specialist team for tax credits renewal (merged)

Ryan101

Just thought I would share my experience with everyone and look for a bit of advice into the bargain !.

On 19th April I received my renewal pack so as normal I phoned up, I renewed and I thought that was that. On the 21st April I get a letter to say that when I renew I have to contact a specialist renewals team !, my first thought was panic and worry so I called the main helpline to ask, they of course had never heard of a specialist renewals team and I was told my claim had been renewed anyway. Few hours later I decided to phone the number for this specialist renewal team and it caught me off guard as it was answered right away, I explained that I had already renewed and the woman told me that when I called up on the 19th April the main number should have passed me through to them as there was a note on my file to say to do this, but since I had already renewed there was no point in going through it all again so she would take the ‘Block off’. So that was that so I shredded the letter.

My payments then increased the following Tuesday so now all I had to do was wait on the award notice, but no notice came so I called the main number only told be told my claim had not yet been finalised, again I told them what had happened and was told they had never heard of a specialist renewals team !, so I asked why my payments had gone up and was passed through to another lady who explained that the claim had been half processed and the payments had been increased and it would take another 1 – 2 weeks for the claim to be completed but an award notice had been sent to me !. So I decided to phone this specialist renewals team but of course did not have the number, did a internet search and found a number and the woman told me that her office did not deal with my surname but she would find out what office did and call me back, and true to her word a man did call back and explained that when you renew by the main number they should know that you need to speak to the specialist renewals team and they should not be telling people they have never heard of them, and he would follow that up, he also said that my claim would have dropped into a work list to be reviewed and I would get a call in about 1 – 2 weeks to review it but in the meantime I would of course still be paid.

So that’s it, what would normally have taken a 10 minute phone call has and will drag on for weeks, so if this is helping us then I fail to see it. I don’t know if I should try to find the number and call them myself or just wait until they call me as I don’t like all this hanging on and no doubt they will call at the most awkward time or I will miss the call !.

Thanks for listening.

P.s I have no childcare at all.

forgotten_2

hi just wonderin has anyone recived there award notices yet still not recived mine & i renewed about 3 weeks ago x

kaitlinsmummy

forgotten wrote: »

hi just wonderin has anyone recived there award notices yet still not recived mine & i renewed about 3 weeks ago x

I renewed ours 3 weeks ago today and we received ours yesterday one provisional for 2009/2010, one provisional for 2010/2011 and and actual for 2010/2011. So I should imagine yours will be with you soon

miss112

kaitlinsmummy wrote: »

I renewed ours 3 weeks ago today and we received ours yesterday one provisional for 2009/2010, one provisional for 2010/2011 and and actual for 2010/2011. So I should imagine yours will be with you soon

hi, does your provisional for 2009/2010 ask you to sign your declaration form and send back..?x

kaitlinsmummy

miss112 wrote: »

hi, does your provisional for 2009/2010 ask you to sign your declaration form and send back..?x

Hi
No not the provisional 2009/2010 one but the provisional 2010/2011 does so I rang them as the actual 2010/2011 doesnt say that and that was produced after the provisional one and they said no I dont need to sign anything as ive renewed over the phone and all is complete now

amani_2

Hi, I renewed through the specialist team on the 30th april. On Monday 10th May i had a new amount paid into my bank, Monday is my usual tax credits day. I am assuming that my renewal has now been done. Not received anything on paper yet though!

Borgie

I didn't get a letter from Specialist team but renewed on main line nearly 2 weeks ago - have received no new award - no new payment - normal payment not due until 28 May - I phoned to see what if anything was happening with renewal - they were very cryptic - just said it hadn't been processed but I would be getting a letter about it.

TaxCreditHelp

If you haven't received a letter from the Specialist Renewals Team then you should renew as normal, either through the main Tax Credit Helpline or by post. However, if you received a Specialist Renewals letter after you have renewed it would be best to call the number and let them know as the finalisation is inhibited from being completed until the Specialist Renewals Team have completed their action. If anyone has received a Specialist Renewals letter and ignored this and continued to renew through the helpline or by post, their award will not have been finalised and they are likely to be contacted by phone or by letter asking them to complete the Specialist Renewals process.

selina1987

i must admint the specialist renewal team are alot more helful than the normal line!!! the normal line i always get the cocky ones x

xmaslolly76

amani wrote: »

HI, can i ask how long did it take from you calling the specialist team to receiving your final payments?

Just under a week i phone on the thursday before the bank holiday and the payments were in on the wednesday the following week :-)