I went bankrupt in December 2008. Discharged from BR December 2009.
And a big thank you to this forum and it's members for all the advice I got simply by reading the threads.
Been a tough time and in March this year my wife left me. I only mention it as it is relevant to this issue.
I included on my petition a debt of 4200 pounds to the cretinous WFTC department who claimed they overpaid us which I disputed. I put in the notes on the petition that I had, like many others whose lives this department affected, disputed this alleged overpayment since 2006 when they first hit us with it.
When I had my telephone interview with the OR I vaguely recall being told that as the debt was to my wife and I ie joint and several liability it could not be written off. (It was the only debt that was in both our names).
Well we never heard anything from WFTC. I was unemployed through the whole of my bankruptcy, discharged Dec 09 and was still unemployed till April '10 when I returned to self employment. Which went badly in the recession anyway !!
Four weeks ago I landed a good job in construction on PAYE. I worked a week in hand and with 48 hours to go before getting my first wage paid into the bank I got a message on ansafone call this number.
Which I did. And it was WFTC. Telling me I owed them 4200 pounds. Well the Donnybrook that took place on the phone was epic!! This aggressive woman demanded that a direct debit be set up to clear the debt over 10 years. I said fine as long as you do it on your bank account!!
I told her that she could wait until I had taken advice and call back.
I rang the OR, my case officer called me back. And I am NOT liable for the debt. The debt is live as far as my wife is concerned. But my liability for it ended in Dec 2008.
This is important as my estranged wife works 2 mornings a week part time, is on ESA as she has health issues that prevent her working full time. And so is far more likely to get these persistent b------s to write it off!! Which they do all the time.
The OR said they were trying it on.
Just wanted to draw attention to this. Even if a couple are still together it is easier to get a write off or a much reduced payment if only one of you has liability.
Working Families Tax Credit Overpayments
Posted - 26 November 2010 : 19:45:19
