Payment present is too late for Christmas (From Warrington Guardian)

Payment present is too late for Christmas

A NORTHWICH family spent Christmas out of pocket after a tax 'bungle' - even though the Inland Revenue moved to take some action on their problems.

But comfort has been given to Lostock residents Lee Smith and his partner Sara Ledbury after readers contacted them with messages of support following a story highlighting their plight in last week's Guardian.

Lee, 30, of Manchester Road, works part-time at an off-licence in Lostock and earns between £70 and £80 per week but is also eligible to receive money through the Working Tax Credit and Children's Tax Credit systems.

Last week, he told of how he had been having considerable problems in obtaining £600 in WTC and CTC.

The dad said he had now received a giro to pay some of the money but added that there was still an outstanding payment of £265 which was due to him.

He said: "They have now sent the missing giro at last - two and a half weeks late - however, I have been phoning them over the past two weeks on a number of occasions and they were adamant that the giro was sent on December 7.

"On closer inspection, I noticed that the giro envelope I got on December 20 was postmarked December 18, which means either the tax credits helpline people are lying to people about sending out giros or there is a complete system breakdown at the tax credits offices.

"Either way I am still waiting for the Working Tax Credits to be sorted out now, which to-date owes £265 to me.

"However we have had a wonderful response from people, a lot of them elderly people, following last week's story and they have been very supportive and have said they understand exactly where I am coming from as they've been there themselves."

jbrakell@guardiangrp.co.uk