DEBT CENTRE TRAFFORD - DWP - "TAX CREDIT OVERPAYMENT" when self employed

[mrk1]

AWARD PERIOD - 2014

CURRENT AMOUNT OWED £546

 

I was self emplyed from 2010 to around 2015. I must have applied for some working tax credits. It's a decade ago now!

I got a letter today from DWP saying I owe £546. Is this part of Jeremy Hunt's plan to build back better or whatever it is!?

I thought it was a fake letter at first and was looking for where it says "pay by escrow or paypal" but looks real.

Not sure what to do now.

I don't owe them anything, it's clear they have a room full of magnifying glass people looking for any crumbs that may be left over. 

Any ideas?

Can I just forget this?

[honeybee13]

Don't ignore it yet, see what people think. They may suggest contacting the DWP to find out what this is about but please wait for the guys to arrive.

Could we see a redacted copy of the letter please? WTC is dealt with by HMRC as I understand it.

HB

[dx100uk]

sure its from DWP not HMRC?

which ever it's from 

goto their website.

under their search type in SAR.

then follow and fill it out and send it too them.

they must hold the data to prove their claim not just a note from some external audit agency that have left a note on your file saying you owe £xxx

dx

[unclebulgaria67]

Fake I think, as DWP would not mention payment via Paypal.

Contact DWP Debt Management directly

Telephone: 0800 916 0647

 

DWP Debt Management customer service standards - GOV.UK

WWW.GOV.UK

 

[dx100uk]

On 23/11/2023 at 20:12, mrk1 said:

I thought it was a fake letter at first and was looking for where it says "pay my escrow or paypal" but looks real.

On 23/11/2023 at 21:59, unclebulgaria67 said:

Fake I think, as DWP would not mention payment via Paypal.

just the OP being their usual sarcastic self sadly...

dx

 

[mrk1]

No... The print quality looked terrible,  first thing was I thought this is a next level scam.... Perfectly normal thought in today's world.

I called the debt management company, they act on behalf of dwp... says if i don't set up a payment plan recovery action will commence. ?!

What should I do here?

Call DWP?

[honeybee13]

That's what Uncle Bulgaria suggested, mrk. He even gave you the number.

HB

[mrk1]

Sorry been offline all day, going to call DWP tomorrow or first thing monday.

[mrk1]

I called both DWP and HMRC.

First HMRC, they said it is for an overpayment of working tax credit from around 2014.

They said there is nothing they can do.

They gave me an address to send dispute to but not sure how effective that will be, as...

I called DWP / DEBT MANAGEMENT and they said that the debt is now a done deal and needs to be paid off.

I asked who I can speak to to dispute it and they said HMRC..

And I told them what HMRC had said at this stage just going around in circles.

I am not in a position to pay off £550.

Any ideas what I can do?

[dx100uk]

2 x sar.

dx

[mrk1]

They say I have till 18th Dec to pay or make a payment plan or ‘debt recovery’ will commence. 

Will a SAR really stop then? 
and who do I send it too. 

Cause it appears from speaking to both of them today that they are not interested in listening 

[dx100uk]

tax credits are HMRC.

On 23/11/2023 at 21:03, dx100uk said:

goto their website.

under their search type in SAR.

then follow and fill it out and send it too them.

they must hold the data to prove their claim not just a note from some external audit agency that have left a note on your file saying you owe £xxx

dx

oh big deal debt collection - scary.

dx

 

[mrk1]

don't worry about debt collection? Bailiff action? Harassment? Letters? Bullies?

Surely gov don;t mess about when chasing money they think they are owed?

[dx100uk]

where does anything say the gov't can go directly to using bailiffs?

get the info they must prove the debt is actually owed by hard DATA, not a note by an external audit agency.?

dx

[mrk1]

Is DEBT MANAGEMENT TRAFFORD (who sent me the letter said audit agency? 
It states on the letter I have till 18th Dec 2023 to pay or make payment plan or ‘debt recovery’ will commence. 

 what do I make of that. 
I went onto HMRC and they don’t make it easy for SAR.

