child tax credits

[polly2]

Hiya

I had a phone call the other day from someone who said they were from the child tax credit doing random checks

They asked me if I was minding 'K' I said yes, then they asked me all sorts of questions like what hours I have her, my name, address, reg number, what I charge, whether I charge in holidays. Which I answered.

Anyway once I had put the phone down I started panicing - what if the phone call was a hoax??? I really think these people should write to us or something. Trouble with me is I don't think until afterwards

Anyway I didn't give out any personal details about the child - only myself - and the days I mind her.

Do you think it will be ok???
Have they ever phoned any of you guys??

Thanks
Hollyx

[polly2]

Sorry I think I posted this in wrong place

Prob won't get any replies now...silly me

Please feel free to move post...someone!

[hazel2]

hi Polly, i also had a phone call from them about a child i was caring for , they are just checking that the parent is using your service and that the cost of your child care is the same as what the parent has told them its costing. so do not worry

hazelx

[polly2]

phew!

Thanks for replying - glad I not the only one, must be ok then!

[angeldelight]

I have heard that they do this so do not worry

I never do give information over the phone though and would ask them to put it in writing which I think they should do anyway

When it is unexpected like that you do not have time to think do you

We live and learn and next time I would def ask them to write to you

Angel xx

[polly2]

Yes you are right Angel

I am going to leave myself a big note by my phone to remind myself to keep my gob shut!!!

Thanks for moving post by the way

Holly

[2kidsunder5]

A friend of mine got a call last week to ask is she was minding a brother and sister. She wasn't!!!!!!!!

The mum had been to see her in the school holidays and signed contracts and all paperwork etc. She then rang my friend two weeks before they were due to start and said due to family problems they were no longer moving into the area so she didn't need her.

They have apparently been getting £180 per week in tax credits since September for child care that they have not had!!!!! Makes me so mad

I think that we should be able to ring tax credits give them our reg number and they should tell us who is claiming against it!!!!!

Another childminder in my area had some one visit and sign contracts etc and then they never turned up on the first day of care. When she tried to contact them all the info they had given was false, tel numbers, address etc. She rang tax credits and they couldn't do anything without the full name, address and postcode!!!!!

Sorry to go on but it winds me up.

Diane x

[jo]

I also know someone who had had a parent claiming for childcare. She'd never met her!! Its a good job they do random checks. Some people eh?

[lorraine2767]

I know someone that was saying that their children went to kids club full time when they wasn't, when I told her they do make spot checks she said oh I will cross that bridge if it happens.

Why do people do it, it makes me so angry.

Lorraine xx

[banana]

I need to check the mindee's that have left arent still against my reg number. I have a feeling one of them is!

x

[kellsbells]

Hi all, I have just had my pre-reg vivist today and passed!!!!

But my comment is as a parent, my daughter was going to a child minder and I was receiving child tax credits,my child tax credits stopped before they should of and I received a letter saying thank you for advising us you no longer have a child care provider! I hadn't rung them she had! as a single parent I am entitled to a 4 week run on however my ex-child minder had rang working families tax credit with my national insurance number (which she had from a letter I asked her to write for me to the council) I thought she was allowed to do this? Obviously by what you are saying she isn't!!!! But I did think it was rather cheeky as I can control my own financial arrangements thank you! ;-)

What do you guys think? as she shouldn't be keeping my personal details and using them should she?

Kellsbells
xx

[susi513]

Some childminders have discovered parents have tried to claim tax credits fraudulently - I've heard of parents visiting childminders just to get their registration number, or using for a short time and never notifying the arrangement has ended so they continue to get credits.

Childminders are not required to notify of any changes to the arrangement - its the reponsibility of the parent. The system was changed so that parents don't have to have any confirmation from childminder before submitting their claim because the financial circumstances of families is none of the childminder's business.

But many childminders are keen to avoid the possibility of being accused of participating in any fraud and feel its their place to keep the tax office informed. Particularly as the system has resulted in numerous mistakes and is widely viewed as considerably flawed and mismanaged. And the tax credits checks appear woefully inadequate. Thats why some childminders started to get NI numbers from parents, as they felt this would be helpful in fraud prevention. However, the NCMA have now advised that childminders should not be asking for NI numbers - they say this type of information should be kept confidential and parents should not be giving it to anyone.

Holly, I've never had a phone call from the tax credits, and I probably would have answered their questions too as you did. Now I've had a chance to think about it I will be prepared to say, if they call, that as I can't verify who they are over the phone I will send them the information rather than discuss on the phone.

[polly2]

Hi kellsbells - I would be really miffed if that had happened to me.

Surely she was wrong to do this?

Hi susie - I think thats a good idea, thats what I will do next time.

Hollyx

[kellsbells]

Well yes I was really miffed! I am in a private rented property and by myself, so I needed to juggle money a bit to ensure my rent was paid, I'm just lucky I have a mother like mine who helps me out! Otherwise I don't know what I would of done!

You have 3 months to declare change of circumstances with tax credits (and It's legal to do so!) The only problem being it's me who loses out when they re-start again, But I am thinking of ringing Ofsted, I really don't want too, But I just think it's wrong the fact she kept my national Insurance number and used it without me knowing.

I have decided to use termination contracts for when a child leaves, so whether someone did claim against my number or not I would have proof with their signature on just to safeguard myself.

Kellsbells
x