Got a letter today to say that my house has been reassessed as being in Band B, not Band B. So, we’ve been overpaying Council tax for the last 9 years. Anyone know if we get a refund and if this is automatic?

I’m guessing that should read “Band B not Band C” ?
Refund will be calculated and you’ll receive a new bill showing the credit. Depending on when the refund is processed and when the 2009/10 bill is drafted (we did ours last week, issuing them this week) they will deduct 2009/10 from the refund which means you’ll have nothing to pay until April 2010.
Next, they’ll have to check if another person was Joint & Severally Liable and get in touch with them if they are no longer Joint & Sev. and get permission for the refund to be split without breaching DPA.
If it’s a simple refund to one account, it can be done in a week (longer at this time of year though as it’s Annual Billing and it’s rammed busy up and down the country at the moment). If it gets more complicated, it can take a while. The policy at our place is to refund the account current DD’s are being taken but an objection was raised two weeks ago by a council tax payer who didn’t want it going to that account as they were heavily overdrawn and the refund was eaten up paying back some of the overdraft.
A firm of solicitors have written to a large area in Stockport telling people they might be paying too much and if they can get instruction, they will see if they can get the banding reduced on a No Win, No Fee basis. They want £25% of any refund for their trouble. Only thing is, anybody wondering if there banding is wrong can phone the Valuation Office and ask for it to be checked which is free. Anybody reading this feels like doing so, when you phone your VOA office, DON’T say you wan to appeal as you only get 6 months from the date you move in to appeal. Tell them you believe the original banding might be incorrect and you would like an inspection. Costs you nothing, you might get some cash back and you get to keep it all 🙂

Yes, should be “Band B not Band C”.

Thanks for the advice. Looking forward to the refund 🙂

According to the Council, we won’t get a refund. Instead, the amount by which we have overpaid will be credited to our account when the new bill is calculated. In effect, we’re going to have a year off from paying Council Tax.

“Refund will be calculated and you’ll receive a new bill showing the credit. Depending on when the refund is processed and when the 2009/10 bill is drafted (we did ours last week, issuing them this week) they will deduct 2009/10 from the refund which means you’ll have nothing to pay until April 2010.”

Told you :-). Depends how much you have in credit and how much your new bill is etc. but you’ll know that by now. Congrats. on saving a few quid as well.

Depends how much you have in credit

Nine years of paying band C instead of band B. About £1k I think!