Being investigated, should I tell them everything?

[wef1]

My sons dad moved in in 2003 as an unoficail lodger he paid council tax in lieu of rent, he was a student and working part time.

 

during 2004 we had a drunken epsiode which resulted in my son being born. We tried to make a relationship - for approx 8 months- but we are so different and had no physical attraction to each other it didnt work.

 

He stayed on as my "lodger", with the same payments as before, sleeping in the spare room, shopping and cooking for himself. He cared for my son and paid what ever he had spare towards his upkeep.

 

I have two grown up children from a previous long term relationship and the horriblmess form that break up affected my children- counsellors etc. So in order to make my sons childhood as happy as possible we have never argued, or gone down the csa route. My son accepted out household situation as normal as it has never been anything different.

 

I took advice from cab when he first came to live in my house, and they said as long as we were not financially dependent on each other and not in a relationship then my single claim would be ok, again after my son was born they told me same thing (i didnt change my claim for the short time we tried because I knew that we would not be able to function as a couple).

 

During this time he trained to be a teacher and carried on working part time. I have no idea of his wasges or fincances. As he was registereed here then he has taken out a loan and credit in his own name.

 

In 2010 he moved to oman to work as a teacher, he visits uk for approx 6 weeks a year during that time he stays in my spare room, takes my son out, away does all the visitation things in one go. To my son this is normal he accepts it and is happy. We do not socialise together .

 

He sends money for my son - a large amount a month because as he said when he was here he could not provide financially for him and now he can he wants him not to go without.

 

I forgot to take him off council tax as I wouldnt have been eligible for reduction as my grown up children live with me. I work 37 hours per week.

 

I had a letter off them end of june. saying Mr x was at my house. I telephones them and explained situation for 2011/2012 (what they asked for in letter) giving them his oversea work and home address. Woman asked me to send bank statements, bills, tenancy etc in my name - which I did (bills are all and always have been in my name).

 

She said we can see hes been registered as living there since 2003 I said he stayed here for a while but go so flustered forgot to mention cab advice.

 

Anyway she said no more about that just asked for evidence for 2011/2012. I phoned to see if the had received it - was told yes and I would be hearing from them in due course. have not renewed this years claim yet.

 

Do I write and tell them about circumstances from 2003 and cab advice or do i just wait and see if they accept my information about the years in question. help i cannot eat or sleep !!

Edited July 25, 2012 by honeybee13
Editing in some spacing for ease of reading.

[wef1]

any advice or help please is anyone in a similar situation ?

[honeybee13]

Hello there and welcome to CAG. I've started a new thread for you, so you can have specific advice. Please continue to post here.

 

You should have replies today, but not everybody here knows about tax credits and some of the people who do have day jobs.

 

Would you mind clarifying please if this is about tax credits or council tax credits? Sorry if I've missed something.

 

My best, HB

[wef1]

hi this is in realtion to tax credits . I havent claimed council tax benefit or housing benefit as there were two adults registered at the property. hope someone can advise me

[caly1967]

Hi,

 

Firstly dont worry I know it is easy to say as ive been there and done that believe me, I had a letter a few months ago the same the problem for me was me and my partner have been together for years on and off with him registered at the address all this time and my letter was for 2011/2012 we have now finally received a response and we will have to pay all of 2011 & 2012 back as well as the remainder of 2012 since April.

We are just waiting to see if we have to pay a 30% penalty which will make the final bill 14k as they can only charge a max of 3k which they will, to be honest im glad it could have been a hell of allot worse if they had decided to dig like going back to 2002.

My advice to you is simple don't mention anything before 2011/2012 and im pretty confident this is all they will be looking at just let them get on with it and you will receive a letter from the compliance team in the future saying they have completed their checks and will be calculating your over payment you will then receive a letter to advise the over payment.

 

I hope this helps & good luck

[Sab67]

Hi,

 

 

 

Firstly dont worry I know it is easy to say as ive been there and done that believe me, I had a letter a few months ago the same the problem for me was me and my partner have been together for years on and off with him registered at the address all this time and my letter was for 2011/2012 we have now finally received a response and we will have to pay all of 2011 & 2012 back as well as the remainder of 2012 since April.

 

We are just waiting to see if we have to pay a 30% penalty which will make the final bill 14k as they can only charge a max of 3k which they will, to be honest im glad it could have been a hell of allot worse if they had decided to dig like going back to 2002.

 

My advice to you is simple don't mention anything before 2011/2012 and im pretty confident this is all they will be looking at just let them get on with it and you will receive a letter from the compliance team in the future saying they have completed their checks and will be calculating your over payment you will then receive a letter to advise the over payment.

