Overpayment of Tax Credits..I need help!!

emmagooch

Hi all,

This is my first post so apologies if it's in the wrong thread!

I received a letter last week from HM Revenue and Customs stating I had been overpaid Child Tax Credits 4 years ago and I now need to repay the £600 odd pound before they take legal action.

I rang them and disputed this, but they claim I EITHER didn't return my declaration or filled it in incorrectly. Either way I had forfeited my rights to the benefits and if I was not happy to fill in a dispute form.

But god this was 4 years ago...I don't know if I did something wrong on the form or when I sent it back..how am I supposed to remember that!? I have filled out the dispute form and sent an attached letter but honestly will it do any good?

I have not heard anything from them prior to last week and didn't even know that there was a problem.

Can anyone tell me where I stand and if I have a chance of them waiving the amount as surely this is down to they're own incompetance that it has gone this long.

I appreciate the help. Thanks everyone.

bountiful

Can't give you explicit advice, but want to share the fact that I had to repay a similar amount about two years ago - and that was also based on an overpayment made a couple of years previously when I was living with a partner. They told me I had been overpaid for CTC which I never even received - He did! They apologised at the time and I didn't have to pay - but a couple of years later when I was claiming WTC the overpayment seemed to re-appear - and I ended up having to pay back £625 (in fact I am on my last payment of £20.18 next month) Nightmare!
I suggest you get all your paperwork together and try to go and see a benefits adviser at the Citizens Advice Bureau - they have all the up-to-date info on it. There are just so many errors made with WTC and CTC that I am sure there will be plenty of help available for you if you go along.
Good luck!

Sea78

HI

What a nightmare! I hope that you can get the advice you need from the CAB - I would definitely second getting an appointment with them to discuss it all.

Sea xx

boredofbeingathome

Go onto the DWP website and click on the bit that mentions tax credits and overpayment, it has lots of useful info. there is also the benefits and tax credits thread which may be more helpful to your case.
I personally find them hard work, we constantly ring and inform them of changes only to find everything mucked up. interestingly enough we have small amount which we owed to them after checking paperwork again they had not included relevant info from over two years ago. They owed us, but their statement- we can only back date for three months, shoudn't itbe a two way street? We have got evidence by the way that we did tell them the appropriate info, and have to formally complain about it- but i'm sure it will only lead to confusion for them. good luck with it all.

bountiful

I agree with all that - def keep copies and record everything you say or send to them - for ever!!!!