tax credits - fraud or not??

jasmine

Hi Piggy ...I was "compliance tested" last year so I know what your going through..was it a letter from the compliance team you received ?

spinks

piggy123 wrote: »

Yes i think its best i come clean. Going to give them a call in the morning with all the corect figures since november 2007. I will just say i have a confession to make and that my partner moed in as a couple in november and i didnt tell them earlier today as i panicked on the phone.
What will happen will they just make me pay it all back or what?

I'm not really sure, but I think I have heard other people say on here that they are more accommodating with people who own up and are willing to pay back what they truly owe.

I don't think you need to worry about prison yet, but I think you have learnt a valuable (and costly) lesson, good luck

piggy123

jasmine wrote: »

Hi Piggy ...I was "compliance tested" last year so I know what your going through..was it a letter from the compliance team you received ?

yes it is, were you in a similar situation to me or were you claiming correctly?

DaisyFlower

piggy123 wrote: »

Yes i think its best i come clean. Going to give them a call in the morning with all the corect figures since november 2007. I will just say i have a confession to make and that my partner moed in as a couple in november and i didnt tell them earlier today as i panicked on the phone.
What will happen will they just make me pay it all back or what?

By coming clean as per above, check your dates - you said he has been living with you for 6 months and November was at the most 8 weeks ago.

jasmine

I know how you feel.. ...i don't know why but I received a letter asking for my life history for a particular tax year..bank statements bills etc..i sent them all off and was then sent a letter asking me to phone them.
My only connection with my ex was a joint mortgage and TC told me we can see you are finacially independent but your ex is still listed on experian !
Believe me they already know everything about you..they went back over seven yrs to my previous address...
They said because we can see you are finacially independent it's ok but we don't like seeing him still linked to on experian...I also had no way of proving where he lived unless he kindly sent it in :rotfl: .
So, I would come clean and tell the truth, if you don't send in the bank statements they can hit you with a massive fine..the letters and leaflets they send are terrifying I know...
I truly hope everything turns out ok, do your bank accounts show you were "financially independent" for the six months you were apart ?

cyclonebri1

Sorry, and I don't want to be seen as having a go, but, if you post on an open forum such as this then I'm sure it can be viewed as an admission if it can be linked back to you.

Be very carefull what you actually say in these circumstances as hypothetical situations can become real very quickly. You also need to be carefull in so far as not implicating anyone who is trying to help you.

Again if you have made a mistake, and now realise it, lying to get out of it could make matters substantially worse. I am trying to help not to "benefit bash".

:beer:

piggy123

Will we be put on nothing or do you think they will still give us tax credits like we are entitled to or do you think they will stop them until the previous over payment has been made?

jasmine

Sorry I don't know what will happen about any overpayment, though i'm sure some one more knowlegable will be along to help you...or you could try asking the compliance team when you phone...Although it wasn't a nice experience the lady I spoke to wasn't an ogre ! ..i really would call them and tell them the truth and ask where you go from here..

piggy123

yes i will, going to put the children to bed and call the help line, think the office is closed were the lady is i spoke to today. I would rather call the helpline anyhow

bestpud

I can appreciate you are firghtened of the outcome, but you are doing the right thing by holding your hands up imo.

It is going to be very difficult to prove you were seperate even for 6 months and I can see no gain in you saying he moved back in November. I was told we have 4 weeks to notify them of changes when I recently started work - dunno if it is the same for your situation.

I don't know if they can withold all your tax credits while they reclaim the money but if they do, you will find a way of getting through. You have a joint income of £22000 so you will have an income, even if things will be very tight for a while. It's better than prison anyway, I'd have thought!!!

How old are your children - they won't need childcare forever so that will be a saving.

Really, you just have to face the fact that you've had a very good income for the last so many months, but you have now been rumbled. All you can do is meet it head on now and hope for the best.

Have you tried the CAB for advice on what may happen/the process etc?

Be brave - the hardest step will be that first phonecall. Uncertainty is almost always worse imo and it's often easier to deal with things once you know where you are.