Making an official complaint to HMRC

princessdon

Just to add - Given their response and your initial "standard letter", I am not sure it is standard.

I don't think they often send letters saying they think a single claim should be a joint claim unless they suspect otherwise.

shedboy94

Many people are receiving these letters as they are claiming as a single person, yet they are connected to someone usually financially or through their property. Many are being found to be falsly claiming as a single person to increase the benefits
Still working with your husband could be the financial link, or if he is still having post sent to your address, on the electoral roll, or named on the rental agreement/mortgage, then this would also show up.
You say you are separated but still married......do you have a legal separation document, or have you filed for divorce?

Lifeisbutadream

princessdon wrote: »

Just to add - Given their response and your initial "standard letter", I am not sure it is standard.

I don't think they often send letters saying they think a single claim should be a joint claim unless they suspect otherwise.

Two of my friends got exactly the same letter :-)

Lifeisbutadream

shedboy94 wrote: »

Many people are receiving these letters as they are claiming as a single person, yet they are connected to someone usually financially or through their property. Many are being found to be falsly claiming as a single person to increase the benefits
Still working with your husband could be the financial link, or if he is still having post sent to your address, on the electoral roll, or named on the rental agreement/mortgage, then this would also show up.
You say you are separated but still married......do you have a legal separation document, or have you filed for divorce?

All these questions surround the Tax Credit claim which is nothing to do with my post.

There are loads of links that I still have with my ex, none of which mean that someone on the help line needs to be rude to me, or anyone else.

princessdon

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

Two of my friends got exactly the same letter :-)

OK - I've not known anyone to get that letter, regular checks yes but to say We think you should be on a joint claim, I'd not heard of.

Lifeisbutadream

princessdon wrote: »

OK - I've not known anyone to get that letter, regular checks yes but to say We think you should be on a joint claim, I'd not heard of.

One of them is newly single like I am but the other has been single for 7 years.

They are all worded exactly the same - i.e a standard letter.

Apparantly they are using credit agencies, which is why mine will have been flagged up, I run a business with my ex, we still have a joint account and the business mail in his name comes to my address (i.e. the business address)

Both my friends still have joint accounts with their ex's

princessdon

Lifeisbutadream wrote: »

One of them is newly single like I am but the other has been single for 7 years.

They are all worded exactly the same - i.e a standard letter.

Apparantly they are using credit agencies, which is why mine will have been flagged up, I run a business with my ex, we still have a joint account and the business mail in his name comes to my address (i.e. the business address)

Both my friends still have joint accounts with their ex's

Must be there new thing then, on the positive (aside from their stroppy worker in your case), at least this may deter those who pretend to be single or catch some people out. Probably good that they do this (without the attitude that I agree is uneccessary).

As they both have financial ties this is probably the trigger. Most people I know separate all finances rather quickly.

miduck

princessdon wrote: »

Must be there new thing then, on the positive (aside from their stroppy worker in your case), at least this may deter those who pretend to be single or catch some people out. Probably good that they do this (without the attitude that I agree is uneccessary).

As they both have financial ties this is probably the trigger. Most people I know separate all finances rather quickly.

You are right princessdon, whilst the format of the letter is standard, the sending of it is not.

FBaby

If you want to complain because you've been treated rudely and unprofessionally, then of course you should complain. It should be straight and forward, citing what you wrote here.

What will happen? Well hopefully that person will be spoken to by her boss and send to training. If others have complained about her too and she already had training, then maybe she'll get a warning.

It is for her boss though to decide how unprofessional she was and the appropriate consequences, not you.

Lifeisbutadream

princessdon wrote: »

Must be there new thing then, on the positive (aside from their stroppy worker in your case), at least this may deter those who pretend to be single or catch some people out. Probably good that they do this (without the attitude that I agree is uneccessary).

As they both have financial ties this is probably the trigger. Most people I know separate all finances rather quickly.

Oh I totally agree that checks should be made, that certainly isnt my issue!

It may be possible to separate all finances for some people but it certainly isnt when you have a mortgage, loans, credit cards or a joint account that is overdrawn, plus i am sure many other reasons.

But as I say, thats not where my issue is.