MSE News: Single parents sent 'threatening' letters demanding proof they live alone

Cornucopia

NYM wrote: »

What 'difference' do you think it will make if people followed your advice ?

The benefit to the individual would be the knowledge of what specific evidence was held (if any) that discredited the claim. In the case of the letters being simply a fishing expedition (which it seems some might well be) then it would be immediately obvious that that was the case.

The benefit to everyone would be that the system, which looks somewhat suspect, could be damaged or made less profitable for the company concerned and/or the Government.

There is also the possibility of involving another agency (the Information Commissioner's Office) in regulating this activity properly - assuming that there is some merit in the suggestions that data is being misused and/or mismanaged.

missapril75

Cornucopia wrote: »

The benefit to everyone would be that the system, which looks somewhat suspect, could be damaged or made less profitable for the company concerned and/or the Government.

It's an interesting point.

The company would not be able to provide the service "on the cheap" so would likely fail in its objective just like most, if not all, the others who do things on the cheap and pocket the profits but give some back to the party that gave them the contract in government and other corrupt practices.

That's how it works these days. Set up an agency, sponsor/lobby some politicians, win a contract to provide a service already adequately provided by a government agency, except provide it far cheaper but far less effectively, get yourself an OBE, contribute funds back to the party that gave you the work, set up a new company for when your service is proven to be substandard so you can take over the contract, get knighted, contribute back to the party etc etc and eventually get some high paid "consultancy" job as a result of the [STRIKE]palms you greased[/STRIKE] contacts made along the way.

Shaunac2509

They posted it to the refuge. No, no care of address

missapril75

Shaunac2509 wrote: »

They posted it to the refuge. No, no care of address

The idea of the refuge is one of safety - hence DWP not recording the address.

I suppose this might just have been the way it worked in my area - although I believed it was universal given the liaison that was always going on in such matters - and it might also be different for HMRC.

Of course if an address change is reported there would be no reason for them to know it was a refuge.

But refuge workers told people never to tell anyone the address. That's the way it worked where I was.

zsazsa613

How can I prove to Concentrix what I do on a daily basis in regards to new products I am inventing and the work I do prototyping them ? I spend a lot of time conceptualising and thinking through the processes in order to get the products 'design ready' for a manufacturer to put them into production. During this time I earn nothing and need Working Tax Credits to buy food. I am solely responsible for my young son. Concentrix and HMRC have backed me up against the wall stating that I have to prove what I do, but there is no way to do so. How do I prove that yesterday I cut waterproof PVC materials and sewed them together, or that I did some soldering the day before that, or that I spent all day on Adobe Illustrator the day before that trying to get the design right ? I am terrified we will be left starving with no money to buy food. Citizens Advice Bureau have not even heard of Concentrix. When I call Concentrix they tell me that they have no email address (but they are registered as an international IT company ?) and that I have to send them original documents.....of what ? How can I ? So I write to HMRC to complain that I cannot send 'original documents' for the work I do, as there are none to send. HMRC write back to say that I must comply with Concentrix's requests. This is torment. There is nothing I can do.

georgiasdragons

You need to put it all in writing and send them a letter explaining what you do.


Also ring them to discuss this has helped me every step of the way by constantly ringing them!

missapril75

zsazsa613 wrote: »

How do I prove that yesterday I cut waterproof PVC materials and sewed them together, or that I did some soldering the day before that,

You are, perhaps, being a bit negative.

How does any self employed person prove the hours they spent doing such things? There are many people doing things other than receiving payment for an identifiable period of work. All self employment doesn't involve plumbing or building work, window cleaning etc where a specific job can be identified usually resulting in payment.

It sounds a bit like when people say how do you get a job with no experience if you can't get experience of a job when, plainly, everybody does get their first job.

Presumably you keep accounts and they would include the purchase of the materials. It seems common sense that you're going to buy such items to work on them, otherwise why waste money on it?

Perhaps you've just spoken to someone who comes across as negative and demanding the impossible. There are people like that.

What about some photos to show what you've done with the materials and explain why it was necessary and what you aim to achieve.

Any letters from potential backers?

Icequeen99

zsazsa613 wrote: »

How can I prove to Concentrix what I do on a daily basis in regards to new products I am inventing and the work I do prototyping them ? I spend a lot of time conceptualising and thinking through the processes in order to get the products 'design ready' for a manufacturer to put them into production. During this time I earn nothing and need Working Tax Credits to buy food. I am solely responsible for my young son. Concentrix and HMRC have backed me up against the wall stating that I have to prove what I do, but there is no way to do so. How do I prove that yesterday I cut waterproof PVC materials and sewed them together, or that I did some soldering the day before that, or that I spent all day on Adobe Illustrator the day before that trying to get the design right ? I am terrified we will be left starving with no money to buy food. Citizens Advice Bureau have not even heard of Concentrix. When I call Concentrix they tell me that they have no email address (but they are registered as an international IT company ?) and that I have to send them original documents.....of what ? How can I ? So I write to HMRC to complain that I cannot send 'original documents' for the work I do, as there are none to send. HMRC write back to say that I must comply with Concentrix's requests. This is torment. There is nothing I can do.

Send them a diary showing what you did this week or last week, hour by hour.

Send them your tax returns, send them your UTR registration number, send them your receipts for materials, send them designs, emails etc...there are lots of things.

However, I think you need to find some advice as I suspect they may say what you are doing is not remunerative work as at this stage it is preparatory work and although there is a hope of payment at some point in the future there is no expectation of payment from anything you are doing currently.

What happens after you submit the designs to manufacturers?

IQ

Lairdslassie

I called to say my partner had moved in and to stop claiming tax credits but they said they couldn't because there was a letter on the way to me. It turned out to be one of these letters. I sent them everything they asked,then got another letter asking for everything again. I've tried calling but get no answer even after holding on for 45 mins. I have asked 3 times for them to stop putting the money into my account but they said they couldn't because of this letter. It's so frustrating, it's harder to stop claiming than it is to start,and now I will need to pay it all back. They shouldn't be allowed to do this to people. I have always been honest when changes happened during the years and this makes you feel as if you are deliberately making a false claim.

Lairdslassie

where did you ring?. I have been calling for a week and still can't get an answer