Council tax banding

lincroft1710

Kuga247 said:

Sorry but the VOA will never say they have made a mistake it’s more than their jobs worth 

That is rubbish!


When I was in the VOA and discovered an error an accompanying letter would go out with the Notice of Band Increase/Decrease with a brief explanation and apologising for the error and any inconvenience caused. 


On one memorable occasion I had to increase the bands of 3 houses, each from Band D to Band F. I couldn't just increase without telling the CT payers why it was increased and that the VOA had made a mistake in the original banding. 

Kuga247

How long ago was this 

lincroft1710

Kuga247 said:

How long ago was this 

I left the VOA 16 yrs ago, but my immediate successors would have continued in the same vein.


The VOA has been established for over 70 years. Even in pre CT times (30+ yrs ago) if an error in a rating assessment was discovered the VOA would acknowledge and apologise for it. I recall having to check a colleague's measurements of a house back in the 1980s and apologising to the homeowner for the mistake that had been made. There was/is no point refusing to acknowledge a mistake when clearly one had been made.

Kuga247

Very doubtful why do they never answer the phone 

lincroft1710

Kuga247 said:

Very doubtful why do they never answer the phone 

What do you mean "Very doubtful"? Are you accusing me of being a liar? I worked for the VOA for 35 years and I may forget some things but there are many things I can remember and one of them was the phrase I wrote in several letters.

"I would apologise for the error and any inconvenience caused"

As a line manager that is what you had to do.

Kuga247

Why would a department have a contact phone number for help when they never answer calls ?if I am incorrect why on 3 occasions I phone and no one picks up no answer service ?

Jude57

Kuga247 said:

Why would a department have a contact phone number for help when they never answer calls ?if I am incorrect why on 3 occasions I phone and no one picks up no answer service ?

Who knows? Perhaps everyone was otherwise occupied, perhaps their service has been so pared to the bone by repeated budget cuts that they can't afford to have people sitting around just waiting to answer your call. Perhaps they're having a high percentage of staff calling in sick, it's the time of year for that after all, and those who are in the office have other priorities. Perhaps they're having problems with their phone lines. No-one can answer your question because we're not sitting in the VOA office when you call.

You've had responses to all your points here, even though you've been convinced there's some conspiracy to victimize you by banding your property higher than you think it should be banded. Some posters have given hours of their time, drawing on their experience and inside knowledge, their expertise and insight, to give you free advice. You are absolutely free to ignore that advice, after all, anyone can claim to be anything online, but at least have the decency to be grateful and polite to those who have freely given what you don't want to pay for - sound advice.

Kuga247

Are we not allowed to pass comments thought it was a forum not part of the VOA  !Surely passing on peoples experiences to others is a good thing 

Jude57

Kuga247 said:

Are we not allowed to pass comments thought it was a forum not part of the VOA  !Surely passing on peoples experiences to others is a good thing 

Ah, of course, anyone with a viewpoint different from yours must be working for the VOA. Can you not admit that you are far more biased than any of us who have responded to this thread, attempting to help you? None of us have any skin in this game. It doesn't matter to me what your Council Tax banding is, I don't care if you win or lose your appeal as it doesn't affect me either way. I just lose patience when people like you can't even remain polite to others who have given their time to help you and when you start to 'accuse' those posters of lying or being part of your nemesis, the VOA, you lose any credibility you may have had.

I fully understand your frustration and your concern that your banding may be incorrect but if you are unsuccessful in your appeal that doesn't mean the VOA are in any way cheating you. It just means you weren't able to prove they were wrong. Oh, and the Judge on the day is the one who decides that, not you, not the VOA. Based on evidence each side provides and the arguments they make. Accusing the VOA of conspiring to keep your banding artificially high is ludicrous. What possible benefit could there be to them in doing that? None whatsoever. Despite what you seem to think, even professionals can make mistakes and, as @lincroft1710 has explained, if a mistake is made, it will be rectified and an apology issued. If you make a mistake in your work, what would you be expected to do that is more than that?

p00hsticks

Kuga247 said:

Are we not allowed to pass comments thought it was a forum not part of the VOA  !Surely passing on peoples experiences to others is a good thing 

Yes, of course you can pass comments, but you can't expect to make sweeping statements such as 'VOA will never admit to making a mistake' and go unchallenged. If you honestly believe that, why are you bothering to go to tribunal ? for the record, I've twice challenged council tax bandings with the VOA and been successful both times.