Child tax credits - wrong calculations

[carrotz3]

I have recently had two change of circumstances, firstly I had a baby in December and then on 3rd January this year my partner moved in - I am waiting for the letter from 3rd Jan for the new claim. My problem at the moment is I have received a letter ending my previous claim on 2nd January.

In July when I renewed I over estimated my income (just so I know I won't owe any money) I had a baby on 13th December and no other change in circumstance. They have sent me a letter saying they have overpaid me - this works out to be just over £300. I am not sure how they have overpaid me and surely having a baby means they should pay me a bit more? How can they have been overpaying me when no other changes happened in this period?

The other problem is they had overpaid me by £128 last year (again - I have no idea how??) This has been paid back and it states this on the letter. They then seem to have added it to the £300+ they say I owe them from this year making it £455 I owe them. On the next section (Overpayment) they have again put the £128.00 figure on top of the £455 and say they have overpaid me £583!!??!! So they state I have paid them back £128, then added it on to the over-payment his year, then added it on again (Just for luck I assume!) Of course, I can't get through to them on the phone to speak to someone (that would be too easy wouldn't it!)

Has anyone else had problems like this? Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with it? I don't agree with the £300+ over-payment and I certainly do not want to pay the £128 twice more when I have already paid it!) Any help gratefully received. Thanks

Phone them, ask about the £128... do NOT ask about anything else in the same phonecall. Get them to copy anything they say to you in writing

THEN, when the £128 is sorted, or you understand what is happening with it, ask to get a breakdown of overpayment - get them to explain it on the phone and copy it to you in writing.

THEN prepare for battle.....

We spent 5 years sorting out ours - they said they had overpaid £650 - erm no - they actually owed me £340. I found from experience -

• you need to have ONE query per phone call.
• you need to tell them you are logging the phone call time and date and need their name.
• you need to write down what they say
• if after a couple of months you have not got any further, you need to write to them (keeping a copy)
• repeat, badger them mercilessly until it is resolved - the loudest voice gets heard and dealt with.

I was paid what they owed me and given recompense for all the phone calls - and eventually a note was put on my file - since they kept trying to claim the £650 that they originally said I owed... I'm guessing your £128 has fallen into this category...

To get through on the phone, call all the time - you will get through eventually.

I was eventually given a number I could call to discuss anything further to do with my case... bypassed the "public" number..

Thank you. I will try again on Monday. 5 years is a long time for them to sort it!! best I get started now. Thanks again.

My advice is, 'don't involved with child tax credits unless you ABSOLUTELY have to'.

We were stung for a bill of £1300 (for overpayment) when we hadn't received any child tax credit for the previous 3 1/2 years. It was impossible to find out exactly how we owed that, as had always informed them of changes every year etc etc, but didn't log and record every single phone call (with hindsight - yes we should have done).Now paying it off over the next few years at £25 per month.

It's crap. Wish we hadn't bothered

I deal with tax credits a lot. If you post the words from each line and the figure for the 128 and other overpayments I should be able to explain it to you.

Cleo