Overpayment Dispute

aleric

Hi
I am looking for some help!
I informed the Tax Credit office that my childcare arrangement had stopped on 5th Octopber - within 5 days of the change. However they did not act on the information until 30th December. I complained and they have said it was their error but I would still have to repay part of the money - £960! because of the 30 day rule? This means that even though they did not act they are still claining a 30 day grace period.
Can anyone help me to fight this?
I have written to them today but am not sure of what more I can do.
Thanks

BoGoF

If I were you I would have expected my payments to go down but you quite happily accepted childcare payments that you were not entitled to. Retaining money you know you are not entitled to is called theft to some people.

stroodes

Have to agree with BoGoF on this one, really you should have left the overpayment in your bank account, as you knew you were being overpayed.

aleric

I'm glad I joined this forum for all of your really helpful advice.
However as I still received other parts of my tax credits and the payments did go down I was not aware of a problem.
Please do not bother yourselves with a response.

BoGoF

So did you or didn't you get a revised award notice that still included childcare?

aleric

I didn't receive a revised award notice.

BoGoF

Had a feeling you would say that. From the HMRC website

Amended award notice

When you report a change in your circumstances, or when there are any other changes, you’ll get an amended tax credits award notice.
The Tax Credit Office aims to send you an amended award notice within 30 days of you telling them about a change.
If you don't receive an amended award notice within 30 days, call the Tax Credit Helpline as soon as possible.

stroodes

If you are still recieving tax credits for the forseeable future then I'm sure they will take a small amount from your award each month and hopefully this will not cause too much hardship.
However we were told we had an overpayment 2002-2003, very hard to remember as was on maternity leave then so don't remember if i included these payments in earnings or not, also hubbie was made redundant in May of 2002 resuming work in October. At the moment we are recieving, or were recieving minimum tax credits, which they have now stopped, should be clear by April of next year thank goodness.