Tom Brake MP Calls On Tax Credit Overpayment Families To Complain To Ombudsman

7.19.00pm GMT Thu 26th Jan 2006

Tom Brake MP has called on anyone who has had a tax credit overpayment arising from an official error to contact the Citizens Advice Bureaux. Tom Brake and Sutton Borough Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) will be working together to make a complaint to the Inland Revenue and if necessary take the issue to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

In the London Borough of Sutton, there are likely to be around 9,400 families who have had a tax credit overpayment since 2003.

Tom Brake said:

"Over the last few months, it has become quite clear that Government Ministers are behaving in a grossly complacent way over the recovery of tax credit overpayments.

"They are recklessly ignoring the clear statement by the Parliamentary Ombudsman that automatic recovery of tax credit overpayments is 'systemic maladministration'. Because of the Ombudsman's statement, it is likely that she will uphold a complaint of maladministration in each and every case, purely on the grounds that the tax credit was recovered automatically.

"The time has come for everyone who has had an overpayment to put pressure on the Government to act fairly and responsibly.

If you have had an overpayment and would like help with writing a letter of complaint to the Inland Revenue, contact the CAB on 020 8405 3552.