Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

jj.johnson

After following the procedures, I applied for an adjustment to a lower band.
I was told that my application was unsuccessful, which i was half expecting, but that I had no right to appeal. This seems a little unfair, is it the norm?
A flat in the same block as mine was rebanded after appeal, incidentally.
Can anyone tell me if this is worth pursuing, or should I let it drop?

Derek_Rowbotham

Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council

Old band e new band d

refund of over £1700 going back to 1993,
They have reduced council tax this year to zero and will be forwarding on a cheque for the remainder . on going saving £181.00

Being greedy now, what about interest on my money they have had for all these years? I have calculated that to be in the region of £928 based on a flat 5% per year

Thanks for the advice you are stars

poorperson

Some have received interest. However, if it wasn't for this site you wouldn't know any better. Take the money and run. Some of us have been challenging the VOA for donkey's but we're no further forward!

Maisie

poorperson wrote: »

Some have received interest. However, if it wasn't for this site you wouldn't know any better. Take the money and run. Some of us have been challenging the VOA for donkey's but we're no further forward!

Too true poorperson. A lot of posters on this success thread have had an easy ride getting a rebanding and rebate. I say good luck to them but it's not so easy for some of us.

Derek. There is a poster on the discussion thread who has received interest from voa. Shows it can be done.

I started the council tax banding issue way back in August 2005 (thread now closed) and Martin followed up with his programme etc.leading to the rebates and rebanding for so many.

I'm still battling with voa for a rebanding and jamesiebabie has been helping me with his expert advice.

poorperson. Haven't seen you on the c/tax discussion thread. Come and tell us what's happening with your case.

All the best . Maisie

tarinilie

Derek_Rowbotham wrote: »

Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council

Old band e new band d

refund of over £1700 going back to 1993,
They have reduced council tax this year to zero and will be forwarding on a cheque for the remainder . on going saving £181.00

Being greedy now, what about interest on my money they have had for all these years? I have calculated that to be in the region of £928 based on a flat 5% per year

Thanks for the advice you are stars

---

Hi Derek,

It may be difficult to get interest unless the VOA have been negligent.

Say for example there was a row of identical houses all at band D.

If one person appealed 5 years ago and had their band reduced to band C the VOA should have done what is known as 'consequentials' and reduced all the identical houses.

If this wasn't carried out and 5 years later you appealed in one of the houses getting it reduced to a band C you could argue the VOA should have done the reduction along with all the identical houses years ago and I would advise you to ask the VOA for compound statutory interest of 8% for the period between the original house being rebanded and present.

They should pay up .

Don't bother hassling the council it's the VOA who might be at fault.

however if they have now just come to the opinion that your band is incorrect - it would be argued that they have not been negligent.
You perhaps should have appealed earlier etc. / they can't be expected to band 20 odd million dwellings accurately etc so in the latter case I think you would find it difficult to claim any compensation

tarin

artyman

:beer: :j :j :j :T :T :rotfl: :rotfl:

West Dorset District Council

Was Band E (3 bed detached)

Now Band D

£880 total saving backdated 2 years since moving into new home.

Overpayments credited to this year's bill so nothing to pay for 5 months and then £30 per month cheaper thereafter.

Easy as taking candy from a baby!

Knickers to the professional agents - do it yourself!!

Artyman

Postcode DT2

stphnstevey

We bought a property that has been extended. Looking back through the banding history, the banding increased one place after the extention was built.

I contested this when we bought it, but the valuation officer eventual got back to me and said who thought it was the correct banding due to the increase in value due to the extention.

However the bandings were based on 1991 prices. How can they change my banding based on what the price was in 1995 (when the extention was completed)?

PS - They have asked me to sign to withdraw my proposal. From the letter, it looks like it will go to a tribunal if I don't. Should I just let it run it's course?

amooney

Local Borough Council:Mid Suffolk
Council Tax Band Before:Band e
Council Tax Band After:Band D
Amount refunded:£2,613 plus £290 for current year - Total £2,903

I had loooked into this a couple of years ago but had determined that I had no grounds for appeal which was right. However, Martin's article encouraged me to have another go and the asppeal was rejected but the VOA offered to re-examine the banding. The whole process took only a month including correspondence with VOA and Mid Suffolk District Council who have promised me a cheque by the end of the next week.

Thanks Martin for bringing this to my attention.


Tony

kefrif

Local Borough Council:Wolverhampton City Council

Council Tax Band Before:Band B
Council Tax Band After:Band A
Amount refunded:£1116.96 + bill reduced significantly.

This is a brilliant result. I am not the sort of person to normally snoop around with the government, but this turned my head right round. I would have felt a touch of guilt about claiming it if I wasn't sure that it was mine to claim, however this was proved beyond doubt, and I have my money back. Job Done.

P.S - Cheque arrived 19/5/07, about 2 weeks after I called the local Council Tax office. If anyone gets a rebate and they apply it to the bill, call the office and ask for the money back.

Thanks Everyone!!

Costa_lot

Local Borough Council: Bexley Borough Council
Council Tax Band Before:Band E
Council Tax Band After:Band D
Amount refunded: TBC

Thank you so much Martin for bringing this to my attention. It took some time in my case, and 1 refusal, but I was so sure that my banding was incorrect. I received the letter yesterday and hopefully and nice big fat cheque will follow.