Fuming with HMRC

Janep

Sent my award in, in July, received letter asking to send in bank statements, bills, Tv license payment and many more, which I did, received a letter back saying award been stopped due to insufficient evidence.

I then, phoned them and was told the reason why it was stopped was because you didn't send two specific documents, so I asked if I send these two documents will my award be allowed. Yes, it is only these two documents we need.

Sent the two documents in and received a letter saying award still stopped due to insufficient evidence sent in!! Phoned up to speak to the decision maker and she said she based her decision on only the two documents I had sent in. I explained that these were in addition to all the other documents I had sent in - unbelievable.

I have now requested a statement of reason as I am unsure why my award was stopped, but she's dragging her heels on this.

Horseunderwater

Is it to do with child care by any chance? That is normally what they are looking for. Evidence that you are paying a recognised child care provider, usually paid via the bank by cheques or if a commercial place by Direct debits/debit cards? The bills should have been child care ones I would guess not your TV licence or utility bills. Unless they were wanting evidence to prove you live where you live? The only other thing I can think of is that they think someone else may live with you? Obviously there is more to this than they are telling you at the moment, or that you are telling us on here.

Janep

No, not childcare, it is to make sure my housemate is not my partner. I have explained all my circumstance on a previous post.

lemontree

Did you send everything Recorded Delivery and keep a copy of all documents?
This is crucial!!

Horseunderwater

Janep wrote: »

No, not childcare, it is to make sure my housemate is not my partner. I have explained all my circumstance on a previous post.

Sorry - not sure that I saw the other posting. Well at least it explains what they are trying to do. Hope you get it sorted out.

Janep

Yes, sent everything recorded, and have copies. What bothers me is when I told the second decision maker that the two documents I sent were in addition to all the other documents she said that the first lot of documents were not kept on the premises but moved elsewhere, I did have most of the first lot of documents sent back to me tho.

Janep

The original message
Hi, I have read most posts on here and my circumstances are a little different.
I have been claiming tax credits as single for 4 years with no problem, this July I put in a new claim and received a letter saying we believe Mr xxx lives with you, can you phone us.

Ok, so I phoned them, and explained yes Mr Xxx does live here he is my housemate, I have put this info on the forms the last 4 years.

A few years ago I was raped then a few months later my husband died, I was terrified to be on my own, Mr XX was a family friend, he had known me and my parents for about 20 years, so he slept on my settee for a few months, I owned my own two bedroomed flat and had two young children, thus situation was no good, so we decided that I would sell my flat and jointly we would buy a bigger house as housemates.

I sold my flat and he got a mortgage and we were able to buy a four bedroomed two bathroomed, two living room house, perfect! The mortgage was in his name only ( so if he ever defaulted on payment I would never be responsible for this) and I had a deed of trust drawn up to protect my £70000.

We all had our own bedrooms, we had a bathroom and living room each. We worked out the bills and pay these separately, he pays council tax and water I pay, gas, electric, tv license and home insurance and we split phone cable when bill comes in.

This has worked out great, I hardly ever see him as he is a workaholic, but I feel safe as there is a man living in the house.

Anyway, HMRC, asked me to send in all bills, which I did, they then said we are financially associated via joint account, so I explained yes, we have a joint account for household emergencies (boiler breakdown, roof repair etc), which we both pay £15 a week into and we both need to sign together to draw money out, this has not been used since we set it up, a few months later, We decided if one of us was on holiday and the other needed to draw out money in an emergency they could,nt, so we set up a web based joint account with a cash-flow of £1000 and a joint current account, so if boiler was to break down on a Sunday, either one of us were able to transfer funds from web account to current account and access this with a card anytime of day or night. These accounts have never been used.

I have received a letter today stating They believe we are in a relationship and I have supplied insufficient evidence! I will receive a letter shortly yo pay back any overpaid!

I have always been honest and upfront about our living situation and I am unsure what to do next.

Advice please, and thanks for reading such a long post[/QUOTE]

Janep

Just an update of information

After requesting the Statement of Reasons regarding my claim, I was told I was not allowed these!! Ridiculous, as how am I able to appeal a decision if I am unaware of the reasons, decision letter just said insufficient evidence submitted (when I had submitted everything these asked). Anyway I was told to get my MP involved and to request this through the Hotline for MP's. This I have done today, MP is requesting my Statement of Reasons and I have also sent in my appeal today.

Update will follow when I hear anything.

Icequeen99

Janep wrote: »

Just an update of information

After requesting the Statement of Reasons regarding my claim, I was told I was not allowed these!! Ridiculous, as how am I able to appeal a decision if I am unaware of the reasons, decision letter just said insufficient evidence submitted (when I had submitted everything these asked). Anyway I was told to get my MP involved and to request this through the Hotline for MP's. This I have done today, MP is requesting my Statement of Reasons and I have also sent in my appeal today.

Update will follow when I hear anything.

As I said on the other post, tax credits don't have anything called a statement of reasons. It would be better to say you want an explanation of the decision.

The first stop should be the compliance officer who made the decision. She/He should be able to tell you the reason for the decision.

Really though, the appeal should focus on producing evidence supporting the fact that you are single.

IQ

Janep

As I stated in a previous reply, I phoned the compliance officer who made the decision, and was told her decision was based on ONLY the two additional documents I had sent in. Every piece of evidence I have sent in is in regards to me being single.

I was also told my the compliance officer today, that yes they do supply a Statement of Reasons, but only if requested by an MP

princessdon

We all had our own bedrooms, we had a bathroom and living room each

Be careful of your wording small things can have different interpretations to those who read them.