Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice is finding some humor in his team’s play. Maurice says his PP2 unit on the ice should change their names, due to their incredible production in the Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers whipped the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 Monday, by a 6-1 score. “They want a name change,” Maurice […]
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The Washington Commanders were one of the best stories in the NFL during the 2024 season. Washington immediately became a competitive team with Jayden Daniels at quarterback, who won Offensive Rookie of the Year. Now it seems that Daniels will be without his top weapon during mandatory minicamp. Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin is not […]
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AN urgent warning has been issued to hundreds of thousands of households who could be overpaying an essential bill and owed £1,000s.
The warning comes from consumer expert Martin Lewis over homes in the wrong council tax band.
Council tax is a priority bill which means if it’s not paid your local authority has legal power to reclaim it.
How much council tax you pay depends on what band you’re in, with bands ranging from A to H.
However, hundreds of thousands in England and Scotland are in the wrong ones because of inaccurate valuations carried out in 1991.
You can challenge your band and not get just your future bills lowered, but a backdated payment for all the time you’ve been overpaying.
In a recent post on X, Martin said hundreds of thousands of households could be owed £1,000s in overpaid council tax back.
He said: “It really is quite unbelievable that if you live in England and Scotland the council tax band you are in today is still dictated by a stopgap drive-by valuation done back in 1991 that was only meant to last a couple of years.
He added: “Up to 400,000 homes are in the wrong band. And if you’re in the wrong band and you challenge it not only can you get it lowered, you can get a backdated payout back to when you moved in, or 1991, whichever was sooner.”
Exactly how much you can get back in overpaid council tax, or how much your future payments are lowered depends on your circumstances.
However, one person told The Sun they managed to save hundreds of pounds by challenging theirs.
Bear in mind as well, while challenging your council tax band can see your payments lowered, it can also lead to you paying more, so it’s worth doing your research.
You should start by checking what band you are in first.
If you live in England, you can do this by entering your postcode or address into the government’s website here – www.gov.uk/council-tax-bands.
Households in Scotland can find out their band via the Scottish Assessor’s website here – www.ssa.gov.uk.
If you find out you are in the wrong council tax band, you can then challenge it through the links above.
In England and Wales, you can also call or email the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to challenge your band.
The number for those in England is 0300 0501 501 and 0300 0505 505 for those in Wales.
There are further instructions on the Government’s website on how to do this.
Make sure you don’t just challenge your council tax band without doing any research.
Find out what bands neighbouring properties in your area are in.
If they are in lower bands to you, it could be that you’re paying too much.
If the VOA agrees that your property is in the wrong band, it will contact you letting you know, usually within a few days.
But it can take up to 28 days if they need to check there’s enough evidence to review your challenge.
Overall, it can take up to two months to review a challenge.
If you aren’t happy with the VOA’s decision, you can appeal your case – but only if you’ve been told that you can when you get the decision.
Bear in mind, any appeals have to be launched within three months of your decision – you can do this via the Valuation Tribunal Service.
If the Valuation Tribunal agrees with you, it will get the VOA to change your band – and your bill will change.
ONE of the biggest household bills you need to pay is Council Tax.
How much you pay will depend on the value of your home, but Senior Consumer Reporter Olivia Marshall explains how you can save.
Check for discounts
Not everyone pays council tax. If you have someone who’s living with you and they don’t count, you could get 25% off your bill.
This includes full-time students, people on certain apprentice schemes, a live-in carer looking after someone else and student nurses.
If you live on your own you can claim a discount of 25%.
You’ll have to apply for the discount on your local authority’s website and can check eligibility at gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction
Help for disabled people
People with certain disabilities can get a discount of up to 100%. This applies to anyone considered severely mentally impaired (SMI) which includes conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s or learning difficulties resulting from a stroke.
If you’re living with someone affected by SMI then you could qualify for a discount too,
To be considered, a GP needs to certify the SMI and typically they will need to be receiving at least one type of benefit such as attendance allowance or personal independence payments.
Again, you can check your eligibility or a family member’s and apply on your local council’s website.
If you’re on a low income
If you’re on a low income or benefits, you might be able to claim a council tax reduction of up to 100%. This means you pay no council tax at all.
You can apply if you own your home or rent, and if you are unemployed or working.
But the rules vary between councils so you will need to contact yours to find out what you can get.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
NESTLE has confirmed it axed a breakfast staple from all UK supermarkets, leaving shoppers heartbroken.
The chocolate to coffee maker has confirmed Clusters are no longer available on shelves.
The morning meal – made with whole grain flakes and toasted almonds – was a staple in British supermarkets for years but was axed over a decade.
However many shoppers are unaware the snack is no longer available in stores and wondered if it would make a return.
One curious customers took to X, to plead with Nestle to bring the product back.
They said: “I woke up this morning and the only thing I want is a bowl of Clusters. Please bring them back.
