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jenni
Rank; Hector Tax Inspector
11 Posts |
 Posted - 10/07/2009 : 22:36:12
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Has anyone else seen the ad HMRC are currently running re renewing child tax credit claims??? It is glaringly incomplete.
I saw it for the 1st time this am (channel 5, in between Fifi & Peppa pig) and it states:
'Time is running out to renew tax credits. You need to renew by July the 31st or your payments WILL stop. You can do it easily by post or by phone. Either way you MUST renew by July the 31st. Tax credits from Revenue and customs. Renew NOW.'
If they're paying for a 20 second ad on national telly in a prime time family slot, they might as well have paid an extra few thousand more for 5 seconds of airtime to add:
'And we WILL want back ALL the money you got from April to July, and will stop at nothing to get it back from you. It will make you insane. Renew NOW'
This would be more accurate. Am currently draughting a letter to the Advertising Standards Authority about it as I am running out of people to complain to at HMRC.
This site is great by the way- thanks to all you volunteers who are always there to give advice.
Jenni
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Alan the Geordie
Da Purple one
2787 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2009 : 01:35:46
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Hi Jenny - thanks for your kind words and welcome tot he crazy world of Gordon Brown's Tax Credits !!
I'm pleased to see that you're having a go at taking them on through the ASA.
I did this a while ago over their campaign that described Tax Credits as "Money With Your Name On It". My argument was that it was in fact a loan.
The ASA disagreed with me. I hope you have better luck !!
"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 |
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Ali M-W
Da Tech(y ones)
3296 Posts |
Posted - 14/07/2009 : 08:13:29
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Thanks, Jenni, for taking the initiative here. You've spotted an example of HMRC glossing over the more dangerous aspect of tax credits and propping up the cosy notion that things only go wrong because the public can't be bothered to do what they are supposed to do. I like the way you've seen an opening here for a complaint and have gone to the trouble of doing this on behalf of all of us.
Empowering, isn't it, to be able to actively challenge things rather than constantly and quietly battle away on the defensive? If you ever fancy being on the Core team at TCC (we keep in touch quite regularly and mainly through emails, and you can contribute to and shape our policy and find your own niche), you know where to find us....
Of course, others can join us and you don't need to await a personal invitation (we're not an elite club!), but the main criteria for being involved is wanting to be more involved, and wanting to play an active part in creating positive changes to a flawed system.
You would need a bit of time, a lot of interest, an ability to commit to contributing to compaigns and developing ideas (we are very collaborative), and that's about it!
We are quite a diverse group of people, and that goes for our politics, too (although none of us are fans of the BNP or the current interpretation of Labour).
Up to you, Jenni! But we like your style... And you know where to find us!
Morpheus: I'm trying to free your mind, Neo. But I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it. |
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jenni
Rank; Hector Tax Inspector
11 Posts |
Posted - 18/07/2009 : 15:58:58
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Hey- just a quick update. I got the same response as you did Alan (surprise surprise) The ASA state that they do not believe that the Advertising Code has been breached & do not intend to pursue the complaint any further. They consider the ad to be adequate as attempting to communicate complicated information (such as money being due back if the advice is not followed) is counter-productive rather than helpful. I disagree and will be writing again shortly.
Their final paragraph reads:
'At present yours is the only complaint we have received about this ad. This would suggest that no one else is sharing your opinion on the ad. Though the number of complaints we receive is only one of several factors that we consider when dealing with a particular issue, it is a useful indicator of the response that an advertisement has provoked.'
Are they asking for it or what??? Come on casualties : ) Complain at www.asa.org.uk |
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Robert
Da Purple one
United Kingdom
827 Posts |
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Alan the Geordie
Da Purple one
2787 Posts |
Posted - 19/07/2009 : 01:21:25
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>> I got the same response as you did Alan (surprise surprise) <<
Aye, that sounds about right bonny lass. 
"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 |
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dave s
Rank; Hector Tax Inspector
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Posted - 20/07/2009 : 23:07:09
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| Hi all, does anybody elses stomach turn over everytime you hear that advert on the radio or tv. Just when the cloud of dept hanging over you had slipped from your memory, it comes flooding back and totally ruins your day, just wondering if i was the only one.(proberly not) |
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Ali M-W
Da Tech(y ones)
3296 Posts |
Posted - 24/07/2009 : 08:00:42
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Lol, Dave - yes, I remember that feeling well. Every time that "dippy" music came on (it's got the name "...Django..." in the title and, quite aptly, is performed by THE UPSETTERS!!!!)my stomach lurched, and I had to turn the radio off or TV over. Many's a time I shrieked obscenities at the screen/speaker and I've only now just been able to force myself not to turn off/over when it comes on and shout to an invisible but omnipotent Gordon Brown to "**** off and die". It's a bit like psyching yourself up to pick up a massive spider if you're spider-phobic. Making myself listen to the advert with all its banality is good therapy but it has taken me years to get this far, so I sympathise!
Morpheus: I'm trying to free your mind, Neo. But I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it. |
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Robert
Da Purple one
United Kingdom
827 Posts |
Posted - 24/07/2009 : 15:00:09
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Just had a response from the asa.. seems how it is the same as everyone else..
The truth is out there.. GO get it......Non Illigitamus Carborundum
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Alan the Geordie
Da Purple one
2787 Posts |
Posted - 25/07/2009 : 01:01:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Robert
Just had a response from the asa.. seems how it is the same as everyone else..
The truth is out there.. GO get it......Non Illigitamus Carborundum
You mean they told you to f**k off Robert??
"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 |
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stewiegriffin
Rank; Hector Tax Inspector
United Kingdom
1 Posts |
Posted - 29/07/2009 : 00:22:56
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| If for whatever reason you don't renew your claim, you still have 30 days after claim stops to reactivate it. |
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Robert
Da Purple one
United Kingdom
827 Posts |
Posted - 13/08/2009 : 12:08:27
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Ive had another letter from the ASA.. because i complained about the last reply..and they say HMRC is not breaking the code off practice for advertising..
SO the resposibility for the missing information in the add is actually is down to the HMRC..probably dont want to scare people then..???
The truth is out there.. GO get it......Non Illigitamus Carborundum
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misleading TV campaign
