Tax credits overpayment

[sunnyspell]

HMRC have sent me a letter saying I owe them for tax credits overpayment and should ring them immediately or else they will pass my details to a private debt collection agency and I will not be able to discuss the size of the debt with the agency.

i only ever claimed tax credits for the period 2010-2011 and didn't renew after that because I knew I wouldn't be entitled. What I told them at the start of my claim was accurate and things didn't change during the year I was on receipt of the credits. There are no statements of account or anything attached to the letter demanding payment, nothing to explain how they arrived at that figure, and I haven't had a single payment since 2011.

It's not a huge amount (hundreds rather than thousands) but I'd like to know why they say they overpaid me.

[Never-In-Doubt]

Re: Tax credits overpayment

Pompeyfaith is probably your best bet. I'll ask him to pop in.

[oscar]

Re: Tax credits overpayment

Have you spoken to them to confirm if they have sent the letter? Number should be 0345 300 3900 in case its any different on the letter.

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Tax credits overpayment

Yes PF's your man
In the meantime have a look at the Adviceguide pdf I've attached, for further info..

Elsa x

[pompeyfaith]

Re: Tax credits overpayment

Good Evening Sunnyspell,

If you believe you have meet your responsibilities in giving them correct data, you need to do as a first step to fill out form TC846 TAX CREDIT OVERPAYMENT this is to get you a reconsideration on the decision they made.

tc846.pdf

If you then get the same response in there return letter you will have to dispute it and go down the Subject Access Request (SAR) to get all information relating to your tax credits claim inc the calculations they used and the reason they say you owe it.

SAR Template should you need it:

(Your Address)






(Date)
TO; HM Revenue & Customs – Tax Credits
Subject Access Request Team
Floor 1 Area E,
St Marks House
Stanley Street
Preston,
PR1 4AT


Ref: (Your NI number)


Data Protection Act 1998
Subject Access Request


Dear Sir or Madam,


Please would you supply me with a complete list of personal data you hold on me. You should be aware that personal data can be held in written information, e-mails, electronic documents, photographs, CCTV images, telephone conversations and include recorded opinions about or intentions regarding myself.


Additionally, where there has been any event in the account history over this period which has required any manual intervention by any member of your staff or any other person, I require disclosure of any indication or notes which have either caused or resulted in that manual intervention in relation to my account.


If you are unable to supply the information in relation to manual intervention because there has been no such manual intervention, then please be kind enough to confirm this in your response to this request.


This is my request to access ALL the data held by you and any other company associated with you about myself. You should be fully aware of the statutory obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 and that any failure to comply with this request could result in a contravention of the said Act.

You have 40 Days in which to comply.
Yours sincerely

(Signed)

If you do send of the SAR get back to us with the reply and we will take it on from there

Regards

[sunnyspell]

Re: Tax credits overpayment

Yes PF's your man
In the meantime have a look at the Adviceguide pdf I've attached, for further info..

Elsa x

Thanks Elsa, will take a look, I'm sorry I didn't reply earlier, was away for the weekend.

[sunnyspell]

Re: Tax credits overpayment

Have you spoken to them to confirm if they have sent the letter? Number should be 0345 300 3900 in case its any different on the letter.

Yes, that's the number on the letter and it was sent by them.

[sunnyspell]

Re: Tax credits overpayment

Good Evening Sunnyspell,

If you believe you have meet your responsibilities in giving them correct data, you need to do as a first step to fill out form TC846 TAX CREDIT OVERPAYMENT this is to get you a reconsideration on the decision they made.

Many thanks for that Pompeyfaith, I've downloaded the form but it says it should be sent back to them within three months of my award notice telling me of the overpayment. What I've got is not an award notice, just a letter saying they will be passing the debt to a private debt collection agency. I haven't had any recent award notices because I only claimed tax credits once in 2010, which ended in 2011, I think I got an award letter then saying I wouldn't be receiving any more tax credits but nothing about overpayment.

[pompeyfaith]

Re: Tax credits overpayment

Still send it in as you have 30 days from date of letter to respond and it is not your fault they were late in informing you.

[sunnyspell]

Re: Tax credits overpayment

Thanks, I'll send it tomorrow.

[sunnyspell]

Re: Tax credits overpayment

Sent the form yesterday with proof of posting, I hope they don't pass it on to a debt collector as they said because then I won't be able to dispute the overpayment. Was also wondering whether a default will be recorded on my credit file, I haven't read anything about HMRC recording defaults, or will it be recorded if it gets passed on to a debt collector?

Thanks again!

[Riz]

Re: Tax credits overpayment

TC debts do not have defaults registered. Only way they could effect your credit file is if some sort of legal action is taken for recovery (ccj etc), which is extraordinarily unlikely.

[sunnyspell]

Re: Tax credits overpayment

Thanks Rizzle, that's reassuring. I don't need a fresh default for something I probably don't even owe.