As the old saying goes:
"there are only two certainties in life, death and taxes".
HMRC, in an effort to save time and energy, have decided to pre empt the former.
That at least was the case for Tonie Francis, whose family were sent a letter by HMRC's tax credit office in Preston informing them that she was dead. The letter requested details of Miss Francis's next of kin, and a copy of her will.
However, there was a small fly in HMRC's oinkment, Ms Francis is still very much alive!
She therefore called HMRC to correct the error.
Can you guess what happened next?
Yes, that's right, HMRC refused to talk to her because she was dead; needless to say her tax credits and child benefit were stopped as well.
HMRC are blaming their hapless and hopeless IT system for this error.
If the HMRC computer had human feelings it would be feeling very hurt and upset by now, given how many times it has been blamed for HMRC's cock ups.
It might also remind its human masters that the computer is only as good as the information put into it by humans.
Tax does have to be taxing.
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All too often when I read stories regarding HMRC, I feel I have come across a previously un-published Monty Python script.
ReplyDeleteForgive me if this is a stupid question, but why are HMRC asking for a copy of someone's will? By law, does this document have to be given to them?
ReplyDeleteIf so, I will amend mine to stick a few words in there for them.
To be fair it may not have been HMRC's fault,as employers now submit P45 and other details online
ReplyDeleteit could have been her employer,pension payer or dare I say it her accountant who may have submitted incorrect details online.
As usual with HMRC baiting you only have half a story.
http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/facts-about-civil-and-public-services/index.cfm
ReplyDelete22 June 2010 15:53
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be under the impression that just becuase you are dead you get to stop paying taxes.
22 June 2010 23:22
You could be right in that the information supplied to HMRC may have been incorrect. But lets face it, the person probably will be dead by the time you get it sorted out.
"22 June 2010 23:22-To be fair it may not have been HMRC's fault"
ReplyDeleteTo be fair it probably was. And I should know as I was with Customs-HMRC long enough to see the managerial driven nonsense that this department is all about. Taxpayers need to demand to speak to team managers and then ask to speak to the team managers manager. You need to get nasty and get your case to the imbecile who sits in the office with his/her head up their ass and demand answers. Its pointless going over on the phone with the Admin Officer or Officer. You need to go directly to the person within the office who earns the high salary and demand an explanation and strike while the iron is hot. Get a direct line and cook their heads with constant calls or emails. Its the only way your gonna get anything done.
Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but why are HMRC asking for a copy of someone's will? By law, does this document have to be given to them?
ReplyDeleteErr... This sounds like a typical Daily Mail/Sun misinformation story.
HMRC refused to talk to the mother as she was stating the person wasn't dead. Er ok. So if we have information that someone is dead and someone says they are not, isn't it logical to ask to speak to the person concerned first? It's not like they are asking to speak to the dead, quite the opposite.
The letter would have been sent to the personal representative, not specifically to a relation and the information would have come from the DWP OR HER EMPLOYER - NOT HMRC YOU ****** MORONS (especially if benefits were being cut) HMRC DOESN'T DECLARE PEOPLE DEAD UNLESS INFORMATION IS RECEIVED FROM ELSEWHERE.
DWP OR HER EMPLOYER - NOT HMRC YOU ****** MORONS (especially if benefits were being cut) HMRC DOESN'T DECLARE PEOPLE DEAD UNLESS INFORMATION IS RECEIVED FROM ELSEWHERE.
ReplyDeleteBold statement from someone within an organisation that screws a lot of things up.
22 June 2010 23:22
ReplyDeleteYou could be right in that the information supplied to HMRC may have been incorrect. But lets face it, the person probably will be dead by the time you get it sorted out.
I'd love for some of the middle class morons who complain about HMRC could see what goes on inside HMRC offices. Most of the work is carried out by people who are prob paid 60% less than they are - with computer systems that are woefully inadequate, either by design (NPS is so bad because the 6-figure salary numpties provided the brief, not those on the shop floor) or because they have not changed for nearly 15 years and therefore cannot cope adequately with the kind of information people (inside and outside HMRC) throw at them.
I reckon if a daily newspaper journalist came in to HMRC and somehow ended up with a job as a worker, it wouldn't be before long they were either suing their real employer or being sectioned under the mental health act.
Bold statement from someone within an organisation that screws a lot of things up.
Ever heard of Garbage in/Garbage out?
Ever heard of Garbage in/Garbage out?
ReplyDeleteTrouble is there seems to be a lot more coming out than goes in.