Bit of a minefield.

I’m going to have to dedicate an entire morning or afternoon just to get those off. 

[dx100uk]

1 hour ago, mrk1 said:

Is DEBT MANAGEMENT TRAFFORD (who sent me the letter said audit agency? 

no

hmrc SAR is easy, 

HMRC: Structured Email (tax.service.gov.uk)

 

[mrk1]

I’ll get that printed tomorrow. 
 

Well you say no Debt Management is not the audit agency. But they are the ones who are stating ‘debt recovery’ if not paid. I Should not worry about this?

They can’t send it to bailiff? 

[dx100uk]

print it?

FILL IT OUT ONLINE

though i notice its offline at present was ok an hour ago.

where the BEEP are you getting this idea BAILIFFS can ever get involved so quick????

debt management are a dept within HMRC.

debt recovery at this stage is typically some powerless DCA and a DCA is NOT A BAILIFF. you should know this by now what with your other threads.

an external audit agency is obv NOTHING to do with HMRC thats why i said EXTERNAL......

 

 

[mrk1]

The letter from Debt Management said ‘enforcement action’. 
Is this just a load of cod wallop or whatever it’s called?

Shall I not have any fear at all that they will use force to get this money, scare me with a CCJ or any other thing that will make my life hell?

Shall I just laugh at them then? 

[dx100uk]

its much better if you use your own search engine and ask yourself then you will understand.

but they cant just do it at the drop of a hat, there is a set process they must follow, and thats rare on working tax credit debts.

we've never seen it used here on such debts.

can hmrc enforce a working tax crdeit debt? - Search (bing.com)

 

[mrk1]

I did do a little searching around. 
 

but in the link you sent me now: 

‘the final step in the direct recovery process involves HMRC commencing legal proceedings, normally in the county court, to obtain judgement for the debt or trying to take control of goods (distraint) which involves the seizing of goods where HMRC believe the person has the means to repay but refuses. It is rare for HMRC to take a tax credit claimant to county court’ 

 It does say it’s rare  well if that’s the case then why Should I worry  at all

 I called both HMRC and DWP today and both of them clearly not bothered about talking to me  

HMRC said it’s not their issue now and DWP said there’s nothing I can do now and I either pay up or face consequences. 
with that said maybe I just ignore that too  

I’ll send the SAR but it’s not going to do much is it they ain’t working with me  

Maybe I just ignore them as they’ve been very arrogant with me  

 

[dx100uk]

2 hours ago, mrk1 said:

where HMRC believe the person has the means to repay but refuses.

is the important bit. IF IF IF it ever got that far AND they won the case in CC, (fat chance) you would obv have not been refusing to pay, simply want the info FIRST to prove the debt exist.

if you LOOK in this HMRC forum your post is in there are 100's of like threads.

they cannot refuse an SAR, if they do you take them to court for compo after informing the ICO first.

the SAR is now working again.

HMRC: Structured Email (tax.service.gov.uk)

go do it.

PS have you still 2 user names?

dx

 

[mrk1]

Thanks.. I appreciate your input.

I will do this now.

I only use the one username now, mrk1, it was my laptop logging me into an old account a while ago by mistake, this is the main one i use now.

I will update you on sar.

It's asking for:

> Tax Reference Number:

> VAT Registration Number:

I don't have these, not had them... Just lave blank?

Can I just leave these blank? Cause I definitely don’t have these numbers. 

[honeybee13]

See what someone like @slick132 thinks. They need to identify you somehow.

HB

[dx100uk]

whaT WAS YOUR OTHER USENAME PLEASE AND DO YOU KNOW ITS EMAIL ADDRESS (oops caps) we need to merge them.

as for the form. you should have a P45 or P60 if you ever were employed or get benefits your tax number should be on those.