Hidenda

AllanEv

I e-signed an email from Hidenda, as they asked for it before they could go further in relation to a refund of Marriage Allowance (£1,200 they said). I've checked back and it doesn't say that I was signing a Contract, but they're now alleging that I have. They are now demanding that I go ahead with the claim online, otherwise they will charge mee a fee. Their texts messages don't give a number, so I can't reply. I have replied to two of their emails so far, with queries of my own, but they don't respond to them either. I'm not sure what to do. If I ignore them, will I get a demand for a fee? They are listed on the Govt Action Fraud list, so I think they may be dodgy or unsafe.

[Deleted User]

Reads the terms of the contract to see what cancellation fees you would face and see if it's worth paying it and processing the refund yourself.

If there is a fee payable, they will certainly pursue it.

AllanEv

Thanks. However, I don't believe that I am entitled to a refuind of Marriage Allowance anyway. I can't see why. Of course, it's my fault for answering their advert/email in the first place!

dunstonh

I've checked back and it doesn't say that I was signing a Contract, but they're now alleging that I have. 

When you sign something, it is a contract.  It doesn't have to say "this is a contract".  It is an agreement to do something and your commitment.

They are now demanding that I go ahead with the claim online, otherwise they will charge mee a fee. 

A number of these have a timewaster clause in them. 

If I ignore them, will I get a demand for a fee?

Typically, these sorts of companies do go for debt collection agencies.

Read your contract terms and see what it says about charges.

sourcrates

Anything tax related can be re-claimed directly from HMRC, you don`t need any 3rd party.

You can do most things online, from your own tax account nowadays, register through Government gateway.

Sandtree

dunstonh said:

I've checked back and it doesn't say that I was signing a Contract, but they're now alleging that I have. 

When you sign something, it is a contract.  It doesn't have to say "this is a contract".  It is an agreement to do something and your commitment.

Fully agree something doesn't have to be called a contract and indeed you dont need to be warned that what you are signing is a contract either. The act of signing something alone however doesn't make a contract, you still need the basics of offer, acceptance and consideration... verbal contracts are just as binding as signed ones.

monty1966

dunstonh said:

I've checked back and it doesn't say that I was signing a Contract, but they're now alleging that I have. 

When you sign something, it is a contract.  It doesn't have to say "this is a contract".  It is an agreement to do something and your commitment.

They are now demanding that I go ahead with the claim online, otherwise they will charge mee a fee. 

A number of these have a timewaster clause in them. 

If I ignore them, will I get a demand for a fee?

Typically, these sorts of companies do go for debt collection agencies.

Read your contract terms and see what it says about charges.

This seems to be happening to many looking across social media with this company including a friend of mine - HidendaTax are a different registered company to Hidenda.com - Hidendatax claim to be a tax consultancy not a claims management company and dont need to be FCA registered - If someone has received an initial invoice with a very dated example of an N1 form with partially completed information along with "letter before court action" as part of the content sent - they have cut across all govt guidelines / protocols set up in 2017 regards payment resolution and debt collection - The reality is it would take at least 4/5 months plus before it reached court stage (if it got that far) as for many who pushed back on them, it appears they went away - This is clearly their intimidation tactics which courts would take a very dim view on, (suspect it could also be seen as harassment at such an early stage) should it get that far given all the documentation was sent prior to the 30 day payment terms set out on an initial invoice (if it were still in date) - What is also interesting is the address they are registered at and claim to trade from is in question, as their offices are pretty much empty, the lease has come to an end and new tenants move in shortly! would be interested in your thoughts given my update on this unscrupulous organisation 

monty1966

AllanEv said:

I e-signed an email from Hidenda, as they asked for it before they could go further in relation to a refund of Marriage Allowance (£1,200 they said). I've checked back and it doesn't say that I was signing a Contract, but they're now alleging that I have. They are now demanding that I go ahead with the claim online, otherwise they will charge mee a fee. Their texts messages don't give a number, so I can't reply. I have replied to two of their emails so far, with queries of my own, but they don't respond to them either. I'm not sure what to do. If I ignore them, will I get a demand for a fee? They are listed on the Govt Action Fraud list, so I think they may be dodgy or unsafe.

Might be worth reading what I responded with to dunstonh - From what I have written, it may be worth going via CAB to trading standards but dont let CAB jump the gun and just talk about cooling off periods - these are intimidation tactics along with a highly misleading landing page for Hidendatax.com which are separately registered company to Hidenda.com (holding company harwood claims management) though both have the same director listed as Mr Lee Paul Mellor on the companies house website - Hidendatax.com was set up at the back end of 2020 / early 2021 and take a close look at the hidendatax.com site which says they have been successfully claiming 000's back for clients for over 10 years - clearly not the case! They state on this site that their largest claim was in excess of £50k! Impossible when it is advertising based on marriage tax where the maximum is some £1250 - maybe also worth trying advertising standards agency but again, you could be easily fobbed off and refered to the financial conduct authority which they are not covered by and as such, doubt you would get any joy from that body -