Tax credits overpayment first letter from Rossendales

Louloukats

Hi,
I had a large tax credit overpayment last year which I want to dispute.
I never replied the hmrc letter to pay it back and I buried my head in the sand. Now I have received a letter from Rossendales.

Dear Sir/madam

We have been instructed by our client HM Revenue & Customs that there is an outstanding balance of ££££ in respect of tax credits and this matter has been referred to us for collection. For confirmation that we are authorised collection agents on behalf of HMRC please refer to their website.

We require payment of the outstanding amount in full within 7 days or alternatively if you are unable to pay in full please contact one of our trained agents on the details above and we will assess your financial situation to see what appropriate options are available to you.

You should call us if you have reason to believe that you don't owe this amount. This matter requires your urgent attention and you should now choose one of the available options. "

My question is, is this matter with bailiffs or debt collectors? If this seems like debt collectors can it just be passed to bailiffs?
I want to dispute the debt, can I still do this?

Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thankyou

HappyMJ

Yes you can still dispute the debt.

Write to Rossendales and deny the debt exists then write to HMRC with your reasons why the debt does not exist.

Even though the letter says "call" do not actually "call" them.

Louloukats

Thankyou
Is this a letter from their bailiff department or debt collection agency letter?
I'm worried bailiffs will come around. I have a teenage daughter who is in after school for a few hours a day in her own.

HappyMJ

Louloukats wrote: »

Thankyou
Is this a letter from their bailiff department or debt collection agency letter?
I'm worried bailiffs will come around. I have a teenage daughter who is in after school for a few hours a day in her own.

Most probably just the debt collectors. Debt collectors can still visit though and ask for payment. Don't worry about that though.

Even if it is a bailiff letter which means you would have a CCJ, which you haven't implied that you have, then the bailiff can't force their way past your daughter to get in. All they can do is ask if you are home and if your daughter says no they must leave without interrogating her any further.

Louloukats

Thankyou phew...
No not had a CCJ
Just a couple of letters from hmrc and this one from Rossendales.
Thanks again

sourcrates

Rossendale's will be acting as plain old debt collectors on this one.


You need to dispute the overpayment with HMRC, to do this you must fill in the correct form, available from there website, otherwise you will most likely be ignored (they have a habit of doing that).


You will also find more info on how they expect you to pay it back, I suggest you have a good read up, then get the correct form filled in, and sent off.
You can email or write to Rossendale's telling them the account is in dispute, and to sod off while its sorted out.

fatbelly

Letter may be headed 'Rossendales Collect' - if so, that's the debt collection arm, not bailiffs.

From

http://www.revenuebenefits.org.uk/tax-credits/guidance/how-to-deal-with-hmrc/dealing-with-debt/

you'll notice it says

'Where a claimant asks for hardship provisions to apply or disputes the overpayment in any way, the case should be passed back to HMRC.'