Tax credits help

LiverpoolD

I just need to scream!
My ex decided to try to apply for tax credits for our DD (even tjhough I tld him only one of us could claim and I was paying for all childcare). This was in 2009. Tax credits did not inform me till June last year that he had made a counter claim and sent me a letter to say we should make a descision and inform them. He told me it was a mistake so I told him to phone and explain tpo them. I thought he had done that but 2 weeks later they stopped all my money.
It took 6 weeks to sort out (all over the summer holidays-luckily family helped out) I phoned numerous times and got him to phone too. Eventusally they did a new claim and put DD back on the system,
BUT
They now say I have to pay them 7.5K even though I was entitled to the money and used it for childcare, because I did not contact them when they wrote me the first letter in June (thinking that he had phoned them).
I have disputed twice (they have rejected twice) and now appealed.
I just can't beleive this is happening.

kaylzbob

The main problem here has arisen because you did not respond to the letter that was sent to you. As you say, you tought your ex was dealing with it but it certainly looks like he has said that he had responsibility for your daughter during that time period aswell. The way these things work is that a letter is sent out to both parties who have a time limit to respond, if one party admits that they should not have been claiming then their claim will be shut down and the other party's claim will continue as normal BUT if one party responds and states they had parental responsibility and the other party DOES NOT respond in writing then the decision will go in favour of the person who HAS responded. That certainly looks like what has happened here. Best thing to do is appeal with as much evidence as you can.

Do you still have amicable contact with your ex? If he has admitted it was his mistake would he be likely to sign something saying this that you could include in your appeal?