Child tax credit, should I repay it or fight it?

Own_My_Own

tokenfield wrote: »

For a start, if HMRC made the mistake in paying you the money and it had nothing to do with you giving them any wrong info, and that you contacted them advising that you weren't entitled to the money - you should have 'Disputed' their attempt in the first place if they attempted to recover it.

Provided that you were completely innocent and notified them, they cannot recover the money from you.

However, as you seem not to have disputed it and allowed them to recover £2500 of it by deductions from an ongoing claim, you have effectively agreed with them that it is repayable.

A similar thing happened to me this year and they banked just under £1500 which I knew I was not entitled to. I telephoned and wrote to them telling them of their mistake. In a subsequent telephone call with them, HMRC advised me to dispute it when they attempt to recover it as there are sufficient grounds for not having to repay it. They also said to not admit the debt or offer to settle it. There isn't anything that they can do - they know it, but certainly won't tell you that! I only found out when I told them that a complaint was being lodged which it has.

So the money is mine to keep and it serves them right for making the mistake in the first place.

A lot if things happen to you don't they.

Poppie68

Own_My_Own wrote: »

A lot if things happen to you don't they.

And if not them, it's someone they know.

nathan1454

Thanks tokenfield,
There mistake was when the wife was suppose to return to work after maternity she didnt. And they put that it was I that didnt go back to work even I was still working and always have. A clerical error of their's.
Im just about to phone them and arrange a payment plan.

Prothet_of_Doom

Horseunderwater wrote: »

You can still make an arrangement to pay it back in instalments - they should send you a letter with details on it about how to contact the overpayments department, who can then set up a direct debit for you to pay it back in monthly or even 4 weekly sums until it paid back in full. This is usually over a year - but if it is too much over that time frame then they may be able to do it over a longer time frame. It never hurts to ask.

I will Owe £1800 when DD leaves the nest thanks to a !!!! up. I will attempt to negotiate over 5 years. The CAB probably have a standard letter.

nathan1454

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

I will Owe £1800 when DD leaves the nest thanks to a !!!! up. I will attempt to negotiate over 5 years. The CAB probably have a standard letter.

I phoned up to organise a payment plan. I paid £40 first payment and setup £35 month. It will be paid off mid 2017.
I thought they were gonna through my finances but they were fine with the amount saying they couldnt take money we didnt have.
I hope you sort yourself out on your terms.