Tax credit overpayment & credit file

ukamber1

Hi,

Please can anyone help. I've been disputing an overpayment of tax credit since 2010 but every year I've received another request for payment but giving no answer to the original dispute, I even had their customer service members tell me its a standard letter so take no notice. I keep highlighting the issue and they say they will look into it but still havent had any reply. This has now been going on over 5 years...

My question is in connection with credit file. I'm getting to the point where I want to just pay the amount(even tho I dont feel I was in the wrong) as worried of this debt hanging over me and effecting my credit file(its for around £400). I even had an issue where they passed it to a debt collection agency in 2014 without telling me and then they had to apologize as it was an error but even tho it had been past to a debt collector nothing showed on my credit file. (checked both experian and equifax)

Can tax credit overpayments show on credit files, as a default for example? or are they treated differently to loans, credit cards, bank accounts, mortgages etc....?

If they can, would the default be shown as 2010 as thats when the original date they claim I had overpayment (still have the letter!)

Nothing is showing on my file yet but the continued worry is making me feel I should just give in and forget "principle" and just pay for an easy life.....

thank you for any help

Darksparkle

It won't show on your error report unless they took court action which they rarely do.

Have you completed an actual dispute form? If so have you confirmed they actually received it?

ukamber1

Darksparkle wrote: »

It won't show on your error report unless they took court action which they rarely do.

Have you completed an actual dispute form? If so have you confirmed they actually received it?

Hi, thank you for your reply. They were happy to accept my original dispute in letter form and confirmed that they were looking into it back in 2010. I now get a threatening letter once, maybe twice a year asking for the overpayment, without any mention of the original dispute. My last conversation was summer 2015 when I got in contact with them and they confirmed no one had looked into the original dispute after 5years of asking (and the customer service agent said quote "someone in their department isnt doing their job right") and said again they will look into it....that was "again" almost 14months ago. I've had the same conversation every year for the past 5 and a half years.

If this isnt going to go on my credit report...which is now almost clear after 6 years, it will give me confidence to keep fighting with my dispute and not give in because of the possible worry of a default...

thank you for your reply, really appreciate it, was starting to get really worried and upset, over it.

Kind regards

densol_2

ukamber1 wrote: »

Hi, thank you for your reply. They were happy to accept my original dispute in letter form and confirmed that they were looking into it back in 2010. I now get a threatening letter once, maybe twice a year asking for the overpayment, without any mention of the original dispute. My last conversation was summer 2015 when I got in contact with them and they confirmed no one had looked into the original dispute after 5years of asking (and the customer service agent said quote "someone in their department isnt doing their job right") and said again they will look into it....that was "again" almost 14months ago. I've had the same conversation every year for the past 5 and a half years.

If this isnt going to go on my credit report...which is now almost clear after 6 years, it will give me confidence to keep fighting with my dispute and not give in because of the possible worry of a default...

thank you for your reply, really appreciate it, was starting to get really worried and upset, over it.

Kind regards

I would type the facts that have happened in a non emotive way and send the letter by recorded delivery requiring an investigation and closure on the matter. No phone calls, just a recorded letter and if no response then involve your MP

ukamber1

densol wrote: »

I would type the facts that have happened in a non emotive way and send the letter by recorded delivery requiring an investigation and closure on the matter. No phone calls, just a recorded letter and if no response then involve your MP

Just as an update...

Spoke to tax credit again this morning about the overpayment...since my June 2015 conservation with them, they havent even looked at the case(again). Thats now almost 6years and no one has even investigated my original dispute! They've confirmed my dispute case is open, and I have that in writing from them, so I know its in their system but they havent even investigated it. Just kept sending demand for payment every year.

Dont these departments have internal guidelines for their service standards? Surely after "almost" 6 years and no one has still investigated a dispute raised, you'd think it would be written off? I just want it done and finished now, as its been hanging over me so long....