A letter from Concentrix oh behalf of HM REVENUE

[Howes68]

Hello please help if you can , I am worried sick , I got a letter from the above , the letter states We need to talk to you about whether you are living with a partner , I claim tax credit as a single person , they are saying that they have evidence that there may be another ault living with me , I do have a bf whom stays 3 days a week , they wish me to call , and are asking in the letter for Bills, tent from 06 April 2014 to Jan 2015 , scared they are going to horrible on the phone not sure what to make if it , feel sick , any tips or help would be great thank you

I haven't come across these Concentrix letters in our CAB, but we are seeing benefit compliance checks more & more often (usually the DWP or the local authority checking for co-habitation). I usually deal with debt issues rather than benefits but will see what our CAB's benefit expert says and come back to you.

My instinct is to say that you would not be prosecuted for not providing the information they are asking for, however you would risk being penalised financially - by having your Tax Credits stopped. (Whether this is an acceptable way of dealing with each individual case is another matter, hence my suggestion to speak to a CAB so they can collect evidence of how this sort of compliance checking is being carried out).

At the risk of stating the obvious, & apologies if this is blindingly obvious but it's worth reiterating - benefit agencies (i.e. DWP, HMRC & Local Authorities) ask for evidence of income when someone claims a benefit - as they can't accurately assess how much to pay the claimant unless they have it, & they may not pay anything until they get the evidence. When they ask for bank statements, they are looking to see what capital the claimant has, & what income they have - e.g. wages, other benefits, pension payments, money from tenants - for the claimant, their partner & other non-dependants, if applicable. They then use this information to calculate what benefit the claimant is entitled to.

If, for example, the benefit agency suspects that there is a partner living the household, who has not been declared by the benefit claimant, and who may providing income into the household, they will ask for evidence of income so they can check they are paying the right amount.

Whether the letters from Concentrix are random, or based on credit reference information, or something else, I have no idea.

I can't see why blanking out your sort code and account number would be a problem, but they would need to see something on the paperwork to show that it's your bank statement.

Thanks for your understanding misspickle1 . It has been a tough one bur getting there . Infact ... THEY have Probally done ME ithe favour , as after contacting my ex and telling him he's caused me even more problems he's finally gave his debts his new address and moved everything he can over !! Only thing is now i probally look guilty as hell ... But I'm not really interested , I've done what needed to be done . They say 6 months is enough time to get everything moved over and I do agree ... Except when your having breakdown and you really couldn't give a toss about anything around you .Now I'm back to giving a toss I will sort what ever I can out . I sent my documents out on the 23rd recorded delivery ive just checked and they have been delivered so fingers crossed . I'll let you know any update ... Anyone else ahead of this stage yet ?

Hi everybody, I do hope nobody minds htat I've left this message, but I'm in the same situation as everybody here - but the (possibly) strange thing is, I'm neither a Mum nor female, so I just hope that it's still okay I've left this message.

This is a very obnoxious and worrying letter that they've sent us all (yep, men are getting them too), and after much much research, I've found they are basically just latching on to the main person in the property, and picking completely randomly on 'anybody' who in the past has been in a relationship they've known of (because of taxes & benefits on the HMRC system).

It's a fact that if you contact enough people about something, a percentage will reply and put their own foot in it trying to explain away the impossible - and that's all that the Concentrix company is doing here - It's essential that 'everybody' is told about this.

The logic behind it all is as ludicrous as was the famous Poll Tax farce the government put us all through and then quietly brushed under the carpet.

If you have a joint bank accounteven after you've seperated, and bils are paid from that, then you've a problem, and if you've an ex partner who lives (and sleeps) with you in a way that can only be explained as a kind of relationship, then that can also be a problem, but for 80% of the people I've read/heard from, it's purely grabbing at straws and hoping they find a few people to make it seem that the governments (yet again) new private search company is well worth tax payers keeping going. Of course it isn't, and this is just another scam by the government to make things seem scarey and organised, beacsue they've got less money sense & control than anybody else.

In reality HMRC should be doing this work themselves, as it's 'their' job to check, not that of a random vague company that has just been invented for this purpose.

Why do they do this? Because if it all goes badly wrong, the HMRC can pretend to not be accountable, and just blame concentrix & close them down - problem & blame all vanishes then (clever eh?).

