to ask for some help PLEASE re tax credits, compliance, i am SO scared :(

[taxcredshelp]

split up with ex jan 2012, he left me. but would not tell me where he was living and his mail etc kept coming to the house.

he has now admitted to living with someone just after xmas, and says he has changed his address for everything now. and his mail has stopped coming as much. the only thing he has carried on paying for is the Sky, as i tried to change it into just my name but

well this morning i have had a letter from tax credits compliance saying they have done a credit check which shows that TWAT exp is still living here. and they are asking for evidence such as bank statements, rent agreements, council tax bills, utility bills and "any other info to explain why i have claimed as a single person". i have most of what they are asking for, but what i am worried about is that the one thing we agreed on is that he would still continue paying my internet and phone line as virgin would not allow me to take it over in my own name (credit score failure) . so that is still in his name.

i am shitting it. i have about 2 weeks to provide that evidence or my tcs get stopped or they will charge me a penalty and the letter even talks about criminal prosecution :(

i am so, so scared. has anyone else ever had this? what happened? please help.

[GregBishopsBottomBitch]

Rosehill do the school have his new address on their contact form?

[cozietoesie]

gallicgirl

An FOI officer (or Data Protection Officer - because they're often the same person in organisations) would treat an FOI request as a DP request - after clarification - because they're well aware that the general public get the terms wrong. Organisational guidance should give clear guidance on this to front line staff.

[rosehill]

Ah thank you...I used the wrong terminology then when I made the request but as cozie stated, they should really have known what I meant. As stated previously they don't guide you through it and I feel are very evasive. I shall write a letter to them using the correct terminology...thanks.

The school don't have him on their files as he won't tell me where he lives.

I have approached CAB who unfortunately have no advisors who can specifically help with benefits advice (budget cuts) but they have made me an appointment with a solicitor who they think may be able to help me. They're so over stretched that appointments are six weeks apart here so it's been a slow process but is underway.

And I have approached my local MP who is writing to them on my behalf in spite of me having received a letter informing me not to contact them regarding my appeal until JULY.

They have my bank statements, utility bills, mortgage documents and a letter from my bank confirming that I hold no joint accounts. The school are willing to write to them if necessary so I think I'll have to get that letter too.

If there is anything else I should be doing then I would appreciate the advice. I didn't think you we're being stroppy at all...thanks.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Any body professional who knows you live alone?

Social worker health visitor that sort of thing? Have you had to give instruction to the school about him not collecting her anymore or about him leaving just incase she got upset or misbehaved?

A letter confirming that would be helpful.

Also ring comunity legal advice


www.gov.uk/legal-aid/how-to-claim

But do it tomorrow if you leave it till April you will be screwed as legal aid is being withdrawn for benefit disputes then but if you already have it it should cover you for this dispute.

Register a financial disassociation with the three main credit check people off the top of my head they are equifax experian and Callcredit,a simple letter confirming your details and stating who he is (name dob ect)when he left your house and that he is no longer there but you are concerned he is committing fraud by using your address, the same letter to all 3 will be fine. ASAP. Addresses on this page

www.ico.gov.uk/for_the_public/topic_specific_guides/credit.aspx

If you know what bank it is tell them as well but in writing,

Do you have any formal contact arrangements or did you consult any legal people when he left? Copies of details from that will help.

Any csa case against him? Or if he has kids with anyone else who uses the csa whilst you cannot obtain info about other kids you can pass these details to tax credits for benefit fraud detection stuff the csa is able to tell hmrc directly if he is still using your address.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Another thought, at the time he left did you have to obtain any support from your landlord ( kinda hoping your in some form of social housing) anything at all even something as little as informing them he had left and you were doing HB forms or the such like?

Confirmation of that would also be helpful.

[taxcredshelp]

sockreturning pixie - you sound very knowledgeable in all this, do you work for them? or citizens advice or something?

also thanks to monsieur renard, that was really helpful. (i bet they are awful to work for, it sounds like theres far too much work and not enough staff)

well am going to ring them as soon as they open at 8....although am not holding much hope out of getting through

[taxcredshelp]

have managed to get through, amazingly

spoke to someone who explained the reasons for the letter (which, obviously i know) i explained that he wasn't living with me and everything i have said on this thread, and was honest about the Virgin bill (that he pays it). and she just said to send in everything i have got.

i have also given his new address, and she did a search but said i would still need to send in the stuff. i dont know whether that means he is showing up at his new address, or not, or whether she can't tell me either way. which is fine, i don't mind sending in the stuff, but i was hoping it could get sorted there and then.

still worrying :(

[IneedAsockamnesty]

I run a domestic violence org that operates as a one stop shop.you would be surprised at how many of my clients have this happen to them and we deal with it for them.

I would expect he's with someone else and possibly showing up on their claim or he's got a job.

[taxcredshelp]

was that last part of your post to me sock?

that sounds brilliant what you are doing. i wish there was something like that where i live (although not that i am saying i need the dv bit)

[rosehill]

Sock..thanks for all of the useful advice. I'll certainly be following up everything that you've mentioned.

