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AIBU?

to ask for some help PLEASE re tax credits, compliance, i am SO scared :(

90 replies

taxcredshelp · 09/03/2013 10:17

split up with ex jan 2012, he left me. but would not tell me where he was living and his mail etc kept coming to the house.

he has now admitted to living with someone just after xmas, and says he has changed his address for everything now. and his mail has stopped coming as much. the only thing he has carried on paying for is the Sky, as i tried to change it into just my name but

well this morning i have had a letter from tax credits compliance saying they have done a credit check which shows that TWAT exp is still living here. and they are asking for evidence such as bank statements, rent agreements, council tax bills, utility bills and "any other info to explain why i have claimed as a single person". i have most of what they are asking for, but what i am worried about is that the one thing we agreed on is that he would still continue paying my internet and phone line as virgin would not allow me to take it over in my own name (credit score failure) . so that is still in his name.

i am shitting it. i have about 2 weeks to provide that evidence or my tcs get stopped or they will charge me a penalty and the letter even talks about criminal prosecution :(

i am so, so scared. has anyone else ever had this? what happened? please help.

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taxcredshelp · 09/03/2013 10:18

sorry i meant virgin in my first paragraph Blush

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Flojobunny · 09/03/2013 10:21

Is ex being compliant in telling tax credits he doesn't live there or is he dropping you in it?
If he's being compliant then there's nothing to worry about. If he's told them he does live with you, I would be worried.

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RedHelenB · 09/03/2013 10:21

Send what you have & it will get sorted. If he isn't living there then that is all they need to check.

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fluckered · 09/03/2013 10:22

what are you scared about? you havent been living together since Jan 2012 and assume have evidence to back this up with bills etc ... just be honest about the internet/phone line part. you have nothing to be worried about if everything is above board. have you claimed since you broke up or before?

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MisselthwaiteManor · 09/03/2013 10:23

Entirely depends on how co-operative your ex is but could he give you a bill or tenancy agreement or something at his new adress to prove he's living elsewhere?

I wouldnt worry, if everything apart from the one thing is in your name and you have a valid reason why then it looks like you'll be fine.

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Mutt · 09/03/2013 10:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thornrose · 09/03/2013 10:25

If you're being honest then you really have nothing to worry about. Please don't panic, I'm sure they've seen this hundreds of times.

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Seabright · 09/03/2013 10:25

Send what you have with a letter explaining what happened, the time scales and when the post was changed to his new address. I'd also say about the Internet etc still being in his name and the reasons why.

Be upfront, tell them everything so they can see what has happened, when, and why. Would he agree to you giving them his address &/or phone number, some can confirm?

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taxcredshelp · 09/03/2013 10:42

thank you

am going to ring first thing monday

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Mutt · 09/03/2013 10:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mutt · 09/03/2013 10:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thornrose · 09/03/2013 10:55

I had a visit from 2 tax credits compliance officers a few years ago. I received a letter informing me they wanted to come to my home. It was described as some sort of random check. They did ask me if I recognised a couple of names but wouldn't say who they were or why Confused
I had absolutely nothing to hide but I still found it really scary so I understand how you feel.

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YellowAndGreenAndRedAndBlue · 09/03/2013 10:59

Try not to worry. I think you can call today? Get it out f the way.

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taxcredshelp · 09/03/2013 11:06

i have called the main number today

they said they couldn't help me as the compliance team only work mon-fri so am going to spend the whole weekend worried sick

and also the lady did advise me that it will be very hard to get through to them as they are always really really busy, so to post the info they require out to them rather than ring (which will mean more stressful waiting) and if they don't get the info in time then they will stop my claim :(

i feel sick, i am a worrier at the best of times, i feel like i cant cope

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cozietoesie · 09/03/2013 11:06

Don't worry - these formal letters sound awful but the reality isn't so bad. Just tell them the truth and let them have copies of documentation they ask for. You'll be fine.

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thornrose · 09/03/2013 11:10

Come on, you can cope. Keep it in perspective, (I know that's easier said than done.)
Have you got all your documents ready and your cover letter? Copy everything you are sending and post it off today, recorded delivery. Or even better do the compliance team have a fax number?

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cozietoesie · 09/03/2013 11:14

Yep - send copies of the stuff you've got off today recorded delivery.

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taxcredshelp · 09/03/2013 11:59

thanks for your help so far Thanks

and for some reason they only want bank statements to and from certain dates Confused jan - april 2012 and then nov - jan - 2013.

and i cant find them all, in fact so far i have only found and i have no copies of bills at all (i know, i know i should keep them) so have had to ring the utility companies to get them to send copies. which will take a few days for them to arrive. and i can't ring to get a council tax copy bill until monday as they are closed.

aargh

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Smartiepants79 · 09/03/2013 12:03

Contact your bank ASAP. They should be able to give you copies of the statements you're missing.
Or maybe you can print them from Internet banking?

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IneedAsockamnesty · 09/03/2013 13:33

When they do a compliance investigation they tend to use dates after you confirmed the claim.

www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/ccmmanual/index.htm. You may find it reassuring to read this info.

It is perfectly ok for an ex to fund certain things for the benefit of any children without it being seen as if you are togather, provide the info they have requested and nothing else other than a cover letter confirming that he is in a new relationship. Don't give them any personal stuff relating to him they are not allowed to request it.

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WellSlapMyThighAndCallMeNancy · 09/03/2013 15:05

You probably have little or no copies of bills because its all done online. I never see a gas or electiric bill, rarely water, and I cant remember the last time I saw a sky bill, its all just paid automatically from my account.

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WellSlapMyThighAndCallMeNancy · 09/03/2013 15:07

Also OP is your exp paying rent elsewhere? If he can prove he is, you'll almost definitely be ok.

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cozietoesie · 09/03/2013 15:09

Send what you can right away - and explain that the rest will take a day or two and why. That gets your response logged fast even though it's not complete.

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IneedAsockamnesty · 09/03/2013 15:16

They are not interested in what you pay for utilities its who the bill is addressed to.

It also does not much matter who they are addressed to as long as you have a legit reasonable reason to have them in someone else's name.

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IneedAsockamnesty · 09/03/2013 15:17

It does not matter if HE can prove he's paying rent elsewhere as they are not allowed to request anything that the claimant has no legal right to ask for, its easier if he would willingly provide that evidence but it is not the bee all and end all.

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