£4000 overpayment after duff tax credit advice

Fuzzy39

Has anyone else ever had as much duff advice as this? Last year I phoned and wrote to the child tax credit people to tell them about some bereavement and pension benefits I had begun to receive. Tell em tell em tell says Martin so l did. The helpful chap on the other end of the phone said these would not affect my tax credits. I must admit I was suspicious at the time so asked him to record his advice on my file. I also wrote several letters as well with my full financial circumstances which were also recorded. Jump 12 months ahead, when sorting out this year's claim I checked again and low and behold was told that last years advice was pants and I now owed over £4K. I've naturally lodged a formal complaint but would be interested to know if anyone else has ever been in a similar position and how it was sorted out.

Mersey_2

Being provided with incorrect information by a Govt department is classed as maladministration.


Losing out financially as a result of the same will be considered in any appeal. You're right to complain in writing to HMRC as well as appealing the decision.

densol_2

What were the pension benefits you received ?

Darksparkle

Mersey wrote: »

Being provided with incorrect information by a Govt department is classed as maladministration.


Losing out financially as a result of the same will be considered in any appeal. You're right to complain in writing to HMRC as well as appealing the decision.

A dispute is likely to be more appropriate than an appeal.

Detroit

You need to request the tape of the telephone conversation and listen carefully to make sure of the advice you were given.
If there is clear evidence that you provided all the relevant information and received incorrect advice then you have a case.

xylophone

You need to request the tape of the telephone conversation

The OP seems to have felt that the advice was not correct and followed up the conversation with more than one letter which he/she says were "recorded".

Does he/she mean simply that there is evidence of delivery ("signed for") or that the letters were acknowledged in writing and calculations confirmed?

Icequeen99

Mersey wrote: »

Being provided with incorrect information by a Govt department is classed as maladministration.


Losing out financially as a result of the same will be considered in any appeal. You're right to complain in writing to HMRC as well as appealing the decision.

An appeal is not the right thing to do in this case.

OP - you need to read a leaflet called COP 26 (it is on GOV.UK) which sets out what you can do. Follow the dispute process. Ask them to listen to the phone calls and refer them to the letters and state that you want it written off because of the wrong advice they gave you.

IQ

Detroit

xylophone wrote: »

The OP seems to have felt that the advice was not correct and followed up the conversation with more than one letter which he/she says were "recorded".

Does he/she mean simply that there is evidence of delivery ("signed for") or that the letters were acknowledged in writing and calculations confirmed?

The OP states the issue has occurred as a result of advice given verbally in a telephone conversation. Useful to obtain the evidence of that.

xylophone

The OP states the issue has occurred as a result of advice given verbally in a telephone conversation. Useful to obtain the evidence of that.

I don't disagree - it would be useful however to have an answer on what acknowledgement in writing has or has not been received.

micky2phones

Fuzzy39 wrote: »

Has anyone else ever had as much duff advice as this? Last year I phoned and wrote to the child tax credit people to tell them about some bereavement and pension benefits I had begun to receive. Tell em tell em tell says Martin so l did. The helpful chap on the other end of the phone said these would not affect my tax credits. I must admit I was suspicious at the time so asked him to record his advice on my file. I also wrote several letters as well with my full financial circumstances which were also recorded. Jump 12 months ahead, when sorting out this year's claim I checked again and low and behold was told that last years advice was pants and I now owed over £4K. I've naturally lodged a formal complaint but would be interested to know if anyone else has ever been in a similar position and how it was sorted out.

Hi, yes, over many years had all names, dates, times of phone calls and copy of letters they sent and i sent.

Finally had letter stating all paid and some compensation.