| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| 1972vj |
Posted - 02/11/2008 : 13:05:56
Ilodged a dispute with the tax credit office nearly 2 months ago for an overpayment of £5000+ dating back to 2003.
This overpayment was for a zeroing of income for my husband's salary. I was paid the overpayment as a lump sum. The day I received the award I rang the tax credit office and told them of the error. I was told that they would take the money back quite quickly. I never heard anything and the next time I telephoned I was told the overpayment would be claimed back in future awards. I continued to get increased tax credit payments.
The same thing happened in 2006 with an overpayment of £300. I havent heard anything from the tax credit office since I lodged my dispute. I have requested all my data which my MP is waiting for me to receive. Do I keep phoning the tax credit office or do I wait for an acknowledgement? Any help would be appreciated. |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| auntieh |
Posted - 21/11/2008 : 22:21:24
I think you can ask for your dispute to be looked at at a higher level. Beware a dispute, which I think you are doing, is not the same as an appeal. There are several stages to a dispute, once you have exhausted HMRC then you move on the Adjudicator and then the Ombudsman.
Hopefully Splashin or missfroy can give you some expert advice or have a look on the main website.
Auntie
"You can dress a pig in a suit but you can't stop it grunting" |
| Alan the Geordie |
Posted - 20/11/2008 : 19:37:19
Get the media involved.
It's time your useless MP was named & shamed.
Alternatively, turn up at his/her surgery & demand an explanation to his/her dereliction of duty to you.
You're paying his/her fat salary & you want some action in return - see that you get it!!
"The best way to take control over a people and control them utterly is to take a little of their freedom at a time, to erode rights by a thousand tiny and almost imperceptible
reductions. In this way the people will not see those rights and freedoms being removed until past the point at which these changes cannot be reversed."
Adolf Hitler |
| 1972vj |
Posted - 20/11/2008 : 16:10:26
I have had a reply today from the Tax Credit Office regarding my dispute and they have said that I will have to repay the full amount of £4378. I telephoned the offices to say that I wished to appeal against the decision and was told that this decision was final.
I said that the SARS documents that I have received show conflicting information and was told that they didn't think there was any reason for me to appeal but they would send me the forms anyway. I have 30 days to appeal. I have previously contacted my MP who hasn't replied to my email or my telephone call.
Can anybody tell me where do I begin with my appeal please. Any advice would be appreciated thanks.
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| 1972vj |
Posted - 10/11/2008 : 12:40:24
Hi Splashin
Sorry I took a little while to get back to you.
The twins were born 20.10.02. I got full maternity pay until 31.12.02. My gross earnings for 2002-2003 were £7443.83.
My household income for 2003-2004 was roughly £25,000. The income for 2004-2005 was roughly £36,000.
I hope this information helps.
I also have two more questions if you wouldn't mind answering them. I wrote to my MP over a week ago with my SARS details as he previously said he would help me when I got further information. He still hasn't replied. Do I email him again or give him more time?
I have also received an acknowledgement from the Customer Service Team of the Tax Credit Office after I emailed the Treasury to complain that my dispute was nearly 2 months old and I still hadn't received any acknowledgement from them. They have said they aim to give me a reply by 28th November. Do I wait for this or do I telephone them with the information that I have found?
Thanks again for your help.
quote:
Originally posted by splashin
Hi 1972vj
Thanks for the reply. Actual dates when twins were born in 2003 will help me calculate your entitlement for the year. Also did you get income from maternity pay and prior to you leaving, give an estimate Gross figure if you don't know exact amount? If you know your household income for 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 would give me even more of better sum to work out calculation.
If I just use your partners income of 22k, then after the twins were born you 4 weekly amount should have been about £259.
If I use the income as 27k, then your 4 weekly payment should have been about £116.
This amount should of carried on up too the twins first birthday.
Splashin
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| splashin |
Posted - 07/11/2008 : 19:26:54
Hi 1972vj
Thanks for the reply. Actual dates when twins were born in 2003 will help me calculate your entitlement for the year. Also did you get income from maternity pay and prior to you leaving, give an estimate Gross figure if you don't know exact amount? If you know your household income for 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 would give me even more of better sum to work out calculation.
