Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

geriatrix1

Local Borough Council: Wycombe District Council
Council Tax Band Before: F
Council Tax Band After: E
Amount refunded: £1600

Result. I followed the instructions precisely, claiming an error had been made in the original banding, after checking similar houses in my and adjacent roads, and enclosing the relevant valuation calculations.

I also enclosed a copy of an aerial view of the houses, taken from Google earth, showing clearly that identical houses on larger plots were banded in E, whereas my house, on a smaller plot was banded in F.

possibly because of this additional evidence, as far as I'm aware, no site visit was made.

Just returned from hols this morning, and found confirmation of the corrected banding, and refund. All very efficiently handled by Wycombe District Council. :beer:

emilybronte

Local Council - Erewash
Previous Banding - E
New Banding - D

Amount saved - £2000 - backdated to 1999.:T

I rang the valuation office in Feb as only 2 houses in the street were in Band E - most of them bigger than ours as we have 3 bedrooms. The valuation office immediately said they had us down as having four bedrooms and took it from there. It turns out they had the house down as a different type from what it actually is. This is because Barratts tell the VA what style house they are going to build but then sometimes change and build a different style house. Anyway - we received a letter early June from the Valuation Office saying we are now in Band D and have received a notice from the Council today saying how much they owe us up to March 2007 with the promise of a cheque to follow

alm721

Local Borough Council: East Riding of Yorkshire
Council Tax Band Before: E
Council Tax Band After: D
Amount refunded:?
Annual saving going forward about £245 per year.

I asked for a review about 8 years ago as I always thought the band was wrong. It was refused and I left it. Then I read this site and thought I'd have another go. I followed all advice and sent a letter. Was told they'd looked at it once and was over the time but they would look at my concerns. Then sent back a letter saying they were satisfied the band was correct and that I had no right to appeal. I wrote back saying I was unhappy with their response especially since they did not adequatley address all my reasons for the band being wrong so they said they would review it and would send someone round.
I very much felt this was only being done to stop me complaining and when the guy came he was very nice but more or less told my husband not to hold out much hope. I've just recieved the letter which says that after measuring the house they have decied its slightly smaller than they thought and are rebanding me to a D with effect from Jan 1996 when the house was built. Don't know what I'll get back yet but am well chuffed. So my advice would be to keep persisting if you are sure you are right.
Many thanks to this site, you've probably just got me around £2000 back in overpaid council tax.

wichitalinesman

:j MORAY COUNCIL .WE WERE BAND C AND WERE LOWERED TO A BAND B. WE GOT £1500 THANKS TO MARTIN'S MONEY TIPS AND ARE £150 LESS EACH YEAR. THANKS AGAIN

hmgvs

Local Borough Council: Colchester Essex
Council Tax Band Before: c
Council Tax Band After: b
Amount refunded: none
Annual saving going forward: approx 30 per month

applied for rebate on my son's house. went from band C to band D with only one phone call. Took about 3 months though.
No rebate for previous years as he has only just moved in but he is struggling as it's his first house & he lives alone so has to fund all bills etc so every penny helps!

DJP2

Croydon Council tax payer band G from 1994, always thought it wrong. Appealed in Jan, two months for VOA to investigate, agreed it should have been F, backdated to April 1993. Result. Then on to the Council who were incredibly inefficient but finally received a cheque for £2363 plus a saving of £66 per month. Great stuff and I would encourage anyone who believes theya e right to challange.

stmidwife

Local Borough Council: Cannock Chase Council
Council Tax Band Before: B
Council Tax Band After: A
Amount refunded: Not had figure as yet
Annual saving going forward: See above.

Less than 6 weeks from the initial phone call I have had my banding reduced. There are approx 50 houses in my street and only 5 were banded as a B. I am now off to post a note to all the other households still assessed as band B and let them know that they can get rebanded and a refund!

Good luck and thanks Martin.:j

grandad11

IT WORKED FOR US

Wealden District Council

was in band D
now down to C
saving appox £240 a year
cash back of £1448
it was very easy and quick to do
6weeks from start to finnish
if we can do it so can you give it a go
thanks again martin
best regards bill:rotfl:

Sexyminx82

Aberdeenshire Council
Council Tax banding before: Band D
Council Tax banding after: Band C
Amount refunded:£1300

Having read Martins adivce I decided to check both my parents and my own property banding. Mine was fine but I discovered that my parents who stay on a private road with 3 other identical houses were banded higher than everyone else. My mum rang the local office who then advised to write to the Assessor. I wrote a letter stating the facts and saying i expected the cash to be backdated to my mums bank account.

Within 6 weeks my mums house has been rebanded to Band C and has received a total of £1300! Very easy!

Thanks to Martin!

poorperson

Sexyminx82 wrote: »

Aberdeenshire Council
Council Tax banding before: Band D
Council Tax banding after: Band C
Amount refunded:£1300

Having read Martins adivce I decided to check both my parents and my own property banding. Mine was fine but I discovered that my parents who stay on a private road with 3 other identical houses were banded higher than everyone else. My mum rang the local office who then advised to write to the Assessor. I wrote a letter stating the facts and saying i expected the cash to be backdated to my mums bank account.

Within 6 weeks my mums house has been rebanded to Band C and has received a total of £1300! Very easy!

Thanks to Martin!

No, it's not easy! In 99.9% of cases it's very hard.