“Life just hasn’t been the same since they went away.”
Nestle responded and confirmed the cereal was no more, crushing dreams the product might make a return soon.
The company said: “We’re sorry to have to give you disappointing news, but unfortunately, Clusters has been discontinued from our range.”
It will come as a blow to customers who in the past described it as a “glorious cereal”.
While another said: “Nestle clusters was the only cereal I could eat. I used to buy upto a dozen boxes. There’s nothing out there I can eat.”
And a third upset shopper said: “Please bring nestle clusters back! I’ll buy them in bulk I promise.”
It is not the first time Nestle has axed a product that customers love.
Last December it told customers it would no longer sell Carnation Vegan Condensed Milk Alternative.
The substitute for its original dairy version was made with oats and rice and was used for baking sweet treats that were plant-based.
It was launched by the chocolate-to-coffee maker back in 2020 and was sold in supermarkets such as Asda and retailed for around £2.50.
Last October, shoppers were left distraught after learning the company had stopped making Smarties Buttons.
The treat comprised a tasty combination of milk chocolate buttons with crunchy bits, but maker Nestle said it now wants to focus on its core Smarties products.
The product was unveiled in 2020 as a “reimagined” treat for choc-lovers with “special memories” of Smarties.
Nestle also said last summer it was no longer making Cheerios Vanilla O’s, leading to heartbreak.
It is not uncommon for popular cereals to disappear from shelves.
Kellogg’s said last month it would no longer be making chocolate Cornflakes after a product recall.
Two years ago shoppers were also horrified to learn the cereal giant had axed Frosties from its multi pack boxes as it contained too much sugar.
And it’s not only Kellogg’s which has pulled the trigger on a number of popular morning foods.
Weetabix confirmed earlier this month that Alpen cereal bars have now permanently disappeared from supermarket shelves.
Tesco left shoppers heartbroken when it confirmed it was no longer making its own-brand apricot wheats.
ANALYSIS by chief consumer reporter James Flanders.
Food and drinks makers have been known to tweak their recipes or axe items altogether.
They often say that this is down to the changing tastes of customers.
There are several reasons why this could be done.
For example, government regulation, like the “sugar tax,” forces firms to change their recipes.
Some manufacturers might choose to tweak ingredients to cut costs.
They may opt for a cheaper alternative, especially when costs are rising to keep prices stable.
For example, Tango Cherry disappeared from shelves in 2018.
It has recently returned after six years away but as a sugar-free version.
Fanta removed sweetener from its sugar-free alternative earlier this year.
Suntory tweaked the flavour of its flagship Lucozade Original and Orange energy drinks.
While the amount of sugar in every bottle remains unchanged, the supplier swapped out the sweetener aspartame for sucralose.
RORY McIlroy and Shane Lowry have been paired TOGETHER for this week’s US Open at Oakmont in Pennsylvania.
It’s a surprise move by organisers given how big names are generally kept apart for the opening two rounds.
But in this case, all Irish eyes will be on one particular playing group across Thursday and Friday’s action.
Their group hasn’t exactly been rounded out by a nobody either as Justin Rose completes the high-profile trio with the Masters runner-up joining them from the 10th hole onwards.
Lowry and McIlroy will tee off in the year’s third major at 12.40pm Irish time.
Their second round will commence at 6.25pm Irish time.
The Offaly native comes into the notoriously tricky major championship in fine form on the back of finishing tied-13th at last week’s Canadian Open.
For that result, he earned a paycheque of $180,810. Tournament winner Ryan Fox scooped $1.76 million after besting Sam Burns in a play-off.
Lowry had catapulted himself into contention on Thursday with a scintillating opening-round score of six-under-par.
He backed that up on Friday with a two-under round of 68.
But with pal McIlroy having packed his bags at the halfway stage, the leaders struck clear on Saturday, while Lowry could only shoot another 68.
He got off to a cracking start in Toronto on Sunday. The Clara man shot an eagle on the first before backing it up with three birdies on the spin.
But a bogey on the ninth after four consecutive pars halted his momentum.
And while he steadied the ship by parring the next five, he was running out of time and holes to remain in contention.
A birdie on the 15th kept him in the hunt but bogeys on the 16th and 17th killed his hopes off.
The Ireland Olympian moves on to Oakmont next, where he finished runner-up to Dustin Johnson in the 2016 US Open.
After wrapping up his Sunday round the 38-year-old posted an upbeat summation on Instagram.
It read: “Great tournament, great people, disappointing finish. Thank you Canada, Canadian Open and sponsors RBC. On to the US Open.”
This will be a record-extending 10th time that the US Open will be held at Oakmont.
The rough on Oakmont stands at 5 INCHES tall, with the course trimmed to ensure that is uniform throughout all 18 holes.
World number one Scottie Scheffler will go into it as a short-priced favourite. Last week he backed up his PGA Championship success with a dominant victory at the Memorial.