in our society and people like Martin do nothing but feed that greed. I would much rather see him focus on real injustice." I hope it doesn't sound arrogant to say that I think i'm doing my bit on tackling injustice in society.

Kind regards

Martin

Thanks Martin – but I still think you miss the point I am making. Additionally, I’m not sure how your comment about ” where the likely funds [for] substantial rebates come from” helps. Clearly any Government/Local authority monies come from the public and so the source of any repayments will be society as a whole.

I do not dispute that you are talking about overpayment. What I am concerned about is the consequences of your extensive marketing of this. The successes on your forum are, as I have already said, dominated by people in band E upwards. Two thirds of the successes i.e. those achieving rebates are, therefore, people who are already comparatively well off.

Unfortunately, I don’t have access to any detailed housing stock analysis but from what I have been able to glean, it looks like that two thirds of your successes, comes from people who live in properties in the top 20% value wise. Forgive me if that data is wrong but it soes seem very probable that the bulk of the “winners” here are people who are relatively well off. The cost of those refunds will fall to the whole of society either in the form of higher taxes (local or national) or poorer services. What segment of society suffers most from higher tax/poorer services - those who can least afford it - the poorest in our society.

That brings me to your observation that you find my comments laughable. You support that by highlighting issues such as the help you have provided to people in challenging Bank Charges, getting compensation for mis-selling of endowment polices etc.

I know you don’t charge for your service – and I applaud that – but do you truly believe that the Executive in these enormous businesses accepts the loss of/diminution of an income stream with grace? I am fairly sure that they will look at the costs of refunding charges/paying compensation and ask “how can we recoup that lost income.” How long will Free Banking last? Will Martin claim that as a success?

When the time comes, all of us will pay – and again, I suspect the better off will shout the loudest – and gain the most.

Martin, I do not doubt the fact that you are probably right – but being right, and doing the right thing, are, at times, quite different. That is why I suggested you use your undoubted talent and enthusiasm, to work on real injustices in our society. Incidentally, I have long been retired and therefore have no vested interest in terms of association with business/Government – I simply have a desire to see fairness to those least able to help themselves.

rizla01

Hi Bob Roberts,

So, to take your point to task, you are suggesting that the local Govermnent funding should be propped up by errors that they themselves have made in assessing what tax we should all be paying on our homes based on the fact that they got it right most of the time.

You also point out that it'll be the higher echelons of society that will benifit most from the realisation of this error.

Does it not occur to you that far more of the 'better off' in our society, probably have access to this knowledge than the mere band Cs & Ds that make up the majority of homeowners in this country and that they already have taken issue with the VOA and are enjoying a fair taxation on their properties.

Is this information that should be withheld from the less educated and by definition, the less well off?

And if so, for what purpose? In fear of 'reprisals' by the Government? Because they will charge us all, even more tax?

Any individuals claim will be so watered down around the country that I don't think that most of us have anything to fear. Look at the millions paid by the lottery each month and yet that only costs a percentage of the country the odd pound or so, yet will benifit the individual considerably and, what is more, they will paying what is FAIR.

Perhaps you feel that the Goverment are correct in charging anyone whatever suits them for every service that they provide and that we should, like lambs to the slaughter, go along with these charges for fear of similar reprisals.

Nah, I don't think so.

It's the apathetic in any country that will bring about the fall of that country.

It is right to stand up for your rights!

prudryden

I think you will find that the "comparatively well off" are already in the top band and have no chance of lowering that band. In fact, were there more bands, many of them would be band T or something like that.

Jotts

rammy007 wrote:

I have checked the bandings on my property and my neighbours and it seems we are all in the wrong band,or i was in the wrong band before we had our extension last year now i think our banding is right,the thing that really annoys me is that when we moved here in 1993 we appealed against the banding and didnt get anywhere,and it seems now we were in the wrong band after all.Does anyone know if we can do anything about those years before we had the extension where it looks like we were overpaying,all my neighbours who havent extended their houses seem to now be in the wrong band.There is 2 or 3 houses on the estate who are in the lower band and the houses are exacly the same.I have printed off all the house prices that were sold since 2000 and checked them all on the nationwide house price checker and then compared the bands it seems they should be all B instead of C exept 2,one of which is a larger detatched property which should be c,the other is a semi like the others which with its new extension has now taken it to band c which it is in(although this extension is recent so it didnt have this in 1991).Do you thing i should try and get some of the overpayments back or are you able to do this bearing in mind i appealed against the banding when we moved here in 1993 but i didnt have all this info then.

Hi Rammy, you don't say where you live but I will try and help.

If you live in England the fact you have extended your property AFTER 1993 is irrelevant. Only a revaluation, sale or having it taken out of the list can change the banding due to this.

However if you live in Wales and the extension was made before 1st April 2005 then YES it will now be taken into account for the 2005 Revaluation Band.

If you appealed in 1993 and LOST your appeal then you cannot re-appeal against the band unless there is a VALID reason e.g You've demolished part of the house, or their is a matrial change in the area etc etc.

If you made an appeal and lost it as the Valuation Office and the Tribunal agreed that your band was in the correct band AND those others in the street are IDENTICAL to yours then I'd say that possible LAZYINESS has resulted in Their bands NOT being increased.

Unfortunately looking at prices in 2000 if you live in ENGLAND is not going to give you a good enough guideto the prices in 1991.

Give your local Valuation Office a call and have a chat with them.

Be polite and patient and I'm sure they will advise you.

Jotts

peter999 wrote:

It's 3am & I still cannot get through the frontdoor !!
The frontdoor is firmly bolted against invaders.

Anyone got a a battering ram ??

It's a conspiracy !!

Frontdoor:
http://www.voa.gov.uk/

Backdoor:
http://www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax/cti_home.htm

peter999

Ps: I checked our road & 5 properties are at a higher band
(all properties in road are the same).

Can I just say it is the weekend and any website (including this one) crashes when overloaded with traffic. Which is reasonable to expect when all the press and a tv programme on a prime channel at a primetime suggests you visit that site.

tattyted_2

Wow i have been reading these threads and are so pleased for everyone whos managed to get there banding reduced.I watched Martin on tv the other night and was amazed by what i saw so am wondering if i can try and be rebanded.My house is a ex council house and in 1999 it was valued by the council for 56,000 so with my tennat discount i payed 38,000,i have looked at the website and it looks like all the similar houses are a band D the same as me but it shows 4 doors down made a appeal in 1993 and where it says court it just says C what does this mean?a property sold for 58,000 in september 2000 so i put that into the nationwide calculator and it came up with a figure of 39,714 in 1991 surely that cant be right if im in band D,a house also sold for 84,950 in 2001 so in 1991 that would have made the value 53,712,is it worth me appealing,i did start a appeal process a few years ago but when they mention tribunals i got abit worried and didn't do anymore about it,i live with my 18 year old son and twins and really struggle to pay the council tax,any help from anyone would really be appreciated,thank you

peter999

Jotts wrote:

Can I just say it is the weekend and any website (including this one) crashes when overloaded with traffic. Which is reasonable to expect when all the press and a tv programme on a prime channel at a primetime suggests you visit that site.

This is a joke !!
They have barred access via the frontdoor.

I haven't got through frontdoor once, EVEN AT 3am.

Frontdoor:
http://www.voa.gov.uk/

Backdoor:
http://www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax/cti_home.htm

It is a conspiracy !!