PITTSBURGH -- There are some frustrations from property tax payers in Allegheny County. Many are getting letters telling them about an increase in their property assessment.

This is after they thought they'd won an appeal that brought their assessment down.

Target 11 consumer investigator Becky Thompson cleared up the confusion.

A letter was sent to thousands of Allegheny County residents in January.

Channel 11 heard from two of them, then found out there are many others who have no idea what this increase means.

"I was surprised and confused at the same time," Paul Tarasi said.

For Paul and Karen Tarasi, the increase on their property assessment - as laid out in the letter - was going to cost them another $170 per month.

Their friend, Sam Abatta, got the same letter dated Jan. 13 - and the assessment on his home was going up even more.

"My original assessment has increased another $25,000 with no rhyme or reason for it," Abatta said.

Both Paul and Sam had appealed their 2001 assessment and won. After several phone calls to the assessment office, they still couldn't get an answer as to why their assessment was now going up.

"Four phone calls and no return calls. That's where I am right now," Paul said.

We took the Jan. 13 letters to the manager of property assessments in Allegheny County, Dominick Gambino, who told us that what appears to have happened is that neither Paul or Sam got a letter preceding the one in January.

"That was a key letter because that explained what we needed to do," Gambino explained.

Gambino says 27,000 people like Paul and Sam, who won their 2001 assessment appeal then had their assessment go up in 2002, should have received a letter of explanation.

It would have told them that the appeals board has ruled that these property owners can have their 2002 assessment rolled back to the amount they appealed and won in 2001.

People like the Tarasi's - who did win their 2001 appeal, then appealed their 2002 reassessment - were supposed to get a letter from the appeals board saying, "assuming you (they) remain satisfied with this (the) result (of their 2001 appeal)," (that) "value will become your final certified value... through 2005."

Others, like Sam Abatta who had not yet appealed their 2002 re-assessment were sent a letter from the assessment office saying if they filled out the gold form and sent it to the board, (their) "2001 post appeal value will become (their) your final certified value... through 2005."

Gambino says there's only one person in the office designated to explain this to all 27,000 property owners affected.

Her name and number is on the letters that Paul and Sam never got.

"So the 4600 number is not one that can really help you?" Thompson asked.

"They normally send the phone calls back to Sarah. In this case, they must not have," Gambino explained.

There are still 5,000 forms that have not come back - possibly due to confusion.

If you won your 2001 assessment appeal, then received a letter saying your assessment in 2002 was increased and you've got questions, here's who to call: Sarah Moen (412) 350-5626.