Tax credits overpayment to ex-girlfriend of 18 months ago..

carl0s

Sixer wrote: »

But Carl - in that case, why are you upset about being asked to pay for half of the benefits your family received in error? You had a family which existed for 3.5 years and during that time, your family received help from the government to support the children in that family (Child Tax Credits). There was an error in payments and your family was given too much money. Your family has now broken up and you're being asked to pay back half the extra money your family was given while it existed.

Honestly - I don't see your beef.

I get it you might resent the way your ex-partner spent money, or regret the way you and your ex-partner arranged control over the family's finances while the family existed, but I can't see anything wrong with the benefits system (assuming it's not a mistake and there was an overpayment) - it gave your family money to help you support the children living in it.

I suppose if there had been an open bank account into which these benefits were paid, and "the family" truly had received the money, then I wouldn't resent it.

I accept that the benefits system isn't to blame, and I'm grateful to both you and dmg24 for helping me realise that.

DX2

carl0s wrote: »

I was legally forced to become a party to this thing. It would have been better to not do the right thing. I will think hard before putting my name on a tax credits form if there is a next time, and that will only cost the government.

So who exactly held a gun to your head?

carl0s wrote: »

I would have been able to choose whether to enter into a joint loan or not. That's the difference here.

You signed the tax credits form exactly the same way you sign a loan.

carl0s

DX2 wrote: »

So who exactly held a gun to your head?

You signed the tax credits form exactly the same way you sign a loan.

If you move in with somebody, you have to do it. She'd be defrauding the government if she didn't notify them that I was living there. At which point I have to fill in the forms.

Are you suggesting she should have carried on claiming as an individual?

halibut2209

No, you don't HAVE to do it. Claiming CTC is a choice. But if you CHOOSE to claim it, you HAVE to give accurate family arrangements, and take responsibility for any overpayments that may occur.

carl0s

halibut2209 wrote: »

On a personal note, I feel sorry for you that you were clearly unable to bond with the children, given your animosity towards them. None of this is their fault, and are probably quite confused and upset in the change in their environment.

The girls seemed to be quite enjoying the drama of mum attacking my printer/copier with a baseball bat outside the front door, and the younger of the two girls seemed to take great delight in telling me that my dog was "her dog now" through a facebook message. I think they'll be just fine with their lovely mum.
The boy, well, I can only hope he does well. At least he's going to the right school and stands a much better chance of making the right friends now.

carl0s

halibut2209 wrote: »

No, you don't HAVE to do it. Claiming CTC is a choice. But if you CHOOSE to claim it, you HAVE to give accurate family arrangements, and take responsibility for any overpayments that may occur.

That's not quite correct.
I can't choose not to claim it, without also stopping the partner claiming it.

Or should I say, one person can't make the choice without it also forcing the other person into the arrangement.

What might be more fair, would be if it was her claim, in her name, but with the circumstances showing that my income was there as well.

DX2

carl0s wrote: »

If you move in with somebody, you have to do it. She'd be defrauding the government if she didn't notify them that I was living there. At which point I have to fill in the forms.

Are you suggesting she should have carried on claiming as an individual?

You moved in with her, you didn't have to move in with her. You could have carried on as you were but you needed your cake and a full cup of coffee

carl0s

DX2 wrote: »

You moved in with her, you didn't have to move in with her. You could have carried on as you were but you needed your cake and a full cup of coffee

True ..

DX2

carl0s wrote: »

The girls seemed to be quite enjoying the drama of mum attacking my printer/copier with a baseball bat outside the front door, and the younger of the two girls seemed to take great delight in telling me that my dog was "her dog now" through a facebook message. I think they'll be just fine with their lovely mum.
The boy, well, I can only hope he does well. At least he's going to the right school and stands a much better chance of making the right friends now.

And yet you stayed with her for three years.
Interesting how you play the victim.

DX2

carl0s wrote: »

That's not quite correct.
I can't choose not to claim it, without also stopping the partner claiming it.

Or should I say, one person can't make the choice without it also forcing the other person into the arrangement.

What might be more fair, would be if it was her claim, in her name, but with the circumstances showing that my income was there as well.

You really do seem to miss the family unit situation that you threw yourself into.