HMRC - how much of our money are these fools wasting?

Harry

i got my 'amended tax credits award' letter today - telling me they're reducing my payments cos of an overpayment two years ago, just what i need with another on the way. In a separate envelope, i received my 'final tax credits decision for 06/04/2006 to 05/04/2007' letter confirming the same information. my wife, who i live with, received both the same letters, totally identical but with her name on, in separate envelopes, at the same time. all four letters were in A4 envelopes, for which the post office charges more than the same weight in DL envelopes remember.

i spoke to one of their people this morning who confirmed that this is the normal procedure for cohabiting married couples to receive such information. I wonder if anyone could suggest how much money is being wasted in this fashion? my meagre wage gets absolutely hammered by the taxman every month, and it really winds me up to think of it getting spunked on unneccessary envelopes and postage.

emmaroids

yea, its annoying.

i have had 4 letters from tax credits in the last 3 weeks and my partner has had the exact same letter.
why??

petercarots

Its not HMRC's fault, its because of the way the freedom of information/data protection laws work. I dont fully understand it, but its something along the lines of when you send letters with as much personal information on as the award notices you have to send one each to both of the people named on the claim (in case they dont talk to each other).
Its also helps to stop situations where one claimant rings up to change the bank details and doesnt tell the other.

The reason that award notices covering different years come at different times is that they process separately, often at different times, its not uncommom for award notices for different years to be processed days apart.

Having said they are the reasons, I agree its a waste of time, get on to your local MP and tell them you want it sorted!