WTC 'Helpline' - Help! Furious and frustrated!!!

Maz

Wrote this in response to another poster but decided to give it a thread of its own.

If anyone else has been in similar circumstances, please let me know how you resolved it!

Had three small businesses but two went mammaries up due to the downturn so, in February this year, I got myself a part time job, in the care industry, for 20 hours per week. In the meantime, I continue to work at my other business, still in its infancy really and not showing any profit (yet).

An honest sort me, dutifully 'phoned the WTC people and informed them of my change of circs. As I'm on a zero hours contract in my part time job, the hours worked are variable (and subsequently the pay) but never work beyond 20 hours per week and my estimated annual salary will be around £4-5k per annum. This meant I would also be working over 50 hours per week in total as I still had a third part time business, so the person I spoke to told me that I would actually receive an additional payment for the over 50 hours element of my claim. So far so good.

What a mistake I made being honest with these people!

What has actually happened is that my WTC have been stopped altogether and I haven't received any payments since February. I am now in an overdraft, a facility I've had for over 20 years and this is the first time I've ever had to use it! Not happy. :mad:

Numerous 'phone calls later, WTC admit that the mistake is theirs and I've been assured by various call centre staff that the matter has been/is being resolved and that I can expect payment in 72 hours/3-4 weeks/2 weeks approx/we've converted your claim to a work loan and you will receive payment plus what we owe you in the next 48 hours etc. I have also received countless letters from them stating that we've stopped your WTC/you owe us £2.5k/you don't owe us anything/paying in slip for the £2.5k you owe us! :mad: :mad:

Three more letters in similar vein arrived today, all in seperate envelopes.

I was assured that my renewal pack for 2010/11 had been sent out a couple of weeks ago but I'm still waiting for that to arrive. :mad: I have, however, received a letter today telling me that I won't be getting any WTC for 2010/11, even though I haven't sent a claim in.

I have been to CAB, who have lodged two complaints. I am waiting for my MP to 'phone me to arrange an appointment, although like others on here, I don't hold out an awful lot of hope that this will resolve anything.

CAB also informed me that WTC call centre staff aren't employed by HMRC and that this work is outsourced.

In the meantime, my carefully managed finances are well and truly screwed, for quite some time to come. I suppose I'm 'lucky' having the overdraft available but I feel that I've been pushed into debt through no fault of my own. I haven't been in debt for over 25 years.

If anyone has any suggestions as to what I can do next, they'd be very much appreciated.

I really do regret being honest with these people in light of their appalling ineptitude.

toonbaz

sorry to here your having trouble with your claim, not really got any advice on what you can do next as its anyones guess what is going on behind the scenes with your claim but would like to clear up 2 points just to avoid any confusion for others

wtc call centre staff are all employed by HMRC and this work has never been outsourced, also there is no such things as a 50 hr element of tax credits.

alwaysonthego_2

I agree with the above there is no 50 hour element, though it could have got confused with the 50 year old element maybe.

System

DO you only get WTC or do you have CTC on the claim too due to claiming for children living with you?

Maz

toonbaz - The person I spoke to at HMRC WTC definitely told me that there was an extra payment if your working hours exceeded 50 per week. I'm just relating what I was told so maybe they were confused?

Pam17 - Just WTC, no kiddies now, all grown up!

Gritted my teeth and 'phoned up again this afternoon. Apparently, it is a technical problem (?), hence all the system generated letters and notifications.

The bloke I spoke to told me that my claim had been marked to be activated for manual payment back in May but this obviously hasn't been followed through.

I now have to wait until the end of the week, 'phone up again, to see if any progress has been made!

Finding it increasingly difficult to remain calm with these people. Every time I speak to someone, I get a different story. Patience and temper are wearing very thin. :mad:

Thanks for all replies. Won't hold my breath for a satisfactory outcome at the end of the week.

Cozworth806

There is a 30 hour additional element for WTC, or a 50+ element... but no 50hour element (higher than WTD hours set!)