 

 

 

I hope this helps & good luck

 

 

 

Hi I've just recieved same letter single claim award for 2011/12 were working closely with credit agency and there appears to be another adult mr x living at the address and you have been claiming as a single claiment giving me a number to ring split with my 4 children's father back in year 1999 started claiming tax credit I think in 2002 as I worked self employed cleaner 16 hours a week 2003 I met someone he had 3 children from ex wife in which he supported in maintanence un like my ex things were very tight between us so like a fool I carried on claiming as he wasn't the father of my children and so on I'm going to cab on the 14th aug I've got to get in touch by 18 th im really worried cos if they go back I'm saying goodbye to my kids for a while but I've decided I'm going to tell them he was living here but I'm worried if they ask what his prev address was they might dig deeper into earlier awards and his bank details are at this address and have been since moving in plus landline anybody who has been in the same position can give any advice as I'm not going to lie

[Hope123]

Hi,

 

Firstly dont worry I know it is easy to say as ive been there and done that believe me, I had a letter a few months ago the same the problem for me was me and my partner have been together for years on and off with him registered at the address all this time and my letter was for 2011/2012 we have now finally received a response and we will have to pay all of 2011 & 2012 back as well as the remainder of 2012 since April.

We are just waiting to see if we have to pay a 30% penalty which will make the final bill 14k as they can only charge a max of 3k which they will, to be honest im glad it could have been a hell of allot worse if they had decided to dig like going back to 2002.

My advice to you is simple don't mention anything before 2011/2012 and im pretty confident this is all they will be looking at just let them get on with it and you will receive a letter from the compliance team in the future saying they have completed their checks and will be calculating your over payment you will then receive a letter to advise the over payment.

 

I hope this helps & good luck

 

Did u speak to them or just send letter, how long did it take to sort out?

[Hope123]

 

 

 

Hi I've just recieved same letter single claim award for 2011/12 were working closely with credit agency and there appears to be another adult mr x living at the address and you have been claiming as a single claiment giving me a number to ring split with my 4 children's father back in year 1999 started claiming tax credit I think in 2002 as I worked self employed cleaner 16 hours a week 2003 I met someone he had 3 children from ex wife in which he supported in maintanence un like my ex things were very tight between us so like a fool I carried on claiming as he wasn't the father of my children and so on I'm going to cab on the 14th aug I've got to get in touch by 18 th im really worried cos if they go back I'm saying goodbye to my kids for a while but I've decided I'm going to tell them he was living here but I'm worried if they ask what his prev address was they might dig deeper into earlier awards and his bank details are at this address and have been since moving in plus landline anybody who has been in the same position can give any advice as I'm not going to lie

 

Hi Sab67

 

How r u getting on, have u had any update. x

[Sab67]

Hi Sab67

 

 

 

How r u getting on, have u had any update. x

 

 

 

Yes went to cab on tue she told me to go home and ring them so I did spoke to a really lovely person said I had been living with mr x as a couple she ask since when I just said I couldn't remember the precise year she just said that's fine we work out the overpayment from 11/12 but I should ring up the next day to start my claim as a couple but haven't done that as of yet don't think I bother even though I would be entitled to it I'd rather do more hours at work but just waiting for the bill hope this helps anyone in a similar situation

[Hope123]

Thanks sab67, glad its sorted for you, i sent them a letter 8 wks ago and still waiting, too scared to phone, from reading all the posts i think it depends who you speak to as to how they treat you. What were the reference letters on your letter, one post on netmums yesterday said her reference contained "im court", mine contained " IMP CRT" so now im worried more than ever x

[Sab67]

Thanks sab67, glad its sorted for you, i sent them a letter 8 wks ago and still waiting, too scared to phone, from reading all the posts i think it depends who you speak to as to how they treat you. What were the reference letters on your letter, one post on netmums yesterday said her reference contained "im court", mine contained " IMP CRT" so now im worried more than ever x

 

 

 

Mine had ref cra I take may stand for credit reference agency honestly I was sick with worry and I was going to write but because on the letter it said to ring I was advised to do what it said on the letter so I thought I can't keep feeling like this my kids where picking up on it so just did it all done I know it's scary but just ring them maybe a tue just be honest they could have gone back a lot further with me if you lie it will give them something to investigate did you own up in your letter !!

[Hope123]

Thanks my ref started with CRA, yes i owned up but only referred to the 2011/2012 they asked about x

[Hope123]

Hi,

 

Firstly dont worry I know it is easy to say as ive been there and done that believe me, I had a letter a few months ago the same the problem for me was me and my partner have been together for years on and off with him registered at the address all this time and my letter was for 2011/2012 we have now finally received a response and we will have to pay all of 2011 & 2012 back as well as the remainder of 2012 since April.

We are just waiting to see if we have to pay a 30% penalty which will make the final bill 14k as they can only charge a max of 3k which they will, to be honest im glad it could have been a hell of allot worse if they had decided to dig like going back to 2002.

My advice to you is simple don't mention anything before 2011/2012 and im pretty confident this is all they will be looking at just let them get on with it and you will receive a letter from the compliance team in the future saying they have completed their checks and will be calculating your over payment you will then receive a letter to advise the over payment.

 

I hope this helps & good luck

 

 

H caly1967i, have you heard re the penalty, did you just write to them initially or did you phone them x