HMRC mistakenly refund you £775,000. What do you do?

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board' started by StatisTYKE, Dec 9, 2021.

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  1. StatisTYKE

    StatisTYKE Well-Known Member

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    Didn’t happen to me sadly but it did happen to someone.

    You try and get in contact with HMRC (your bank advises you to do this as they can’t do anything) but of course you can never get through. You keep trying but get nowhere.

    What next?
     
    StatisTYKE, Dec 9, 2021
    #1
  2. KyoteTyke

    KyoteTyke Well-Known Member

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    Just leave it in your account (Do not move it). The interest earned is yours, the original money however is still theirs!
     
    KyoteTyke, Dec 9, 2021
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  3. JamDrop

    JamDrop Well-Known Member

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    Absolutely, under no circumstances spend it. If I knew it was a mistake (as stated in the title) then I’d possibly be breaking the law I believe if I did spend it and I’d certainly be up the creek without a paddle when they claimed it back - which they 100% would do.
     
    JamDrop, Dec 9, 2021
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  4. bfc

    bfc1001 Well-Known Member

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    I've read this story . HMRC did nt have a clue though it is a criminal offence to spend money you know isn't yours . Maybe say nothing but don't spend it ? Dosent debt clear after 6 years or so if the debt provider fails to collect or no payments are made ? I'm guessing that works the other way round regards overpayments .
     
    bfc1001, Dec 9, 2021
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  5. arabian_ian

    arabian_ian Well-Known Member

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    Say thanks from the Bahamas
     
    arabian_ian, Dec 9, 2021
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  6. StatisTYKE

    StatisTYKE Well-Known Member

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    Agreed. However once this woman did eventually get through HMRC they said they would never have picked up the mistake. Having reduced income over the pandemic period she had spent £20,000. Which she has to pay back. Must leave you thinking if only I hadn't got through....
     
    StatisTYKE, Dec 9, 2021
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  7. Sta

    Stahlrost Well-Known Member

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    Keep £25k of it, and pay the remaining £750k to Barnsley Football Club.
     
    Stahlrost, Dec 9, 2021
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  8. SFOTyke

    SFOTyke Well-Known Member

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    Get a quick PCR test and emigrate to a country with no extradition treaty with the UK. Sign up for iFollow, and you're set.
     
    SFOTyke, Dec 9, 2021
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  9. Old Goat

    Old Goat Well-Known Member

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    Send a letter to HMRC explaining that you've received money in error. Attach a cheque for £7.75. Do the same thing for the next 365 days. Vary the amount, ideally using only the numbers 7, 5 and 0 - but never go higher than a twenty quid. Then if they start wanting the £775k back, answer every letter from HMRC with "This matter has been resolved. Please see my letter of xx/xx/xxxxx and my accompanying cheque for £x. Make sure that the amount you quote doesn't tie up to the date you quote, but relates to another one of your letters. Should keep them busy and off your back for a good long while.
     
    Last edited: Dec 9, 2021
    Old Goat, Dec 9, 2021
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  10. Bak

    Baka Well-Known Member

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    Put it all on Liverpool to score, on Betfair, at odds of about 1.03.
     
    Baka, Dec 9, 2021
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  11. John Peachy

    John Peachy Well-Known Member

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    If you have few assets spend it all & you'll only have to pay it back at a fiver a week. If you have morals / a house don't. I wouldn't spend it myself.
     
    John Peachy, Dec 9, 2021
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  12. Gimson&theBarnsleys

    Gimson&theBarnsleys Well-Known Member

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    Follow our PM's example and claim you knew nothing about it.
     
    Gimson&theBarnsleys, Dec 9, 2021
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  13. SuperTyke

    SuperTyke Well-Known Member

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    Spend it to pay off my own personal debt and then give vague answers and dodge the question forever after
     
    SuperTyke, Dec 9, 2021
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  14. Old Goat

    Old Goat Well-Known Member

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    ...and if there's a knock at the door, hide in the fridge.
     
    Old Goat, Dec 9, 2021
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  15. Brush

    Brush Well-Known Member

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    Transfer the cash to a foreign bank account then leave the country and never come back. Other things you could do would be to have facial plastic surgery and change your name. Otherwise you'd be looking at a jail sentence.
     
    Brush, Dec 9, 2021
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  16. Glo

    GloucesterRedsBigBro Well-Known Member

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    HMRC always pay refunds by cheque thereby warning against all these scammers who purport to be HMRC and ask for bank details to pay the refund.
     
    GloucesterRedsBigBro, Dec 9, 2021
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  17. Deafening Silence

    Deafening Silence Well-Known Member

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    HMRC have paid my PAYE tax refund back via bank transfer.
     
    Deafening Silence, Dec 9, 2021
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  18. Sta

    Stahlrost Well-Known Member

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    HMRC have for many years paid me personally and my former business by bank transfer. Can't remember when I last saw a cheque.
     
    Stahlrost, Dec 9, 2021
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  19. StatisTYKE

    StatisTYKE Well-Known Member

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    Correct answer.
     
    StatisTYKE, Dec 9, 2021
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  20. Redhelen

    Redhelen Well-Known Member

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    I've read about this. One thing you shouldn't do is spend any of it.
     
    Redhelen, Dec 10, 2021
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