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Of Politics and Leadership .... 31 January 2009 Tax Credit Casualties is not a political organisation. It might surprise you to hear that, because we always seem to be 'mouthing-off' about Gordon Brown and the Labour Party. In reality, each of our team and our active members have differing views. We have all become very good long-distance friends, and probably will be for life, but the one thing that none of us have ever talked about is our personal political views. They're not important in this fight. We share a common goal, which is to stop the immense harm that is being caused to fine, decent and vulnerable people in these lands that we call home. And when two or more people who share a common goal get together, anything can be achieved! Anything. In reality, what has actually become of politics in the UK? Years ago, there were very definite and defined lines of separation. Labour stood for everything that was the working class. Conservatives were all for the well-off, and those that aspired to be. The Liberals, now the Liberal Democrats, were for the in-betweenies; the people who didn't actually fit into the framework of the two main gangs. Things were straightforward and uncomplicated. Today, it's a very different matter. You've probably guessed by now that I never really studied politics. This is actually quite an advantage to me now, because neither did the vast majority of the population. Be honest, do we really understand it all? My guess is not, but it doesn't really matter because politics has quite simply lost it's way in the UK. On the surface, the class distinctions that used to determine which Party you supported are gone. In reality, the 'old boys network' still exists underground. Another few generations, and it will be gone forever. It seems to me that each main Political Party nowadays tries to find, or invent, a difference that they can use as leverage on the electorate. So instead of the clearly defined and previously established principles of each Party dictating what is in their manifesto, anything that can possibly win votes goes in there - as long as it is different to what the others are promising. A very simplistic overview, I admit, but not too far off the mark. Also, and this is far, far beyond shameful, it seems that promises made in a manifesto can be cast aside without thought for the electorate that believed and trusted in what they were promised. Onto leadership ..... Most people today think that the person at the top of the tree is the leader. That really isn't the case at all - it's just the organisational tree, and that is all it is. The person at the top is granted the position of leader by default, but that doesn't mean that they are one. Your manager might have authority over you, but that doesn't even come close to being a leader. In the UK, most managers don't have a clue about leadership - heck, if I'm brutally honest, not a lot of them know a great deal about management, either. Many take the route of oppression, thinking that if they bully people then they are fulfilling their management role. There are many thousands of small to medium sized companies that give someone the title of manager, simply to treat them as chief administrators and provide no development training whatsoever. Absolutely shameful, and a huge false economy! Still, the executives who are real leaders get paid the really good salaries, and the companies that employ them honestly do get their money's worth. I'm not talking about what has come to be accepted nowadays as the 'normal' manager, executive or politician. I'm talking about the people, whatever their career, who truly are leaders and can therefore accept the responsibility that goes with the position and salary. In these modern times, it seems that people are willing to accept the salary, but not the responsibility! You might disagree with me, and that's fine. As in politics, everything has become diluted ..... and over time, standards tend to slowly 'drift', until the original virtues have been forgotten and lost forever. Bit by bit, until it's too late. Where does all of this fit into Tax Credits? Well, you have to understand what we are really fighting here ..... Gordon Brown is in no way any kind of leader. Without just griping, and in the context of what we have been discussing, he never qualified. Let's amplify on that a bit .... You have very probably heard the expression, 'they're a born leader ....', well, it never happens! Leaders aren't born, they become leaders because of the environment that they are bought up in, the experiences that they have and the lessons that they learn along the way. Some fall by the wayside on the journey. Others develop their leadership skills later on in life. Some achieve it because they have been fortunate to have fantastic mentors, and some because they have had enough of a life of mediocrity and pain. The good news is that anyone can do it, as soon as they make a decision to learn how. They then begin their own very personal journey, and gain so much that simply can't be given. Try it and see!! If you're unhappy with your life, think beyond the obstacles, take them one at a time, and make change happen. Anyone can do it, one step at a time. Gordon Brown never qualified as Prime Minister. He never earned it. He never learned the skills. Quite simply, he never completed the apprenticeship. When the time came to elect a new leader of the Labour Party, there were no suitable candidates. No leaders. So Gordon Brown was unopposed as the Labour fairy Godmother waved her wand and made it so! Many Labour politicians will say that 'they did it for the good of