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Tax credits(groan) - has anyone appealed against an overpayment and been told they have to pay it back with NO RIGHT OF APPEAL?

12 replies

ssd · 27/07/2006 08:59

We've been overpaid my £1500. I appealed in a very detailed letter explaining it was entirely thier fault and we tried and tried to stop the overpayments but we couldn't stop them. I was even told by one of their people to complain as it was entirely their fault and I had perfectly reasinable grounds to complain. So I did in Feb this year. But after not hearing from them for months I called 4 times to see what was happening with my appeal as of course we were being overpaid again as we were getting "normal" payments as the overdue amount was suspended whilst they were looking at my appeal. I got 4 identical letters saying they were looking at it still from 4 seperate people. So yesterday I phoned again and was told it's still being looked at (I also called because we had an extra payment into the bank -WHY??- was told yes the money is yours.....??..). Then in the post yesterday I received a letter saying you asked us to look at your overpayment AGAIN(no I asked only once, why use again?) and we decided you have still to pay the overpayment back and you have no right to appeal against this decision. That was it. I'm furious, I feel they didn't read my detailed letter as they said I should have noticed the overpayments weren't due to me BUT I DID AND CALLED THEM UMPTEEN TIMES!!

Does anyone have a clue what I should do now?

Feel I'm banging my head on a brick wall but don't know what to do.

OP posts:
ssd · 27/07/2006 09:24

know it's boring and long winded but bumping in the hope anyone can help!

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Freckle · 27/07/2006 10:22

Have you completed this form ? If not, perhaps that should be your next move. If you have, I suggest speaking to your local CAB as they may be able to advise further.

prettybird · 27/07/2006 10:31

When you raised it with them beofre (when the overpayments started), did anyone say to you that the payemnts were correct?

If they didn't, and you knew what the payments should have been, is their argument that you should have put the overpayments to one side, to pay back once the "system" caught up with the overpayments?

What are you doing with the current overpayments? Putting them to one side, so thast you cna pay thme back when they ask for it? At least you could get interest on it while it's being sorted.

Sorry if these questions are not appropraite - I don't know much aobut how the system works as I'm in the fortunate situation of never even bothering to apply for them, as I earn too much.

ssd · 27/07/2006 11:31

yes freckle that's the form I sent of with a very detailed letter attatched.

and pb the reason they've given me was that I didn't contact them when I realised I was being overpaid, but I did, time and time again!

OP posts:
ssd · 27/07/2006 11:33

and the overpayment is lumped in with my normal payment but as the normal payment seems to change every few weeks I haven't a clue how much the extra is.

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cat64 · 27/07/2006 11:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

expatinscotland · 27/07/2006 11:53

write a letter to your MSP.

i never contact them by phone. ever.

everything has been done by recorded delivery letter.

and i saved every single award notice they sent.

then i sent it all to my MP, to show them just how cocked up it all is and how you have NO idea if you're being overpaid if they don't give you a big lump sum, just take an extra few quid onto your monthly payment.

the whole system is SUCH bollocks!

ssd · 27/07/2006 12:28

trouble is I haven't "logged" every phone call to them as there are loads and I didn't imagime we'd be in this mess!

so I guess I'm buggered.

just thought, don't they log the calls?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 27/07/2006 12:37

they are supposed to.

Charlee · 27/07/2006 12:40

We appealed an overpayment, they said we never sent back a form that i know we did. They said we owed them £3000 and we lost the appeal and had no other chances to disagree, im now paying £20 a month which is going to take me to the yr 2020 but i have no choice even though it was there fault.

prettybird · 27/07/2006 12:41

Can you remember approximately when you rang? Even if you just say, on "x separate occasions bteween (for example) Ocotber and December", or "a minimum of y occasions" if you can't remember how many times. Do you know the name of the person who told you to complain as it was entirly their fault? Or at least, on what date you had the conversation?

ssd · 27/07/2006 21:08

I've got an appointment tomorrow with CAB.

Fingers crossed they'll help me.

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