Council tax rebate

Gayle · 17-08-2007, 19:01

Out of the blue I received a cheque from HBC.

The house that I used to own was in council tax band B. For some reason, and I have no idea why, it has been reassessed into council tax band A. Again, for some reason that I can not explain they have looked back to the date I bought the house 11 years ago and credited the difference.

I didn't request this, I didn't even know you could request this, but I'm not complaining.

Has anyone else had a mini windfall?

Margaret Pilkington · 17-08-2007, 20:01

Yes Gayle......I had a mini windfall today and that was a surprise too.
I paid my last gas and electric bills online. I have just got used to dealing with bills online........OK, I know it is easy, but I have never really trusted it before....but as I was doing online banking I thought that paying bills this way would be less fuss. I was meticulous in the inputting of my account details and was suitably impressed when the transaction went through with no problem.......however a couple of weeks later I get a red letter from British Gas, reminding me that my account was overdue and threatening action if I didn't pay.
Well, in 40 years of married life i have never had a red bill - even though we have been skint a few times.....I was absolutely incensed. I was on the phone right away.......with all of the hassles of number crunching to get through to a human being....grrrrrrrr.
I told the very pleasant young man about the red bill and he checked his computer and saw that the money had inadvertently been credited to my electrical account......their fault he said. He promised to put it right for me immediately....and I gave the matter no more thought.
About a month later I get another red bill....this time telling me that I would have my gas supply disconnected if I didn't pay the outstanding amount by a certain date. I was incandescent with rage, and got on the blower again......was on hold for 17 minutes....subjected to 'going shopping' music....then the number crunching again. I was as mad as a wet hen in a thunderstorm by the time I was connected to a young lady with a Newcastle accent..... she got the sharp side of my tongue, and to her credit she let me rant on and get my grievance off my chest......she told me that she would be angry if she had had to go through all this aggravation for something which was their fault. She promised to sort out the problem for me....I told her that some guy had told me he would do that and hadn't done...she asked me to stay on the phone while she sorted it out........she then told me the bill was sorted and we should have no further problem.
Last week we had our meter read and today the gas bill came......I had to read it three times to understand it.......we had been credited with £72.10 as goodwill compensation for the last bill problems and so we owe nothing and are £44 in credit.......how good is that?
I have to say that i did threaten to change suppliers.
Sorry for the long winded response.......I don't have a blog anymore

Margaret Pilkington · 17-08-2007, 20:09

Oh yes, and a couple of weeks ago I got a hefty tax rebate.....been retired for 5 years and got no tax back when I finished work so I wrote and gave them my details.....they sent me a nice cheque last week.......there has to be a snake on the board for me soon.

Lilly · 17-08-2007, 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

Out of the blue I received a cheque from HBC.

The house that I used to own was in council tax band B. For some reason, and I have no idea why, it has been reassessed into council tax band A. Again, for some reason that I can not explain they have looked back to the date I bought the house 11 years ago and credited the difference.

I didn't request this, I didn't even know you could request this, but I'm not complaining.

Has anyone else had a mini windfall?

I knew that you could request reassessment of your council tax band.My mum did this.She was found to be in a higher band than she should have been and was given a cheque for the difference just like you were.Somebody must have requested them to look at your old house.Perhaps the people who live there now?I think you get credited for however long you lived there.My mum's house is fairly new so they credited her for as long as the house had been built.If your house was older,maybe they've credited going all the way back to when the bandings came in...was that 1992 or so?

Gayle · 17-08-2007, 21:41

But surely house prices fluctuate so much that houses must swap bands frequently. I'm not sure I understand how they can back date it so far. What happens if your house switch bands by going up one? Do they back date the amount you should have paid them?

BERNADETTE · 17-08-2007, 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

But surely house prices fluctuate so much that houses must swap bands frequently. I'm not sure I understand how they can back date it so far. What happens if your house switch bands by going up one? Do they back date the amount you should have paid them?

Does anybody down there know what they are doing? I looked after my mother-in-law when she was dying, just after she died we received a cheque for the rent on her flat. I rang HBC and inquired what to do with it, Iwas asked to return it which I did, but a few days later they sent it back saying we were entitled to it. Surely a case of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing!

garinda · 17-08-2007, 21:54

Although the government have recently brought in legislation for property to be revalued for council tax purposes, current banding depends on the price as calculated for 1991.

VOA - Council Tax, How your property is valued, The starting point

garinda · 17-08-2007, 21:59

For instance, band H properties, valued up to £320,000, would mean nearly all property in central London would be in the same band. Something I know isn't the case.

cmonstanley · 17-08-2007, 22:39

or be like in scotland alex salmond and the rest of the scottish assembly are tabling a motion to abolish it in scotland............

to be replaced with errrrrrrrumm a local income tax......

BERNADETTE · 17-08-2007, 22:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmonstanley

or be like in scotland alex salmond and the rest of the scottish assembly are tabling a motion to abolish it in scotland............

to be replaced with errrrrrrrumm a local income tax......

I think everybodies council tax should be the same, after all everyone gets the same services!

cmonstanley · 17-08-2007, 22:48

you find the people who pay more council tax[or pay council tax]get less services availible to them in certain areas

BERNADETTE · 17-08-2007, 22:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmonstanley

you find the people who pay more council tax[or pay council tax]get less services availible to them in certain areas

Thats true, just don't get why the value of your house comes into it!

cashman · 17-08-2007, 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Thats true, just don't get why the value of your house comes into it!

confusious says more expensive house,more rooms or land etc,= more people using their services.

BERNADETTE · 17-08-2007, 23:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

confusious says more expensive house,more rooms or land etc,= more people using their services.

What services? They only get the same as us! I think it is ridicu

lous

Lilly · 18-08-2007, 10:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

Although the government have recently brought in legislation for property to be revalued for council tax purposes, current banding depends on the price as calculated for 1991.

VOA - Council Tax, How your property is valued, The starting point

I think Garinda is right.Although house prices have shot up in the last 5 years or so,your council tax banding is still allocated according to what your house would have been valued at when the bandings were brought in in 1991.It's all a bit silly now though.For example,band A is for properties under £40,000.How many properties are under £40,000 these days?
I think the bands need re-adjusting now.I would say something like under £90,000 for band A.