WTC Overpayment 2003-2004 please help

[hallett2007]

I claimed wtc in the year 2003-2004 as a single mum, when i was due to move in with a new partner in 2004 i phoned hmrc on the 22nd of feb 2004 and cancelled my claim and i was told not to reclaim as a couple until after april which we didnt.

Well for the last couple of years they keep sending me a letter saying i was overpaid 2003-2004 by £370.81 and i need to pay it back after various phone calls and dispute forms this year 23 feb 2008 i had a letter from there debt management unit threatening legal action.

I phoned the debt management unit and spoke to them about the debt but on the computer they couldnt understand why i was being asked to pay money back according to them i cancelled my claim on the 22nd of feb 2004 and my last payment was on the 26th of feb 2004. They told me to get in touch with the tax credit helpline.

I phoned the tax credit help line and they spent 10 minuites looking at my calim and then came back saying that it was the year that they changed from employer paying in direct to the hmrc paying it and through either there fault or my ex-employer i ended up with double payments. I didnt know anything about this as i had always been paid one through work(wtc) and one through hmrc(ctc) so wouldnt of noticed any change.

I have filled in another dispute form syaing this is not my fault and cant see why i should have to repay there mistake.

I would be grateful for any help or advise on this matter x

[Goldlady]

It is their fault and you should not have to repay it.

When I worked for the Dss or whoever they are these days it was called official error. So you have probably done all you need to if you have sent the form back pointing out it was their mistake. If you get any more grief send me a PM and I will find the relevant information to send them.

I was overpaid tax credit at around the same time and managed to fight them on the basis that I am an accountant and if I can't understand their stupid award notices then no-one can!! I haven't had any award notices for three years - seems they are stuck in some print queue somewhere

[hallett2007]

Thanks Goldlady

i have posted back a dispute form which i do every year except the last couple of years i didnt understand how i had been over payed, so at least this time i managed to find out what happened. I will let you know if i have any futher correspondence from them.

Lucy

[Yellow160]

ive been struggling for months trying to pay mine back but they just ignored me but kept sending warning letters that they are going to take further action. Decided to contact my local MP with all the details and copies of the letters i had sent HMRC. Got a reply today from the MP to advise they have made a formal complaint to HMRC and require action from them within 7 working days..

[Goldlady]

Once you get your MP involved you are almost there. When I was a humble civil servant any cases where MP action appeared were instantly treated with the greatest of respect. I have never forgotten the fear that it instilled into people and have used it to help me several times since.

[Yellow160]

Originally Posted by Goldlady

Once you get your MP involved you are almost there. When I was a humble civil servant any cases where MP action appeared were instantly treated with the greatest of respect. I have never forgotten the fear that it instilled into people and have used it to help me several times since.

Your absolutly correct, Just received an Email today from my Local MPs office to say that HMRC have been in contact. They are now posting out a SO form so that i can start paying them back..

I cant understand why they didnt do this for me when i asked them.