Party unity', but that simply doesn't wash. If there had been a suitable candidate, a potential leader with the necessary skills, they would have risen to the top, competed, and almost certainly won. It really isn't Gordon Browns fault - he honestly believes that he is right in everything he does. So did Hitler. Every Labour MP and Party Member who allowed it to happen bears some of the responsibility for the mess they, and the rest of the country, are now in. The modern political disease seems to be a case of keeping your job, instead of doing what's right. Serving the needs of yourself, instead of the needs of the many. Anyway, as we all know, Gordon Brown then took over the Prime Minister's nest - totally unelected, with the full backing of all the yes men who were worried about their jobs and without a coup d'état in sight. It makes an absolute mockery of democracy. Nobody seemed to remember that there is a sound reason why we have democratic selection processes. We have them to prevent unsuitable candidates from entering office; to weed out the hopefuls from the worthy. So the real problem is that Gordon Brown's ambition far exceeds his abilities, and the UK should be really, really worried. There is nothing more dangerous than someone in a position of power, who believes that they can cut it but just doesn't have the necessary skills. Even worse, he refuses to acknowledge his mistakes and learn from them - which is one of the true requirements for leadership and success. He refuses to acknowledge the very major problems that exist within the Tax Credit system. A true leader would listen, investigate and take action, not ignore the problem and continue to allow millions of decent people to be financially raped with his full support and approval. As the USA would say, he is in denial. That's a bit of a psychological problem. Does anyone know how we get the Prime Minister committed? Just to finish off, there's a joke that has been doing the rounds for some time now:
Strange how jokes can sometimes really hit the mark, isn't it? The PM Supports This !?! 30 January 2009 The Prime Minister holds the highest political office in the UK, and is responsible for the well being of both the UK, and all of its citizens. We all know that. Our current Prime Minister is very, very proud of the Tax Credit system that he created when he was Chancellor. So proud, in fact, that he tells the country just how great Tax Credits are at every possible opportunity, and how the Labour Government have lifted so many families out of poverty. He just won't listen to anything critical of Tax Credits, without immediately donning his flak jacket and broadcasting the same old propaganda, over and over. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Tax Credit system! So this, which landed on my desk today from Rachel, doesn't happen:
And, of course, this (posted on internet forum yesterday) doesn't happen either:
Here's another one (posted on internet forum 21 Jan 2009), that never happens, but which includes a thank you to the PM :
Stories like this are happening every day. They are commonplace, because 20% of all Tax Credit claims are overpaid. Aren't Tax Credits wonderful, Mr. Brown? You must be so very proud ..... A few words of advice to the Prime Minister ..... no matter how long you put it off, as sure as the Sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening, you will eventually have to hold a General Election. There are over 6 million Tax Credit claims each year, and some of those are joint claims - so we can assume that there are well over 6 million voters in amongst that lot. Can you afford to lose a potential 6 million, or more, votes? I very much doubt it. You have consistently ignored the problem, buried your head in the sand and refused to do anything about it. Since 2003, just short of 9 million claims have been overpaid, many repeatedly, year after year. When last years figures are released, the total will probably be well over 10 million. All of those families that have suffered because of your inaction. With your approval, of course, Prime Minister All of those families that are worse off than they would have been if they had never claimed Tax Credits. With your approval, of course, Mr. Brown. You're out at the next election, and you'll take most Labour MPs with you! Even the good ones. Absolutely and Totally Unacceptable. 28 January 2009 Yesterday, the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) published a new article which everyone should read; 'Worrying Delays In The Tax Credit Office'. Many thanks to LITRG for another good article. Here at TCC, we believe that our independence is our strength, and our view is that this is more than worrying - it is absolutely and totally unacceptable. Not only another huge Tax Credit scandal ....... not only further proof that the TCO computer system is unfit for purpose ..... but these latest developments are either designed and deliberate, or the result of total incompetence. Knowing who is responsible for this mess, all probably apply. Bear with me while we go back over the disastrous history of New Tax Credits. Let's build the scenario ..... first of all, why not have a read of the statement made by Jean Shaoul after our meeting in Rotherham last year. It's interesting reading, and very definitely food for thought. That should set the scene a little. Now let's talk about the Tax Credit problem - how it all began and what happened from there, then we'll finish up with the present day. Firstly, the Tax Credit system that we know in the UK today was developed largely from the Australian model. Two years before the UK system became live in 2003, the Australian system