specialist team for tax credits renewal (merged)

morgan12345

Hi
I got one of those today too, it looks like a mail merge standard letter sent to a lot of people as the name looks to have been computer generated, they may be just trying to stop loads of people being overpaid etc, ive had my details checked 2 times by having to ring and go through details to make sure im up to date, i think they are desperate to stop people from getting overpaid so maybe its a pilot scheme they have started this year.

Does this mean i cant renew by post as i usually do, ive seen tax credits people on this site does anyone who works for them know?

lynnepitt

I am a single parent who works and have been getting working tax credit and child tax credit since it began.
I'm always as accurate as possible submitting my financial details to HM Revenue, but this year has been a bit confusing, simply because I was out of work for a few weeks late last year and took on a part time job and then got a different job.
However, i've just received a letter from the Tax Credits Specialised Renewals Team entitled Help with Your Tax Credit Renewals.
It says I'll be receiving a renewal pack soon (which has happened each year). But it also says some people find the renewal process confusing and this year they'd like me to talk to a specialist advisor who can help me renew.
Is this normal (as i've never had to do this before, although i haven't had as many changes during the year to report as I had had in the last financial year)????
I'm getting very worried in case they're going to turn around and say they've paid too much.
Has anyone else had this experience?:(

Firewallrob

I was following a thread on here earlier, and it looks like this has happened to a number of people - some of whom seem to have had no changes.

Don't think it's anything to worry about.

Gayle123_2

Is it just me or does anyone else think that this letter is a fake. I received one today just like everyone else on here. Lets look at the facts;

• Everyone has commented on the poor english, grammar and punctuation.
• The website is underlined, Microsoft Word does this when return is pressed following the typing of a web address!
• Date as post mark???
• No spaces between the national insurance number.
• Put the phone number in google, nothing. Put any other HMRC phone number into google, loads of pages
• The logo has been scanned, look up close and you can see lots of little black dots!
• When calling the number, there are people in the back ground, trying to make it sound like a busy office, any other answer phone message for HMRC is silent apart from the speaker.
• Atfer listerning the to the answer phone message it sounds like the call has been diverted to a mobile phone's answer phone

I may be being very suspicious, but think of the of the cases in the news about peoples details getting leaked.

Is everyone's letter like this or is it just mine?

Read through all the previous posts with all this in mind and you may see things in a different light.

My theory is the reason they are so friendly to the people that have actually managed to speak to someone is because they are simply after your personal details.

Any thoughts greatfully accepted!

sorryitsme

I rang the main tax credit number and they were aware a letter had been sent to me so I dont think its a scam. What was the contact details of your letter as when I have called there wasn't an answerphone message.

Gayle123_2

The number on my letter is 0845 6005217.

I also called the main number on the normal tax return and was told that they had never heard of the 'Tax Credits Specialist Renewals Team' and that the number does not exist.

I am now very confused and don't know what to do for the best! :(:(

Do you think we have had the same letter? What is the phone number on yours?

sorryitsme

my number is 0845 600 5309 and there isn't a message just ringing. I explained that to tax credit office and they said maybe it goes live once packs sent out.

Gayle123_2

No offence but call center workers just tell you whatever they can to get you off the phone.

What about all of the other things that I pointed out, are they the same on your letter?

Have everyone got different numbers? Or does anyone elses match either of ours?

Maybe I should ring again tomorrow, a different advisor may be able to help me a bit more.

sorryitsme

I called the main tax credit office and explained the letter they said the system showed that a ltter had been sent and not to worry.

Gayle123_2

I have just called the min tax credit number and got put through to the renewals team, they said that there is no record on my file of a letter being sent out to me, they have never heard of the 'Tax Credit Specialist Renewals Team' and they didn't recognise the phone number that was on my letter.

He advised me to ignore the letter and not do nothing!

I think thats what i'm going to do, its still very worrying though, even if it is a fake it still means that someone has got a lot of my personal details including my national insurance number!

Any developments for anybody else?