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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be annoyed with with DH re this issue with HMRC?

15 replies

AprilLilacs · 18/04/2012 12:42

After some to-ing and fro-ing which was annoying in itself (he kept ignoring letters, assuming they were to do with an issue from a previous tax year), it was finally determined that DH owed HMRC £800. A DD was arranged, £100pcm.

Fine. That was in Feb iirc. I logged into DH's account last week on another matter only to find he was already overdrawn, and quickly realised that HMRC had been taking £100 a week! For 9 weeks.

I told DH, he said he'd sort it and didn't, they took another £100, I made him call them (helpline open til 8pm - he hadn't even checked as he was 'sure' they shut at 5pm), as he couldn't stop the DD from his end.

It was quickly sorted out but he agreed they could keep the £800 he owed and just refund the excess, didn't quibble when they said that would take 30 days and just shrugged when I asked how we were going to budget and said he'd have to extend his overdraft!!!

The reason he organised monthly payments in the first place was because we couldnt afford to take that hit all at once and now we have and more besides and he's just rolling over! WTF? And so we'll pay charges on a huge overdraft for months as DH's salary will lift us up and normal expenditure drop us back in!

AIBU to think DH is being a great big stupid ostrich?

OP posts:
Chubfuddler · 18/04/2012 12:44

Are you absolutely certain he only owed £800 and that what he told you about the refund is true? Have you seen letters from hmrc to that effect?

If it is true I'm afraid hmrc are a big of a law unto themselves and will consider themselves to have acted quite reasonably enough. At the end of the day he owed the money.

Bambino81 · 18/04/2012 12:48

I feel your pain, my DH desn't like biting the bullet and sorting stuff like this out and doesn't keep an eye on outgoings either.

But there's not much you can do really? I'm pretty sure HMRC wont fast track a payment to you.

Original poster
AprilLilacs · 18/04/2012 12:49

Yes I am, saw all letters as opening them myself and pointing out it was a different issue to previous was the only way to make DbloodyH accept it!

I can understand HMRC's attitude, though surely they could be persuaded to refund everything over the agreed monthly amount as the error was theirs, but even if not I can't understand DH's attitude Angry

OP posts:
OneHandFlapping · 18/04/2012 12:52

It's a shame HMRC don't get charged a penalty for late payments in the same way as taxpayers. They do what they like, secure in the knowledge that the little person can't challenge them.

Chubfuddler · 18/04/2012 12:55

If he's generally head in the sand about such matters (you had to nag him to address this in the first place) its not surprising he's being head in the sand about the over payment. Annoying but not surprising. Have you tried telling him how this behaviour impacts on you? Dh used to be a bit like this, he's not since I explained to him how unnecessarily stressful being disorganised about finances makes life.

peugotgringo · 18/04/2012 13:04

Is DH self employed?
You mentioned a wage so i'm presuming not? If not you need to ask what tax code his employers have been using and play merry hell with them for cocking up (still his fault for not checking, but will make you feel better)
I'd also suggest you check this month's wage slip to make sure his correct tax code is being used.

If he's self employed and doing his own SA, it might be an idea to get an accountant to do it for him, they will then do all the chasing required with HMRC.

And on another note - HMRC policy is to keep all over payments unless a refund is specifically requested!!!

Original poster
AprilLilacs · 18/04/2012 13:07

He is lazy with money - he left it too late to contest a parking fine, before we met he had a big yellow style storage locker which he FORGOT about til I queried the charge on his statement - £4k(!!!!), to store some office equipment ffs - he missed the deadline to complain about a solicitor which could've again saved thousands...

It's becoming a bigger and bigger issue, drives me beyond potty. I pulled my socks up and got a grip, why can't he Angry

OP posts:
Losingitall · 18/04/2012 13:43

Was it a DD definitely? What paperwok did he sign? Surely even sodding HMRC aren't above the DD agreement guarantee?

Original poster
AprilLilacs · 18/04/2012 13:46

It says it's a DD on his statement. I suspect that if he'd said no, that's not on, I agreed to £100 a month not a week please refund me £700 (so keeping the £100 for each month), they would've had to say yes okay? But he just agreed to them keeping £800.

OP posts:
peugotgringo · 18/04/2012 14:31

His bank should be able to cancel the d/d btw, but he won't have had to sign anything. You don't need to for d/d's anymore, verbal authorisation is enough!

April - if he's so lazy with money, (some people are unfortunately) why does he not employ a book keeper/pa to do it for him? Or you?? that way things can be kept on top of?

AIBUqatada · 18/04/2012 14:35

I'm not sure the HMRC would have agreed to give him back the money he paid the. It was money he owed them (and had owed them for some time), so when he gave it to them it was their money, regardless of the fact that he paid up quicker than he meant to. In effect, asking for it back would be asking HMRC to stump you up a loan to cover a period when you were short of cash.

YonWhaleFish · 18/04/2012 14:37

I'd take over and open all his post, and where possible, get him to give permission to act on his behalf to companies (ie if you aren't named on bills etc.). Is it a joint account? If not, get yourself on it and sort it for him, or close it and set up a new one between you.

LIZS · 18/04/2012 14:41

are you sure he didn't agree to £100 pw ? and yes HMRC will now keep the amount owed.

Original poster
AprilLilacs · 18/04/2012 14:45

He had an accountant, a family friend of his FIL's, but then (this may out me, apologies if anyone is related to said accountant), the accountant started making mistakes and long story short was diagnosed with altzheimers, had tried to struggle on and a lot of his clients' finances were in a muddle including DH's, hence the other issue. I could and would do it, and have sort of taken over lately but I can't physically force him to argue/take the initiative etc - the solicitor complaint for eg only he could've done.

100% sure he didn't agree to 100pw, especially as they kept taking it and especially as they apologised and admitted the error and are refunding the extra taken!

Don't want a joint account! Or at least I don't want to be on his main account. We might set up a seperate joint account.

OP posts:
YonWhaleFish · 18/04/2012 15:30

I understand why you don't want a joint account! Has he online banking? Maybe you could ask for his details so you can keep any eye on it?

You shouldn't have to like, but I know your pain of a DH being dodgy with money.

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