had failed because of huge overpayment problems. Because of the huge public outcry, the Australian government were forced to make radical changes to the system. Even to this day, overpayments in the Aussie system run at around 10% of all claims, because overpayments are an inherent part of the system design. Yet, our Government, led by Tony Blair and with Gordon Brown as Chancellor, still went ahead with New Tax Credits! Despite the Australian experience. Just to compound matters, the UK Tax Credit computer system wasn't fully ready when the Tax Credit system went live in April of 2003. Bugs and glitches ruled the day because rigid deadlines dictated that the software could not be fully tested. Bugs still exist, and when they are 'fixed', new bugs can appear. It is very difficult to carry out development and testing on such a large computer system when it is live. In the normal world, people with shoulders wide enough to accept responsibility for both the implementation of New Tax Credits and the duty of care that they hold to the electorate would have delayed New Tax Credits until the following year. It could have been done. The Inland Revenue at that time was still an efficient organisation, and the existing Family Tax Credit could have continued to be paid to claimants for another year, or longer if necessary. The financial costs of delaying the project would have been affordable, and could have been found. Millions of claimants could have been saved from all the stress, health problems and broken relationships that often follow a demand for repayment. You only have to read 'Voices of the Victims' to understand some of the turmoil and ruined lives that an overpayment often causes. Unfortunately for the poorest, what wasn't affordable was the cost to the ego of a Chancellor who desperately wanted to be Prime Minister. Anyway, it took a year for the immensity of the problem to become apparent to the Public, when the overpayment bills started dropping through letterboxes. There are people still repaying those overpayments now, and even more shocking, there are still people only just being notified of them, six years later! (Officially, this does not, of course, happen). A very interesting point is that the company that was responsible for the computer system, EDS, paid compensation of £71.25 million to the Government because of the fiasco. Although 1,879,000 claims were overpaid by a total of £1.931 billion in 2003-04, no corresponding offer of compensation has been made to the claimants who were the victims of computer bugs. Now there's a contradiction of standards and morals. Even more interesting is the fact that the compensation payments were conditional on EDS being given more Government contracts! In the words of Richard Littlejohn,' ...you couldn't make it up!!' Now we can move forward to just a few years ago. The Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise had been forced to merge, despite warnings that the result would be a nightmare. Staff levels at the new HMRC were being cut in the interests of cost savings and 'efficiency', with ongoing cuts planned for the future. Staff were shuffled around - moved from their area of expertise to the latest crisis within HMRC; constantly on the move. Always fire fighting, with yet more and more offices being closed. HMRC personnel tried to do the right thing, and correctly informed Management that they were no longer able to do their jobs properly or efficiently. The message came back from on high that anyone who rocked the boat would be out of a job. Fearful for their livelihood, decent and highly skilled HMRC staff kept their heads down and got on with what they were told to do. The workforce and middle management at HMRC became even more disillusioned. And things at HMRC got even worse. The Tax Credit computer system was supposed to bring a high level of automation to claims and their administration, and low staffing levels were planned accordingly. It didn't quite work out that way, though. Because of the computer problems, lots of tasks had to be done manually. As always happens when managers aren't given the necessary resources, both human and financial, everything began to come to a grinding halt. Increasingly, letters weren't acknowledged or answered, claims took longer to sort out, and errors multiplied. More and more claimants complained and disputed their overpayments. More and more work for HMRC personnel. Less and less staff to do it. Large numbers of TCO staff were moved from crisis to crisis, tackling a backlog in one area, then being moved onto the next. By the time they got back to their own departments, they faced a huge backlog there, too. Which brings us to the present day, and the facts in the LITRG article .... Things are now so bad that HMRC are actually telling claimants that their new claim for Tax Credits will take 'up to three weeks' to process. If they're saying 'up to three weeks', you can be sure that it's longer than that. But what's happened to the fantastic new computer system with the automated form scanning and data input? Is it running at the speed of a striking slug? Or is it taking them three weeks to actually open the mail? It gets even worse .... existing claimants are being told that it will take up to four weeks to process a change of circumstances!! Why? Has the computer actually gone on strike because it's as p'd off as everyone who has anything to do with the diabolical Tax Credit farce? Maybe HMRC have throttled back the speed of the processors, in the interests of 'efficiency' ! It is blatantly obvious that major problems still exist throughout the computer system, despite the repeated denials from politicians