I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience to myself regarding an overpayment. We informed the tax credits immediately of the change in our income due to me starting work in January 2012. We checked the figures in the award notice and they were correct. The Tax Credits office are now saying we were overpaid £1,100 in 11/12 and we have to pay the money back.
Although they accept we informed them of all changes and the figures we gave were accurate they are saying that in the award notice sent in January 2012 it stated that they were continuing to pay us to 'prevent hardship' and we should have contacted them if we did not want this to happen.
We had no idea this could even happen - and as our income had just gone up there was no danger of hardship - apparently we should have contacted them to say we did not want to be paid. I thought as long as we gave correct information, gave it on time and checked the figures in the notice then that was all that was expected of us. We would never have accepted and spent money that was not due to us had we known.
I have appealed this overpayment - and my partner received a phonecall to say the appeal had not been successful - again they accept we informed them on time but there is nothing they can do. I have waited for this in writing so I can appeal again however it seems the phonecall was instead of a letter. I have made a complaint about the decision but have been told today they stand by the overpayment. I am not sure where we stand in terms of time limits as we have been waiting for their decision in writing.
Any advice would be gratefully received - we did everything we were supposed to in order to avoid something like this and it seems we have no power at all in appealing this decision.
Although they accept we informed them of all changes and the figures we gave were accurate they are saying that in the award notice sent in January 2012 it stated that they were continuing to pay us to 'prevent hardship' and we should have contacted them if we did not want this to happen.
We had no idea this could even happen - and as our income had just gone up there was no danger of hardship - apparently we should have contacted them to say we did not want to be paid. I thought as long as we gave correct information, gave it on time and checked the figures in the notice then that was all that was expected of us. We would never have accepted and spent money that was not due to us had we known.
I have appealed this overpayment - and my partner received a phonecall to say the appeal had not been successful - again they accept we informed them on time but there is nothing they can do. I have waited for this in writing so I can appeal again however it seems the phonecall was instead of a letter. I have made a complaint about the decision but have been told today they stand by the overpayment. I am not sure where we stand in terms of time limits as we have been waiting for their decision in writing.
Any advice would be gratefully received - we did everything we were supposed to in order to avoid something like this and it seems we have no power at all in appealing this decision.