Overpayment of tax credits letter from 2003!

[balia]

Hi - just wondering what the legal situation is with this -

I got a letter from HM Revenue and Customs, asking me to pay back an overpayment of nearly 2 grand. There were no details of what this money was or why it was an overpayment so I rang them. The woman said it was from the claim I made when my ex first left in 2003. I got monthly payments until the following year.

According to them, in 2008 they decided the claim was invalid as my daughter wasn't living with me. (She was, always has, still is) The only thing I can think of is that when my DS was born in 2008 and I applied for his CB, it was discovered that my DD's CB was still in my ex's name. It was supposed to have been transferred when he left, but although the payments were transferred into my account, it was still in his name. The CB people were great, sorted it out really quickly, as there wasn't any dispute about where DD lived and my ex confirmed it. Incidentally, I don't remember getting any letters from the tax credits people at the time, or obviously I'd have disputed it then.

I have filled in the form they sent me about 'reconsidering' reclaiming this 'overpayment' and explained all the above, but am really worried they will make me pay this back. Anyone have any experience of this?

[TequilaMockinBird]

I owe them over £5k. I'm paying it back at £50 a month

I think mine was due to sales bonus paid to me so haven't really got an argument. But it's shit

[CleoSmackYa]

I owe them £9000 apparently. I spoke to the fools and they've no idea how, but that is what the computer is saying. On one of (the many) letters I've got from them it says on one month 'We gave you £98 so you owe us £428'. I quite honestly have no idea what is going on and neither do they! But unfortunately, it's got to be paid back or the computer might cry or something I've never even recieved £9000 from them! This is all kicked off over a year ago, and currently nobody knows what is happening.

Sorry I can't offer help, but you're not alone!