40 and Foolish!

dorothy52

Hi New Leaf - Omg you really have got your hands full with THEM haven't you. I'm so sorry you have had a rubbish day. As regards SO as opposed to DD - this is so simple to change as you have been advised, however I can understand your reluctance to do so given what a set of ratbags THEY have been to you.

I really do urge you to visit the cutting tax forum with your queries; not that I am suggesting that you haven't been given excellent advice as clearly you have, however there are a couple of accountants there who post regularly and they are seldom if ever complimentary in their comments re HRMC staff; in fact I have witnessed and enjoyed many a jousting session between them and HRMC staff who seem to visit the boards to defend themselves lol.

If you feel that you can't face it (which I can completely understand) then I, or perhaps one of your 'friends in the box' as Robin's CD calls us, will gladly do so on your behalf.

As I understand it, you have done nothing wrong - it would appear that they have messed up your tax codes and are now demanding the return of a massive overpayment which is clearly outwith your means just now, and would leave you in severe financial hardship.

Just wanted to add my support in what is clearly a rotten time in your lie but you WILL get through this and we will help you all we can.

Dot
xx

NewLeaf_2

Dot thank you for the good advice. I will stop by there tomorrow, I don't think I can face it. I am heading to the bank tomorrow to stop the DD and pay them with one of their payments slips which I have copied 50 times on my printer.

I Love Robin's Clever Dog. Friends in a box is such a great expression!

fredandwilma

Since the considerable time and effort i spent helping the OP, doesn't appear to have been noticed, thanked or appreciated by the OP, i hope you have a good memory?


A simple thankyou goes a long way?

NewLeaf_2

fredandwilma wrote: »

Since the considerable time and effort i spent helping the OP, doesn't appear to have been noticed, thanked or appreciated by the OP, i hope you have a good memory?


A simple thankyou goes a long way?

Actually Fred and Wilma (or Fred or Wilma) I do indeed thank you for all your thoughtful responses to my incredibly weird tax situation.

I do need to apologize for not calling out a thanks earlier when actually it was in fact your very advice that got me to get to the point of stopping the direct debits.

I promise you that I am not usually a rude and thoughtless person, but have been in such a tizz the last 4 days that I havent responded porperly. I do hope that you take this as sincere (which it is) and stay with me a while more
x

dorothy52

Oh very well said, New Leaf - indeed I too was so impressed by Fred and Wilma's posts, and their/his/her informative and succinct advice, and intended to allude to it in MY post but I was frankly so incensed to hear of your treatment at the hands of THEM that it went right out of my mind. I too hope that F&W come back and watch us collectively beat THEM into submission! I love the word THEM in this context, don't you? It has such resonance.

Eager_Elephant

Most organisation in UK think that by paying by direct debit gives you super powers. It is most odd as we all know they can be cancelled.

I have known people seriously behind on gas/elec and being threatened with being cut off and then offer the company direct debit (so no actually money at the time) and they literally bite your arm off!!

I think with HMRC they feel safer by having a direct debit set up (they think it proves you are going to pay) - if they want to increase it they have to give you 14 days notice. If they do not and take more money then you can claim the money back under the direct debit guarantee (the bank gives you your money back straight away even without any proof)

Alternatively you could set up a standing order (instead of going to the bank with your little slips - which you are going to have to keep). Here are their bank details http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/bankaccounts/s/selfassessment-cumber-uk.htm

If you pay by slips what if you are ill and cannot leave the house?

If you want my preferred option (which you probably don't but I will give you anyway :-) ) I think you should stay on DD - it will mean less hassle ie the same as what you have now. If you cancel it I can see the hassle increasing.

fredandwilma

NewLeaf wrote: »

Ok missrlr thanks for explaining that ... now here is where I become an idiot... how do I cancel the direct debit and change it to a standing order? What information would I need from them to set up a standing order?

NewLeaf wrote: »

Ok I rang THEM again (queque 2nd diazapam) they wont do a SO. I have an idea. I can photocopy their nasty grams with the bank giro thing at the bottom so I have a bunch of those paying in tickets and then just keep taking them to the bank and cancel the direct debits (does this sound like a good idea or is it the diazepam talking)?

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

Most organisation in UK think that by paying by direct debit gives you super powers. It is most odd as we all know they can be cancelled.

This is true.

I have known people seriously behind on gas/elec and being threatened with being cut off and then offer the company direct debit (so no actually money at the time) and they literally bite your arm off!!

So is this.

Alternatively you could set up a standing order (instead of going to the bank with your little slips - which you are going to have to keep). Here are their bank details http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/bankaccounts/s/selfassessment-cumber-uk.htm

Hmrc have told OP she can't pay by SO, which was the original question the OP asked, (see above.) She wanted to cancel her DD's.

If you want my preferred option (which you probably don't but I will give you anyway :-) ) I think you should stay on DD - it will mean less hassle ie the same as what you have now. If you cancel it I can see the hassle increasing.

In that case, set up a dedicated THEM bank account, and make sure YOU are in control of the money in said account.

fredandwilma

dorothy52 wrote: »

I too hope that F&W come back and watch us collectively beat THEM into submission! I love the word THEM in this context, don't you? It has such resonance.

I'm not in any way advocating tax avoidance, and frankly, you will never beat THEM into submission.


I'm just suggesting ways of being more in control of your money and banking.


Any good accountant, should be worth the money you are paying them to reduce your tax liability.


I personally think there are many people who don't know the "mechanics" of their own bank accounts, these days.

I don't know why companies have the right to say you can't set up a SO, if if it's a facility offered on your bank account? ( other than the obvious reason.) Maybe someone more knowledgeable than i am, will come along?


Perhaps M Lewis has the answer to this one?


In the past, i know, i only used SO's. Somewhere along the line, everything changed to DD's and it's very rarely you can use SO's, these days?

I don't know why, but maybe i will try and find the answer, and come back to you.


Maybe we should all take more care with our banking and our banking will take more care of us?


Maybe i'll start a SO v DD thread? :rotfl:

NewLeaf_2

fredandwilma wrote: »

I'm not in any way advocating tax avoidance, and frankly, you will never beat THEM into submission.

Any good accountant, should be worth the money you are paying them to reduce your tax liability.


I personally think there are many people who don't know the "mechanics" of their own bank accounts, these days.


Maybe we should all take more care with our banking and our banking will take more care of us?


Maybe i'll start a SO v DD thread? :rotfl:

Fred and Wilma this is where I have to agree with you completely! If I am a bank's customer then I should surely invest some time in understanding how they work. This is a shortcoming I will aim to fix!

Thanks for coming back

NewLeaf_2

Eager_Elephant wrote: »

I think with HMRC they feel safer by having a direct debit set up (they think it proves you are going to pay) - if they want to increase it they have to give you 14 days notice. If they do not and take more money then you can claim the money back under the direct debit guarantee (the bank gives you your money back straight away even without any proof)

Alternatively you could set up a standing order (instead of going to the bank with your little slips - which you are going to have to keep). Here are their bank details http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/bankaccounts/s/selfassessment-cumber-uk.htm

If you pay by slips what if you are ill and cannot leave the house?

If you want my preferred option (which you probably don't but I will give you anyway :-) ) I think you should stay on DD - it will mean less hassle ie the same as what you have now. If you cancel it I can see the hassle increasing.

EE Thanks for the elusive standing order information. I don't know why THEY just won't tell you that on the phone!