Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

[Deleted User]

Local Council: Cornwall Council
Initial Band: E
New Band: D

New property built in village to same spec, bedrooms, garage etc at Band D.
I questioned our Band E, was advised it would take upto 8 weeks to investigate. Reply in approx 4 weeks that our band was reduced to Band D.
3 Days later cheque arrived for approx £2,200. Rebanding back dated to 2000
Thank you for your very valuable help.
Regards
Martin

mab1964

Chelmsford Borough Council
From Band E to Band D
Refund of £3225.00 plus monthly reduction of £30

Having found out at Easter that my next door neighbours house was in Band D I phoned the VOA office who sent me the forms which I sent back. They called to say I was out of the 6month review period but they would look in to it. I had to then write to explain why I thought we were in the wrong band. Having moved in to our house in 1992 I sent then our original survey report that showed the house had no hot water, no heating, no garage roof and areas of brick work needed repointing. I stated that my neighbours house was in a much better state in 1993 and yet was valued in band D.
Although they said it would take 8 weeks after just 4 weeks, 4 phonecalls and 2 letters I have today received a refund of £3225 into my Bank

Thank you so much :T

rdobidston

Wirral Borough Council
Was Band G
Now Band F :j:j
Total refund £3261.66
Annual saving £320.04

New estate built in 1990-91 with two basic designs of house.
Naively assumed that each house had been assessed for council tax on this basis.
Prompted by the MSE thread the tax bands for the whole estate were examined. Similar houses were in Band F whereas mine was in Band G.
Quick phone call to local VOA office was followed up by a brief letter.
VOA wrote back after a few weeks with the excellent re-banding news.
Wirral wrote to me (without prompting) a couple of weeks later with the refund shown above.

Job done :T:T:T

croydon_resident

LB Croydon

Was F now E Band

total refund over £800

I can't believe how easy this was. I queried our council tax when we first moved into the property in 2006 but was given the brush off by the call centre staff. But requesting a review via the VOA was simple and quick. in less than a month we have a cheque on its way for just over £800 and a saving of about £300 a year from now on.

Voyageur11

Local Borough Council: Leeds
Council Tax Band Before: E
Council Tax Band After: D
Amount refunded: £1982
Annual saving going forward: £283.

It really is astonishing how many of us have been paying too much Council Tax for years. I never expected to be 'lucky' but followed the system as advised on this website and was intrigued to discover that, while our semi-detached dormer bungalow was in band 'E', the next three identical ones were in band 'D'. Two detached ones further up are in band 'F'.
I can only suppose that the '2nd gear' assessors noted we had a double garage like the two detached ones, so gave us an in-between rating.

Like others, I eventually received a letter from the Valuation Officer to confirm we were in the wrong band and it would be changed. No mention of refund but when I rang the Valuation Officer to ask about it, I was told the Council would be informed and they would send a refund. I'd estimated it could be in the region of £2000 but hardly dared to hope.

It took them 6 weeks to get round to it but on the very day I phoned to chase it up, the cheque arrived - for £1982.06!:rotfl:

the_silver_fox_3

Local Borough Council: Wokingham Borough Council
Council Tax Band Before: E
Council Tax Band After: D
Amount refunded: £1506.95
Annual saving going forward:£317.85 -25% single persons discount

This was accomplished by my elderly mother-in-law, a quick phone call to the local authority and a re-banding was completed.

oldteabag

:beer:
Local Borough Council: Rochford, Essex
Council Tax Band Before: G
Council Tax Band After: F
Amount refunded: £2436.11
Annual saving going forward: £121

I didn't really think it would work, especially as most of the overpayment was made by my parents prior to their deaths, but my Dad had kept the original purchase documents and the amount going forwards to 91 on your calculator converged surprisingly closely to the figure obtained going backwards from probate valuation. As the neighbouring properties were nearly all F as well, I'm pleased to report that the VOA at Colchester were convinced.

They had to re-issue the cheque as it was first made out to "Exors", but I'm pleased to be now able to put a substantial extra windfall towards fixing up the house. Many thanks to you all!!

PS I also tried it for my current and ex partners, sadly they were not so lucky as one came up "correctly rated" and the other had already tried a couple of years ago and been refused. But I'd say it is always worth a try...

Gatso_Burner

Well, 2 years ago i got rebanded from an e to a d thanks to this website, the council wrote to me last month and stated it was a mistake to drop the banding and have increased it back to an e......!!!!!!!!
what can i do, according to the 'rules', nothing.


sorry its on here, where's none success topic..!

philwatson70

Local Borough Council: Rochdale
Council Tax Band Before: F
Council Tax Band After: E
Amount refunded: £1288
Annual saving going forward: £250+
Well worth the effort and back dated to when we moved in in 2004. For us the key I believe was that a neighbour had had their property revalued at the time of the original valuation and had their reduced, there are also two houses located near by which are worth more than our house and yet were in the same F band. All thanks to Money Saver! Thanks Martin.

lincroft1710

Gatso Burner - you can appeal as it is less than 6 months since you received official notification of increased band. On plus side at least you have had 2 years paying lower band