| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
raving bonkers
Rank; Hector Tax Inspector
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
 Posted - 18/09/2008 : 13:02:05
|
Hi So glad I found this website...
I am trying to dispute an overpayment that occurred for the tax year 2006-7 and 03-04. Apparently I owe over £500 from 06-07 and over £140 from 03-04. I wrote to dispute team in May and after a 3 month wait I received a response yesterday from the Customer Service and Support Group. (even though I addressed my letter to the OverPayment Dispute team - how the *** do you know which dept you are dealing with?)
The letter begins on page 1 and says, amongst other things,
'We are sorry about this mistake.'
But then we get to page 2 and it now says,
'I do not think that you met all of the responsibilities because you did not tell us that your award was based on zero income straight away (July 07) and therefore cannot write off the overpayment'.
BUT I didn't know a mistake had happened in July 07. I only knew there was an error when the compliance team wrote to investigate me in Jan 08. At that point alarm bells began ringing and I tried to understand what had happened.
It appears that the TCO put me as self employed with an annual income of zero and according to the letter I left the field for my earnings blank. (I don't know if I made mistake and I can't check because I haven't got a copy of the form + I'm really confused because if the the compliance team know my income why don't the TCO?)
and there's more, it goes on... 'You cannot appeal against this decision'
I haven't got £700. They have also overpaid my for 07-08 so by the time they've finished with me the total bill will probably be around £1000.
I could rant about how each department doesn't talk to each other and that I keep getting sent demands for money (even though I thought they couldn't do that if your overpayment was in depute). but its too stressful and exhausting and makes you feel like a criminal. I wish I had never had to claim in the first place.
What should I do now, what if I really left my earning blank on the form? Am I a criminal? Will I have to go to court? I would like to request my personal data but I don't know if that would help me now. Is there more anything I can do or do I just have to accept this decision?
Any advice greatfully received.
|
|
|
raving bonkers
Rank; Hector Tax Inspector
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Posted - 18/09/2008 : 16:08:06
|
It just got worse. After phoning the overpayment unit, who told me to ring the TCO helpline...
who told me to ring overpayments...
who then said ring debt management...
who transferred me to debt management and banking (my phone bill will be outragious; I have just been told I owe over £1000 for overpayments since 2003.
The man at debt mgt has lumped all the overpayments together and wants to agree a payment plan to pay them all off. Do they have the power to do that?
When I mentioned the word 'dispute' for the larger overpayment of over £600 (which one dept told is 2 overpayments lumped together (from 03-04 and 06-07) but the TCO 'know nothing about that') He was particularly disparaging about the dispute process implying that it was very unlikely to be successful as very few are, people just go through the motions of doing it (and it would be all about the specific wording of you dispute). All that would happen would be I just end up talking to him later, rather than now, in six weeks to agree a payment plan.
If you can help me I would really like to know;
Can they lump all your overpayments together?
Is he right about the dispute process?
|
 |
|
|
Robert
Da Purple one
United Kingdom
827 Posts |
Posted - 18/09/2008 : 17:45:00
|
Hi.. ravingbonkers..
You can dispute.. this is the ploy that they always tell people..
Right things to do.. click on the Home link at the top of the forum, get you dispute pack downloaded,also get your sarn declaration going, this should give you the paperwork from your claim, also the phone recordings of conversations you have had with the TCO office..And is FREE..and hopefully should have that claim form that they say is blank..
Get your MP on your case.. find them here.. http://www.theyworkforyou.com/ this site should give you telephone number for your MP also their address, you can also use this site to write to them, via e-mail, and the site will get back to you to check if your MP has replied.
Just a few things to go on with..
The truth is out there.. GO get it......Non Illigitamus Carborundum
|
|
|
|
pullingmyhairout
Rank; Hector Tax Inspector
United Kingdom
2 Posts |
Posted - 19/09/2008 : 12:15:39
|
Hi there - all I can say is PLEASE PLEASE dont give up - I didnt (it took three years on and off to convince them) I initially did a COP26 dispute then went to Tier 1 Complaints who again said there were no problems and then to Tier 2 Complaints (along with a couple of prompts from my MP and welfare rights) they finally put everything right in May 08 - my problems went right back to 03(I do have to say its reared its ugly head again but I think because I have the contact in Belfast Tier 2 section I should (????) be able to sort it - I dont know yet though.
They kept telling me there was no problems but nothing added up - they said it was what I had told them (???) ie actually it was operator error etc etc - I personally believe, because when I got to Tier 2 Complaints they were not so busy, that many people give up and dont take it that far. ALso keep pestering them about the fact that once there is a dispute in place overpayments are supposed to be suspended although I do have to say they made up a reason why mine could'nt !!!!!
Good luck - it may take sometime and you think you may not be getting very far but keep going if you think you are right just keep fighting regardless of what they keep telling you
Just one last point (and dont quote me on this ha ha) but where a complaint goes through the different levels each department will only look so far ie COP26 dispute look into it - Tier 1 will look a bit further and Tier 2 will look further still - that was my experience anyway and every Tier said that I was wrong and they were right until a Manager looked at it in Tier 2 and said ahhh we are wrong - I hope this helps ...... |
|
|
|
raving bonkers
Rank; Hector Tax Inspector
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Posted - 19/09/2008 : 12:15:58
|
Hi,
Thanks for your speedy reply. I am on it; the SARN is in the post and my local mp will be hearing from me. I have the letters ready to go!
This site is crammed with practical advice and your support is much appreciated.
The system is flawed and adminstration incompetent. It needs to be changed. I have signed your petition and will lobby my MP.
What the TCO give with one hand they take away from the other. As an ex-CAB worker (many years ago now) I remember when its earlier equivalant was calculated using a sliding scale over a 6 monthly basis - not flawless granted, but a bit easier to understand and manage. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
what do I do now?