If I just use your partners income of 22k, then after the twins were born you 4 weekly amount should have been about £259.
If I use the income as 27k, then your 4 weekly payment should have been about £116.
This amount should of carried on up too the twins first birthday.
Splashin |
| 1972vj |
Posted - 06/11/2008 : 18:01:53
Hi Splashin
Thanks for getting back to me. I don't mind answering any questions as I really don't know what I am doing.
In 2003 I left work to have twins. I had already got one child who I was receiving tax credits for. My husband was working full time 50 hours per week which I have noticed in some of the documents it has been noted that my husband had one job in 2003-2004 but worked 0 hours.
I received my tax credits 4 weekly and there were no disabilities in the household.
In 2006 I went back to work but was only earning £3000 per year. My husband was still working part time. The reason I was given that my payments stopped was I would no longer receive tax credits until the overpayment of £5000+ was overpaid. My yearly awards that I receive show that I am entitled to £545 per year.
quote:
Originally posted by splashin
1972vj
What were your circumstances in 2003? Where you working? Did you have children? Any disabiltites within the household? Also these amounts paid to you, where they paid weekly or 4 weekly?
Did anything change within the household in 2007? And what are your present circumstances? If you don't mind me asking. Lol
Splashin
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| splashin |
Posted - 06/11/2008 : 17:25:04
1972vj
What were your circumstances in 2003? Where you working? Did you have children? Any disabiltites within the household? Also these amounts paid to you, where they paid weekly or 4 weekly?
Did anything change within the household in 2007? And what are your present circumstances? If you don't mind me asking. Lol
Splashin |
| 1972vj |
Posted - 05/11/2008 : 21:34:37
Hi Splashin
Before the overpayment in 2003/2004 I was getting regular payments for the first half of the year of £83 and then for the last 6 months I was receiving £42. I informed the tax office that my husband's earnings were £22000 as employed and £800 as self employed. Self employed earnings were for two weeks which I also told them. On checking the documents for this period they have stated that we had 50 days of income based earnings and the rest of the years was CTC based. After the overpayment my payments increased to £165. The following year the first 6 months payments were £195 and the remainder was £133. Then I had the second overpayment and my payments were reduced to £74 and the finally stopped in July 2007.
My original claim was submitted on 27 March 2004.
I am applicant 1 and my husband is 2. This doesn't change at any time.
quote:
Originally posted by splashin
Hi 1972vj
I would like to start with the overpayment which occurred during 2003/2004.
Prior to lump sum being paid where you getting regular payments? Did you have any income? You say you continued to get increased tax credit payments, how much was this increase and how long did it continue for?
quote:
Originally posted by 1972vj
Thanks for your advice. I have received all of the paperwork now except for the CDS. At a quick glance the first overpayment that happened in 2003 doesn't give much information only the what I supplied and then the tax credit office reducing my husband's hours he worked to zero.
The second overpayment in 2006 shows a screen shot between myself and a tax credit employee which states "informed applicant that part of income not accepted on computer have added it in correctly asked app to call back in a couple of days for update". This clearly shows their error. I have emailed my MP now with the details. Do I wait to hear about my dispute from the tax credit office themselves of do I notify them of the errors that I have found? Any advice would be appreciated.
You say your SAR documents show the information you provided them when you made your claim for tax credits and then also the tax credit office zeroing your hubbys income.
Was your original claim submitted before 06-04-2003?
On your written application form that you completed. Who is applicant number 1 and who is applicant number 2? Does this change at anytime, swooping applicant number 1 to the number 2 position?
£5000 is a large amount for just 1 year, are you 100% sure it is for this 1 year only.
You then say the same happened again in 2006 for the amount £300. These 2 amounts are massively different, to me this cannot be a recurrence of the fault in 2003.
The more background you can give us the more advice I will be able to give you.
  
Splashin
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| splashin |
Posted - 05/11/2008 : 17:51:05
Hi 1972vj
I would like to start with the overpayment which occurred during 2003/2004.
