Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

oldmanfoxy

Local Borough Council: London Borough of Havering
Council Tax Band Before: E
Council Tax Band After: D
Amount refunded: Awaits
Annual saving going forward: £300

This rebanding has been backdated to 1993. :j:j;)

jaybee1

We have recently had a refund from our property that we moved from 2yrs. ago!! The refund came about from the new owners of the property haviing the house re-banded, after complaining(soz. enquiring) to the council,even though her father as it happened works in the banding office!! We had also made enquiries ourselves a few years ago, but were told`Oh, yes Mr R. The property is deffinately in the correct band`. St Helens council have just paid us a rebate cheque starting from the year we had been in that property, which was ....wait for it......12 YEARS !!
After all this we were TOLD by a very nice lady in the office that we would have to wait, though, for our cheque untill after Easter. This was due to the new Tax year, & there was a list of cheqes to get out, & so would have to wait our turn!! It`s a different story when THEY want money off us menials. Try telling them after 12 yrs that you can`t pay the full amount, & have to wait `till the new tax year !!:rotfl:

jaybee1

Good to hear! Well done

[Deleted User]

I did this within 6 months of moving into my current home in 2003. I had to fight for my rebanding but I did my research and using the VOA lists on the internet proved my case! It took around 4 months all in all as the valuations officer didn't want to budge. But I think the system is different and easier now.

Home regraded from band C to band B ( a difference of around 100-120 pa) and a surprise bonus for my neighbour as we live in identical houses (the only semi detached bungalows in our road) as they had to downgrade his as well...

genghisgirl

Local Borough Council: Croydon
Council Tax Band Before: E
Council Tax Band After: D
Amount refunded:£2193 + £1448 for 2010
Annual saving going forward: £322

It was so easy. Just checked the figures on the different website you've provided, found just about everyone else was a band D and made one phone call. Two months later I received the notification that I had been overpaying since 1993 and had £2193 pounds coming to me. And I don't have to pay any council tax this year.
I'm so pleased I did this. And I've told my other neighbours who are a band E to do the same thing as their houses are exactly the same as mine.
Thanks for the advice! It's made all the difference to our budget.:A

chriswilliams100

I have just got my house re-banded to a c from d, have been trying for almost a year, my original appeal was over the six months after moing in and I think this is why I was turned down? However, I recently had a new neibour buy the property next door so I tried again with the prospect of an independant tribuneral if the appeal failed, I also got hold of newspaper ads from 1991, "like for like" properties as mine was not built in 1991, had a visit from the VO and success. My other neibour is on the end of a run so in effect a semi detached, identical property though and the VO have said this is to remain a band D. :j

otokohito

I live in the Brentwood District Council area.

I was originally on Band E and I had been since Council Tax started.
Thanks to Martins mMoney Tips I am now on Band D

I received a rebate of £2010.

I was originally contacted on a speculative basis, by a company offering a reclaim service for 25% of the rebate. Being a surveyor I knew that the whole thing was based on the value of my house in 1996, but how to go about proving it. After some months of searching I gave up and prepared the documents that the company sent. I was about to send them when I saw a "Council Tax Rebate" link in one of your emails.

The link gave me all the tools and information I needed. It was easy. In my search of the tax bandings in this locality I discovered that my neighbours house which is exactly the same size as mine was on band D. In my letter to the VOA, poted just before Xmas 2009, I mentioned that I had been approached by the company. I know how slow these claims can appear to be, so I just allowed the time to go by, and in February the VOA confirmed that my claim had been allowed and my house had been rebanded to D. In the beginning of April I received my cheque. I had hoped for about £1500, so I am really happy.

Thanks Martin. You're a star.:beer:

lincroft1710

otokohito - I am surprised a surveyor would consider using a reclaim company. Also CT is based on 1991 values not 1996. Pleased to hear you got a result.

oldacrelane

Thanks to Martin's advice I've managed to reduce my Council tax banding and had it back dated to 2002 when we moved in.

Local Borough Council: Stafford
Council Tax Band Before: F
Council Tax Band After: E
Amount refunded: £2385
Annual saving going forward: £375

Once again many thanks.

:j

theloft

oldacrelane wrote: »

Thanks to Martin's advice I've managed to reduce my Council tax banding and had it back dated to 2002 when we moved in.

I think you will find that Council Tax did not start until 2003, so it can't be backdated to 2002. But still a good result and welcome to the club!