For anyone else who is appealing their Tax Credit overpayments....

[MarkStretch]

I got my decision letter today and it just shows how idiotic the whole system is.

I owe them £4500. I appealed this as I have always informed them of any changes in my circumstances.

The letter reads as such:

'You informed us at the start of the year that your annual income was £, you informed us on the 17th of September that this had increased to £, therefore you received tax credits you were not entitled to and you will have to pay the money back'.

This scenario times 4, including when I told them about a change of job, a pay rise and changing to part time, despite the fact I have informed them of every change every time it has happened, I still owe them the money.

So basically I did everything within my power to inform them of changes and I am being made to pay money back to them because of their crazy system.

Oh, and they say they will recover the money from my tax credit payments. I am currently too terrified to claim tax credits for fear of this happening again.

They have previously asked me to pay back £60 a month, I offered £50 a month and they said if I didn't pay the £60 a month they would take me to court.

I HATE THEM.

We too got stung by them and appeal was pointless...we now have refused to pay and no longer claim, even though we are entitled too. They have stopped hassling us about what we owe now we've taken the decision not to claim at all.Whole system is warped imo!

I informed them every step of the way years ago as well. Then moved house about 6 times and forgot to tell the Inland Revenue. Claimed child benefit recently and then got a letter to say I owed money. Thankfully only for £450, but apparently it's because I didn't fill in a claim one year. They said I should have filled in the claim, even though I knew I wouldn't be entitled to tax credits any more. Argh. What bugs the sh't out of me is that they won't let you fill in the claim retrospectively. You're allowed to fill in tax returns you've forgotten from YEARS ago, why not tax credits? Stupid poxy system.

I asked them to send me details of how to pay (this wasn't in the letter) and haven't heard a peep since. I'm not chasing...

I too have told them of every change in my income etc, and received a bill for £2500 for 2 years ago!! Previously sought advice and was told that I can appeal, but it was a waste of time and they would request their money back anyway. Asked them for a break down of when these over payments were made etc and haven't heard from them since. Likewise, I'm not chasing them!!