Childs Tax Credit overpayment - advice please!

[nooniem]

Hi, am brand to mumsnet, so please forgive my newbie errors!

I have disputed a childs tax credit overpayment for 2013/2014 year, and would just like some advice please.

At the beginning of the 2013 fiscal year, I had 3 children in education and college, and one 4 year old for whom I paid a registered childcare provider. Our joint income was approx. £40k. I paid £800 per month childcare.

One by one during the year to September my 3 in childcare all left education (they are much older than the 4 year old!) and I advised HMRC everytime one left college etc, within 1 month of them leaving, and my award was reduced accordingly.

In the November I was subject to a compliance check from HMRC for my childcare cost, and I received a letter on 19th December confirming that my award was correct and I was in receipt of the correct amount of childs tax credit.

At the beginning of December I secured a new full time position which was a much bigger salary, adding £30k to our income, hence now £70k. I called HMRC on 5th December to advice of my new income. the next correspondence from HMRC was the compliance check on 19th December. I received my last HMRC child tax credit payment on 15th December, and the award was closed. My childcare ceased on 31st December, and again HMRC were notified of this on 2 Jan 2014.

I am now being pursued for the full amount of childs tax credit I received for the full year, however, my dispute is based on that from April - December 2nd I wasn't in receipt of the additional new salary, but was paying £800 per month childcare. and as soon as I advised them of my new salary they ceased child tax credits and then wrote to me to confirm that I had been in receipt of the right amount of childs tax credits as per 19th December. Hence, I do not feel that I should repay the overpayment as I kept them informed all year about all changes in the right timeframe and even after investigation a compliance officer agreed I was receiving the correct amount.

Any advice is greatly received - I now have debt collection agency letters too, which is distressing!!

It's even worse when you're a Mackem arsenic

To be honest the Geordie birch lady was one of only 2/3 customers I've ever almost had to hang up on- I didnt. I actually rang her back and sorted her issue out and she was lovely and she left the call understanding the difference between Sunderland and Newcastle ??

she left the call understanding the difference between Sunderland and Newcastle

Totes

I rang with an estimate, within the deadline as I usually do, although both last year and this year I didn't receive a renewal form, even though they tell me I should have one.
They told me I couldn't give an estimate and only final figures were accepted now as the law had changed. I argued the no, small business, but he said the computer wouldn't accept estimated figures.
My accountant was on holiday and on her return we rushed our figures through and I rang back with actual figures but this was after deadline.
From August to last week I have been in constant contact with them and no form has arrived.
I now find myself in the position of having no payment since August, and referred to debt agency to pay back last years award.
They are reviewing the claim, finally.
Should find out by feb, if I haven't heard I'm to call.

I'm sure there's more to the notes than this, but the man I spoke to on monday said the last time I called in December a note on file said "Renewal not received". I'm sure this was actually code for please pass this on to somebody who knows what they are doing. But I wonder....

They have taken our final figures now for the 2013/2014 and as nothing has changed, at all, hope to at least get a bloody apology and the full award, but I bet I don't.

I will proper kick off if the final award notice is not the same payment details as what I will actually get as I need the correct amount for a bursar, I think.

Sounds a nightmare more- sadly it's not unheard of. Do not be afraid to complain over the telephone but honestly in your shoes id approach your mp.

They have a dedicated helping all to themselves, a complaint from an mp prompts action very very quickly.