Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed off we won’t get the £150 rebate

286 replies

Usererror1999 · 10/02/2022 22:06

I feel like the rebate is giving with one hand and taking with the other. But now I also realise that as we are in band E: we aren’t getting the rebate at all! So it’s just “take” from us. We already pay a higher amount of council tax and we aren’t high users of council services

We aren’t rich: but we do have a fairly decent house that we make other sacrifices to afford. We work hard and pay into a pension and pay off our mortgage in the hope that we’re fairly self sufficient in old age. This just feels like a bit of a slap in the face.

OP posts:
Inspectorslack · 10/02/2022 22:07

Join the club.

No one in Northern Ireland is getting it.

kitkatsky · 10/02/2022 22:08

No council services?

Original poster
Usererror1999 · 10/02/2022 22:08

@Inspectorslack why not? Will there be some sort of other scheme for NI?

OP posts:
NeesAndToes · 10/02/2022 22:08

You're just not getting money off. It's not costing you more. So you are exactly where you were before it was announced. Downsize if you're that bothered.

Original poster
Usererror1999 · 10/02/2022 22:09

What I mean is we are not using any more council services than the average household

OP posts:
Inspectorslack · 10/02/2022 22:10

[quote Usererror1999]@Inspectorslack why not? Will there be some sort of other scheme for NI?[/quote]
No idea at this point. Haven’t seen anything announced.

Original poster
Usererror1999 · 10/02/2022 22:10

The payout is costing me more; it’s costing every taxpayer more: the money isn’t coming off a magic money tree. It’s just that we are just not benefiting for something we are paying towards.

It’s a bit glib saying “downsize”. That would cost a bloody fortune in fees etx

OP posts:
HunterHearstHelmsley · 10/02/2022 22:11

@kitkatsky

No council services?
OP didn't say they weren't using council services Confused
MrPoppysParka · 10/02/2022 22:11

@kitkatsky you might want to report your post. I can see a WhatsApp message at the top!

jowly · 10/02/2022 22:11

But that is the argument against council tax bandings...services/usage is the same for everyone 🤷🏼‍♀️

NeesAndToes · 10/02/2022 22:11

@Usererror1999

The payout is costing me more; it’s costing every taxpayer more: the money isn’t coming off a magic money tree. It’s just that we are just not benefiting for something we are paying towards.

It’s a bit glib saying “downsize”. That would cost a bloody fortune in fees etx

You'd pay less council tax though
Original poster
Usererror1999 · 10/02/2022 22:15

I don’t think the “less council tax” would make up for the costs of moving.

I don’t actually agree with council tax bandings: I think a tax on income or by household or overall wealth would be fairer. Because my house was worth x in 1991 seems a bit random to determine I pay more in council tax

OP posts:
lightsoutminty · 10/02/2022 22:16

Sooooo.. what happens when all of the band Es decide to downsize? It's a ridiculous system that squeezes the middle and people will vote with their options. Before anyone has a go at me for being a mad Tory or totally bougie - I'm neither. But I do have the option to leave the country, even as an extreme option, which by the way no longer feels extreme as an immigrant. And then we have brain drain. Good luck sustaining an economy.

NeesAndToes · 10/02/2022 22:16

@Usererror1999

I don’t think the “less council tax” would make up for the costs of moving.

I don’t actually agree with council tax bandings: I think a tax on income or by household or overall wealth would be fairer. Because my house was worth x in 1991 seems a bit random to determine I pay more in council tax

Ask them to reband it?
jowly · 10/02/2022 22:16

We already pay income tax!

Blossomtoes · 10/02/2022 22:20

@Usererror1999

What I mean is we are not using any more council services than the average household
We’re using less - no kids, no need for social services. All we use is refuse collection and roads. BUT we live in a house worth £600k and have above average incomes so it’s only fair that we don’t get a subsidy we don’t need.
Original poster
Usererror1999 · 10/02/2022 22:21

It just seems irrational that only bands A-D are getting this rebate. Someone could earn £100k and live in a band D home, whereas someone else could earn £20k and live in a band E home

OP posts:
Itscoldouthere · 10/02/2022 22:23

It’s the same for students, they don’t pay council tax so won’t get any money. They are on a low income and are getting no help with the extra cost of bills.
This government ‘help’ doesn’t seem that helpful for everyone, I don’t see how the £200 that will need to be repaid is that helpful either, what if fuel bills stay high ? How will it help I’d you have to pay it back?
I’m not impressed with any of their plans.

Original poster
Usererror1999 · 10/02/2022 22:24

@Blossomtoes we live in a house worth £200k. Many of the band Es in our area are worth around £200k. We earn pretty average salaries (joint salary of around £55k: so not loaded)

OP posts:
ffscovid · 10/02/2022 22:24

Our house is a small 3 bed (two double, one single). We have one bathroom (no en suite or downstairs loo), a kitchen-diner and a lounge. We're Band E no idea why so won't qualify.

Blossomtoes · 10/02/2022 22:24

@Usererror1999

It just seems irrational that only bands A-D are getting this rebate. Someone could earn £100k and live in a band D home, whereas someone else could earn £20k and live in a band E home
And two parents could earn £49k each and still get child benefit while one earning £70k and the other earning £28k won’t. Life isn’t fair. And, let’s be honest people who can afford expensive houses are mainly those with more money.
NeesAndToes · 10/02/2022 22:27

@Itscoldouthere

It’s the same for students, they don’t pay council tax so won’t get any money. They are on a low income and are getting no help with the extra cost of bills. This government ‘help’ doesn’t seem that helpful for everyone, I don’t see how the £200 that will need to be repaid is that helpful either, what if fuel bills stay high ? How will it help I’d you have to pay it back? I’m not impressed with any of their plans.
They are already getting the council services for free! They don't need a rebate on the council services.
Original poster
Usererror1999 · 10/02/2022 22:28

@Blossomtoes in fairness, that really annoys me too... even if it doesn’t impact us!

OP posts:
NeesAndToes · 10/02/2022 22:28

@Usererror1999

It just seems irrational that only bands A-D are getting this rebate. Someone could earn £100k and live in a band D home, whereas someone else could earn £20k and live in a band E home
Ahh I see what you mean. I guess they have to work it out somehow that doesn't involve loooads of admin.
Stropalotopus83 · 10/02/2022 22:29

I don't think we are getting it in Wales either. Unless Drakeford has announced something, not seen the news today.