Q: I have finally received notice that I have won a reduction in my 2006 property assessment to the 2002 value. Now how do I get the difference back from the county and school district? I have paid all of my 2006 taxes and already paid my 2007 county taxes. When the school district won its 2005 appeal to raise my assessment to the sale price, I received a bill from both parties within a week. Am I correct to assume that I can collect the difference in taxes back to January 2006 since that was the assessment appeal year? Should I expect a refund from them or am I going to have to fight to get the money?

JIM BLOOM
Ross

A: Congratulations, Jim. Good things come to those who wait and wait.

Yes, you will get refund checks taking you back to the appeal year of 2006 from the county, your municipality and your school district. You don't have to do a thing to get your money back, except maybe wait a bit longer.

According to the Allegheny County treasurer's office, the Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review will notify the county, the municipality and the school district. As soon as those notifications are received, the process of returning your money will begin.

You do realize, of course, that refunds rarely if ever come as quickly as bills.

Q: Why did Verizon start charging me for long-distance calls I am not making. Now whether I use long-distance or not, I have to pay $2 a month. Can they do this?

JOE SCHULTER
Banksville

A: The last time Verizon started adding minimum charges to plans that had been free, you could avoid the charge by switching to a different Verizon plan that had no minimum charge. But not this time.

Verizon's Lee Gierczynski said Verizon no longer offers a long-distance plan that has no monthly minimum charge.

"Verizon's basic rate long-distance plan now has a minimum usage charge of $2 a month," he said. "If you make $2 worth of long distance calls, it goes against the minimum charge and you will not be required to pay a minimum charge. If you don't make any long-distance calls, you will be required to pay."

The question you want to ask yourself is: Do I need a long-distance service at all? Just because you aren't officially signed up for the service doesn't mean you can't make a long-distance call. You could still do so by using one of those dial-around numbers that charge you per time you access the service, buying a long-distance credit card -- look for one with no expiration date -- or using your cell phone.

Here's a tip from a reader: When Verizon tried to charge him $5 for dropping the long distance service, he refused to pay, saying he hadn't signed up for the service with a fee. He was not charged the exit fee.