No other children, own my own home, amicable maintenance arrangement so no CSa case (tax credits can see the maintenance payment on my bank account though).

Can count solicitor, social worker, EWO, clinical psychologist amongst close friends and family but obviously in a personal capacity not in a professional role so not sure if thats helpful? Headmistress is aware of home situation and prepared to vouch for me (I volunteer at school so she knows me well).

Sorry for quick post...been on a course all day and am exhausted! Didn't want to look like I wasn't taking your advice on board though! Thank you again and I shall certainly be following up re:financial disassociation and community legal advice.

[rosehill]

And sorry for hijacking your thread, tax! It's all great information though which you can use to prepare yourself and hopefully not have such a difficult battle on your hands. Thanks for starting it.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

The solisiter if she felt able to do so could,but first ask her advice about something related to him leaving,that way you have consulted her so she's not fibbing

Seriously tho any respected person can as long as they tell the truth as they know it.

One of the things tax credits ask you is how friends family ect perceive the relationship whilst TC can't ask them you can provide evidence of this yourself.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Op,yes it was usually when they sound so unguarded and easy going it means its going to be simple the most usual reason for that is the person in question has turned up on another TC or dwp claim,but obviously I was not privy to your convo I'm just guessing because normally if its not straight forward they arnt so helpful

[Skyebluesapphire]

I had the same letter before Christmas, I couldn't get through on the phone so I sent a letter stating when XH walked out and sent copy of divorce petition, Absolute, screenshots of texts giving me his new address etc.

They wrote back to say they were satisfied that he did not live here.

If I were you I would check the three credit agencies and see what is at your address. If you don't have any joint finances with him you can ask for financial dissociation from him.

It is routine and as long as you can prove it you will be fine.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

www.thecreditagency.co.uk/credit-report/check-my/financial-disassociation.html

Just realised you can do the credit agency stuff online using the above link.

[taxcredshelp]

thank you - will have a look at the credit stuff

skyeblue - sorry to hear it happened to you too. how long did it all take to go through? its the waiting i feel like i can't cope with. its making me ill

i am thinking about going to the doctors because i keep crying all the time and i can't eat or sleep. i need to be strong for the kids but i am being so crap, and none of this is their fault :(

and what happens is they decide he IS living with me and stop everything? he ISN'T living with me so isn't going to suddenly come back and start paying my bills etc

god i feel ill

[IneedAsockamnesty]

They cannot decide that unless they have actual evidence and if they do you claim special hardship payments until its sorted out.

[taxcredshelp]

oh god i hope it doesn't come to that. i am probably over thinking it as i know i have nothing to hide but i know what these people are like, i know they are trying to get everyone to stop claiming and i feel like they will do anything to meet their targets etc. i feel powerless.

what would they class as actual evidence? do you mean if they are filming outside my house or something because if so they will soon see theres no one else here!

[Skyebluesapphire]

Please try not to worry about it. Once I posted the stuff to them they got in touch after a few weeks and said the case was closed and they were happy he wasnt here. I had to go all through Christmas not knowing if my payments would stop.

Just get all the info you can on his new address, send to them by recorded delivery and then all you can do is wait I'm afraid.

But please don't let it worry you. There were a few of us having the same problem and we were all ok.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Actually evidence would be something like,

You living beyond your means
Him applying for load ect at your address or just using it with companies
Financial links other than maintainance on your acc.
Statement from either of you confirming certain actions like making plans together sharing chores stuff that would indicate your still in a relationship,
A report from someone else.(that gets proven)

As well as a few other things

[taxcredshelp]

oh god skyeblue that must have been so stressful trying to get through christmas. glad you are sorted now.

and thanks sock returning that has cleared things up, i can safely say none of those apply to me.

[Skyebluesapphire]

link to our thread back in December, in case there is anything useful on there

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/lone_parents/1633870-help-re-tax-credits-letter

[taxcredshelp]

oh thank you skye thats very helpful

i posted for advice on mse another forum as well and got some horrible person suggesting i was lying, really upset me

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Want me to go over and call them a cunt?

[Skyebluesapphire]

What lying that Tax Credits were after you, or lying that your X didnt live there ? some people are total knobs./

Sadly Tax Credits have done this to a lot of innocent people and caused a lot of stress, which has been made worse by the fact that most people cant get through to them on the only phone number that they give you.

In my case, my XH left in April 2012 and I made a single claim then. Our joint claim for current year was for 3 days....

Because XH didn't change his address on most things, simply redirected the mail, it meant that this was showing as his address, when he hadnt lived here for almost 9 months by then. and of course, it was still a joint mortgage as it was in the process of being sorted out.

If you can get everything in your name that would be great, and if not, then just explain in the letter to Tax Credits that it is still in your X name for financial reasons. Do you pay it? It could be in his name, but the payment could come from your bank account.