To want to throw a hissy fit at the Tax Credits office?

[MycatsaPirate]

Last year they asked for a copy of all dp's pay slips. They were sent.

They then wrote again in February and asked for a breakdown of his hours and pay - this was from two different companies but were sent.

On Saturday I got a letter dated 15th March saying they hadn't received the information and needed it by 14th March.

There is a phone number on the letter saying it's open from 8.30am Monday to Friday. There is no answer.

Rang the other tax credit office, finally got through their stupid answering system and spoke to someone. She put me on hold and then I got cut off.

Rang back again. Finally through their stupid answering system, spoke to someone else and told to try the first number. The one that isn't being answered.

Apparently I just need to keep phoning all day until they pick up.

It's only 9.15am and I am ready to throttle someone.

They are shit beyond belief.

When DH and I both earned minimum wage and had four children in nursery (twins with a close age gap I would add before anyone questions how that is possible) we got a very hefty TC award to pay for our nursery fees (they were circa £3k a month).

They had our payslips etc but the following year told us they'd overpaid £6,000 and demanded it back in one go!!!

Hideous.

They must think people have nothing better to do

Mine wasn't with the TC office, but with the general Tax Office. After my husband died I had to sort out his taxes etc. Received a letter addressed to the 'Admininstatatrix' of his estate (so they knew he was dead). When I phoned, they refused to speak to me, as, because of data protection, they could only speak to him! Every time I told her that she couldn't speak to him as he was dead, she said she understood, but could only discuss the matter with him. WTAF!!!

After a fruitless 30 mins of trying to get the woman to understand that she couldn't speak to a dead person, I finally threw a total hissy fit and demanded to speak to a supervisor. After yet another 30 mins they finally seemed to understand that he was a container at the funeral director's, and that they had to speak to me, as he was unable to speak for himself, being dead and all that.

chris That is fucking appalling. Really not the kind of thing you need while dealing with the death of a loved one and all the paperwork it entails. I hope you gave them hell.

I finally got through to compliance (yes, they keep sending my claim to compliance for some reason) and the guy said he'd phone back. Which he did and said that another department had fucked up, the letter shouldn't have been sent out, they HAD received the stuff I sent and there was nothing to worry about.

So about an hour on the phone today for no reason whatsoever.

And their stupid machine thing 'please tell us why you are calling'. No matter what you say it's never good enough for their system to understand. Never. I don't think it understands 'oh fuck off!' either.

I once had to send all that stuff as we were claiming that max with twins in full time childcare. Everything was fine with the claim - but they wrote the wrong number on the letter and it was going through to a private residence! Poor woman that eventually picked up was at the end of her tether.

I don't think it understands 'oh fuck off!' either.

I have been known to say that to the 'machine' before as well .

And yes, I gave them hell. I know they have to stick to the 'script', but surely hopefully, doubtfully they have actual brains that they can use.