tax credit overpayments new report published

MJMum

Similar story...waiting until Jan 2008 for our "overpayment" to be repaid...!

welshcakes

I have just had a letter today saying they are refusing my appeal regarding alledged (but I know not) overpayments for both of the last two years.

The reason they state 2003-2004 was an overpayment that was my fault is because "You were not entitiled to these payments because you were then living with a partner". This is the first time they have given a reason for why they consider I was overpayed. The thing is, I was completely and utterly single during the whole of 2003, 2004 and 2005! Admitedly I had started going out on dates with the man who has since become my partner but we didn't even begin a sexual relationship until 2005 and I certainly didn't ever stay over in his house and he had never even visited the area where I lived.

I am being sent another form on which I have to write "New Evidence" and provide documentary evidence to disprove we weren't a couple. What on earth am I supposed to offer? We were living nearly 25 miles apart and never had anything to do with each other financially (unless buying the drinks on our dates is considered being financially a couple). How can I possibly diapprove this statement, surely the onus should be on them to prove I was not single.

Just starting off on the dispute road and already I am feeling tearful at the prospect of fighting the big machine.

Candy_2

Hi, new here so hope i am doing it correctly. Do you know you can apply for top ups? Not many people no you can actually apply for extra money if there is an overpayment issue, they will then put your money back up. Hope it helps. We were overpaid less than six months ago (about a month AFTER the government admitted to the !!!!-up). We appealed (as the overpayment was their fault) and have just had a letter back denying responsiblity. We therefore have no tax credits for 12 months while the overpayment is paid back.

What really annoys me is that immediately after the government admitted to the overpayments they said nobody would need to repay if it was the governments fault. They get the headlines for being the good guys then quietly after everything has calmed down they do a U-turn and overpayments have to be paid back. :mad:[/QUOTE]

Candy_2

[You should go down the citizens advice and explained the situation, don't give up! Good Luck!QUOTE=welshcakes]I have just had a letter today saying they are refusing my appeal regarding alledged (but I know not) overpayments for both of the last two years.

The reason they state 2003-2004 was an overpayment that was my fault is because "You were not entitiled to these payments because you were then living with a partner". This is the first time they have given a reason for why they consider I was overpayed. The thing is, I was completely and utterly single during the whole of 2003, 2004 and 2005! Admitedly I had started going out on dates with the man who has since become my partner but we didn't even begin a sexual relationship until 2005 and I certainly didn't ever stay over in his house and he had never even visited the area where I lived.

I am being sent another form on which I have to write "New Evidence" and provide documentary evidence to disprove we weren't a couple. What on earth am I supposed to offer? We were living nearly 25 miles apart and never had anything to do with each other financially (unless buying the drinks on our dates is considered being financially a couple). How can I possibly diapprove this statement, surely the onus should be on them to prove I was not single.

Just starting off on the dispute road and already I am feeling tearful at the prospect of fighting the big machine. [/QUOTE]

que_sera

Hi can anybody help or advise me please, i've recieved a child tax credit overpayment bill for £865 from 2005 apparently they never recieved the form and now they want the overpayment back,

creamtea_2

http://www.taxcreditoverpayment.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/2.html

KateB_2

que_sera wrote:

Hi can anybody help or advise me please, i've recieved a child tax credit overpayment bill for £865 from 2005 apparently they never recieved the form and now they want the overpayment back,

I'm going through exactly the same. We gave all of the info they asked for but they now (verbally) admit that it was recorded on the wrong file. They are saying that they do now have the info but the file has been passed to the debt recovery department so as far as they are concerned we still owe the money!!! I eventually managed to convince them to send me an appeal form which arrived yesterday (I threatened legal action).

The thing which really annoys me is that they don't tell you exactly why the overpayment has occurred and simply send you a scary bill. Trying to get the info out of them is like trying to get blood out of a stone. They certainly won't put it in writing to me. Do they seriously expect people to pay a bill when they don't know what it is for?

Ask them for an appeal form - it will take them a couple of weeks to send it but it is worth a try. Good luck!

charchar_3

KateB wrote:

I'm going through exactly the same. We gave all of the info they asked for but they now (verbally) admit that it was recorded on the wrong file. They are saying that they do now have the info but the file has been passed to the debt recovery department so as far as they are concerned we still owe the money!!! I eventually managed to convince them to send me an appeal form which arrived yesterday (I threatened legal action).

The thing which really annoys me is that they don't tell you exactly why the overpayment has occurred and simply send you a scary bill. Trying to get the info out of them is like trying to get blood out of a stone. They certainly won't put it in writing to me. Do they seriously expect people to pay a bill when they don't know what it is for?

Ask them for an appeal form - it will take them a couple of weeks to send it but it is worth a try. Good luck!

Apparently i owe them over £5100 in 9 months, i rang the TCO and asked to speak to someone face to face, so now got appt at the local inland revenue office next week, so will hopefully find out what's gone wrong!!!

I know it isn't true, i never had an extra £510 in the bank at the end of every month!

paddy155

Have just received a bill for overpayment forf 2003-04 and 2004-05. The TCO said I had not informed them of my increase in working hours in 2003, but I did send them a letter giving details of increase,which started mid way thro my first claim. I was late advising them of the increase due to the fact that my father was diagnosed with cancer, and what with helping to care for him and my mum, Tax Credit was the last thing on my mind. After my father's death I suffered from depression and things such as TC were left unsorted. I did eventually advise them of the increase in wages, and I carried on getting the TC. Then last year was told I had been over paid and they wanted the money back. I have written to TCO, my local MP, to my local newspaper and to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but no deal I have to pay it back.

At the moment my husband and I are suffering financially, have a son about to start uni, and no spare money each month. We have offered to pay an amount of £20 per month which is really going to skint us.

Anyone got any ideas?

paddy155

creamtea_2

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/taxmistakes/

This petition will be as fantastic as the road tax one last week