Accidental Payment TO HMRC...Oh My Goodness

redstar2072

I thought I was being quite clear.

Anyhow, my point is that don't expect to get your money back in a hurry from HMRC...And there is nothing you can do.

Simple for ya?

soolin

I did the same earlier this year and was told my money would be back in a month. It eventually took almost 4 months to get my money back and my MP eventually contacted them to hurry them up.

Yes I know it was my fault but being told by HMRC every time I called that it wasn't a problem and I would be refunded 'next week' or 'in a few days' didn't help and it did get frustrating.

My tip would be to make sure you log every single call you make to them, time and date and if you don't get any joy in a month or so contact your MP.

Take_it_like_a_man,_sonny

redstar2072 wrote: »

I thought I was being quite clear.

Anyhow, my point is that don't expect to get your money back in a hurry from HMRC...And there is nothing you can do.

Simple for ya?

To be honest, the recipient f the money has not made a mistake. It is only their goodwill that the money may be returned. Unfortunately, as I and anyone else, have to go through due prices to return this money.

Also, in my business account, if I transfer funds, it is gone straight away, no waiting. So due diligence is done afore paying suppliers.

So why should HMRC or any recipient be in a hurry to return funds to the payee?

soolin

Take_it_like_a_man,_sonny wrote: »

To be honest, the recipient f the money has not made a mistake. It is only their goodwill that the money may be returned. Unfortunately, as I and anyone else, have to go through due prices to return this money.

Also, in my business account, if I transfer funds, it is gone straight away, no waiting. So due diligence is done afore paying suppliers.

So why should HMRC or any recipient be in a hurry to return funds to the payee?

In my case the reason I was easily able to transfer money across was that I have a transfer set up to pay my NIC and that's where £1000 of money was accidentally transferred.

That would have paid my NIC for a few years and under HMRC rules I am 'entitled' to reclaim it. I was not asking them to do anything that had not agreed to do. Mine was considered an overpayment and went to an account linked to my name on which payment was not due.

I phoned them immediately I realised what I had done (about 1 minute after making transfer) and that is when they started lying, saying it was an easy process to get it back and would be no problem at all.

The fact they lost letters, dont open anything you send in, deny receiving letters that they later quote from was my irritation. They even denied getting the letter from my MP at one point but when he pushed the matter they backed down and agreed they had received it but don't bother to deal with anything unless it is urgent.

hartcjhart

sorry to hear your plight OP,
but all those knocking HMRC I can only say my dealings with them have always been very prompt and smooth,even to the extent of getting a large rebate that I didnt know I was due,
so good luck OP

Enfieldian

ca55ie wrote: »

Its so easy to blip the wrong account. :eek:

How?

I have been using either HSBC, Lloyds TSB or Barclays online banking every day for the best part of 10 years and have never sent money to the wrong place....

Jox

My work paid HMRC £15,000 twice by accident, I called them and they said it would take 6 weeks to refund or we could offset it against the following month's payments.

We decided to offset it and they still called us chasing the payment

It is a good idea to keep a note of all calls made and what is said.

mumcoll

Some helpful replies, some flipping scary ones! I know it was my fault for pressing the wrong button and have beat myself up about it ever since.

However, in my defence for being so stupid, I have had a few months of !!!!ness which has made my (lifelong) anxiety problems worse. One side effect of that is lack of concentration and what I call a foggy head.

I spoke to a manager at HMRC who was quite helpful (although nothing changes). I will definitely contact my MP if it's not returned by December.

Thanks for your replies.
Oh yes, one of the reasons for my foggy head was my OH lost his job, so only my wage keeping us!

Hmm71

Ignore those perfect people who have obviously never made one single mistake in their entire lives mumcoll. I have a list of payees on my bank account and I always check and double check I'm sending money to the right person cos I'm so paranoid about sending it to the wrong one.

I'm sure it's quite an easy mistake to make for us mere mortals. You will get your money back but yes it is annoying that officialdom is so quick off the mark when it comes to getting money off us but they drag their heels when it comes to paying out.

I claimed a refund of overpaid council tax this year and it took the council nearly a month to do it.

Fire_Fox

If it's not back within the promised month write a letter to HMRC, noting all the telephone calls you made, the full name of each member of staff you spoke to and what was agreed.