Tax credit overpayment from 09/10.

LCN302831

Hi, I'm looking to see if anyone can help with information regarding my next move when dealing with HMRC over tax credit overpayment dating back to 2009/2010.
During this particular year my joint claim with my husband had an omission of his salary on the award notice, it showed he earned £0 during a 36hour working week, we contacted them immediately to inform them of this mistake, told that this would be rectified and new notice would be sent out but only admin error payments should be ok, again new awards notice showed £0 for husbands salary in fact on 4 occasions of complaining the omission was never corrected, finally someone done their job properly and corrected awards notice to then be told that we had a £2800+ overpayment. Again complained over this as this was the fault of HMRC and not ours! Told to put complaints form in which we done but according to HMRC they never received one, they said this on 5 occasions. They started to recoup money from subsequent awards leaving me no tax credits most years with 3 kids. Last year they then said they were going to recoup the money back through our tax codes, on challenging this again as never had a complaint answered I was told yet again to put another complaints form in - this time they finally answered it only to tell me that that time had lapsed on this complaint and I was left liable for the repayment even though they were at fault. Contacted around 4 different call handlers last August to be told different stories by all of them, some even telling me that they could see all my calls logged over the years and that it wasn't my fault, then there was one call handler in particular who gave me absolute abuse over the phone telling me that it was the Queen's money and I should count myself lucky to get any of it (obvious complaint went in against her). From here I had to meet my local MP to see what could be done, he sent a letter off, my response from HMRC was basic and stated that I received multiple awards notices with an omission (I only received multiple because I complained for them to be rectified) which lead to an overpayment and then subsequent overpayment the following year (of course it did as it looked as if our income had jumped £25000 in a year). No admission of their mistake leading to this and told that I still had to pay the overpayment. Contacted the MP several times since but with no reply as I don't think he knows what to with it!!
Sorry for the rant but this is so infuriating and have no idea where next to turn!!

Darksparkle

You mention making various complaints (not sure what complaints form you are referring to as I don't ever remember them having a form for that) but the process for disagreeing with an overpayment is normally a dispute. Did you ever do that?

https://public-online.hmrc.gov.uk/lc/content/xfaforms/profiles/forms.html?contentRoot=repository:///Applications/Benefits_and_Credits/1.0/TC846_20167&template=TC846.xdp

LCN302831

Sorry wrong wording used- it was dispute forms that I submitted regarding tax credit award. Complaints form submitted for call handler attitude.