Council tax rebanding

[2Margaret]

Have been cold called by Rebates UK Claims and Service Ltd suggesting we may be in the wrong band - other properties in the same road are in a lower band. Although we won't follow this up, would be interested to know if anyone else has been approached and if it was successful.

[boxtops]

I've never heard of them - I bet they charge you for investigating that! I wouldn't take up any cold-call offers on anything. If you think you're in the wrong band, it's the council you talk to, not a middleman.

[boxtops]

There you go Margaret - they want 30% of any rebate you get! http://rebatesuk.co.uk/7.html

[alexanderd]

I have never been approached as you describe but when I moved in here I did appeal as I thought it was too high and was put back into a lower band. Success!!!

[boxtops]

..and they want to charge you £195 for handling the investigation in the first place! Don't go there....

[cathfromsaron]

step away from the cold call ...

[Hopkirk]

You can do it yourself.

Here is a link to Martin Lewis's website with details of what to do

http://www.moneysavin...ncil-tax-bands-change

[2Margaret]

Yes, as you say they want a cut plus an initial upfront fee. There's no way we would deal with them and as our road contains individual properties there is understandably a difference in banding. I was just interested to know if other people had been approached in this way. Many thanks.

[factor-fiction]

I bet the caller doesn't know which road you live on. I would never do business with a cold caller. Yes, there are some companies that do this for a fee but it's easy to do it yourself (see the Martin Lewis link) . There's a risk though that you may find your band is too low

[ladyalex]

One of our neighbours built their own house on a plot of land up the road from us.
When the council came to assess it they put everyone else in the street into a higher band.
Those neighbours were not popular...

[Buenchico]

I've just run a few checks on that company and its website.

Rebates UK Claims and Services Ltd has only existed since 6th October 2011 (although the website's domain name was actually registered 3 days earlier). It's run by 43-year-old Mrs Pilita McCrudden from her home address (on a recently built estate) in Stretford.

The company is in breach of the Companies (Trading Disclosures) Regulations 2008 by not showing its registered address on its website. (Perhaps Mrs McCrudden doesn't want disgruntled clients calling at 43 Marland Way?)

Many years ago I worked (on a 'commission only' basis) for a firm which claimed that it could get business rates reduced. Somewhat like Mrs McCruddden's website, the literature failed to mention that there were only limited circumstances under which valid appeals could be made. The company I worked for also required up-front fees but then 'conveniently' (for the directors) went bust after taking lots of people's money. The laws of libel prohibit me from suggesting that Mrs McCrudden might be operating a similar style of business but I certainly wouldn't engage her services (for something I could do for free anyway).

If you're really interested in the possibility of challenging your Council Tax banding you need this document (which explains the very limited circumstances under which such a challenge might be valid)
http://www.voa.gov.uk...sagree_ct_banding.pdf

Chris

[rebatesuk]

Buenchico (Chris) In a fair and balanced manner my we respond to your readers by saying that:

There was an oversight not having the company address displayed within the website pages ‘this has been resolved’.

We believe that: "It is our duty to challenge Council Tax Bands that we feel is inaccurate. It’s down to our expertise that enables us to locate properties, which we feel are in the incorrect band. This is what makes us highly successful in what we do"

We would like to thank everybody for their comments and suggestions about our company: Rebates UK Claims and Services Limited.

[rebatesuk]

Buenchico
Chris, In a fair and balanced manner my we respond to your readers by saying that: There was an oversight not having the company address displayed within the website pages ‘this has been resolved’.
We believe that: "It is our duty to challenge Council Tax Bands that we feel is inaccurate. It’s down to our expertise that enables us to locate properties, which we feel are in the incorrect band. This is what makes us highly successful in what we do"
We would like to thank everybody for their comments and suggestions about our company: Rebates UK Claims and Services Limited.

[Slappedass]

Don't bother with that company. I was one of the gullible ones. I paid 237 quid to pay for the fees. I was promised £1500 but I had to pay up front, said it would take approximate 7 weeks, 3 months later and I still haven't had anything. They won't answer the phone or reply to my emails. So I did get my arse slapped.

[Slappedass]

So my message to you mr rebates uk is that you are a conman, ripping off people left right and centre.