tax credit audit?

bovysbabe

hi, I got a letter from the tax credit people wanting me to verify my single status after splitting with my partner last year. They want so many bills including the past sixteen months of bank statements, loans, savings, gas bills, electric bills, water and council tax to name a few.
Does that sound right?? Gonna be on the phone all day tomorrow trying to sort that out, plus that's my life - thieves would have a field day opening that letter!
I Am single so that's not an issue - I'll send his new address and picture of pregnant girlfriend, just wanted to check it was true.

pinkypoopydoo

I got a letter like that last month. I phoned them, and the guy was REALLY snotty to begin with, but I stayed pleasant and reiterated many times that we were most definately split up, even if our mortgage was still in joint names! I pointed out I wasn't sure if I could get all the bills and statements they wanted, as I do everything online and paperless, but I pointed out that my ex had been living with his new girlfriend for most of the time we'd been apart, and that he was on the electoral register at his new address. They did a check of the electoral register, and were happy with that - I didn;t have to send anything in, in the end.

bovysbabe

I know his address, be interesting to see if he is on electoral role, thank you! I wonder if she's declared him as she was a single parent.

Bladette

Hi,

I rec'd same letter yesterday! Should I phone them or just send evidence ive got?

I split up with my Ex in 2008, He doesnt recieve mail at my address other than random junk once a month that i throw in bin. He lives at his mums, and as far as i am aware is on electrol roll at that address, he hasnt been on council tax at my address since we split in 2008. He has his own bank account which is registered at his mums address and has been since we split in 2008. He has a works van, so that is registered to work, but his drivers licence is registered at his mums address.

I have gathered all evidence required by tax credits, all bills in my name, council tax in my name.

The only problems I have now is we still have a Mortgage which is in joint names but i cant do anything about this, mortgage company wont allow us to take his name off as it is in negative equity.

The other is a bank account in joint names that I still use even though I have my own, ive just never got round to changing everything over and he wouldnt agree to have his name took off, he also pays me child maintenance into that account as well as extra money for debts that he owes my parents, which I transfer to my mum and dads bank account when he pays me the maintenance. Im only worried because he does pay me alot as he has quite a good job, but we did have loads of debts totalling approx £60,000 not including the mortgage that he agreed he would still pay for when we split up. So the money he gives me is for child maintenance and to pay debts he owes. My concern is should I have declared the maintenance payments when I made my single claim???

Im not sure what to do other than send evidence and hope for best!

They havent requested I send proof of him living elsewhere, should I send this anyway?

They have also asked me to send an explanation as to why I claimed as a single person, what should I write, I cant just put because I am!!!

Any help or advice from anyone who has gone through this would be much appreciated Ive got until 12 August to supply my information or they will stop my payments.

Thanks

pinkypoopydoo

Bladette - your circumstances are the exact same as mine - joint bank account (too big an overdraft to get rid of it) and a joint mortgage. When I phoned them,. the guy said there was a clear financial link still between the two of us, and that's why we were being investigated. I said straight away "yes, we have a joint account and mortgage, but my ex has no access to either" Once I had said he was on the electoral roll at his girlfriends, he turned from being horrible, to being quite friendly, and apologetic at the way the letter was worded.

If I were you, I would phone them - it makes sense to them to get things sorted quickly, and once they understand that your claim is genuine, and you have the ability to prove it, they are really quite pleasant. Be prepared for a quite accusing attitude to start with though - I guess they deal with hundreds of people a week who have got these letters, and a good percentage of them are fraudulently claiming.

Bladette

Hi,

I phoned them today and gave them his new address! The lady was lovely who i spoke to she sais she would run a check and phone me back!

She phoned me back and he isnt registered at that address or any other!

So i now have to sendin all the evidence they have requested!

Housing_Benefit_Officer

These checks are caused by Data Matching. If there are any official records where a former partner is registered at your address it will be picked up as a discrepancy. It is an anti-fraud measure.

A name on a bank account a name on a mortgage a name on a utility bill.

http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/national-fraud-initiative/

If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear.

gingergee

Just send what you can. I went through this with nursery fees ages ago, but the nursery had changed owners so all paperwork was lost. Plus i dont keep anything! No bills letters etc. I sent the most recent bill from them and my new contract and they were happy. Defo taught me to keep a little file with relevant info in re; kids, house, cars!!