The only reason we've all suddenly been getting these letters now, is because concentrix only started up in November, and are simply working there way along through everybody at random - no proof or details are needed, and this will put neighbour against neighbour, friend against friend, with us all trying to simply prove there's nothing to be suspicious of.

Sorry - I do rant on but I feel so strongly about this kind of nonsense I had to comment, but the basic rule is, show them your details because most of us have nothing at all to be worried about. The working tax credits ssytem is too complicated, and they are simply throwing mud and seeing what sticks, so put on those protective goggles, smile, and let them throw till they've ran out of mud :-D

Kindest regards, from Phil.

Keep phoning Concentrix until you get through and get ready for a fight. Have everything you wish to say as evidence prepared and be very assertive! Insist on manager involvement. Do not simply send documentation if you are in the right. HMRC contracted with Concentrix in November 2014 and it looks like they are a complete shambles and a disgrace. Clearly they have sent letters to everybody who is single regardless! Also phone the normal HMRC tax credit office and register a strong complaint and get them to confirm that you have been compliant with all tax credit rules etc. See below for what happened to me!

I too had a nasty letter from Concentrix last Monday suggesting they have evidence that I live with a partner and to contact them by 12th Feb or provide practically every personal document pertaining to me for the past year. Like others, this has caused me a huge amount of stress and upset. The person they named was my son! He has recently turned 18! When I finally got through to the normal tax credit office number they emphatically confirmed they knew he was my son but that I would still need to contact Concentrix. They confirmed they share a database with Concentrix!.

After 3 hours I finally got through to Concentrix. I gave them all my details, they asked the date of birth of my son (which they have on the shared database!). I insisted the rep speak to a manager about my case which the rep did then he told me that the letter had been sent in error and it was a non-take-up case. The rep told me that something somewhere had flagged up when my son had purchased something for attention of my address and that hence a letter had been sent to me. They were unable to tell me what. My son registered for his driving theory on the gov website in November and this is what I reckon flagged up! Buyer Beware it seems, Big Brother is watching! I am currently awaiting a letter from them to confirm case closed. I phoned Concentrix today - their system is down! They re-iterated they had been obliged to investigate - I told them they share a database with tax credits office and therefore this clearly wasn't investigated. I have phoned the tax credit office again who have confirmed the case is closed but are unable to advise whether a letter has been sent to me as yet.

I too very much object to this infringement of people's liberties with regards to information required to be sent to a private company (who incidentally I think may be owned by a multi-national organisation). The letter is a disgrace. The distress they have caused people is unforgiveable. I intend to take this further once I receive my letter ie contact the press, the Civil Liberties group and perhaps a Labour MP who would have a field day about this shambles and the use of tax payers money to contract to a private company to target everyone that is single in such a distressing, disgraceful and intrusive way.

Perhaps Mumsnet could suggest some sort of group action in support of all those who find themselves in this situation in the meantime? Any ideas? Good luck to everyone out there.

The letters are not only being sent to single people. We get WTC and CT and DH got a 2nd job in late October resulting in additional working hours. I got a letter earlier this month asking me to confirm his working hours and to enclose all payslips and work contracts since April '14. He's paid weekly so that was a lot of payslips. We hadn't informed WTC of the additional hours as he was already working 30+ and all their information tells you you don't need to contact them unless your hours fall below that or go above it if they were below 30 to begin with, as it's all sorted out at renewal time. As far as I'm aware, this year's payments are based on last years' earnings.

I've had all my documents returned (by Recorded Delivery much to my shock!) but haven't heard anything else. So far my usual payments have gone in as normal.

I'm convinced we weren't contacted at random. HMRC have all our details to hand (how else could they know exactly the amount on DH's last P60 before I'd informed them?) and could obviously see that there were additional tax decductions being made. We have nothing to hide but it doesn't stop that feeling that you're somehow guilty of something - I felt physically sick when I read the letter.

BTW - some payslips were missing so we had to send bank statements instead. I used print-offs from online banking where paper ones had gone missing and blanked off any personal account details.

