Tax refunds

HarryM1BYT · 1st May 2012, 09:32

I am certainly currently due a tax refund, so in readiness to make my claim, I did a bit of internet research and found they would send you a claim form, which I requested from what I thought was a department of HMRC.

The forms turned up in the post a few months ago and yesterday I finally got around to filling them in. This morning with the forms ready to send off, I read the cover letter which mentions they charge 17% of the rebate, reading a bit more it is a company offering a service for a fee rather than my making a direct claim for a refund from HMRC.

All looked very government official, until I spotted the 17% fee. Along the top of the forms it said 'The Entitlements Agency' and very official looking.

Rather than pay such companies 17% of any refund you might be entitled to you can get 100% of your refund, simply by contacting HMRC directly with a phone call. You could ring 0845 300 0627, which is their official number for such enquiries, but many of us are are free calls to normal STD numbers - the way around paying for the call is to dial 141 (to hide your number) then 01355 359022, which is their number for incoming calls from abroad. They will not like your using the number, because get get a kick back from the 0845 number use, but they will deal with your enquiry.

Zeb · 1st May 2012, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

I am certainly currently due a tax refund, so in readiness to make my claim, I did a bit of internet research and found they would send you a claim form, which I requested from what I thought was a department of HMRC.

The forms turned up in the post a few months ago and yesterday I finally got around to filling them in. This morning with the forms ready to send off, I read the cover letter which mentions they charge 17% of the rebate, reading a bit more it is a company offering a service for a fee rather than my making a direct claim for a refund from HMRC.

All looked very government official, until I spotted the 17% fee. Along the top of the forms it say 'The Entitlements Agency'

Rather than pay such companies 17% of any refund you might be entitled to you can get 100% of your refund, simply by contacting HMRC directly.

As I understand it, it is illegal for any company or organisation to misrepresent itself in such a manner....if you don't mind I'd be interested in following this up...

EDIT: Hmmm....semi-legal by the looks of it...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7785813.stm

mh007 · 1st May 2012, 09:40

Very crafty, these d**n companies should be stopped in their tracks !

HarryM1BYT · 1st May 2012, 11:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh007

Very crafty, these d**n companies should be stopped in their tracks !

I could not agree more. 17% of what I am likely to be claiming back, will be quite a tidy sum for doing not very much.

I originally did a Google for Tax refund and there they were at the top of the list offerening to send a tax refund form off to you. As said I got as far as filling the form in and ready for posting it back before spotting the 17%, the rest of the form looked very official.

Ten minutes on the phone to HMRC and my claim for a refund is under way and no percentage taken off the top.

KEN BATTY · 1st May 2012, 12:20

Another one to watch is the E1-11 Health Card they too are free but if you go onto the wrong website you end up paying for it I applied and got mine free, later my son asked me to get his and i inadvertently pulled up the wrong site i only realised summat was not right having recently got mine.
BEWARE

lady zed · 3rd May 2012, 14:59

Just like these companies who phone you and tell you they;re authorised by the ministry of justice to claim back any PPI you may be owed. You'd actually believe they're a government agency.............the cads!

SapperGB · 3rd May 2012, 15:37

And those "calling on behalf of Sky TV" to sell you equipment insurance but are actually a private company.

think the last one i got was 79 quid, whereas a refurbished box from sky is only £49 - oh and they say the cover your dish but actually dont. (not that its likely to break anyway.

lady zed · 3rd May 2012, 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by SapperGB

And those "calling on behalf of Sky TV" to sell you equipment insurance but are actually a private company.

think the last one i got was 79 quid, whereas a refurbished box from sky is only £49 - oh and they say the cover your dish but actually dont. (not that its likely to break anyway.

Oh and microsoft now call you from Asia to tell you there's something wrong with your computer..............

DerekS · 3rd May 2012, 16:12

Agree about the health card. I went to the official looking site and saw they wanted £14 funny I thought, the last time it was free .
All very official looking too.
Think Ill set up a site called 'The 75andZTowners club' and charge for admission.

