Please help me, scared! Rossendales and HMRC

WaynesterUK

Hi everybody

HMRC sent me a bill for £635 for working tax credits overpayment
I spoke with my accountant and she says I do not because I earnt £3523 for 2013 to 2014
when I rang up HMRC I explained this, but because I never sent the renewal letter back, or the 2nd one they sent, they've closed that claim and said to pay £635, I did explain I was out of the country and the lady from HMRC said she would help me sort it all out

2 weeks later after I thought she'd done what she said, I get the same letter saying I owe £635, I don't have £635! I ignored this letter as I thought it was sent out by mistake from an automated computer....
I then got a phonecall today from debt collection agency called ROSSENDALES saying they want £635 off me, I said I don't have it and tried to explain I owe HMRC nothing..... the guy asked so your not going to pay?? I said no I'm not, he said okay and thanks and put the phone down

I then rang up HMRC petrified and explained all that had happened, they said because I didn't send the renewal letter back or respond to them, the overpayment STANDS and it's been passed on to ROSSENDALES and to sort it out with them...

I rang ROSSENDALES back and explained I have no money, and I can pay £15 a month.... the rude guy said you'll need to pay it in 2 instalments, I said I cant! he said why not? I said because I don't earn enough, that's all I can afford! he then said okay, we'll need to discuss your outgoings, so I told him my rent goes out, my car insurance and petrol, green flag, 02 phone bill.... he then said you have £188 left each month and we need half of this until the debt is clear.... I said I cant afford HALF, he said WHY NOT??
he thrm said I'll have to send you out an expenses form to fill in to explain anymore outgoings and as to why you can't pay it

what do I do? I'm petrified my credit will be ruined
I owe HMRC nothing and me not sending a form back has cost me £635, they won't accept a payment plan because of it now going to Rossendales... and ROSSENDALES are clearly bullying me

I haven't received a letter from ROSSENDALES yet, just a phonecall today at 1.30pm

someone help me

ROSSENDALES said they are sending me a form out to write down my outgoings and that I have 14 days to comply

HELP? Who do I ring or speak to, I owe HMRC nothing, but they won't have it, and now can my credit be ruined

will I get bailiffs round my house taking my things, should I ignore all letters from HMRC?
Can't I just pay back £15 a month.... it's all I can afford

MrWillyWonka

Unfortunately if you did not send the forms back by the following July then yes you do owe it. No getting round it unfortunately, it would have been made clear in a number of your claims and reminders that the form need to be sent in. If you were out of the country for an extended period of time then you shouldn't have been claiming the credits - depends how long you were out for.

However, you can only pay what you can afford and my suggestion is to pay them a set amount each month which you can afford. HMRC debts do not appear in your credit reports at this level. They will be threatening but realistically they have little powers and if it does end in court, the judge will see that you can't afford it. They can't have what you don't have.

If on the other hand you refuse to pay because you believe you do not owe it, that's another matter altogether.

On the whole, don't panic, it can be resolved peacefully!

WaynesterUK

but HMRC won't discuss the £635 I owe them as its been passed to ROSSENDALES, and ROSSENDALES want it in 2 instalments and I don't have £318 a month for the next 2 months

was only out the country for 23 days

National_Debtline

Hi

Rossendales are one of the firms HMRC are using as debt collection agencies, so they may be collecting in that capacity rather than as enforcement officers/bailiffs. Either way they can’t force entry into your property so don’t let them in and make affordable payment offers based on a statement of affairs (financial plan).

It sounds like they’re deliberately trying to pressurise you but you don’t need to pay it back at the amount they’re demanding. Make affordable payments offers and if they will not take them from you save them up and pay to HMRC directly.

If you’re finding it stressful to speak to them on the phone try to keep all communication in writing.

Your credit file will not be affected unless HMRC get a CCJ to recover the debt, which they sometimes do, but as far as I’m aware they tend to use the debt collection agency route a lot more often these days.

James
@natdebtline

sourcrates

WaynesterUK wrote: »

but HMRC won't discuss the £635 I owe them as its been passed to ROSSENDALES, and ROSSENDALES want it in 2 instalments and I don't have £318 a month for the next 2 months

was only out the country for 23 days

Yes, we understand that, put it this way, if I asked you for £635 what would you say ?

I'm sure you would firmly, but politely, say no, yes ?

Well that's what you say to rossendales too, they are not yet acting as bayliffs, just debt collectors, they have no more power to do any thing than you or I do.

They are trying to bully you, and I strongly suggest you refrain from speaking on the phone to them ever again.

If they write to you, simply write back TELLING them what you are prepared to pay, not what they want you to pay.

If this matter were to go to court, you would simply provide the judge with your income/expenditure details, and they would fix an amount to pay, that you could afford.

There's no need whatsoever to fear this company, as there's very little they can actually do to you, it's mearly threats and intimidation to get you to pay, don't respond to it.

happy_bunny_2

As national debtline and sourcrates say, stay off the phone and deal in writing only.

Much less likely to ask you to pay more than you can afford in a letter, as there are rules about pressurising people to pay more than they can afford.

simpywimpy

I have dealt with rossendales for a tax credit overpayment and they were really good and easy to negotiate with. I would say phone them back and try and speak to someone else in that office. I offered £50 a month on a debt of 900 and they accepted it without a thought

sourcrates

simpywimpy wrote: »

I have dealt with rossendales for a tax credit overpayment and they were really good and easy to negotiate with. I would say phone them back and try and speak to someone else in that office. I offered £50 a month on a debt of 900 and they accepted it without a thought

Writing only for your own sanity !!!!!!

Stewart_78

I had a VAT debt once (estimated and not correct) which I disputed and in the end it got handed to Apex to collect. They threatened for a while and told me it wouldn't go away and blah blah blah. Finally they gave up and handed it back to HMRC at which point I was able to convince them that I didn't owe anything.

Don't be scared of these companies, they know all the tricks but you'll notice there are a lot of may and maybes is their letters. Just be firm with them.

WaynesterUK

after a sleepless night of worry, I have decided not to pay them a penny, I'll ignore all letters until it gets handed back to HMRC, these scum aren't getting a penny off me, if I'm gonna pay, it's to HMRC at £15 a month, if Rossendales send bailiffs, they'll be met with the same response as the videos I watched last night on YouTube with the "I'm removing right of access to my property"

tlc678910

WaynesterUK wrote: »

after a sleepless night of worry, I have decided not to pay them a penny, I'll ignore all letters until it gets handed back to HMRC, these scum aren't getting a penny off me, if I'm gonna pay, it's to HMRC at £15 a month, if Rossendales send bailiffs, they'll be met with the same response as the videos I watched last night on YouTube with the "I'm removing right of access to my property"

I thought you didn't want to ruin your credit rating?
You had the money and didn't send the required evidence in. Why not just fix a payment plan at a level you can afford?