and Treasury officials who should learn not to tell porkies. Let's put this into perspective; if you ring an insurance company to take out a policy with them, they don't say ' thanks very much for your business - it'll only take us three weeks, or ... errmm .... maybe a bit longer to get this up and running for you'. If you ring them to give a change of address, they don't say 'great ..... we'll get back to you about it in four weeks, or so'. No, you can rest assured that the call centre operative on the other end of the 'phone pulls up your details from the customer database, makes the necessary amendments, and that's the job done. So, what the heck are they actually doing at HMRC? Does the telephone operative write the CoC's on a handy scrap of waste paper, stick it to the back of the next conveniently passing snail and ask it to 'just rush this over to the data processing centre, will you? There's a good chap .. '. Don't laugh - it's probably true! Anyway, now we get to the really good bit. You'll like this. In March last year, HMRC released an amended version of COP 26. There were two major changes - the first was the replacement of the scandalous 'reasonable belief' test with responsibilities of both the claimant and HMRC, and the second was the '30 day rule'. The 30 day rule effectively states that, even if a claimant informs HMRC of changes of circumstances as soon as they happen, the Tax Credit Office can take up to 30 days to process those changes and any overpayments that are caused by the delay in processing are recoverable. Now, just about every organisation that offers help and guidance to claimants of Tax Credits thought that this was very unfair - but were told by HMRC that the majority of CoC's were processed within the first 48 hours. It seems far too much of a coincidence that CoC's are now taking ..... how long? Yes, you've guessed it, around 30 days!! What an absolute master stroke! You can just imagine the planning meeting, can't you .... 'Right everyone, the Tax Credit system is in meltdown. The computer system doesn't work, we've cut staffing levels down beyond critical, and lots of our experienced personnel have left because we've made working conditions so bad. To cap it all, lots of claimants have got the bloody audacity to complain about the abysmal service and overpayments. What can we do? I know .... lets give ourselves longer to get the work done. 30 days should do it. Hmmmn, but that's going to cost us ..... yes ... at the back .... brilliant suggestion! We'll move the goalposts, and make the claimants pay for our mistakes and skeleton staffing levels! Now, isn't there a new COP 26 in the pipeline? This is what we'll do .... ' So, after years of blaming innocent claimants for overpayments caused by not only a very dodgy computer system, but also by HMRC not recording CoC's, manual processing errors, lost letters and Annual Declarations, etcetera, etcetera ..... claimants are now not only still being blamed, but are literally paying for the total mess that Tax Credit system has become. In 'We've Been Doing It Wrong', below, I said that the odds of anyone receiving an overpayment were 20%, or one in five. For everyone that submits a change of circumstances from now on, the odds are approaching 100%. True, it will only be thirty days worth that has to be repaid - but can you imagine how hard it is for a family on the breadline to repay a months worth of Tax Credit? Gordon Brown is forever 'crowing' about how much he and his Party have done to eradicate poverty. Well, I learnt a long time ago that, no matter how often you tell everyone that you are a cockerel, if you look like a duck, walk like a duck and quack like a duck ..... then you're a duck. Every time. Every single time. Doesn't it all make you so angry? Are you going to wait until there is nobody left to speak up for you? You know what to do. Make change happen! We've Been Doing It Wrong! 26 January 2009 It's hard to admit, but all of us at TCC would like to apologise to each and every one of our members! We've been running our campaign for an overpayment amnesty in totally the wrong way. We've been writing letters to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor, Treasury secretaries, HMRC, MPs and even The Queen. We've got a major Union behind us. Voices of the Victims, our 'tell-it-as-it-really-is' publication of real, everyday, overpayment victims stories has been published on this site. We liaise with other, more politically correct Organisations in order to try and provide a united front against the biggest financial rape that a Government has ever carried out on the very poorest of it's citizens - while £billions are thrown at private enterprise when it suits. I could go on - but suffice to say that we are really, really sorry! We've let you all down ...... Instead of spending all that time and effort, all the tears and frustration, sleepless nights ..... it seems that all we really had to do was have a few whip-rounds until we had got a few grand together, and then bribe a Labour Lord or two!! Or four? Or more? Of course, the Sunday Times could be wrong ...... but I wonder if it's worth sending the PM a couple of quid, or whether that would be over-valuing his abilities? Talking about successful campaigns, They Work For You very quickly got together a campaign to stop our MPs from voting through an amendment so that they didn't have to publish their expenses. Last year, the High Court had ruled that they must be published - so, with typical cess-pit morals, our Government decided to change the law. In direct contradiction to his public statements about 'more transparency' in politics, Gordon Brown ordered all of his Party to vote for the change. Just to show that I'm not biased against Labour, it seems that at the last minute the Conservatives had a guilt trip and withdrew their support. The Liberal Democrats were publicly against it - so top marks to them! Anyway, I digress ...... 