Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

Guna

Borough: Southwark
Previous band: E
Current band: B!!!

the most incredible thing had happened to us last month. After reading an article on this website I have desided to challenge our VAO to have our band E lowered to band D. We filled out the form and sent it over and in a couple of days had a visit from a lovely lady. The minute she entered a house she said: "I think we have you in a wrong band". Another 7 days later we received a letter saying that not only our band was lowered but it went all the way down to B which equals to around 700 pounds saving each year. I think this is absolutely fenominal!
Thank you Martin for saving us money.

Livingstone_2

Local Borough Council: Hyndburn (Accrington) Lancs
Council Tax Band Before:D
Council Tax Band After:C
Amount refunded:£1838
Annual saving going forward: £172

I checked the bandings of several nearby properties using the methods outlined on the Martin Lewis web site and found that my next door neighbours in an identical property were in band C. I wrote to the VOA on the 15th June 09, they replied to me by the 4th August and informed the Council that the band should be C. The Council sent a cheque to me on the 18th August for the above sum. :j

I am now going to ask the VOA for the lost interest on the above from 1993!
Has anyone received interest on the refund?

Thanks Martin
A Great Site

gibpc

Broxtowe Borough Council
Nottingham

Thankyou Martin,
I was dropped from Band C to Band B, and it only took 7 weeks. First I received a reduction on this years Council tax of £422:43...then a cheque for £465.17...then a final cheque for £1372.92...Now that's what I call a result!!
Many thanks again,
Regards,
Gibpc.:T

Agent3211

Local Council: Chester
Previous Band: G
New Band: F

Thank you MSE! As a direct result of this site, we have been rebanded to the lower rating and are now saving over £300/year, backdated to 1993 which means that our landlord also gets money back. Our payments for this year have been adjusted.

Appealed banding because house next door was of same size and in lower banding.

Process was easy and straightforward and took less than 6 weeks.

I've also successfully claimed back some bank charges and PPI because of MSE.

You guys are a Godsend!

Chocashopaholic_2

Local Borough Council: Stockton
Council Tax Band Before: E
Council Tax Band After: D
Amount refunded: just over £1000
Annual saving going forward: approx £300

We have lived in our house for 4 years and have queried our council tax band a few times. This final time we had more evidence of similar houses on our estate that were banded D and they just amended ours & gave a refund without argument - its worth keeping trying with more evidence if you believe your band is incorrect!

We have told others on our estate with the same property as us and know of at least one other success...another is still gathering a case, I think.

thanks MSE!!

quiltut

amber valley
rates reduced from C to B saving approx £20 a month £1700 refund thankyou very much could not have been easier 1 phone call and a few weeks to wait thanks again just try it

kazasid

Local Borough Council: Cheltenham
Council Tax Band Before: E and A
Council Tax Band After: E
Amount refunded: just £800
Annual saving going forward: approx £900

I have lived in a house with a flat underneath where my disabled son lives, since 1999.
I was in Band E and the flat was band A.
An E-mail to the VOA explaining that I was helping them to carry out thier duty for correct banding, and detailing the bands for the three houses in my terrace to the left, and the three to my right, resulted in a very nice lady coming to inspect. My house was rebanded to a D and backdated to 1991. From April 2009 the house and flat were combined in a band E.
This saves about £1000 pa going forward, and I will have a cheque for £800 or so.
It appears that CBC will only refund up to six years??
Anyway it is FAB - thanks Martin and moneysavers:T

alanfp

"CBC will only refund 6 yrs??"

I think they are trying it on (unless special circumstances apply to your individual case). Our council has no such limit. I would challenge them as to why they put this limit on, and what power they have to impose it. Good luck.

gnaismith

Local Borough Council:Tandridge
Council Tax Band Before:Band H
Council Tax Band After:Band G
Amount refunded:£300
Saving per Year: £500

Followed the instructions and went really well. Back dated to 1993 so my landlord gets a cheque for £9,500 and he gave us a bottle of wine!

smallmonkeyboy

Hi MSE,


I was E, now i'm D.

Thank you thank you thank you for the advice....

3o minutes on your website, and following your step by step guide I have saved £££ a year!!!! I'm now chasing the rebate!!!

Thanks so much..

If you’re reading this.....SPEND THE TIME, SAVE THE MONEY ITS YOURS NOT THEIRS!!!

Cheers

:money: