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Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories
Comments
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Tiff
Please see my earlier posts about claiming the interest back from the VOA. It's easy and simple. You should get £550-£600 back in interest.
All the best
Keith0 -
Local Borough Council: Hillingdon
Council Tax Band Before: F
Council Tax Band After: E
Amount refunded: £2972
Annual saving going forward: £300
Thank you Martin. The whole process has taken 6 months but well worth the wait. I first logged an appeal online but was rejected. I then wrote to VOA but they again rejected my appeal. I was told my only option was to go to a tribunal. One week before the tribunal date I got a letter saying that my council tax band would be reduced due to a banding error! Received a cheque for nearly £2000 last week and were told I don't need to pay anymore council tax for the rest of this year (which adds up to another £1000 saved). Thrilled.0 -
:j :j
Local Borough Council: SOLIHULL
Council Tax Band Before: 'F'
Council Tax Band After: 'E'
Amount refunded: £2760
Annual saving going forward: £320
Thank you Martin. I did the checks as suggested. I just telephoned the VOA local office back in February '07 and had no problem, they registered my request over the phone and said they would deal with. They confirmed action was in progress by letter and said would be some delays due to the overwhelming activity from the TV exposure of Martins advice. When I chased up some months later they said they had taken on extra staff to cope and would be in touch. I chased again in August and they had just started on February claims and were in the area that afternoon and would call in. A quick look around and discussion of the reasons for the claim and the surveyor agreed there and then to reduce from F to E.
4 weeks later the cheque arrived.
No problems for me, but just stick at it if barriers are put before you. The VOA legally have to maintain a correct Valuations List, if you believe the list in wrong and tell them then they must investigate your claim.
Having just read the other posts I'm off to claim for the interest on the refund.
Thanks, thanks, and thanks again.
Malcolm0 -
Tiff
Please see my earlier posts about claiming the interest back from the VOA. It's easy and simple. You should get £550-£600 back in interest.
All the best
Keith
:beer:
TOP MAN KEITH I COULD DO WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO REPLACE WHAT HER INDOORS SPENT AND KEEP ME WALLET AT BUSTING POINT.... ILL LET YOU KNOW HOW I GET ON.......TIFF
:A
:money: Martin the money mmaking Icon0 -
after reading on this site about how easy it was for the council to have got your house in wrong band in decided to check...and lo...i was in band D and all my neighbours both sides were C! i live in an end terrace with side return but thats all thats different from the rest..anyway made the call to the valuation office and put my case was sent the usual form and then a letter back from them explaining that i wasnt entitled to claim blah blah blah....but that they were looking into it.
that was july 7th and last week got letter saying house re-banded into C and next day got letter from council with rebate of over £800! fantastic and its thanks to martin's great site!!!...cheers:j :j0 -
Thanks for your information well on our way now, just been re-valued by Plymouth Valuation Office from Band C to Band A and back dated to 1993!
Followed instructions on your web site and laid out the facts, the valuation office were a hesitant at first for the initial phone call but once I sent the letter no argument at all.
Just waiting to hear Caradon Council outcome.
Update Just received a cheque and 14 reviewed council tax bills -
Total amount £2600! + annual saving of nearly £300.
Many thanks to this site for your help. My advice just follow the instructions, give a good reason and go for it.0 -
Local Borough Council: MILTON KEYNES
Council Tax Band Before: G
Council Tax Band After: F
Amount refunded: £2,442
Annual saving going forward: £300 approx.
Sent one e-mail to valuation office after checking on http://www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax/cti_home.htm that some neighbours were in band F.
Received a letter confirming that they would reply within 2 months. About 2 months later I was told that we had been moved into band F and that local council would be automatically informed.
A month later a refund and a new lower bill for this year!
Thanks to all the info on this site! :T
0 -
Local Borough Council: East Devon District Council
Council Tax Band Before:E
Council Tax Band After:D
Amount refunded:£1942.81
Would just like to say a big thank you for making a claim for tax banding so easy. We bought our house in June 1998 (brand new) at the time I challenged the fact we were in band E but I was assured by the council that E was correct. When I read your article about checking the tax band I followed your easy step guide and it looked to me that we should have been band D. I wrote a very quick letter to the valuation officer, he then sent me a very easy form to complete. I filled this out and sent it back the next day.
I received notification of the rebanding and received my cheque from the council within 5 weeks.
I am now in the process of telling all of myneighbours.
Thanks again
0 -
:money: :T :AHYNDBURN BOROUGH COUNCIL
FROM BAND C
TO BAND B
REFUNDED LAST THIRTEEN YEARS OVER PAYMENTS
TOTAL...£1430...:::
REDUCED ANNUAL BILL BY £100 APPROX
I pursued this after doing some research and finding out that out of approx 36 properties (identical semis) only 6 of us were paying band c! of course I never dreamt of asking anyone what they paid so after looking at all the facts I then notified the other 5 properties that we were paying more. I sort of took charge and helped my neighbours( including two elderly ladies who don't have internet access) and we all pursued this together with the help of this ACE site. Well success all round,all rebanded to B and payouts coming through thick and fast.So quick and easy.Thankyou, thankyou.What a blessing0 -
Band D to
Band C
Total Refund 1406.47
I applied after taking the advice supplied and was rejected twice and pushed all the way to tribunal and was still rejected. The written communication was very perfunctary. I have to admit that i gave up at this point although they did still agree to review the banding which has taken about 2 months. Heard that rebanding was succesful and my monthly payments would be adjusted.
Then returned from holiday on Monday and have received a cheque for 831.47 and informed have no further payment to make for the remainder of the financial year. The letter and cheque are both from the Directorate of Finance for Dudley Council but the refund was entirely due to VOA informing HM Revenue and Customs who have instructed this refund - Result. I now intend to write with regard to the interest payments as noted on previous threads will keep you informed.
Thank you so much for this and the other advice you have provided Martin0
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