Quick Tax Credit Balls Up On Bbc1 Now

lynzpower

have a look that bald guy is sorting out tax credits nightmares that we see so often !!!

lynzpower

Quick tune in
in a bit they are talking about compensation- minister saying this is an EXCEPTIONAL case, its blatantly not exceptional as so many people suffer wit hthis day in day out

Im taking notes will post after the prog ends

Dont get done, get dom, BBC1 NOW

Fran

Thanks lynz, it's still on.

Fran

What's Cheryl's situation?

Danni

I wish I could watch it! (I'm stuck in college at the moment.)

Does anyone know if it's repeated at any point?

lynzpower

OK, heres my synopsis of the situation

Cheryl ias a single parent working part time with 2 kids one 8 with AD probs, the other 15. Lives in a 3 bed house ( i think reading - estate agent board said 0118) She was recieving 700 ish per month with TCs but computer error states she was overpaid and thus her payment was reduced to 200 ish ( didint give exact figs on the prog) She had to borrow from freinds, family and was in dire straights, and was selling her home to buy a 2 bed flat with her 15 & 8 year old to share a bedroom.

This all happened 16 months ago, and she has been slogging away trying get this resoved. She has basically been given the runaround by the IR, no one returning her calls, shes gone to her MP & the CAB but had no joy as the IR havent returned her calls, bothered with trying to sort it out. You know the story

So she gets Dom involved ( cant stand him meself but there you are) and he hits the ground running. He used the phrase " squaeky wheel gerts the oil " which I havent heard before, and I like lot

He tried to contact Dawn Primarolo http://www.dawnprimarolo.labour.co.uk/ whos lead on the tax credits debacle. She refused to comment (however if you live in bristol south and you have tax credits probs I suggest you hassle her at her surgery Also he tried to get hold of Ed balls http://www.edballs.com/ who I missed his role but again feel free to give him your views if you live in normanton .they both refused to comment. Open government? WHats that?

Onwards & upwards though Dom managed to grip hold of Michael Fallon who represents Sevenoaks in Kent http://www.michaelfallon.org.uk/main.htm Fallons home page says this

"As Chairman of the Treasury Sub-Committee I have taken a leading role in the recent inquiry into the misadministration of tax credits which has resulted in overpayment of £4 billion. The report into the manner in which tax credits has been run has shown the vast level of waste within the system, and challenged the Treasury to fix the problem, rather than continue wasting taxpayers' money to this extent. Even after the publication of the report, I have spoken to constituents who have been engaged in a struggle over their tax credits with the Treasury for up to 2 years. I will continue to put pressure on the Treasury to fix this system, rather than allowing it to be swept under the carpet."

He took the mission on himself, stating that the IR and Primarolo both have to answer to Cheryls situation and Primarolo is ACCOUNTABLE for these problems

He took it up with them and finally Dom managed to get hold of someone called Claire Merrills who said nothing much really that was concrete ( altho i think the interveiwing was slightly lax in this respect.) Found her details here by googling Please call Clare Merrils, Revenue Press Office, on 020 7438 6071

Merills stated that they would look into it. Dom said that the 2k that she has been done out of will be refunded and that compensation would be administered. She was offered 150 for compo, but it has been said that Merrills will look into the case ( she'll get someone else to do it I guess if shes in press) adn sort out 'decent' compo.

the house was off the market by the end of the show.

Hopefully Ive covred everything there

Tip seems to be go to the top. If your MP is anything to do with treasury or DWP, all the better. Hassle them at the surgery till they are sick of you!!

Hope this helps

Fran

lynzpower wrote:

She was offered 150 for compo, but it has been said that Merrills will look into the case ( she'll get someone else to do it I guess if shes in press) adn sort out 'decent' compo.

She did stress that Cheryl wouldn't get special treatment, only comparable to someone else in a similar position.

Thanks lynz!

fatblokexl

Merills stated that they would look into it. Dom said that the 2k that she has been done out of will be refunded and that compensation would be administered.

getting the money back that was recovered to help pay off the "overpayments" happens in all cases where the full o/pmt has been remitted (although this is never given in a lump sum, your remaining payments for the remainder of that tax year are boosted by the recovered amount).

i do feel that the government and especially the ministers in charge should always address the main cause behind overpayments and not bleat on about "the vast majority are happy about their awards..."

there are measures being set up as we speak to avoid future overpayments:

higher income allowances before your award needs to be reduced is one of them.

there are also in house projects going on at this time to help our processes run smoother and more efficiently (something us advisors has been telling them for a couple of years now, but they decide to spend £££m's of tax payers money and hire a consultancy firm to administer).

in the short term you will still be faced with problems of contact and slow response times but they should improve.
this may not help anyone who has already been overpaid but it is a start, although it is a very late and expensive one.