Unexpected request to confirm tax residency - Halifax

Honey3

I also received the letter from Halifax asking for my status of my residency from 1st July 2014. Return address tax compliance services, Willenhall. Does everyone receiving this have the same return address? Also does everyone has a reported account by Halifax on the letter?

Honey3

I do believe it's a genuine letter, just confused why the return address is not to Halifax?

iltisman

I bet the scammers will try copying this rubbish mailout by Halifax and just add a request for account numbers etc .

badmemory

If only the Halifax covering letter had said something about getting EY to deal with this mountain of paper and if the return envelope had only mentioned them somewhere in the address, they could have saved us all the fuss & themselves the quantity of calls they have received. I was told their lines once operating were very busy. Frankly no-one to blame but themselves!

dianasnan

Just had the same thing purporting to be from Birmingham Midshires so need to check if it is genuine.
Return address is Tax compliance Service Centre, PO box 7082, Willenhall, WV1 9AD

Honey3

Is your bank saying reported account?

StephenC1234

Had the same letter, but this time from Lloyds.

First thing that made me suspicious was that it wasn't addressed to my full address.

Then there's the quality of the print outs, different paper weights, not the usual bank paper stock from Lloyds, all of them poor quality.

Then, as you read it, the wording is setting you up to expect a call where they may ask you to confirm details such as your bank account number, balance etc... remember if you've already completed the form they posted they already have the other essential info and your signature! They'll basically have all they need to defraud you.

I then checked the postcode using the Royal Mail reverse postcode look up and it showed me the location on a map. royalmail.com/find-a-postcode

Address is Broad Gauge Way Wolverhampton. There's a number of newly built student accommodation close to Wolverhampton Uni. Granted there is also a Royal Mail and some office buildings.

For those of you who would like to see it in street view, see google.co.uk/maps/@52.5881485,-2.11748,3a,75y,249.86h,85.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1smWGOQStPUsB6pfNiBcaPnQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

So I lastly called Lloyds and they have no record of that address, nor the letter, and advised mew not to reply to it.

Other info on the letter included this phone number: 0345 850 9064

Its a good bluff but don't be fooled. If in doubt call your bank directly - not the number shown on the letter.

Hope that helps.

dianasnan

Honey3 wrote: »

Is your bank saying reported account?

Yes mine says they may be required to report certain customers account info based on their tax residency.

Honey3

Thanks, so they are saying your account is a reportable account?

RobertJPA

"reportable account", no, the form does not identify any specific account. Indeed, you are asked to sign as 'the account holder', but without defining which account, only it is implied that it is with the Halifax (and this is only discernible from the end footnote). the more you look at it, the less convincing it becomes