I also received a letter a couple of weeks ago. The first later wanted me to confirm my hours worked and to send in my payslips and contract. I'm not employed and have have only been self employed for the last 6 plus years.
I rang them and they said that letter had been sent in error and they would send another detailing what evidence they wanted for my self employed hours. I have a gift website business.
The list was extensive but it did not include bank statements. Rather they wanted full accounts for April to Dec 2014. A weekly journal detailing hours worked. Full receipts and invoices for the same period. Vehicle registration for a vehicles of the business and insurance documents.
Well I don't have a vehicle with my business so couldn't send them.
I have never been required to keep a journal before so can't produce one retrospectively, and asking for one is unreasonable.
I will not send in customer invoices/paperwork giving customer info, that would mean I break the Data Protection Act. But have sent in everything else available. 280 pages all told, plus a 2 page letter and the cover sheet. None of which can prove I work the 30 hours a week.
I have spent a fortune on paper and ink having had to copy each paper invoice in case the don't send it all back. Plus the £11 to send it all by special delivery! All this took hours on several days to sort though and copying etc! I'm in half a mind to invoice them for the cost and lost hours!

When I spoke to them the first time the bloke in not so many words admitted that this is simply an exercise to push people (who would otherwise be legitimately claiming TCs) off TCs!

I haven't heard back yet.

Hi, I started a thread in chat and someone very kindly directed me here. I've also had this letter but in my case the person I live with is my housemate. We share because we can't afford our own places but we are most definately not in a relationship. (We are both straight for a start! ) I'm getting all the crap they want ready to send but I'm not happy about it and cannot see how it proves or disproves anything.

I started printing all my phone bills yesterday , started with April as requested , otherwise to order backdated was costing me £10 !!!!but after the first print off (april) I thought to myself . This is going to use a hell of a lot of ink! I'm not being tight but ink really isn't cheap nowadays and I need to keep ink for my son for homework etc . So I only printed off April , July and January . I'm hoping this is ok for them . I really can't understand why every Bill can prove I'm in a relationship ! i think concentrix need to understand that people are are on a budget and can't alwasy afford to buy extra ink to,print off pointless bills . God knows how much this is all going to cost in the post as I'll haVe to send recorded delivery due to important documents inside. , that being my divorce papers ! Does anybody know if i can refuse to send divorce papers in. I really object to showing them to a total stranger . I was maybe thinking to say on my covering letter that I really do not want to put such things in the post and if they need to they can contact my ex husband. Any suggestions ?

Katy69 - I feel exactly the same! Only just ordered new cartridges and I'm already thro halfway thro the black one! Re divorce papers I have just put my decree nisi form in, (still waiting for the absolute), was tempted to send all 5 years worth of paperwork but ... I really object to strangers seeing my bank statements, but just want it all done and sorted. It is a major pain in the neck!

I recieved a letter last week stating that I am claiming as a single parent and they have evidence to say I'm living with a man they even give a name, this man who they claim me to be living with i havnt a clue who he is, I'm furious I have been on my own for 10 years and have never had anything like this before. I sent all my paper work in and Apparantly they havnt recieved IT. Who is this concentrix company im sick and I'm so stressed, there computers are always down, I've nothing to hide I wen told them to sit outside my house and watch me every day I'm so sick

I got one month to hand evidence otherwise payments would be suspended .
The thing that really gets me is the letter is all for " overpayments " "penalties if you forgot to tell us " how an overpayment can be recovered . Bla be,bla but The letter does not say what happens if you do actually prove you are a making a legitimate single claim . It's like they have got you guilty already before even proving your innocent . It seems some people have actually have named person on the letter . I only got "we may have evidence another adult is living at your address" what is going on ? I can't get through to them. It's a nightmare !

My letter states they may have evidence of living with .... and name my estranged husband who walked out 10 years ago!! It is a total nightmare and as Katy69 says they talk as if it is assumed you are claiming fraudulently! I think the whole thing has been really badly handled!

I don't know what can be done about this to be honest ! I know people will probably be thinking that ibenefits money comes from the taxpayers money so it is vital that sufficient checks are taken out to prevent fraudulent claims . If you've nothing to hide then what's the problem ! That I agree with all the way. I can understand one or two pieces of evidence but what concentrix are asking for is way too much info which most of it is pointless. I'm not even going to atempt to contact them again . I'll send everything they ask for as sonn as my bank statement are throughly . It will be very interesting to see what the outcome of this is .what if the evidence I provide them isn't to their satisfaction and they go on about an overpayment ! Then what do I do ? What is the next level..? how exactly do I prove even more ?

