Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

dorien

Chelmsford Borough Council.
Was Band D
Now Band C

They refused twice, but I sent them more and more info, from when this development was built, along with original selling prices and street/house plans. All houses were banded in D, even though they ranged from 3 bed semis to 4 bed detached, only one property was rebanded to C in 1993,and my property being the same as there's, I wasn't giving up, and it paid off.
Have now been rebanded to C, and am awaiting my rebate back to 1993.
Thanks to Martin, I have also received £35 from MIGS, and am awaiting outcome of bank charges from Abbey, they are dragging it out at the moment. Again I wont give up.
Please go for it, and dont be fobbed off.:T

bosswoman_2

Applied for rebanding to Tameside council as we were a D band and all other properties on our road were a C.Received cheque for £1500,backdated 14years to 1993.Thanks!

vigesimal

Local Borough Council: East Riding of Yorkshire
Council Tax Band Before: C
Council Tax Band After: B
Amount refunded: £1101.42 to me for 9 1/2 years. Plus previous people got 3 1/2 years refunded (don't know how much they got).
Annual saving going forward: Not sure yet as still waiting for Council Tax bill

My first post on here even though I have been lurking for a while. Thanks to Martin and to all those who started this thread.

Only three house in my road (middle of nowhere) and all different. I moved up to East Yorkshire in 1990, so knew what the house prices were like when the valuations were carried out. Plus my neighbours bungalow is twice the size for the same band C. Plus the fact my house is right next the railway line, meant it was not worth what the VOA claimed it was when the banding was recorded. I just followed the advice on Martin's list and it took just over 2 months to get my cheque.

I couldn't believe how it easy it was. I had been waiting for a spare day to get it done, but it only took minutes! Thanks everyone.

ShakeYourmoney

:j
All the 4-bed detached houses on my road were Banded E, but my house is not the one originally intended for this site, as I wanted one with an attached garage and although 4-bed detached, it is a different style and about 10% smaller. I appealed on the grounds of the listing being incorrect. However I had no similar house on this road to compare it with.

The Valuation Office in Hull would not accept three different ways of calculating the 1991 value which showed it to be in band D, though I have to admit that it is only marginally in band they said that such calculations are based on general areas and are not indicative.

I then pointed out that a friend's house of a similar size elsewhere in the town is band D and they agreed to look at it again. I have to say that the lady I then spoke to in the Hull Valuation Office dealt with me very politely and helpfully. I was able to give her the dimensions of the house over the phone, from the original drawings, which I knew to be correct. I wasn't aware until I spoke to her that the valuation is based only on the size of the house without the garage, and the amount of land does not come into it. I suspect that not a lot of other people know that, too.

The result, six weeks later, was a re-banding to D, backdated to April 1993, and I have received a refund from the East Riding of Yorkshire Council of £1311 with no more tax to pay until April 2008, a total saving of about £2089. (They didn't give me the option to go on paying monthly after a full refund, but I'm not bothered about that) The annual saving is about £305.

I found this website after watching the ITV programme, which I was prompted to do by a very good friend: I am so grateful to her!

Thank you very much, Martin!
:beer:

sappersmum

Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council
WAs band B
Now band A
Refund £360 because was on benefits

Had no problem with doing this - the valuation office in chester took my details and then i had a letter to say i had been successful and that the council will be in touch with any rebate etc.

Thank you so much for this - now the rest of our lane will get the benefit of this - the suggestion why the difference is that our house is bigger than everyone elses's but it is not obviously

Thanks again Jan sappersmum :j :j :j :j :j :j :j

happyandy

Local Borough Council: Newark and Sherwood
Council Tax Band Before: Band F
Council Tax band After: Band E
Amount refunded: £2500

It took quite a few months of fobbing off by the local council, but I persisted and as you can see, it really paid off.
I can't thank you enough.

mark50_2

Challenged by tax banding as result of your sites advice & have just had the banding reduced from F to E.As this is also back dated to 1997 we will be receiving a refund of approx £2000.00. Many thanks Martin.
PS Valuation Office will initially reject claims as being out of date,but go to appeal office & persevere,its well worth it.
Mark:beer:

AnnieO_2

Local Council: Derbyshire Dales District Council
Council Tax Band before: F
Council tax Band after : E
Amount refunded: £2,794.41

Yippee! Hooray! Celebrations!
In December 2006,we began the struggle to get our house rebanded, and, at last - success!

We followed all the steps you recommended, and, 3 weeks ago, the VOA rang to tell us we have been rebanded from F to E. Today, the Council have informed us that they will be refunding £2,794.41.

I've never challenged an authority before, and found it all quite stressful. The most frustrating thing was that, although we sent regular letters, accompanied by much evidence (which we spent hours collecting from local archives and the internet), every time we rang, a different person was dealing with our case. There was never any sign (apart from pro forma letters) that anyone had actually looked at our argument or research. Everyone we dealt with at th VOA office was really kind and pleasant, but I suppose the truth is that they are snowed under with work since the TV programme that made Council Tax a hot topic.You just have to wait until your file reaches the top of the heap.

My advice would be, "If you are sure of your facts and know you have a good case, keep going." It may take ages, but stay calm. Make regular phone calls and write letters, but don't lose your temper or your sanity.

I can't describe how good it feels! Thanks a million, Money Saving Expert.

sugarplum

We finally received our cheque today so I can update.

Council: North West Leics
Previous Band: D
New Band: C
Amount Refunded: £1019 (backdates to July 1998)

Huge thanks to everyone on this board for their advice and good luck to everyone else with their claims! :T

newpensioner

Followed all advice on this site and was regraded from band E to band D not only recieved £2573 !!! I am now £27 per month better off !! well done martin :j :j