SVA Forum

[cealiner]

Over the last couple of days my answering service has taken about 5 calls a day from someone purporting to be from HMRC. They won’t leave a number and they won’t leave a message, other than to say they’ll call back. Surely if it was that important, they’d a) leave me a message and number and b) send me a letter (they have my up to date address)?

Anyone else had these lately?

[caroline]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was them - they are supremely inefficient at answering calls! But I'd expect them to send a letter.

Normal phishing for HMRC is to say you are due a tax refund and to ask for your bank details - yeah right!!
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[cealiner]

Thanks - have taken off my answering system so let's see if I get another call!

[NickyH]

Hi there.

I am an ex HMRC employee, and can advise that they would never do this. We were always instructed, if calling and there was an answerphone, to leave a message.

If you wish to check, then please do phone their call centre (a huge pain I know... I won't even go into how I used to despise those) but if a genuine HMRC person has phoned you, they would also make a note of it on your record, even if there was no reply.

Good luck (both with putting your mind at rest, and with getting through on the dreaded call centre number)!!
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Nicky

[Jan-10]

I agree with Nicky - I would call them and see if you can be put through immediately (it's worth a try to state this) due to being left several messages and that you need to find out what the call is concerning.

I see your point about being cautious - you have to - but calling them would put your mind at ease and get to the bottom of this.

Let us know how you get on

Jan

[NickyH]

I forgot to say, they should leave a name in the message, even if they don't leave a call-back number. Your record notes which contain the PID of the HMRC caller can be matched internally with the name you were given if it's genuine.

When I worked there it wasn't unheard of for telephone calls of this nature to be flagged up, so you are right to be suspicious.
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Nicky

[OfficeStuff]

I've just come off the HMRC website, looking for other things, but I'm fairly certain there was information on there about hoax calls purporting to come from them. Might be worth having a beak at their website.
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[cealiner]

Thanks, all!

Well, the last message stated they would call back ‘after 2pm’ yesterday so I took off my answering service and awaited the call….

Nothing. Not a dicky bird!

Nothing today either. They did leave a name so when I get a moment, I will try the general number. I checked their site yesterday and they have flagged up hoax calls which made me more suspicious.

Having said that, I do need to get my behind in gear and actually register as self-employed but as I’m currently also a PAYE employee and have literally just launched the business, I thought I’d have a month or so to get round to it (3 months from start of trading, isn’t it?).

[NickyH]

Yes it's 3 months from start of trading.

However be prepared for a wait... a VERY long wait. It took 5 months for me to get my reference number sent to me from the time of applying!!!! Thankfully I applied online and printed off proof that I had done so, 'just in case' I'd ever need proof that I'd registered within the 3 months time limit. I didn't ever need the proof, but I was getting quite concerned it was taking so long to hear from them. They always put the onus onto the taxpayer to provide the proof, so I just wanted to cover my own back. I only knew of the lengthy delays because my husband still works there. The local Job Centre are advising 8 weeks delay at least, but even that is still a lengthy wait in my opinion.

Hardly surprising they're in such disarray with all the staff they're shedding, and those poor souls that are left are so stressed up to the eyeballs and receive no proper training, but that's a whole other story lol...
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Nicky

[cealiner]

Thanks Nicky, I'll bear that in mind.
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[dawnjlane]

[quote="NickyH"]

Hardly surprising they're in such disarray with all the staff they're shedding, and those poor souls that are left are so stressed up to the eyeballs and receive no proper training, but that's a whole other story lol...[/quote]

Didn't take them long to come back to me about a fine for not registering for Money Laundering though - two days after I submitted my application I had a letter about back registration fees and a fine for not registering when I first started doing bookkeeping - £204.16 back fees and £100 fine.

It shouldn't take long to register but there may be financial implications in you don't do it in the time scale they say.

Dawn
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[Laura1]

I had a call like this a few months ago, never heard anything since. Odd.
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[cealiner]

Well, no more calls, but I did come back home last week to a nice little tax rebate!

Note to self: pull finger out and register before they stop being nice and start hunting me down...
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