tax credits compliance - so scared, please help :(

Squidge2009

split up with ex jan 2012, he left me. but would not tell me where he was living and his mail etc kept coming to the house.

he has now admitted to living with someone just after xmas, and says he has changed his address for everything now. and his mail has stopped coming as much. the only thing he has carried on paying for is the Sky, as i tried to change it into just my name but

well this morning i have had a letter from tax credits compliance saying they have done a credit check which shows that ex is still living here. and they are asking for evidence such as bank statements, rent agreements, council tax bills, utility bills and "any other info to explain why i have claimed as a single person". i have most of what they are asking for, but what i am worried about is that the one thing we agreed on is that he would still continue paying my internet and phone line as virgin would not allow me to take it over in my own name (credit score failure) . so that is still in his name.

i am so scared. i have about 2 weeks to provide that evidence or my tcs get stopped or they will charge me a penalty and the letter even talks about criminal prosecution

i am so, so scared. has anyone else ever had this? what happened? please help

CIS

Can he not provide you with a copy of his council tax bill showing he has been resident elsewhere ?

Horseunderwater

Have you taken him off the Electoral roll at your address? Have you taken him off the council tax bill and the rental agreement and off any jointly held bank accounts? If you have done that, then that should be proof enough that he has gone from your life. TCO's have access to lots of info - credit checking is just one of them. And it may be that credit agencies have not yet updated info re his address yet. Informing all of them will also help.

Squidge2009

thank you

he is not on the electoral roll or the council tax bill, and we don't share a bank account. i pay all the bills, gas, elec, food, tv licence. he doesn't even pay maintenance - the only thing he pays is 30 quid a month for the sky.

he promised me weeks ago he had changed his address for everything, clearly he has not

i am going to ring them as soon as they open, but am dreading it as i have heard they are really difficult to get through to. i have been worried sick all weekend, am constantly shaky and i can't eat. i suffer from anxiety as it is and this is just making it worse. i appreciate they have to do their checks or people would take the p*ss. but there must be so many genuine claimants like me who have the same issue of their exp not bothering to change their address anywhere.

Squidge2009

just an update...have managed to get through, amazingly

spoke to someone who explained the reasons for the letter (which, obviously i know) i explained that he wasn't living with me and everything i have said on this thread, and was honest about the Virgin bill (that he pays it). and she just said to send in everything i have got.

i have also given his new address, and she did a search but said i would still need to send in the stuff. i dont know whether that means he is showing up at his new address, or not, or whether she can't tell me either way. which is fine, i don't mind sending in the stuff, but i was hoping it could get sorted there and then.

still worrying and bumping in case any more posters see this and can help x

Squidge2009

just bumping again sorry as its slipped down a lot

dseventy

When most people split up they sever all financial ties and live somewhere else. They make arrangements for access to children (if involved) and pay maintenance. They register at a new proprrty and pay the leecy, bills etc.

What they don't do is continue to pay for Sky. If you can't pay it then you go without until you can.

It just sounds all.......well..... wierd.

Am I alone in this?

D70

Icequeen99

dseventy wrote: »

When most people split up they sever all financial ties and live somewhere else. They make arrangements for access to children (if involved) and pay maintenance. They register at a new proprrty and pay the leecy, bills etc.

What they don't do is continue to pay for Sky. If you can't pay it then you go without until you can.

It just sounds all.......well..... wierd.

Am I alone in this?

D70

Which pretty much sums up the position HMRC take. They expect people who have separated to have done just that - separated.

Unfortunately not everyone has such a simple relationship and sometimes it just isn't clear. Even if in reality a person is very much single and separated from a partner, if the evidence isn't available to support that then really HMRC can only come to one decision.

IQ

Squidge2009

dseventy wrote: »

When most people split up they sever all financial ties and live somewhere else. They make arrangements for access to children (if involved) and pay maintenance. They register at a new proprrty and pay the leecy, bills etc.

What they don't do is continue to pay for Sky. If you can't pay it then you go without until you can.

It just sounds all.......well..... wierd.

Am I alone in this?

D70

do you know what, if you have nothing constructive to say then don't bother posting

i am sick with worry over this. i have got small kids to look after who are already struggling to cope with their dad leaving. if you read my OP properly you would see we have no financial ties. i pay everything, he does not even pay maintenance for his own bloody kids! the internet is the only thing he pays for and is a measly 30 quid a month. everything else is paid by me, the rent, council tax, tv licence, gas, water, electric, food, kids clothing, household stuff, everything

so don't post trying to imply i am some kind of liar, as i am not, and it is not helping my mental state.

FBaby

Why isn't he paying maintenance? Is he working? Have you opened a csa case, but is not paying, or have you agreed that you won't pursue him for any maintenance.

Unfortunately, this could be a sticky point as the 'rules' would expect that he doesn't pay your bills but pays maintenance for the kids. In theory, it makes no difference to him or you, but it's about regulating things and that is what is expected when separated.

Horseunderwater

Just ignore D70 and anyone else who have a go at you - it's not worth it.
I am sure that once they see all bills except the Virgin one being paid by you that they will accept that you are a single Parent of 2 kiddies and continue paying you what they should. Your Ex is getting away lightly re maintenance as in theory he should be paying I think 20% of his wages over to you under CSA rules and if you get him to pay what he should then that income is not taken into account at all.