specialist team for tax credits renewal (merged)

babypinklizards

No surprise it's the woman's details & woman's NI no that are given on these letters (Mine is addressed to me & my husband but only quotes my NI no) Weren't Child Benefit details stolen a couple of years ago? It's the woman that usually claims ChildBenefit so that's probably where the details have been obtained and why they only have the woman's details.

Gayle123 wrote: »

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

My letter is addressed to both me and my husband but states his national insurance number.

Lucee

I too have received this letter, I think it is probably genuine. I went from a joint claim to a single claim this year, have 4 children, no partner and pay childcare - they probably want to make sure, like they say that everything is correct.

Also last year the tax credit helpline were really told off because at renewals time when they were really busy only 1 in 3 calls were answered. I would have thought that these letters were being sent out to try and help increase the amount of calls being answered by the helpline, and maybe targeting select groups i.e first time renewals, ?high risk claims, awards with high values, claims that have had a number of changes throughout the year.

My letter is signed cumbernauld specialist renewals team.

Their reference on the letter is HVR/CUMB. Could HVR possibly stand for High Value Renewal? oh well I may never know but as I am completely honest I have nothing to worry about even if they decided to scruntise my claim.

I would suggest that if you are not 100% sure about your letter then ring the normal number when you receive your renewal notice - no harm done.

Lucee x

VictoriaDiMaro

My husband has a letter with the number 0845 600 5044...that he has a letter addressed to him is strange, as I am the main claimant for our family, and I fill out all the forms every year and have all the contact with the tax office. It seems that different areas have different numbers, which probably means that they are piloting a specific scheme to make things more efficient. When I called the number a Scottish lady answered (which makes sense) who assured me that the number was genuine for HMRC. We also have a high value claim as we have three children, one of whom is disabled....still, you would think that they wouldn't bother people who already have enough stress! Other points to note are that I have recently applied for a Self-Employed tax code, but I haven't yet claimed for any childcare.

Peanuckle

I got a letter this morning with another different number to call when the renewal pack arrives so I rang the normal tax credit office to check and the advisor there said it's showing on their system that the letter had been sent out and it WAS genuine. Wish they'd sent the renewal pack out instead though since we have a large underpayment sat waiting and can't get it til the renewal is done

pupsicola

I haven't recieved this letter. I got my renewal pack on 14th and phoned up to renew. Did notice that their is a dedicated section you are put through to that deal with the renews. Whether that will still be in place when they have hundreds of people phoning up in a few weeks time, I dont know. The guy I spoke to was really polite and dealt with it all in about 5 minutes. No out of the ordinary questions or extra detail.

Hope that helps

willowbright

i have the letter and a different phone number and it has no reference on it (even the opening hours are odd - 8 til 5pm?? always open later! for renewal) and i've read the confusing replies on here - yes its genuine, no its not- BUT what i do know for sure is my NI number was stolen (my bank informed me) and this letter is to me and my husband but only has my NI number on (unusual Tax credits ALWAYS have both) - so all in all its very dodgy and i will not be giving them any information!
what have you to lose from ringing as normal and the only thing that could happen is they transfer you to a different department? i really don't trust this letter its from HM Rev - always they get the obvious details right! and signed - by no one??? date as postmark in an envelope with no postmark and not likely to have as its a 2nd class prepaid??? hmmm think i will become the next miss marple! lol

willowbright

if they are piloting a scheme then you would expect them to have thought of all these obvious things and taken them into account to ensure it gets used - they surely would not want us to respond to a letter with so many errors???

julie36

i received the letter this morning and must admitt its worried me, as to be totally honest the tax credits are what feeds us every month and really dont want to loose it, let alone be told ive been overpaid...............

willowbright

Lucee wrote: »

My letter is signed cumbernauld specialist renewals team.

mine was not signed - this is all very odd me thinks! dont give them your details with your details and NI number they could probably do alot of harm!
Julie we are all concerned - its always disconcerting when you get something like this but if you read the thread and be objective you will see its obviously dodgy and all will be well xx