Record number of Tax Credit Complaints are Succeeding

6.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 22nd Jun 2005

Commenting on the publication of the Adjudicator's Office Annual Report 2005 which highlights the severe problems with the tax credit system, Annette Brooke MP said:

"There were 2,800 cases of overpaid tax credits revealed for the previous year in Mid Dorset & North Poole constituency. This year things could be even worse and it is well worth considering a formal complaint if you believe you have been treated unfairly by the Revenue.

"The report confirms what a shambles the administration of tax credits is in - 86% of complaints are being upheld by the independent Adjudicator.

"I will continue to press the Government for an urgent review of the case for returning to a system of fixed awards to end the bureaucratic nightmare being faced by so many families."

In one case in Mid Dorset, a constituent had been overpaid by £6000 and then, as in other cases, was given a completely unrealistic demand for repayment. Annette Brooke has referred many individual cases to the Parliamentary Ombudsman, Ann Abraham, whose report published this morning will force the government to finally admit that there is a big problem which must be tackled.