Prior to lump sum being paid where you getting regular payments? Did you have any income? You say you continued to get increased tax credit payments, how much was this increase and how long did it continue for?
quote:
Originally posted by 1972vj
Thanks for your advice. I have received all of the paperwork now except for the CDS. At a quick glance the first overpayment that happened in 2003 doesn't give much information only the what I supplied and then the tax credit office reducing my husband's hours he worked to zero.
The second overpayment in 2006 shows a screen shot between myself and a tax credit employee which states "informed applicant that part of income not accepted on computer have added it in correctly asked app to call back in a couple of days for update". This clearly shows their error. I have emailed my MP now with the details. Do I wait to hear about my dispute from the tax credit office themselves of do I notify them of the errors that I have found? Any advice would be appreciated.
You say your SAR documents show the information you provided them when you made your claim for tax credits and then also the tax credit office zeroing your hubbys income.
Was your original claim submitted before 06-04-2003?
On your written application form that you completed. Who is applicant number 1 and who is applicant number 2? Does this change at anytime, swooping applicant number 1 to the number 2 position?
£5000 is a large amount for just 1 year, are you 100% sure it is for this 1 year only.
You then say the same happened again in 2006 for the amount £300. These 2 amounts are massively different, to me this cannot be a recurrence of the fault in 2003.
The more background you can give us the more advice I will be able to give you.
Splashin |
| 1972vj |
Posted - 04/11/2008 : 13:53:57
[quote]Originally posted by samthe
You don't say when you requested the data. Legally they have 40 days (working days I believe) to provide it. Often the paperwork comes first & the CD afterwards - frequently well after the 40 days are up! So do chase them if 40 days has passed.
[Thanks for your advice. I have received all of the paperwork now except for the CDS. At a quick glance the first overpayment that happened in 2003 doesn't give much information only the what I supplied and then the tax credit office reducing my husband's hours he worked to zero.
The second overpayment in 2006 shows a screen shot between myself and a tax credit employee which states "informed applicant that part of income not accepted on computer have added it in correctly asked app to call back in a couple of days for update". This clearly shows their error. I have emailed my MP now with the details. Do I wait to hear about my dispute from the tax credit office themselves of do I notify them of the errors that I have found? Any advice would be appreciated./quote] |
| 1972vj |
Posted - 04/11/2008 : 12:10:45
Thanks for your advice. I have received all of the paperwork now except for the CDS. At a quick glance the first overpayment that happened in 2003 doesn't give much information only the what I supplied and then the tax credit office reducing my husband's hours he worked to zero.
The second overpayment in 2006 shows a screen shot between myself and a tax credit employee which states "informed applicant that part of income not accepted on computer have added it in correctly asked app to call back in a couple of days for update". This clearly shows their error. I have emailed my MP now with the details. Do I wait to hear about my dispute from the tax credit office themselves of do I notify them of the errors that I have found? Any advice would be appreciated. |
| samthe |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 20:19:42
You don't say when you requested the data. Legally they have 40 days (working days I believe) to provide it. Often the paperwork comes first & the CD afterwards - frequently well after the 40 days are up! So do chase them if 40 days has passed.
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| Alan the Geordie |
Posted - 02/11/2008 : 13:42:51
>>>Do I keep phoning the tax credit office or do I wait for an acknowledgement?<<<
Welcome to the forum.
I always say that a telephone call isn't worth the paper that it's written on - especially when you're dealing with these morons!!
Telephone them if you must, but ALWAYS back the call up in writing!!
i.e. send them a letter along the lines of "Further to ourtelephone conversation of (date & time) between myself & your representative (operators name), I now write to confirm that ......"
Send it to them Recorded Delivery & keep a copy for yourself.
Keep a log of all your costs for telephone, stationery & postage AND your time!!
When they don't send you your data promptly, make a complaint to the Data Commissioner & let your MP know.
You may like to write to Gordon Brown too - he's the bloke who'se brilliant idea Tax Credits is. I'm sure he would be interested to learn of your experiences of it!!
I'm sure that more of our fellow members will be along to offer their advice shortly, so please keep dropping in.
"The best way to take control over a people and control them utterly is to take a little of their freedom at a time, to erode rights by a thousand tiny and almost imperceptible
reductions. In this way the people will not see those rights and freedoms being removed until past the point at which these changes cannot be reversed."
Adolf Hitler |
