specialist team for tax credits renewal (merged)

lindyloo77

After being transferred to different depts, been told today mine renewal is part processed but waititng to be finalised. Who knows what that means, I think maybe it's a different way of saying it's not done yet!!

SusanM_3

Sillyme, you have been waiting 13 weeks? :mad: I renewed about the same time as Mark so it's almost 9 weeks. My letter of complaint arrived yesterday, I checked via Royal Mail. I'm giving them a week to contact me, after that then I'll ask my MP to help. I've already sent a copy to MP of the letter I sent. It's time we did this as this delay is totally unacceptable. The more people complain then maybe something will be done. It's going to be time for next renewal at this rate :mad:

sillyme08

SusanM wrote: »

Sillyme, you have been waiting 13 weeks? :mad: I renewed about the same time as Mark so it's almost 9 weeks. My letter of complaint arrived yesterday, I checked via Royal Mail. I'm giving them a week to contact me, after that then I'll ask my MP to help. I've already sent a copy to MP of the letter I sent. It's time we did this as this delay is totally unacceptable. The more people complain then maybe something will be done. It's going to be time for next renewal at this rate :mad:

I have just came off the phone to them and my claim has now been finalised after 13 weeks of waiting.

I will let you all know when and if I recieve my award notice..

SusanM_3

Oh that's good news! 13 weeks though is just awful. Did you turn into Victor Meldrew?:mad:

gill2000ste

well it looks like my tax credits are sorted. just a week after finally getting in touch with the specialist helpline,

That will teach me not to shot the post away without reading it properly in the 1st place...

I hope the rest of you get sorted pretty quickly. xxx:)

lindyloo77

Good morning.
I think I may actually of got somewhere. Rang the helpline again this morning they transferred me again and a very helpfull chap gave me the number of the specialist team that were processing my claim. I would like to mention i had been told previously by a number helpline staff that i didn't need to ring the specialist team and had also been told they weren't accepting calls anymore. :mad:
Anyhow this morning the specialist team answered after 3 rings and were very helpful, he explained they had randomly selected MANY renewals for a more thorough check this year and ours was one. After going over my details AGAIN he said ok, that's it. I've taken the 'freeze off' and It will now be processed and you'll have your paperwork in 7 -10 days.
I really do hope that's the end of it. I have never had this much trouble renewing before.
My advice to anyone that's been waiting a long time, keep ringing untill you can get the number of the team dealing with your renewal.
Good luck

gill2000ste

Wonder if you got the same chap as me... Im just glad mine is sorted, its the longest ive ever waited, normally 2 weeks at the most.. Im just glad i went ahead & phoned the specialist team even though i got told i didnt need to cos the man i spoke to said my tax credits may have been stopped as specialist helpline had not recieved a call for me, and even though ive never had anything to hide from anyone it was still a stressful 10 weeks wondering what the hell was going on.

TBH though theres an awful lot of people answering those phones who could do with an personality transplant, I know the job cant be an easy one but shouting at people, making them feel small and as if they are wasting the call cantres time. its not nice.. I got through to quite a few lovely people and i appreciate their advice & help.. :T

tinkerbellisposting

Just managed to read the rest of this thread since I last saw it, there was no rhyme nor reason to it really was there?

Bernice50

Hi - new to posting...Also tried to ring the 'Specialists' after waiting nearly 8 weeks to receive notice of award to be informed I had been 'randomly selected' for specialist renewal?? And not heard anything and can't get thru on phone - Also have a 16yr old trying to process EMA paperwork - this will be for the first time in teenagers life to process paperwork and this lack of communication ! Does not inspire the young at all and not a good outlook what should happen in a workplace!! Anyhelpful comments?

SusanM_3

Hi Bernice, disgusting isn't it? You can keep ringing but quite honestly I've given up. I've counted up the number of times I've rung Helpline and it's a total of 43 times!! Now most of those are me re-dialling but the three times where I've actually managed to get through, I've spent an hour - that includes the time holding on waiting to speak to an advisor. All for nothing :mad: My letter of complaint to Tax Credits must still be in the "what do I do with this tray" as I've still not heard from them. As for trying other numbers people have mentioned, I feel I've wasted enough time.
I'm giving them until middle of next week to reply to my letter. After that, then I'll ask my MP to step in. It's 9 weeks now for me.

Unless we complain they will continue to treat people like this. Good luck!!