Now I know how our clients must feel -

Now I know how our clients must feel -

Didn't find your answer?

Today I 'phoned HMRC regarding an error made by HMRC on my own personal tax.

"For security reasons" I was asked for my NI number, name, address etc as normal.

I was then asked if I received a pension. I actually do receive a tiny pension from a scheme I was in 40 years ago and stopped being in 38 years ago, which pays an annual payment of a couple of hundred pounds every December.  So, I confirmed that yes I do receive a pension.  

I was asked who pays this pension. As the payee has changed about 6 times in as many years as insurance companies merge etc and is simply dumped into my bank account once a year I had no idea without looking it up and I said so.

I was then told I had "not passed security" and they hung up.

Is it any wonder that taxpayers are sick of HMRC when faced with such a stupid attitude.

Now, instead of a simple 'phone call to clear up a small problem, they are going to get a formal complaint and a demand for costs in dealing with their error.  

Replies (13)

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By User deleted
05th Sep 2011 12:29

Demand for costs

Whose costs? It's your personal tax and all it will take is a quick letter or another phone call. Both of which could be achieved in the time taken to write a letter of complaint. You'd be the first to complain if a complete stranger was allowed to talk about your tax affairs if they didn't do security checks. And you did ring them, not the other way around. Would it not have been easier to explain that as the pension companies change regularly you don't know the name BUT the amount is c£x each year and is paid in December and ask for another security question?

I appreciate it's frustrating but the person in question was doing their job and protecting the security of YOUR details. Personally I wouldn't have a problem with that.

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By User deleted
05th Sep 2011 12:50

Any Answers, Any Questions or Any Rants?

I'm sorry, but I can't find the question in the opening post.

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Replying to bendybod:
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By thisistibi
05th Sep 2011 13:36

Question

BKD wrote:

I'm sorry, but I can't find the question in the opening post.

There was a question.... "Is it any wonder that taxpayers are sick of HMRC when faced with such a stupid attitude"

But it was rhetorical :-)

 

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Replying to bendybod:
By Owain_Glyndwr
05th Sep 2011 14:14

-

[Comment removed - confrontational]

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By User deleted
05th Sep 2011 14:22

BKD has a fair point

We now have a Time Out zone for non-questions & this could have fitted in very nicely to the Ranting thread that appeared there recently (and drew lots of responses!). If we don't get into the habit of using Time Out those posts that are made there may end up ignored and then we all lose out. Besides, refreshing a thread by adding a new post sometimes wakes people up to getting it going again & it was good seeing what wound people up :)

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Replying to FirstTab:
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By User deleted
06th Sep 2011 14:53

Thanks Flash

Flash Gordon wrote:

We now have a Time Out zone for non-questions & this could have fitted in very nicely to the Ranting thread that appeared there recently (and drew lots of responses!). If we don't get into the habit of using Time Out those posts that are made there may end up ignored and then we all lose out. Besides, refreshing a thread by adding a new post sometimes wakes people up to getting it going again & it was good seeing what wound people up :)

I was chuffed with that thread, 0 - 100 in 4 days :o) I'm hoping for a prize at the end of the year!

And Henry, welcome, in at the deep end I see!

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By Henry Osadzinski
05th Sep 2011 14:44

Time Out

As Flash mentioned, unless you have advice relating to the original post, please make use of the Time Out section of the site for discussions such as this. Any further off-topic comments here will be removed.

Thanks. 

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By Owain_Glyndwr
05th Sep 2011 15:49

What???????????????

[Comment removed - discussion of moderator actions]

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By zebaa
05th Sep 2011 16:27

Advice

When you are dealing with a muppet, on the phone, say goodbye & hang up. In this case they did the hang up which saves the trouble. Then you ring again and talk to someone else.  In the past I have struggled with all sorts of don't-want-to-be-here men (& women too). In life you either learn (as I have in this case) and do something different or do the same old thing & get the same old result.

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Replying to The Practitioner:
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By thisistibi
05th Sep 2011 18:58

@zebaa

zebaa wrote:

When you are dealing with a muppet, on the phone, say goodbye & hang up. In this case they did the hang up which saves the trouble. Then you ring again and talk to someone else.

I did that once and got through to the same person.  It was pretty embarrassing since they knew full well what I had done any why!

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By cathygrimmer
06th Sep 2011 09:39

@thisistibi

I was on the other end of that once! I worked for a firm that provided legal helplines. I was the only tax adviser - they didn't get many tax questions. The client, who had access via Barclaycard, probably assumed there were banks of tax advisers waiting to answer. I advised him on the strength of information he'd given me. he didn't like the advice and rang back a few minutes later - having changed the facts. Rather to his surprise, he got me again! I pointed out that he'd already told me one thing so I couldn't now advise on the basis that it wasn't true. He wasn't a happy man and said he would have me sacked - until I reminded him that all calls were recorded - at which point he went away. It was quite funny. Although not as funny as the chap who called for advice on getting his money back because he'd bought a [***] movie and it was blank. My legal colleague told him it would never stand up in court!

Cathy

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By User deleted
06th Sep 2011 11:20

Completely off topic, but ...

... we have a number of firms here and it is quite funny when the telemarketers call to inform you have been carefully chosen for an exclusive offer to be allowed to advertise as the only accountant on their website/diary/brochure blah blah. You can almost time the next call to perfection as they work their way down the list of "hand picked recommended accountants"  in our area!

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By ShirleyM
06th Sep 2011 15:30

@OGA - That reminds me ...

What happened to the sparkly star awards that we were promised a long while ago  ;)

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