Bolin · 3rd May 2012, 18:43

Interesting. I am sadly due a refund but will look at filling out an R40 form like I did several years ago and posting it.

Strangly HMRC have recently decided that for a couple of recent tax years I somehow paid too much for one and too little for the other, both via PAYE?? So they sent me a cheque for £12. Very odd.

1st May 2012, 09:32	#1
HarryM1BYT This is my second home 75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 17,273 Thanks: 2,160 Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts	Tax refunds I am certainly currently due a tax refund, so in readiness to make my claim, I did a bit of internet research and found they would send you a claim form, which I requested from what I thought was a department of HMRC. The forms turned up in the post a few months ago and yesterday I finally got around to filling them in. This morning with the forms ready to send off, I read the cover letter which mentions they charge 17% of the rebate, reading a bit more it is a company offering a service for a fee rather than my making a direct claim for a refund from HMRC. All looked very government official, until I spotted the 17% fee. Along the top of the forms it said 'The Entitlements Agency' and very official looking. Rather than pay such companies 17% of any refund you might be entitled to you can get 100% of your refund, simply by contacting HMRC directly with a phone call. You could ring 0845 300 0627, which is their official number for such enquiries, but many of us are are free calls to normal STD numbers - the way around paying for the call is to dial 141 (to hide your number) then 01355 359022, which is their number for incoming calls from abroad. They will not like your using the number, because get get a kick back from the 0845 number use, but they will deal with your enquiry. __________________ Harry How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses... http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540 Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing. I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money. Last edited by HarryM1BYT; 1st May 2012 at 10:29..

1st May 2012, 12:20	#5
KEN BATTY Avid contributor 75 contemporay Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Stalybridge Posts: 174 Thanks: 6 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Sites to beware Another one to watch is the E1-11 Health Card they too are free but if you go onto the wrong website you end up paying for it I applied and got mine free, later my son asked me to get his and i inadvertently pulled up the wrong site i only realised summat was not right having recently got mine. BEWARE

3rd May 2012, 14:59	#6
lady zed This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: On the edge Posts: 6,659 Thanks: 1,354 Thanked 1,210 Times in 716 Posts	Just like these companies who phone you and tell you they;re authorised by the ministry of justice to claim back any PPI you may be owed. You'd actually believe they're a government agency.............the cads! __________________ it's all about the first person you want to tell good news to

1st May 2012, 09:40	#3
mh007 This is my second home MG ZT260 SE, MG ZT190+, MG ZTT 160, R75 Conn SE 2.0, R75 Conn SE 2.5 X 3, R75 Club SE 1.8, P5B Coupe Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Keynsham, Bristol Posts: 4,211 Thanks: 65 Thanked 635 Times in 499 Posts	Very crafty, these d**n companies should be stopped in their tracks !

3rd May 2012, 15:37	#7
SapperGB Posted a thing or two 2005 190 ZT-T SE Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dagenham Posts: 1,242 Thanks: 2 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	And those "calling on behalf of Sky TV" to sell you equipment insurance but are actually a private company. think the last one i got was 79 quid, whereas a refurbished box from sky is only £49 - oh and they say the cover your dish but actually dont. (not that its likely to break anyway.

3rd May 2012, 16:12	#9
DerekS Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Malpas Posts: 1,526 Thanks: 34 Thanked 118 Times in 89 Posts	Agree about the health card. I went to the official looking site and saw they wanted £14 funny I thought, the last time it was free . All very official looking too. Think Ill set up a site called 'The 75andZTowners club' and charge for admission.

3rd May 2012, 18:43	#10
Bolin This is my second home Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur SE 4dr manual Wedgewood Blue 2 04-05/06/2001 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: N.E. Hampshire Posts: 4,617 Thanks: 289 Thanked 308 Times in 243 Posts	Interesting. I am sadly due a refund but will look at filling out an R40 form like I did several years ago and posting it. Strangly HMRC have recently decided that for a couple of recent tax years I somehow paid too much for one and too little for the other, both via PAYE?? So they sent me a cheque for £12. Very odd.