New partners

Mrssmith

Hello All

I have a huge over payment for tax credits partly my fault & partly theres since 2007. (this was a single claim..ie not married/partener)

In Oct I moved in with my new partner and today I received a phone call from them saying they want there money back (I am not claiming any kind of benefits now), I explain I was now unemployed and couldnt pay it back, the woman on the phone then said as I was now in a relationship my new partner he is also responsible for my debt and want us to fill in a duel income form to see how much we can pay.

Is this correct, I thought the debt was mine and mine alone?

Im on the verge of going bankrupt but been paying off little as and when I can which has kept me afloat but with this now rearing its head it may push me over the top.

Any help gratefully received.

MrsS

Mrssmith

Can anyone help??

Thanks
MrsS

Oldernotwiser

Who was the telephone call from?

Mrssmith

Hi

Im not sure to tell the truth, they started saying they were from the Tax credits office & now I remember her saying they had been passed the debt???

MrsS

Mupette

you want them to put things like that in writting..

I hve no answers for you, but a call out the blue is a bit suspect.

Oldernotwiser

Mrssmith wrote: »

Hi

Im not sure to tell the truth, they started saying they were from the Tax credits office & now I remember her saying they had been passed the debt???

MrsS

It could be a debt collector then.

If you're planning on going bankrupt anyway, I wouldn't worry.

Mrssmith

I would rather not go bankruput if possible but if its true they can now taking into account my new partners earings on a debt which is soley mine then I will have no choice.

So my question is, can they??

Many thanks
MrsS

adamantine

if a debt is soley yours then no one else can be help responsbile for paying for it but with tax credits if he benefited from the extra money that was claimed (ie you were claiming as a single person when you lived with him) then yes i think he could be held accountable but im not 100% sure that that would be enforcable. not saying you fraudulently claimed btw im just offering a scenario.

i would call up tax credits yourself and get the name and address of the person handling your case and write to them asking for details of exactly how much is due and then set out what their errors were, what your errors were and try to come to an agreement with how much to pay back. depending on what kind of errors you might get a goodwil reduction on the amount owed but bear in mind this is the tax credits so dnt count on it but its worth a shot!