Council Tax appeal

[VannaB]

My parents have appealed against the banding for their property-they believe it should be band D and not Band E. All houses in the street are at present Band E except one who appealed and is now Band D. This house is identical to my parents.
We checked using the calculator that works out house prices in 1991 which is why we think it's incorrectly banded-it was not worth what Band E's fall in to at that time.
They have now received a letter stating their claim is invalid as it does not fall within the list of 12 reasons for appeal. But in the same envelope they got a letter saying they will cary out a review.
So what happens next? Although they ar etold their claim is invalid, does this just mean they cannot claim back the overpayments but still can be rebanded for the future?
Thaks for your help

[buildersmate]

Reasons for making a proposal to have a property rebanding are here.

http://www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax/can_i_appeal .htm

There are 13 of them - these may be the same as the 12 reasons given in the letter your parents have received in that the 13th concerns demolition and is clearly not applicable in their case.

Notes the wording carefully on this website - it says 'making a prosal to alter' - not appeal against. This implies to me that you can apply to have a band changed in future - not retrospectively claim against an incorrect band. I'm not 100% sure of this but the wording is most odd.
If so this makes sense of the letter your parents have received - a retrospective claim is invalid but they will undertake a review against future Banding.

[VannaB]

Ok thanks. I'll risk ringing them up tomorrow for further clarification as they've also asked my parents to fill in the questionnaire they enclosed-yet they didnt enclose it! Talk about making it hard for a person!!!