Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

hk_chick

Woodville wrote: »

The lovely lady Listings Officer at Colchester has told me that the only way that I can appeal against my tax banding, is if it was within 6 months of the original valuation. This was 13 1/2 years ago in April, 1994, so naturally, I had no chance of a revaluation, asking for it now. I told her that I realised that I could not appeal under this rule, but wished to appeal, under the auspices that "Every Tax Collecting Council has an obligation to ensure that every Council tax assessment for each property is correct". When I phoned, I was informed that this "bloke", (Martin), on the Tv, had got it all wrong, and as far as she (the Listing Officers representative), was concerned, there was no way that I could appeal against my original assessmement, as I was out of time. I tried to explain that my reasons for my appeal was NOT in respect of time, as I was FULLY AWARE that I was 13 1/2 years late in my application, but I definitely got the impression that it was "Sod you, we are right". They even sent me a form to sign and return, cancelling my right of appeal, and recommended that I sign it. Needless to say, I am now going through the appeals tribunal. The Colchester Office still maintain, that there is no right of appeal, unless it is made within 6 months of assessment. They will not entertain any other reasons for appeal, and will inform you that there are no ways that you can appeal. Even if you appeal against this, their answer is, "Your appeal will only be considered in respect of the time limit of 6months, any appeal after that date will automatically be deleted". So, as far as the Colchester office is concerned, if you are not within 6 months, don't even bother to try, as the time limit is the only faction that they will entertain, and of course, very few are within this limit. However, I am going to try Martin's ploy of appealing anyway through the tribunal, and Sod 'em!!! Colchester office would have you believe that there is no right of appeal to any body or any organisation, once they have made a decision, and that is the end of the matter. They now want me to send them plans of my bungalow, and the plans of others nearby, to assist them in their opinions!!! Cheers, Woodville.

I found this not to be the case at all with the Colchester office.

I sent my request in writing & recieved a written reply stating (correctly) that I was outside of the 6 month period. They clearly stated in the letter that I had the right to appeal, despite the fact the letter is quite sternly worded. it was also made clear this is a legal formality they must follow.

My appeal (again in writing, with plenty of evidence) was refused & they automatically forward requests to tribunal after that. The tribunal has been in my favour

All in all I found Colchester to be professional in the fact that they followed correct procedure, I don't hold them personally responsible for doing what they are paid to do.

bottom line is both parties remained objective, sticking to facts & documented evidence, without name calling or emotional exchange, which resulted in a relativly swift (and satsfactory) conclusion :rolleyes:

Horsey_2

Happy, happy days!!!! :j

Six weeks ago, I challanged my council tax band after checking on the web to look at my neighbours' band. Next door was in band E, I was in band F. This was to be my ammunition!

Six weeks later, the very same day that my 07/08 council tax bill landed on my doorstep, I received confirmation of my reduction. Backdated to 1999.

Band F: £1,960 per annum Old band
Band E: £1,660 per annum New band

I have lived here for 5-years so I get arounf £1,500 rebate...

I will pretty much get a free year of council tax.

I could dance a jig!!!!

I football parlance:

Mark: 1 - Chester City Council: 0

<big grin>

Snooker_2

:T Local Council West Norfolk
Band before 'E'
Band now 'D'
A big thank you. We applied on line and were sent a letter several weeks later telling us we had applied outside the time limit, (we moved into our property last year and applied just after the 6 month cut off limit). However we appealed by letter with further information regarding another property in our road which we pointed out was similar to ours but banded 'C'. We received a letter telling us that it would go to a tribunal and how to prepare for it. Then a few weeks later we had a letter saying we had been rebanded to 'D' and backdated to 1993. It should make a differenece of about £300 per annum.:T

Maisie

suse.e wrote: »

I am simply amazed. Followed through as instructed, providing documentary evidence by way of photographs and things I had printed from the websites as recommended. Four weeks later, I have been downbanded and am looking forward to £1357.93 being transferred to my bank account. Thank you so much. My advice to anyone thinking of challenging is go for it! Half an hours work on the computer, thats all it takes. :T

Hi suse.e Pleased to hear my original post on the closed -initial thread (chat discussion council tax thread - Maisie's post August 2005) brought about the band lowering for you and so many others.

