MSE News: Citizens Advice call for Tax Credit write offs

scrounger_2

I once asked them for the calculation they use to work out if someone had been overpaid. They said there wasnt one, but couldnt explain how they got to the figure.

tryingtofightback

I applied for working tax credits in 2004 and even telephoned to make sure I was entitled to it the next day after filling the online questionnaire. I did not know at the time that my partner was on contributions based JSA and put in that he was on income based JSA.
When I telephoned the following day highlighting the mistake, they said its ok you earn too much anyway, you won't get it.

I then had confirmation in the post with my wage on the notification.

I telephoned again as soon as I received it and was told no I would not get it.

They then started paying it into my account and then wrote and told me it would be put into my wages. All the time I telephoned and told them I shouldn't be getting it and highlighting their mistake.
All the hype said that if its their mistake don't worry about it, so foolishly I spent it.

I was then told I had to pay it back just over £1,000. The person at overpayments said that even though there was a mistake I knew that and should have kept the money elsewhere and pay it back.

So I did go by the rules and told them at every stage they made a mistake, even going to a tax office and get them to officially inform them but it still went on and now I have to pay it back.
Even though they say they are supposed to act on it within 30 days, and its not my fault if they keep paying, I still have to pay it back.
I did all they say you have to do and fill in the forms, It was rejected, I appealed it was rejected, so the man in the street does not always win. But, at least I am paying it back, I don't want HMRC having me on file as a tax cheat, although technically I am not.
Sorry for the long first post, I hope to keep it short in future