specialist team for tax credits renewal (merged)

lylah123

not posted on this site before i got this letter yesterday and the phone no on mine is 0845 6005214 which is another different no

anniec_270

Hi I'v also recieved the same letter but the no on mine is 08456005044 which is different again. Maybe different areas have a different no to call

lolasonny

Hi- i have also received one of these letters and the tel no is 0845 600 5044. I have jusy called the ,main tax credit office helpline- who placed me on hold whilst they looked into letter. She came back and said its totally genuine- she has called the number and they are a specialist team who are collecting renewal data?

Doesnt fill me with much confidence though as i have called the number and been told that, she could have been speaking to anybody? my letter is a photocopy- it has marks all over the page, and me and my husband always claim together yet letter is just in my name?

also when i called the number somebody answered within 2 rings- there was no automated messages to say i had rang HM Customs- which i find very strange??

babypinklizards

I received this letter this morning too. Redirected from my old address.

But they sent it to the wrong address. They have my correct address as they have been sending my award notices to my new address, most recently on 15 February.

So I know they have my correct address, yet this one goes to my old address. Sorry but that makes alarm bells ring - FAKE LETTER!!!!!!!!

uolypool

I started this thread yesterday ,anyway after reading the posts on here i was very concerned about ringing the number on the letter when my renewal pack came which incidently it came today so i just phoned the main tax credits number and renewed my claim there with no problems.They didn't ask about the letter and said that my renewal had been accepted I would advise anyone that if they are worried about ringing the number on the letter then to just renew as normal would .

Ratcliff

My letter has the phone number 0845 6005217. Both mine and my husbands name is on the letter, now normally when they send tax credit info i get two letter exactly the same but one for him and one for me.
However there is a tax office at charles house, preston and I have other letters from the HMRC and they all look like the logo has been scanned, with the website underlined, so I dont think that there is a problem with that. When I rang the TC line I was told that they are thinking of setting up a specialist team for renewal but are piloting it out first, they have sent letters out to certain people. You can still ring on the normal line they are going to see how many people used the specialist line before runing it permanetely.

I dont think that this has been communicated very well mind you, and witheveryone getting different responses it can hopefully see why people are very dubious.

Gayle123_2

Who told you about the pilot scheme, someone on the 0845 6005217 number or someone from the main tax Credit office number?

gookyman

I recieved the letter yesterday and it had all the concerning characteristics that others had already posted. i.e. dodgy grammar, poorly copied, fake looking letterhead, no date on the letter etc etc .

I make a joint claim with the Mrs and every bit of correspondence we get of the tax credits people is in both our names and has both of our NI numbers on it, this letter only had the wifes NI number on it.
The number I rang was 0845 600 5309 and eventually I did speak to some one, who never asked me to confirm my identity etc, and just said it was legit when I asked about it.

After reading some of the posts on here , I too rang the main help line , and like wise they had not heard anything of this specialist renewals team operating, although the chap I spoke to was aware tax credits had done this sort of thing in the past.
He spoke to his T/leader about the concerns I had about the letter and I was told ring the main number when I got the renwals pack and forward the letter I recieved to his office, .


However , on the direct gov website in the section about scams etc is this Notification about Tax credits
"
The Tax Credit Office is currently running an exercise to help customers check that they are being paid the correct amount of tax credits. Their aim is to improve the service they give to tax credits customers, and make sure everyone gets the money they are due.
You may receive a letter from the Tax Credits Review Team, asking you to call them. This is to help make sure they have up to date details about you.
If you do get one of these letters please call the number given. You will be able to speak to an adviser who will help you check that your claim is up to date, and that you’re getting the right amount of tax credits"
.
Completly different team name for a start on the letter I got apart from anything else.

I'm not taking any chances .. when I get my renwals pack I shall be ringing the main help line, and would urge others to so as well.

Gayle123_2

can you post the link to the direct.gov website that you found please.

I've just got one other observation, everyone so far thats had a letter seems to be a woman.........is this merely a coincidence???

Ratcliff

Yes I raang the main Tax credit helpline and ws told about the pilot scheme. I can see peoples point about the letter looking dodgy, but I have received letters from the HMRC about a seperate claim under PAYE and they all look like they have been scanned, and they have come via my accountant so I know they are legit. If anyone is worried they can still ring the normal renewal line, it will still renew your claim.