'They Work For You' had just six days (yes, just SIX) in which to organise and mount their campaign. They won!! Take a look at their blog posting, 'Blimey. It Looks Like The Internet's Won'. They are very pleased with what they have achieved, and rightly so. Now that's the way to do it! It shows what can be done with people power and the internet - and there is no reason why we shouldn't be able to win our campaign, either. This is why we are always asking you to spread the word about TCC. It's why we are constantly asking you to write letters and e-mails, and post links to this website on every forum and bulletin board that you can find on the internet. True, 'They Work For You' has a web site with a lot of traffic - but heck, there are over six-million Tax Credit claims every year, so our potential audience is out there. You might say, 'but not everyone has an overpayment!'. Also true .... as is the fact that some people know that their overpayment is their fault, and are quite happy to repay it. But, and this is really important to get across .... anyone who claims Tax Credits could have an overpayment through a simple twist of fate. A relationship breaking down. An annual return that is lost in the post. A mistake on an award notice that isn't spotted .... need I go on? It can happen to anyone, at any time. That's why we should be spreading the word; not only to overpayment victims, but to everyone that claims Tax Credits. And, if they're not interested because it hasn't happened to them yet, tell them why they should be concerned. At the moment, it's a 20% chance. A one-in-five chance. A state lottery, with a fantastic prize - they win !!! We aren't asking you to join in with our campaign. We're asking you to join in with yours. Make yourselves proud !! One Voice 20 January 2009 Today, the World witnessed the inauguration of Barak Obama as the new President of the United States. I have not met one person who does not hope, or believe, that President Obama will do anything but good. The World is watching expectantly, as we enter a new and unknown chapter in the history of humanity. Back at home, here in the UK, we know exactly what is what. We have an unelected Prime Minister who, in many peoples minds, is not far short of being a traitor. As well as selling us down the European river without the promised referendum, he has steered us onto the road that leads to national bankruptcy, yet still believes that the nation will eventually have a 'moment of enlightenment' that he is our national saviour. How can I say these things? It's easy, because it is the truth and nothing but the truth. What has this got to do with Tax Credits? Let me explain ..... Have you ever heard the expression, 'like father, like son', or, 'like mother, like daughter'? It means, amongst other things, that a child will copy the actions of their parent(s), and more often than not, inherit their parents beliefs and morals. In the commercial and business world, the person at the top of the organisational chart determines whether their organisation operates at the higher or lower end of the moralistic scale. Honest or sneaky. Green or environmentally challenged. Rip-off or fair. I think we all know which end of the scale Gordon Brown chooses to occupy. Proof of this can be seen in the amount of controversial legislation that is implemented purely because it has been snuck in through the 'small print' back door, piggybacked onto a more acceptable bill. Why do the Government choose to operate in this fashion? Well, it's because if they followed the full and open democratic processes, Parliament and the people would never accept these things. Exactly like not holding a referendum about the European Constitution, simply because they would be defeated. It's not just the Prime Minister, though - remember that Gordon Brown's morals are accepted by both his Cabinet and his Party. There are a great number of good Labour MP's who are being dragged into the moralistic cess pit by a Prime Minister that they should have stood up to, and sent packing, a long time ago. This is now the face of democracy in the United Kingdom, the land that gave democracy to the World. Why all of the above? It's simple ..... people power makes change happen. Until we create a tidal wave of letters, complaints and public opinion, nothing will change regarding Tax Credits. Everyone affected by a Tax Credit overpayment - and that includes YOU - simply must put pen to paper and complain. Complain to your MP. Complain to the media. Complain to the Prime Minister. Complain, complain, complain !!! Gordon Brown is a megalomaniac who turns his blind eye to the Tax Credit problem. We - every one of us - must combine as one voice, and create a tsunami of public opinion that enough is enough, and we aren't going to take the Tax Credit problem any more. In the words of Barak Obama, "Can we do it?" YES, WE CAN !! |
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Tax Credit Casualties (TCC) is a voluntary, unfunded, not for profit
organisation run by members for members. We cannot take any responsibility for
decisions made by HMRC, The Parliamentary Ombudsman, The Adjudicator, or any
other organisation, regarding claimants cases. We offer free advice on how to
dispute unfair overpayments based on our own experiences, the experiences of
other claimants and HMRC guidelines.
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