HMRC /debt collection issues

Musician1

Hi, I;m not sure if I'm posting this in the right place, so apologies if not.
I've got a big problem with HMRC at the moment - long story short, on Wednesday (20th January) I received a letter dated the end of November, which told me I had to pay £890 Tax Credits overpayment by the 3rd Jan. I also received no other notices of this, just that final notice to pay. When I called HMRC, they told me that the debt has gone to debt collectors, but they refused to tell me which one, and refused to allow me to make any payment directly to them. I am now in contact with CAB who will hopefully be helping me to make a complaint against HMRC for the way they have handled this (I am not disputing the payment, but they are clearly incompetent in sending out letters telling me to pay AFTER the payment date....). In case any body is wondering, HMRC are blaming Royal Mail, but I know of other people who they have done this to, and my mail has been suspiciously fine with all other letters, including other ones from HMRC about another overpayment.
I've got lots of information about making a complaint etc, but I wanted to know if this will impact my credit file, as I will be trying for a mortgage in a few months, and I really can't afford to have a blight on my records. The stupid thing is, I'm more than willing to pay this amount, and would have been more than happy to pay it in time, had they bothered to send me a letter *before* the payment date!!!

Thanks in advance for any help...

Stevie_Palimo

This must be wrong as they do give a lot of notice when claiming back any money due and more so when as you state a letter arrived long after it was supposedly dated, I'd get back on the phone and hope for a more sympathetic person to run through this with.

Musician1

Stevie_Palimo wrote: »

This must be wrong as they do give a lot of notice when claiming back any money due and more so when as you state a letter arrived long after it was supposedly dated, I'd get back on the phone and hope for a more sympathetic person to run through this with.

It's not wrong, they made an error. Its HMRC, it's really not that unusual for them to do this...

Stevie_Palimo

I don't mean wrong amounts or that you owe it I mean wrong as in time frames for repaying it.

DawnW

Given your situation (can afford to pay it, want to apply for a mortgage) I would pay it ..... and then immediately make a complaint.

Gazzafatcityboy

hi there,

i didnt want to read and run. I have owed HMRC monies before and it went to debt collection. It never showed up on my reports anywhere. anyone else had exp of this?

Gaz

phoenixx

I am currently facing a debt to HMRC that runs well into 4 figures...currently checking accuracy of claim as I was definitely not expecting it.

sourcrates

Four years ago HMRC wrote to me, and my now ex wife, wanting £2700 in overpaid tax credits back.


This was from between 2007 and 2009.


I wrote back asking them to contact me again in six months, as I was still in an IVA at that time, they agreed this in writing.


That's the last I heard of it, and they would be statute barred by now, I know some accounts were written off by HMRC, maybe mine was one of those ?

Darksparkle

sourcrates wrote: »

Four years ago HMRC wrote to me, and my now ex wife, wanting £2700 in overpaid tax credits back.


This was from between 2007 and 2009.


I wrote back asking them to contact me again in six months, as I was still in an IVA at that time, they agreed this in writing.


That's the last I heard of it, and they would be statute barred by now, I know some accounts were written off by HMRC, maybe mine was one of those ?

Tax credit debts cannot be taken to court after 6 years.

They can still continue to pursue through other means, changing tax code, reducing future tax credits, direct payments.

Normal tax credits debts don't appear on credit reports although I believe any court action would.

If you agree that the overpayment is correct, then repay it.

If you still wish to make a complaint then do so.

If you don't agree with it, you need to dispute it but this must be done within 3 months of the decision being made.

sourcrates

Darksparkle wrote: »

Tax credit debts cannot be taken to court after 6 years.

They can still continue to pursue through other means, changing tax code, reducing future tax credits, direct payments.

Normal tax credits debts don't appear on credit reports although I believe any court action would.

If you agree that the overpayment is correct, then repay it.

If you still wish to make a complaint then do so.

If you don't agree with it, you need to dispute it but this must be done within 3 months of the decision being made.

Let's put it this way, they know where I am as I pay income tax.

I refuse to make it any easier than that.

They have not sent a demand so until they do............

Darksparkle

sourcrates wrote: »

Let's put it this way, they know where I am as I pay income tax.

I refuse to make it any easier than that.

They have not sent a demand so until they do............

Never said you should do anything, you said it becomes statute barred. Just explaining that they have processes in place that will allow them to recover it without going through the courts.

Other comments were for the OP.