specialist team for tax credits renewal (merged)

Gayle123_2

Thanks that was a really good idea. I'll keep checking to see the outcome from email. Going to kept trying to get through on the number but will still prob just renew on main number.

tbumps

We've also just received one of these letters & had a call last year to check our claim so I do think it's beign targeted at people they suspect of having been overpaid. We have a complicated sitaution as we both work for limited companies that we own & it's hard working out how many hours we officially work! Going to post for some advice about that...

Victoria

misty28

Ive had two of these letters both addressed to me over the last two days, I called the tax credit helpline after reading these threads and becoming suspisious. The girl I spoke to checked my records and there had been no letters sent to me. She checked with her supervisor and said they had had a few calls regarding this letter,she couldnt comment but asked me to return the letter to them for them to look at it!!!!
I will be calling the main number and not this as its obviously a scam.

alison999

I got this letter today, it scared me because we were investigate just before xmas and as soon as I saw the brown letter, even though ive nothing to hide, my heart sank.

I was relieved after I actually rad it though lol, but now Im a tad confused after reading this thread.

Do you think itd be ok if I just ignored it and renewed as usual? I normally do it by post.

misty28

Looking at the poor quality of the print on the letter and why no letter to my husband with his national insurance number?? I really do think its something to do with the ni numbers that went missing.
The tax credit helpline had not heard of this team or have no record of any letters going out, Im doing as theyve told me to do and call them at renewal and return the letter.
If anyones unsure Id do as I have and call the main helpline number and see if this letter shows as going out.

Ratcliff

Yeah good plan, ignore the letter, renew as normal and if the Tax credit office say anything just say 'What letter'.

I am confused as the woman I spoke to on the phone earlier quite clearly said that she was defo part of the HMRC. I am still waiting for a reply from Paul Gerrard, director of Tax credit compliance. X

misty28

Was it the number on the letter though! weve been scammed before and they are very clever and convincing !
Let us know his reply please.

Ratcliff

Well I just rang the number on the letter, I suppose it could of been anyone saying that they were a genuine tax office, so I suppose we should still be cautious. As soonas reply received I will post. X

xmaslolly76

Ratcliff wrote: »

Yeah I agree I have just emailed this Paul Gerrard and will let you all know what he says, if he does come back to me. Number to ring was 0845 600 5217.
I have just rang the number and spoke to a lady who confirmed that it is HMRC the letters are legit and that it is just so that they can make sure all the information is correct and to hopefully stop under and over payments being made. She did say that people can still renew like they used to via post or through the other number, that this was just another option.

So we dont have to use this number if we renew as normal then? I've had one of these letter too and it does look very suspect when compared other HMRC mail. They could have gone about this in much better way instead of worrying people silly :-(

willowbright

Ratcliff wrote: »

Yeah I agree I have just emailed this Paul Gerrard and will let you all know what he says, if he does come back to me. Number to ring was 0845 600 5217.
I have just rang the number and spoke to a lady who confirmed that it is HMRC the letters are legit and that it is just so that they can make sure all the information is correct and to hopefully stop under and over payments being made. She did say that people can still renew like they used to via post or through the other number, that this was just another option.

where did you get the number? because the tc helpline is 0845 300 3900