You were lucky in only having half an hours work on the computer. So many of us are having a long slog to get incorrectly high bandings lowered.

If you or any others have any tips like Bronking's good advice to help those
who are struggling please come over to the chat discussion thread.

We have jamiesbaby's expert advice and Zebedees too but any new ideas would be helpful and most welcome.

Come on over.....

Maisie .

iglimpse

DLA Mental capacity

Not sure if this is the right place for this but relative aged 19 has a learning disability. Lives with his mum (single). We have only just found out that she is entitles to a 25% reduction in council tax.

Rules are that they have to be getting DLA middle or higher rate and GP has to agree that it has been diagnosed (sign the form). We were put off because it says for severe mental impairment. You can get the forms from council offices. Applies to those with dependant family member with mental illness problems

Ayasha

Council:- Hartlepool
Banding Before:- F
Banding After:- E
Money Refunded:- £1780
Savings On Coming Year:-approx.£30/month

Thanks To Martins Easy To Follow Instructions We Were Able To
Get A Reduction And A Number Of Other Properties In The Area Were Then Reduced.

Mad_Archer

Local Borough Council: East Hants District Council
Council Tax Band Before: F
Council Tax Band After: E
Amount refunded: £2,433
Annual saving going forward: £284 (based on 2007/8 tax year)

I saw the article on the BBC website and took the link to the three step guide on this site. After following the process I'd found that most of the houses in the street were Es and Ds, except for three including ours, which were in band F. I'd also found that our house appeared to fit into band E. A phone call to the Valuation Office to give my details resulted in a letter about five weeks later saying that the house had been changed from band F to E effective from January 1995 (they warned me that there'd been a lot of publicity and the valuation might be a bit delayed because they had a backlog). Then a couple of weeks after that the district council wrote to ask how we wanted the money - 12 years backlog and a saving on this year's tax of £284. I started on 25th Jan and it's now 19th March and we're just waiting for the money to be paid!

nanapat

I was in Band E but thought I should be Band D but always thought because we did not challenge it at the beginning we were stuck with it. After seeing your advice on how easy it is to challenge I decided to give it a go and now have a refund of £2,519.00 coming my way and it is a lovely feeling to see my new monthly payment has dropped by £23 per month. What a result.

Zebedeee

Maisie wrote: »

Hi suse.e Pleased to hear my original post on the closed -initial thread (chat discussion council tax thread - Maisie's post August 2005) brought about the band lowering for you and so many others.

You were lucky in only having half an hours work on the computer. So many of us are having a long slog to get incorrectly high bandings lowered.

If you or any others have any tips like Bronking's good advice to help those
who are struggling please come over to the chat discussion thread.

We have jamiesbaby's expert advice and Zebedees too but any new ideas would be helpful and most welcome.

Come on over.....

Maisie .

Hear, hear, Maisie! It isn't always easy. Some of us are having the long-haul trying to get our home rebanded and it can be a lot of work. Those of you who got it sorted in half an hour, be very grateful!

That said, unless you are on a football-player's salary, it is still very much worth your while to keep up the hard slog. You win some, you lose some, but if you don't try you'll never win.

poorperson

Well said Zebedee,

some of us are having a hard slog. I totally disagree with the VOA and I'm waiting for a reply from the Land Registry regarding information that the VOA used; I think it's telling porkies. Mind you, I'm extremely Peed off about the fact that they'll not even consider the value of my house when it was valued in 11/92 for a remortgage. Methinks a MP letter could be on the way. Civil servants jump when the gaffer comes into the room with a yellow file jacket and I dealt with many in my thirty years as cs.