Tax Credit Enquiry

[blackambermay]

Well I have formally requested the invoices from the Nursery, didn't tell her why, she reckons she will sought them out and forward them onto me, I doubt that somehow but will wait and see

[blackambermay]

Anyone had a phone call from the Inland Revenue yet? I was getting ready for work this morning and the investigating officer called andask if I had an hour to spare to answer some questions. I am really not happy about this. I have asked him to call back next week, more to the point I still have not received my invoices from the nursery. And I have sinc ebeen told that the nursery owner was indeed pocketing the money. I have copies of the emails where she says she will forward them onto me but I have a bad feeling about this. I am going to end up paying the price for someone else's theft I am sure of it.
What questions do they ask? Due to them already giving information to a debt collector for a debt that had nothing to do with me I am concerned about giving them any information at all.

[lexis200]

Hi again, I'm sorry this is still dragging on for you.

Is there any way you can approach anyone else at the nursery in order to get them to sign a statement to the effect that you definitely did have your child in a paid place there for the times mentioned?

It looks like you have a reasonable amount of proof that you were paying for the nursery - if the manager has emailed you promising you invoices I would think that's a good start as she's admitting you did pay.

The other thing is, have you contacted the Inland Revenue and directly addressed your concerns about security of your data, bringing up the debt collection that came about due to them leaking information, and why this is unacceptable in your situation? If you can explain your situation with regards to needing to keep your information and whereabouts private, perhaps they could help, or at least explain what the issue with your claim may be so that it can be resolved sooner rather than later?

[blackambermay]

Well thats the other thing that is suspicious. I know for a fact that the staff's pay cheques were bouncing every month because I found one of the girls sobbing in the kitchen one afternoon when I went to fetch my children. She said that it had been happening for some time and she desperately needed her wages for her own bills. All of the staff except members of the owners own family have left because of the wages issue and the bullying of the staff by the members of the family.
Meantime the owner was going off on holiday abroad twice a year.

I have not contacted the Inland Revenue regarding the data protection issues because I can't prove what the debt collection agency said and because of the seriousness of the breach it isn't likely they will admit it. Could you imagine the can of worms opened then?
If I am honest I am petrified of them. I am seriously considering cancelling my claim and getting a cleaning job or something. I hate the way I have to live as it is and this sets me back so much.

[blackambermay]

Which I guess is the next question.....how can I cancel the Tax Credits, I don't really know how it works

[lexis200]

I have to go for a bit but will be back later - but before you cancel the TC do remember that it won't stop them investigating anything from previous years.

I'll be back later (hopefully you'll get some help in the meantime though!), but don't do anything straight away.

Take care

Lexis

[blackambermay]

Unbelievable, I have just had another email from the Nursery in response to my email asking AGAIN where the invoices are and she only replied asking for my address?????

If I was genuinly on the books then she would have all that surely

[blackambermay]

Now the emails I have just found from her are just plain nasty now. I only asked what she had done with my details.

All this just shows I was right, I never was on the books which now means I am going to get in trouble for it, what the hell am I going to say to this Inland Revenue Man next week.

[Goldlady]

Hi - please don't consider cancelling your tax credit claim - you are entitled to the money. I take it you are no longer using this nursery. It sounds as if you have enough evidence from the emails and so forth to show that you did pay the money to them. How did you pay it by the way? It should be the nursery that is in trouble and not you. Presumably you were at work and the kids must have been somewhere?

They asked me for a lot of information as well. But I am sure if you explain your situation and can give them recent stuff it should be OK.

You haven't done anything wrong so you really should be alright

We had a tax credit investigation a few years ago and it was fine. All done by letter and over the phone as I remember it. They do them randomly as far as I understand it.

[Goldlady]

Also, if you provide the revenue with evidence of someone else committing fraud then they will be delighted

[blackambermay]

Hi thanks for that, to be honest it's not in my nature to do that, I wouldnt feel better for it.
What is the purpose of the phone call, can you remember what they asked?
I really don't want to get dragged into the nursery issue, I paid her cash every Monday, and I know she was pocketing the money because my daughter saw her put it in her purse as well as another member of staff telling me, but I just thought well as long as I have paid her I don't care nothing to do with me, I never dreamt it may come back on me down the line. And if thats the case we are talking a period of 5 years where she has been committing fraud!!!

[blackambermay]

And I hear what you are saying about being entitled to the money but honestly is it really worth all this worry as claiming what I seem to be entitled to leaves me open to this.
I will think carefully but im 50/50 at the moment. I dont want this every year

[Goldlady]

I don't mean that you are some sort of grass here, but surely the nursery woman might have expected some comeback - and why should you suffer for her crime?

You won't have hassle every year - and I am sure that there is nothing suspicious about the enquiry. And the phone thing was fine - the girl I spoke to was lovely and she even tried to help me as we had claimed for something we weren't entitled to. If you are asked anything you aren't sure about say so, and call them back. I had nothing to hide and am sure you haven't either - just be honest - you can even ask for advice.

[blackambermay]

Thank you for helping me. I think I'm more wound up at the moment because I am so cross with the Nursery.
I havent got anything to hide at all, but I dont have proof I paid the nursery and she has got herself out of some sticky situations I can tell you even Ofsted get wrapped around her finger even though her reports are awful

[Goldlady]

But as I said above you had to have some sort of childcare. And you must have had to give the nursery's registration number or whatever on your claim. And surely there must be staff at the nursery who can confirm that your children were being looked after. Was there any involvement with nursery vouchers? If so that will prove you are right too.

[blackambermay]

Oh yes I used them for childcare of course I did, and she admits that in the email. Thats not a problem, and I have not heard of nursery vouchers?
The three other members of staff (+ her two daughters) that were there have now left because their pay cheques were bouncing every month and the owner and her daughters bullied the staff. I found one of the girls crying in the kitchen becasue her pay cheque had bounced and she didnt have any food for her own son. I walked a way from there finally earlier this year and went to someone else where the standards are so much better.

[blackambermay]

And yes sorry I forgot to say I did give them the nursery registration number and again when I replied to the enquiry letter.