Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

nouveau_riche_2

Local Borough Council: Birmingham

Council Tax Band before: E

Council Tax Band after: D

Refund: In excess of £2000

Following your instructions Martin, I found that the only identical house to mine in the street is Band D whereas mine was Band E, and these bands were applied right from the start. How they worked that one out I'll never know but just goes to show how unfair the system is.

I wrote to the valuation officer in Feb. of this year stating what I had found out and I was informed of the new banding in March.

However, the Council kept telling me that the VO office hadn't notified them of the change. I phoned them again this morning for the fourth time and I was told that I wouldn't have to pay any Council Tax this year and that I would receive a cheque for the difference.

Incidentally, I moved into this house in 1999.

I'm singing your praises every chance I get, many thanks and long may you reign.:T

moulin_2

Local Borough Council:congleton borough council
Council Tax Band Before:F
Council Tax Band After:E
Amount refunded:£2,086
Annual saving going forward:£350

Followed the steps and links on this website. Sent one letter to the valuation office and 2 months' later received a payment into my bank account for £2,086. Couldn't be simpler.

Maisie

moulin wrote: »

Local Borough Council:congleton borough council
Council Tax Band Before:F
Council Tax Band After:E
Amount refunded:£2,086
Annual saving going forward:£350

Followed the steps and links on this website. Sent one letter to the valuation office and 2 months' later received a payment into my bank account for £2,086. Couldn't be simpler.

moulin.
Well done but not as simple as that for a lot of people!

poorperson

Not as simple as that for 99.9% of us; especially those of us still banging heads against brick walls!

capriiow

For sevral years I have been telling the council my band was not right and just getting a standard reply that it has been looked into and is right.

so at the end of Feb I went on Money Savers Expert and filled in and printed off all the bits I needed then poped it in the post. yesterday I got a letter telling me that my local council will be sending a new bill as I should be band C not band D.

today 11 may I have got my new bill with bebates from 2002 - 2007
my weekly payments have gone from £30 a week to £30 a month

thankyou

I am now going to pay the £30 on the last day of the month and what I have saved will be paid into my mortgage for the other 3 weeks in the month so I can switch back to the £25 or £30 by then a week for next year

mcoops43

Local Council: Rochford District
Band Previously: f
Band amended to: E
Amount refunded over 10 years: £2173
Amount saved annually: £310.11

This was surprisingly easy to do following Martin's tips. They put up no fight or argument!
I am now going to tell all my other neighbors, so thanks alot.

Mandy

ecotack

South Lakeland District Council (SLDC)
Was Band C
Now Band B
Refund £1223.70
'07-'08 bill reduced by ~£150

I live on an estate with 100+ identical houses, most where band B, one band A and a few band C's. I rechecked after VOA re-banded me to a B, now all houses on the estate are B's.

Hegehog

Thanks Martin!!!

A bit of a prolonged process but well worth the effort.

I have a two up two down terrace in the Manchester area and was paying Band B rates to Tameside Council.

I missed the original media reports about the possible anomalies with the system then found your site.

Followed the research instructions - wrote to the Valuations office on 27 January 2007 stating my case - received confirmation that we had been 'downgraded' to an 'A' band on 23 April which was quickly followed by a new Council Tax bill (saving us £17.00 a month!) and today - 12 May 2007 - received a rebate cheque for £1,347.51!!!!!!!!

That's our 2007 holidays paid for!!!!!

A lenghy but interseting process and well worth the effort - I shall be knocking on a few doors down our street and spreading the word!!!!!

mr_skinflint

Local Council: Richmondshire District North Yorkshire
Was Band D
Now Band C
Amount refunded £911
Ongoing saving £140 per year

We moved into our house in 1998 and a year later the band went up. Didn't question this at the time; just thought it was what was done after you bought a house (nieve first time buyer). I saw the Tonight programme article and followed the steps on the site. I found out that our house was band D while all of the neighbours properties were band C. Called the VOA in Harrogate who came and did an inspection a month later. Yesterday we got a new council tax bill from the council for 2007/2008. Took about 7 weeks in all. The refund going back to 1999 was £911 and this was deducted from the bill. Now we only have £52 to pay up until March '08. Result! Thank you so much for highlighting this issue. It just makes you wonder how many people are paying over the odds.

bargainmaiden

Martin I love this site!
Reigate & Banstead
old Band D
new Band C
Refund:T TBC but at least £1200..!