Tax Credit Renewals 16/17

Dandytf

charlie358 wrote: »

I've still not had my renewal pack yet.

As a few others, neither have I

Though a kind MSE'r posted a online renewal link which I'm confident of trying 1st time this year, once my renewal pack arrives.

CakeCrusader

Saralou2011 wrote: »

Who is this company what do they check, I thought everything is checked each yr by hmrc.

HMRC outsourced their claims investigations, and Concentrix won the tender. I think last year they were paid per claim they found fraudulent rather than per claim they checked. They check childcare claims, to make sure that people are paying what they say they are paying (they ask for bills and receipts), they check details of people who say they are self employed, to make sure they actually are doing some work (they ask for accounts, diaries, receipts, invoices etc), and they check lone parents claims (they ask for bank statements so they can see that the lone parent is paying all of the bills and isn't relying on someone else).

In all cases they ask people to send their confidential information (bank statements etc) so they can check their ingoing and outgoings. It's invasive, it's time consuming, and people have real problems getting to speak to someone on the phone (my phone bill was £50 for just this last year and it took 4 months to sort out). I didn't have anything to hide, so it wasn't a problem, the time and cost (phone calls, documents that I needed to get copies off, recorded delivery etc) though, that was a problem. I was also told that I was reported because they had information to say that I had another adult living in my home with me and my son (as opposed to 'is this really your income?'). I've been a lone parent since my son was born, and the only other people living in my house is my son, and the 100 lego men stored under his bed and his teddies, so this was news to me. I think they throw accusations at people in the hope they will panic, and not send their documents in/stop claiming, so it's really not a stressfree thing. I found out in the end that they didn't actually have any info about another adult living with me by the way, so it was all bull.

The lady from HRMC who updated my details on Thursday said I'd 'probably' receive a letter asking me to confirm my income as it's lower that their real time data (cos you're allowed expenses like gas/electricity etc when you work from home). I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have to go through this faff again this year

cifpower

Don't want to have your claim checked by Concentrix? Don't claim Tax Credits.

Mine was renewed automatically this week. Had an ad-hoc payment and slightly higher ones going forward.

Saralou2011

That's fair enough so basically if hmrc think there's something missing or wrong on your claim then they check what ever it is they dint like, and require more info an this company does it for them i thought hmrc check your yrly earnings anyway I had auto tcr, yr 2013-2014 an they new what I had earnt before I declared it anyway so they should know what my end of yr is, yet I did jury service an was payed expences and loss of earnings which I will be adding on when I get my renewal, I rang an tried to add it but was told wait for renewal do they go in any kind of order.... I'm moving house next month. I'd rather do it all in one them queues on the fone.....

CakeCrusader

I got through pretty quickly on the phone.

I have no problem proving what I earn, I'm just annoyed that they mislead me into sending them my private information at my expense, and I had to pay £50 in phone calls to get it sorted out. I wouldn't be claiming tax credits if I didn't need to, and £75 to send them information that they have demanded is off.

georgiasdragons

Had my renewal today didn't have a red line.

Says check now not renew now.

Looks like an auto renewal that will happen 31sr July.

However top left corner it says online renewal reference number but I guess I can ignore as all my details correct.

Already got payments schedule on the back of this so this is better for be than having to do declaration.

scotty1971

Renewed the 20/5 and received a txt on the 23/5 saying my claim might take 8 weeks to process.My renewal had a red line so don't know if that makes a difference.

Darksparkle

scotty1971 wrote: »

Renewed the 20/5 and received a txt on the 23/5 saying my claim might take 8 weeks to process.My renewal had a red line so don't know if that makes a difference.

8 weeks is the normal timescale every year.

scotty1971

Darksparkle wrote: »

8 weeks is the normal timescale every year.

Thanks,just wondered if the red line made a difference

Darksparkle

scotty1971 wrote: »

Thanks,just wondered if the red line made a difference

There was a debate about this last year too. I don't think it matters.