Single Parent Carer Has Her Child Tax Credit Stopped- Because DWP Think Her Local SHOP Is Her Live In Boyfriend
A single mum has had her benefits stopped because the taxman believe she is in a relationship – with her local SHOP.
Debbie Balandis, 40, was shocked to receive a letter from HMRC saying her £140-a-week child tax credits would be stopped because she had a new man, the Daily Record reports.
She immediately called the tax office and was told activity on her bank account showed a Martin McColl – the trading name for her local newsagent chain RS McColl.
The mum-of-two, from Glagow, tried to explain that she collects benefits from the post office at her local RS McColl and that was why the name appeared on her bank statements.
But she was told her weekly payments were being stopped until she can prove Martin McColl isn’t her live-in lover.
Debbie, who relies on tax credit to look after her 13-year-old son, said: “I couldn’t believe it when I got the letter to say my payments were being stopped so I called them up to see what the mix-up had been.
“I expected it to be sorted over the phone but instead I was told they knew I had a new partner.
“Shocked, I asked them who that was – because I’ve not been in a relationship for 10 years.
“The call handler said they had looked through my benefit payments and asked me who Mr McColl was?
“At first I was surprised – I’d never heard of anyone with that name – but suddenly I realised it was the name of the shop where I was withdrawing my money.
“I begged HMRC not to leave me without a penny all because of a fictitious boyfriend.
“But they didn’t believe me and have now stopped my benefits for supposedly having an affair with the post office.”
Debbie, who lives on £80 a fortnight jobseeker’s allowance, added: “I can’t believe the way they treated me – they made the mistake but I’m the one left to suffer.
“I called HMRC and spent £19 on hold waiting to speak to someone – money I can’t afford. My son has disabilities and he lives for his weekly horse-riding which really helps him.
“Now I have to disappoint him and say I can’t pay for it.
“HMRC say I’ve to write to them again but I’m afraid if I get something wrong it will hold up the process even longer.”
An HMRC spokesman said: “HMRC does not comment on identifiable taxpayers.
“When we have reason to believe someone’s circumstances may have changed, we write to them and allow 30 days for a reply. If we don’t hear anything, payments are suspended.
“Payments will be reinstated as soon as people have provided us with information requested and it has been reviewed.”
RS McColl declined to comment on the tax credit mix-up.
Same Difference 
I would email HMRC with the subject COMPLAINT stating you want your out of pocket expenses refunding a photo of the shop and the email address of the said (CEO) of R.S. McCOLL. I am sure James Lancaster will be shocked to know he is the live in partner of one of the customers of his company’s.
This is harassment, guilt without evidence, and she should be compensated for it, HMRC are getting as bad as the DWP if they think they can get away with this.
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I’d like to know how HMRC got full copies of her bank account, and were going through it line by line, and why, given that she is “just any other” Child Tax Credit recipient?
Am I alone in finding this a bit sinister?
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No you’re not alone Florence, I was just wondering the same thing.
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sounds about right
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Reblogged this on perfectlyfadeddelusions.
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Poor investigating by poorly managed incompetents. I had the DWP investigate me a few years ago. They claimed I was working while claiming JSA. What I was actually doing was decorating my estranged wife’s home, where my children were living at the time.
These people have a propensity for looking for what they want to see and then not looking farther than that. They see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear.
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