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Zakblaster
Rank; Hector Tax Inspector
1 Posts |
 Posted - 07/03/2009 : 10:38:02
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Just wanted to post a success story and a thank-you to everyone at TCC. The advice and encouragment was brilliant, and we wanted to let others in a situation similar to ours that it is possible to win!
Although the whole story has taken years, it boiled down to the fact that HMRC tried to reclaim a years payments of £500 (a relatively small amount looking at some of the posts here!) because they said we didn’t sign a certain form correctly. That was true – we didn’t because they told us not to over the phone!
The saga lasted endless phone calls and letters of complaint, and time after time we were told not to worry over the phone, only to receive increasingly threatening letters. It seemed that those answering queries actually had no contact or influence over the overpayments department.
Thanks to advice on the TCC website, we were in a better position to know what phrases and questions to use over the phone to move things forward. We were also warned not to allow the matter to go to court, where we were initially confident that we could make our case. Further, the recommendation to keep complete and accurate records of all calls and correspondence was instrumental in finally getting a settlement.
Recently, a very detailed complaints letter had been essentially ignored by the Tax Credits office. However, over the phone we were given a different address to write to have our complaint officially looked into. It only took this department a few weeks to get back in contact with us, not only to reassure us in writing (for the first time!) that we did not owe anything, but also to inform us that the credits we had not been paid during the dispute (a little over £1000) were also to be paid to us. The checks arrived the same day as the letter. The letter also included a full apology for our poor treatment
It seemed that until we were able to complain about HMRC to someone else, no-one there was interested in taking our issue seriously. However, everything seems to be back on track. I would say to everyone in this situation, keep going, keep records, don't get disheartened. Stay calm and professional (we're dealing with a faceless and incompetent bureaucracy, so try not to take it personally or get too emotional). I wish every other victim of Brown's CTC's every success.
Zak
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Robert
Da Purple one
United Kingdom
827 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2009 : 13:02:40
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Hi. Zakblaster
And well done on your Victory.. Could you give us all this magical address to write to..??? perhaps we should all be sending our letters there,as they usually just get ignored.
The truth is out there.. GO get it......Non Illigitamus Carborundum
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Smudge
Rank; Hector Tax Inspector
United Kingdom
29 Posts |
Posted - 13/03/2009 : 13:23:30
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| Well done to you...feels good doesn't it. I got confirmation that we did not owe anything via my MP Ian Cawsey and I have also rang and asked them to confirm in writing that the amount of money paid into the account (as well as the £100 for our "troubles") is ours to keep. I don't want to be bitten on the bum 2 years down the line!! |
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Ali M-W
Da Tech(y ones)
3296 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2009 : 08:44:35
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Thanks, Zakblaster (a little belatedly - sorry) for your kind post, and WELL DONE! With both HMRC Chairman Dave Hartnett and Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms offering to look again at tax credit injustices, we should see a steady succession of success stories here in the coming months. And that's just from posting forum members!! Well done, everyone, for collectively showing HMRC that they cannot bully us into submission when we did nothing wrong! Encouragement to fight on ourselves and win...
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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Victory at last!
