tax credit overpayments new report published

Shez

Hi furby-2003,
Know exactly where youre coming from, I was in tears on the phone too, its very distressing. All I can say is that what I have done so far, so filled in the appeal form and get it sent off straightaway, once they receive an appeal they cannot recover anything until the case has been looked, this will at least buy you some time whilst you get yourself together before thinking about the next stage. At least it should stop anymore demands for payment that are so upsetting - and dont they always seem to arrive on a friday/saturday, so that it ruins your weekend?!!!! I hate that.

Anyway, looking at what others have said here I think I will write a letter to my MP too, and dont give up the fight!!

Dont forget you are not alone in this, and there are many of us here for support that are in the same boat.

furby-2003

im afraid this will be so much all the money i worked hard to save for a house will have to be used for that. Im also scared that the demands will put us in bad credit and i will end up going to court

stevewharf

we have been over paid and they have stopped all payments untill april 12th this year it should be paid off by then. in the meantime we are left over 600 pounds down each month can they do this? we have also been given the usual line of send in a dispute form by the time its dealt with it will be a new tax year is there much point i dont think so

furby-2003

i don't know how they think a family of 3 can live off £600 a month and pay the bills!!!

Fran

furby-2003 wrote:

i don't know how they think a family of 3 can live off £600 a month and pay the bills!!!

furby,

I would visit Citizens Advice and check they are working on the correct figures. Also you might be entitled to some Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit. They will help you negotiate too. Also ask them about students - is your boyfriend getting all the income that he could? He should check with the college whether more help is available.

HopeElizzy

If you've been overpaid and it's their fault don't stop complaining. They made a mistake, which they've admitted to, with our tax credits in June 2003. We have been writting ever since with our Mp getting involved last January. In October he admitted defeat as they weren't even replying to his letters and he has passed our case to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. They in turn have sent 3 letters so far all apologising for the delay in sorting our case because they have so many tax credits complaints to deal with!
It's a complete joke of a system. When they made the mistake we had one child, now we have 2 we're actually worse off because they're clawing the money back from both childrens entitlement. It makes you very bitter and I wish we'd never heard of these :exclamati people.

richgirl

stevewharf wrote:

we have been over paid and they have stopped all payments untill april 12th this year it should be paid off by then. in the meantime we are left over 600 pounds down each month can they do this? we have also been given the usual line of send in a dispute form by the time its dealt with it will be a new tax year is there much point i dont think so

They should have given you more time to repay the overpayment over, it does seem a little unfair to stop payments, perhaps they should spread it out over the next 12 months ?

MVC

I'm self employed and bobbling along OK. I have always over estimated my predicted income in a bid to avoid being over paid tax credits.

My accountant did my accounts and I paid my tax bill in January - it was only at that point I could see what my actual taxable earnings were for 04/05.

Tax credits sent us a letter earlier this month so I phoned them with our actual income for 04/05 as requested.

This week they credited my account with almost £200 for 04/05 (which is apparently correct) and nearly £400 backpay for 05/06 plus a promise of an increased payment of seventy odd pounds each month from now on.

THEY ignore the estimates that I had given and made an ASSUMPTION about our 05/06 income based on the 04/05 figures! We expect to earn a fair bit more this year so will probably only qualify for the basic £10 a week.

I called & explained that we DON'T want the money and that we had previously made gross over-estimates to AVOID any chance of over payments!

Now I have given them a figure (over estimated AGAIN) for 05/06 to allow them to adjust their payments.

Apparently we can't give them the £400 back unless they ask for it. Which they probably will do within a few days!

I'm not suprised that so many people get caught in the trap of being over-paid. It's hard to resist £400 - especially when the person at Tax Credits swears blind you're entitled to it.... but eventually agrees that you will be aksed for it back very shortly!

Shez

MVC, maybe if you are worried about them asking for it back - maybe put it into an account - that way you can still send back the money but keep the interest for yourself so you get something out of it?

just a thought.

C_Ronaldo

Sensemaya wrote:

If the overpayment is the Govt's fault it should be wiped off and you should be compensated.Don't let it drop.

i agree sensemaya,