help with child tax credit overpayment

[Deleted User]

This time last year I was not working but had just secured a job in a school to start in Sep 12. I told tax office, but they said that I needed to tell them once I had started working and assured me that I would not get into overpayment territory, even though I told them that once I was earning, my husbands and my income would take us over the amounts.
I told them again in Sep when I had started work, and lo and behold received notification that we had indeed be overpaid to the tune of around £1500. I did write to them, claiming that I had informed them as I was supposed to, but they insisted that they were right.
Now I have to send all the docs off (late as waiting still for hubbies P60).
Do I have any recourse - do you know if they record telephone conversations, because that will prove I was categorically told that I would not be in this position.
Thanks for reading
Babs

Icequeen99

[quote=[Deleted User];discussion/4654513]This time last year I was not working but had just secured a job in a school to start in Sep 12. I told tax office, but they said that I needed to tell them once I had started working and assured me that I would not get into overpayment territory, even though I told them that once I was earning, my husbands and my income would take us over the amounts.
I told them again in Sep when I had started work, and lo and behold received notification that we had indeed be overpaid to the tune of around £1500. I did write to them, claiming that I had informed them as I was supposed to, but they insisted that they were right.
Now I have to send all the docs off (late as waiting still for hubbies P60).
Do I have any recourse - do you know if they record telephone conversations, because that will prove I was categorically told that I would not be in this position.
Thanks for reading
Babs[/QUOTE]

Are you sure that is the cause of the overpayment? What was your joint income for 11/12 and 12/13? There is a disregard of £10,000. How much did your income rise?

IQ

[Deleted User]

Hi Icequeen

yes I'm sure. My husband retired from Army and for a while our only income was his pension, so we qualified. Then he got a job, but because of when he started in the tax year we were still eligible for a small amount. Then I got job too, so took us way over. Ironic thing is he is unemployed again.(hence paying back will be very hard on us).
So the overpayment is because our situation changed in year - when I rang them in the June I told them that we would go over, and suggested to them on phone to cancel my credits so that I wouldn't be in overpayment, but they told me that wouldn't happen and to ring them back in September. Of course I didnt record the conversation and they didn't put that comment in writing, so cant prove it my end.
When I did tell them all this in writing they insisted they were right and refused to acknowledge their duff advice - do I just give in and repay, meaning hardship for us, or fight my corner? thanks

Icequeen99

[quote=[Deleted User];61890871]Hi Icequeen

yes I'm sure. My husband retired from Army and for a while our only income was his pension, so we qualified. Then he got a job, but because of when he started in the tax year we were still eligible for a small amount. Then I got job too, so took us way over. Ironic thing is he is unemployed again.(hence paying back will be very hard on us).
So the overpayment is because our situation changed in year - when I rang them in the June I told them that we would go over, and suggested to them on phone to cancel my credits so that I wouldn't be in overpayment, but they told me that wouldn't happen and to ring them back in September. Of course I didnt record the conversation and they didn't put that comment in writing, so cant prove it my end.
When I did tell them all this in writing they insisted they were right and refused to acknowledge their duff advice - do I just give in and repay, meaning hardship for us, or fight my corner? thanks[/QUOTE]

The first 10,000 of any rise should be disregarded. So that should have buffered part of the rise at least.

Unfortunately, the way tax credits work is that they spread over the year so even if you tell them the day you start a new job, you can still get an overpayment if it is quite a bit more money than previous year.

They could have taken an estimate from you in the June. They couldn't record the fact you were starting work at a future date, but they could have taken the estimate which would have reduced the overpayment. so they gave you wrong advice.

Worth fighting even if it reduces the overpayment from June to September. Unfortunately you are likely to be left with an overpayment from April - June.

IQ