Martin Lewis warning after lady will get £8,500 refund
Martin Lewis has urged Britons to examine if they’re owed hundreds of kilos after a lady acquired her council tax band and was reimbursed £8,500 from her native council.
The founding father of Money Saving Expert shared a narrative in his latest newsletter of Sharon, who efficiently challenged her council tax band and was put right into a decrease band.
She stated: “Thanks so much for the advice regarding wrong council tax bands on your show a couple of weeks ago.
“We have had a refund going back to 1993 from our local council of £8,500. We are now a band less (F to E), so also pay £30 less each month – meaning I can afford an extra glass of bubbly. Winning all round. We’d never have known but for you.”
Martin Lewis encouraged council tax payers to check if they are also due a discount as there are thought to be hundreds of thousands of people who are overpaying.
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The first step a person will need to undertake is to compare their property with those of their neighbours who live in a similar property, and to find out if they are in a lower band.
An individual will not need to approach their neighbours to do this as this can be done online through the Valuation Office Agency website for a property in England and Wales, or through the Scottish Assessors Association website for a home in Scotland.
Once a person has established a similar property nearby is in a lower band, they can proceed to the second step.
The person will need to find out the value of their property when the band system was set up.
This can be calculated by finding out the current value of the property and using a calculator to find out when it would have been when the system was put in place.
There are several tools available online to do this. It’s very important to do this to be sure the person’s property should be put into a lower band.
Otherwise, if a person challenges their council tax band, they may stay in the same band while their neighbours are moved up and pay more.
A whole street could be moved up or down after a property is reassessed, so it’s vital to carry out this second step to avoid potential friction with neighbours.
Frances said she was bemused that most of the homes on her street were in Band C despite some of the houses being terraced while others were detached.
Mr Lewis explained: “Remember that the bands are broad. You could be at the top of the band and they could be at the bottom of the band, and you could still both be in the same band.”
A lady named Frances beforehand contacted the BBC Martin Lewis podcast after she got £3,500 as a council tax rebate.
She stated it took about six weeks to get her band reassessed with the refund from the council.
However, Frances stated she was stunned that the majority homes in her road have been in Band C regardless of some being terraced whereas others have been indifferent.
Mr Lewis stated in response: “Remember that the bands are broad. You could be at the top of the band and they could be at the bottom of the band, and you could still both be in the same band.”
Martin Lewis is the Founder and Chair of MoneySavingExpert.com. To be a part of the 13 million individuals who get his free Money Tips weekly electronic mail, go to www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip.
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