Have you been overpaying your rates? I have - by thousands of dollars - on a section purchased in late 2001. This section is vacant, adjoins my residential property and has no council services provided. Late last year I learnt that council terms such a section as 'contiguous” and the rates charged on it should be considerably less. On phoning Western Bay of Plenty District Council I was informed that this was the case and my next rates invoice would refl ect this. It certainly did! The rates in 2016 are $1729.44 less than I had paid in 2015 - that is for just one year - and I had unknowingly been overpaying since 2001.
Could this apply to you too? Unfortunately, the council has informed me that pursuant to a Local Government (Rating) Act there will be no reimbursement of my overpaid rates. Is this New Zealand justice?
G Jones, Te Puke.
1 comment
Yeah, had the same problem
Posted on 17-09-2016 21:43 | By The Caveman
in Martinborough many years ago. Purchased a section, went to council, asked what services connected to the section (rate notice said NONE) and the council said NONE - in writing. Six months later, I found a "depression" in the dirt adjacent to the front barbwire fence, and with a little digging - a toby inside the section. Well it was FREE water for 12 years (no house, just trees etc). Sold section and told NEW owner where the toby was. He built a house and connected the toby!!! All s _ _t broke loose council wanted a connection fee (nah connected water on section). Then the council came at me for 12 tears of water supply bugger-off what water..
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