Tax credit ceasing

[chocoluvva]

Has anyone else had a letter stating that they will no longer receive tax credits as they did not return the form in time or include all the relevant info?
DH posted our form on 27th July!
Can't get through to the helpline. There's not even a queue.

I hope this doesn't sound mean but why did you leave it so late to post? The 27th was a Friday, the very earliest they would have received it was 30th or 31st, and realistically with Royal Mail the way they are it's likely to be even longer than that. I only ask because if there's a valid reason for sending it so close to the deadline they will presumably be more willing to listen to you.

When you ring up, is it just saying they are busy and you need to call back? If so, the quietest time to ring is usually school run times but obviously at the moment that's not applicable, I would just try to avoid lunchtime and evening and keep trying.

Keep calling them, the morning is usually quiet. Chances are that your form was received on the cut off date, so it's yet to be processed. I think that you'll have to apply again.

Yeah that is pushing it imo, it is very possible & likely that they did not receive it on time!

Yes I've had the same even though the form was posted first class on the 27th.

Useless and i can't get through on the phone.

Me too, and they don't tell you to call back later until you have already been hanging on for 10 mins. What does it all cost?

Thankyou everyone, except Rockchick!

I finally got through on the phone. They got the form on 30th but as there was such a "high volume of forms" it has not yet been processed and in the meantime the standard 'Too Slow!' form has been sent out, informing people, incorrectly I assume, that they will no longer be in receipt of their credits and in some cases will have to repay money paid to them (correctly) between april and now!
The phone lines were so busy that they weren't even putting calls into a queue until the end of the afternoon.
Try again tomorrow lubeybooby.
One for the Radio4 consumer affairs progs methinks.

And the options aren't very clear!

You were daft to leave it so late though - lesson learned for next time, and always send it recorded delivery.

I called up last week when I realised I hadn't sent my form away. They missed one payment but managed to set up tax credits again and I got money today. I thought it would be weeks before they'd fix it!

I was completely at fault for this, but they did manage to fix it very quickly. They were ok on the phone too. They were not as helpful when they accidentally sent a letter saying I owed them £6k for no reason!

Oh yes, Rubi. Won't leave it till the last minute next time.
Although......you'd think the IR would kinda expect a flood of last minute forms. If they say to have it in by a particular date and you have it in by the particular date........