HMRC High income penalty charge child benfit

lazytoad2001

My partner has been receiving comms from HMRC regarding payment back of child benefit due to having tipped the high earning threshold. Whilst it feels unreasonable many years after to be clawing it back the sum isn't really in dispute. However we have been trying to communicate with them over a period in which it ceased to be paid to him. This can only be done by letter any phone calls we get advised to respond in writing. We have two different references now and two different referenced penalty charges on top of the additional sums. It seems impossible to discuss it with them and we are going around in circles whilst they add penalty on penalty despite us being in comms with them. 

Can anyone advise how we can enter into sensible comms with them and clear the matter up i.e. get to one case number one fixed figure that's correct and attempt to agree that the penalty charges being leveraged in duplicate may or may not be incorrect. 

Can we raise a complaint? Therefore meaning someone sensible reviews all comms half a dozen letters and all the reference numbers? 

Help it really shouldn't be so difficult to deal with a government agency. 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Of course you can raise a complaint.

But it comes across as though you are prevaricating somewhat and making things worse for yourself.  

Has your partner actually paid the amount they believe is correct and if not why not?

molerat

However we have been trying to communicate with them over a period in which it ceased to be paid to him.

What exactly does that statement mean ?

sheramber

Are you saying your partner did not receive child benefit for some periods.

If he didn't, why did he not receive it?

Was his name still on the claim for the child benefit for those periods?