I split from my wife years ago and she has received this letter. It really has caused her a lot of worry as i have not really changed any of my details, the reason being i did not want removed from the mortgage because if anything god forbid happens the house is paid off if either of us die. I pay nothing but i could afford it, but my wife has always viewed me as a good dad but terrible husband and unreliable. I feel awful that i have put pressure on her to keep my name connected with the address and basically made sure that when it came to mortgage renewal time we could just tell them nothing had changed and have the evidence to back it up. If someone called and checked they could see i am not in the house.I am currently living with a friend after splitting with a girl i had lived with for over two years but i have never left any paper trail anywhere and i pretty much have been that way since i was a teen.
The long and short of it is that i know my wife wont take me back and i dont think i could go back, she has wanted nothing from me for a long time and because i went out of my way to keep information linked to the home i will have screwed things up. I can give her the money if she wanted to stop claiming but having looked at some of the posts if she withdraws the claim it could make things look worse.
I am really lost as i care for her deeply and the children but i do not know how i can fix this.

This is crazy....I too have had a letter....

1. Has anyone been informed by HMRC that they should reveal personal details to a private company? Let alone a foreign company that it appears the government gave 3.5 million in grant aid to set up in Belfast. To anyone receiving a letter it could be anyone one...scam...etc...Anyone could be sending this.
2. Why is the media so quiet? For example: People are being accused of living with their dead husbands? I can find nothing in the press. In the light of the up and coming elections why are single self employed people being targeted? Would this not be VERY newsworthy.

1. Is this actually legal?

Pen01 has a point. Breach of civil liberties, data protection,etc... What is this company doing with all the information they are collecting?

I don't know but am determined to find out. Read their employees reviews- they appear to be a shambles. Concentrix own website does not mention their 'intrusive' role with HMRC....they are a technology company who are now advertising all over the place for people to work for them as HMRC.

If you haven't been informed as to who these people are, what their purpose is, and guaranteed security of information by the government..why should anyone give them anything? Would love a response from someone in the know!

This is ridiculous.! I wonder if its possible that I can find out "what " evidence they do actually have ! The letter stated "we may " have evidence that another adult is living with you. . So they do or they don't . Lol I'm definetely blanking out my account number that's for sure ! It just looks like it's getting worse . If you claim any kind if beneffit nowadays your life isn't private anymore.

I just don't get it......

An American company is a contractor to HMRC. Belfast was set up as a call centre with a large injection of government money - no mention of HMRC. Very secretive. They are asking for a considerable amount of personal information with very questionable relevance as to what it will prove.

This company seem to have been provided with more powers than the Police!

The company has been described as a badly managed sweat shop by its own employees. Complaints of very low wages, no training, mismanagement, etc particularly in Belfast. Many don't last a year.
You are expected to trust that this information being gathered, analysed and acted upon is safe and proper manner. What checks have these people undergone?
What guarantee is there that members of organised crime are not applying for minimum wage jobs just to get their hands on personal information. Where is the quality assurance?
Anyone could send out copies of these letters changing the PO box No and have you send all your personal details to them. Before anyone got wind of it - they would be gone.

Their data protection registration is mainly to 'promote their goods and services' ....what they can collect, and who they can share this information with, is also questionable - see broad details here ico.org.uk/ESDWebPages/DoSearch?reg=235086 They appear to have three companies in the UK registered but they all say much the same.

They refuse to provide their 'so called' evidence. However if they say they share a database with HMRC - HMRC should have the same information and, under the 'Freedom of Information Act', they could be asked?

So why has all this been kept so secret? Why did HMRC not contact everyone to let them know what was happening and how this will be managed? Why no press coverage?
Is it because there will be legal and human rights questions that will inevitably be asked? They seem to be swooping in unannounced, cause panic and terror so that people are not thinking straight and go along with all this...before it get shut down. In the meantime they have you by the short and curlys.

With an election coming up - it's time this was much more public. As one employee said "I rather clean toilets!"

My local MP is a conservative so a waste of time to contact but if anyone can contact their local MP about this issue and the more that do it then the better. I also think the issue does need to go public as a matter of urgency.