Council Tax Rebanding SUCCESS stories

Basilena

I live in Buckinghamshire and have felt for many years that I was in the wrong band. I never even thought of querying the banding, even though I knew that my neighbours were in a lower band. I followed the instructions detailed on this site and, after an initial disappointing response, I was more than pleased to receive a letter from the council agreeing that I've been in the incorrect band since 1993. As a result I will not have to pay any council tax for the next year or so, which is a saving of several thousand pounds. I expected a fight but there was no unpleasantness, quite the opposite. Thank you for prompting me to go ahead with this.

Basilena

Basilena

I've just had a letter agreeing to move me down a band. Instead of getting a refund I will have the council tax waived for the next year or so. I'd prefer the money, naturally, plus any interest over the ten years, but I'm reluctant to rock the boat so will simply enjoy not paying.

Basilena

I forgot to say that the first response from the council appeared to be a firm "no chance, mate" so I assumed that I'd failed. I made a phone call to follow up, just in case. The council staff were very polite and said they were obliged by law to consider my case, and then two weeks later "Bingo" ... through the letter box.

Jangla

I've just contacted my council as the larger properties on the other side of the street are in a lower band.

They told me I have no right to appeal as it must be done in the first 6 months of moving in!

The_Sweeper

Local Borough Council: Medway
Council Tax Band Before: E
Council Tax Band After: D
Amount refunded: £2065

Went through the process which was quick, easy and painless. Took about 4-5 weeks from start to finish with cheque ariving today. Tax backdated to 1993.

BIG thank you Martin!:beer:

Keep up the excellent work!!!!!!!

everettian

Local Borough Council: Teignbridge
Council Tax Band Before:C
Council Tax Band After:B
Amount refunded:£1191.11
Annual saving going forward:£150
Refund back dated to : 1997 ( for me ) April 1993 in all.
My local VOA office didn't put up much of a fight and I got my banding reduced. Nice little windfall but it was overpaid and really I should seek interest charges.
Sad thing is, I wont really notice the saving in yearly payment as I will be paying the same this year as I did last year :mad:

Glosmalc

Just received a call from Gloucester City Council giving details of refund:-

£1548.44 refunded
£35.00 per month saving going forward

Council staff kept promise to phone this week, and gave option to have credit on this year's bill or a refund.

Thanks again to Martin and all posters!

Mark2412

Local Borough Council : Redditch BC
Council Tax Band Before : F
Council Tax Band After : E
Amount to be Refunded : Approx £1400
Amount saving going forward : £300 a year

Watched the program on the tele, and then followed Martin's easy to use guide.

In total 10 minutes on the website, 10 minutes on the phone to the local VOA (for some reason they was very busy) the best/profitable 20 minutes ever.

Total process took 2-3 weeks.

A big thank-you to Martin and all at moneysavingexpert.com.
:beer:

raclarke4567

Thanks to following the NEW (improved) method I have receiving a notice of a change from Band D to Band C backdated to 2003. This was entirely due to persistance, added knowledge using this Site and a couple of newspaper articles.
Previously had been told by the Valuation Office that
1) it was other houses in the road that were in too LOW a Band
and
2) that my request (follwing instructions to the letter) was illegal and therefore invalid.
I wrote quite a long letter explaining all the reasons I thought the property had been Banded too high, and that I wished to APPEAL. Next I received a Notice of Appeal which could have taken 6 months. Apparently ALL unsuccessful requests for rebanded should be referred to Appeal.
Then a day later a letter from the Valuation Office arrived with the change of Band.
I am unsure as to how much a refund I shall receive but anyway 41/2 years worth!:j

pa_pazzazz

County: Denbighshire
From Band: G
To Band: F
Amount to be refunded: approx £800
Backdated to 1st April 2005

Followed the format on VOA website, one week later received a letter to say it was "invalid claim", but then the next day another letter from VOA Officer wanting to come and look at the property. I have even had an extension since then and they "had to ignore this" as the banding is supposed to be against value of property as at 1st April 2003. Waited 7 days and received a phone call from VOA to agree with my requested new lower band, now waiting for amount of rebate. This will now give me a future monthly saving of £25 approx.

Thanks MoneySavingExpert:beer: