Tax credits fraud.

poppy12345

waffledog30 said:

 I want to confess to not reporting a change of circumstances?

This is exactly what you need to say to start with. Then tell the date you moved in with your partner.

Galloglass

 I want to confess 

Not the way to start a conversation on this subject. 

They want a telephone interview next week

If you intend to call, just say it is in relation to the letter about an interview and you'd like to do it now.

If you were claiming as a single parent before those dates and you shouldn't have then you will need to honest. If you're not honest, they will find out and the whole situation will be even worse. You will of course need to pay back the overpayment and there could a fine on top. Just be honest.

@poppy12345 has explained above what people should do, whether or not it is fraud, but you do not need to self-describe it as fraud. Let them explain it to you and if you accept it is, then ask what needs to be done about it.

Whilst my personal view is the same as the others in that the money will have to be repaid, let the system calculate it for you and let them describe the plan for the future. The people on the other end of the phone are civil servants operating to clear legal guidance and procedures. They are not judge and jury and will need to get information from you before any decision is made. So don't make the decision for them. Just give them the facts - honestly.

Once you have a decision, you can still appeal it (see link) but these tend not to be successful as HMRC like to point out.

https://www.gov.uk/tax-credits-appeals-complaints/dispute-tax-credits-overpayment

waffledog30

Im so anxious! Going to ring after the school run.

waffledog30

They won’t speak to me and told me to wait for my interview 😩😩

[Deleted User]

waffledog30 said:

They won’t speak to me and told me to wait for my interview 😩😩

 Id suggest getting down to your local Citizens Advice and seeing if someone can attend this interview with you.

poppy12345

_shel said:

waffledog30 said:

They won’t speak to me and told me to wait for my interview 😩😩

 Id suggest getting down to your local Citizens Advice and seeing if someone can attend this interview with you.

It's very likely a telephone interview and not a face to face one.

waffledog30

It’s a telephone one 

huckster

Did wonder whether you could resolve by phone call to them.  Most of their staff are working from home and therefore may only be dealing with people via an outgoing phone call.  Not heard of HMRC staff receiving incoming phone calls at home.  Think they may have an outside company answering most of the incoming phone calls and only taking messages or telling people what they need to do e.g. wait for the compliance interview phone call.

waffledog30

My work won’t let me leave 5 mins early to take the call and not I’m panicking 😩

waffledog30

So I had the phone call this evening. The woman was SO nice. She’s referred me to a case worker so I can have help so I don’t have to speak to all different people when I ring. 

She said I will just have to pay it back, which I knew anyway. They said they will work out how much I owe and then send a letter and sort out an arrangement to pay.