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News Roundup 27 June 2008 A few bits of news to catch up with, plus some free goodies at the end, so I'll just get on with it:
Onto the freebies ..... here are a couple of things that Brown can't take back!
New Team Member 25 June 2008 Tax Credit Casualties would like to welcome Jess to the team, admirably filling the volunteer role of 3rd Sector Liaison that we recently advertised on our vacancies page. Jess will be our single point of contact with all voluntary and community sector organisations, and will not only develop our existing relationships with them, but will build new ones too. The wealth of experience and ability that Jess brings with her is very welcome, and she is already proving herself to be an active team member in all the other things that go on on behind the scenes! Welcome, Jess, and thank you. Heartfelt Sympathies 21 June 2008 Recently, a message was posted by a visitor to this website. In her comment, the lady stated:
We would like to offer our heartfelt sympathies to you on the loss of your Sister, and send our thoughts to everyone touched and affected by this tragedy. Although you gave your name, we don't have any way of contacting you. If you can do it without causing yourself any more distress, when you are ready please could you contact Paula. Thank you. Our thoughts really are with you .... Make A Difference! 21 June 2008 Following our launch of 'Voices of the Victims', we are now asking everyone who visits this website to join with the campaign. We need to make some serious noise, and the only way that this is going to be achieved is for everyone to take part. Your voice may well be the one that makes the difference, so please don't leave it to someone else. It may well be that 'someone else' will leave it up to you! How you can help:
Well done to Simon Blackmore, who recently decided to do a bit more than the average person! In the past two weeks, Simon has taken part in a one-hour Tax Credits special on the (BBC Radio Solent) Charlie Crocker show and also had his story in the main publication on the Island; the Isle of Wight County Press. As a member of Tax Credit Casualties, Simon represented TCC and the situation admirably, and he deserves to receive this recognition! Tax Credit Casualties were given a good mention in a feature in The Times this week. You can read it in The Times Online article, 'Are You Missing Out On Your Tax Credits', by journalist Lauren Thompson. Well done to Sarah McCall for her involvement! TCC Take 'Voices of the Victims' To Westminster 10 June 2008 On the day that Gordon Brown stated that "Tax Credits had been a success", Tax Credit Casualties returned to Westminster to campaign against his 'success' in bringing debt, misery, turmoil and HMRC oppression to nearly two-million families a year since Tax Credits were introduced in 2003.
Travelling from all corners of the country and with an early start from all, we headed to Westminster yesterday to launch 'Voices of the Victims'. In the first event of the day, TCC national coordinators met with tax lawyers Patrick Way and Hui Ling McCarthy. Having corresponded in recent months, it was good to meet them face-to-face and discuss the potential of bringing a court case against HMRC. While Hui Ling and Patrick are graciously prepared to give their very valuable time freely, by working to represent us on a pro bono basis, we need to be able to guarantee funds to cover costs in the event of any court judgement going against us. We will continue to work on this issue, and find ways to raise these funds to take the campaign forward. All suggestions are welcome! The launch of 'Voices of the Victims' was held at Portcullis House, just across the road from the Houses of Parliament. TCC national coordinators Sarah, Ali, Paula and the webmaster were well supported by a good turnout of loyal TCC members, with official attendees including MPs, prospective parliamentary candidates and representatives from SPAN and One Parent Families. The press were represented by reporters from The Daily Mail, The Daily Express and the Press Association. After the national coordinators had introduced 'Voices of the Victims' and the case for an amnesty with a series of short speeches, copies of the booklet were distributed. Although well received, the true impact of 'Voices' will not be felt until people have had the chance to fully digest it's content ... There was then a question and answer section, after which a number of attendees took the opportunity to thank us - a lot of support was expressed for the work TCC do, and many MPs and candidates made suggestions for action. Thank you to every MP and Parliamentary Candidate who attended, or sent representatives on their behalf. Also, thank you to the many MPs who sent their apologies for not being able to attend, but requested copies of the booklet. We look forward to counting on your future support. The only disappointment of the day was being unable to deliver a copy of 'Voices of the Victims' to 10 Downing Street. Whilst we are sure Gordon Brown would benefit from reading 'Voices', we were declined permission. John Hemming MP kindly offered to deliver a copy on TCC's behalf - hopefully, he will have more success than we had! A very special thank you to Mark Hoban MP, Penny Mordaunt and Alistair Thompson for assistance with organising the event and logistics - we could not have done it without you! We would also particularly like to thank all the members of TCC who gave up their time to come along and give their support. Would you like to download and read 'Voices of the Victims' for yourself? Click here. Voices of the Victims 1 June 2008 In one weeks time, Tax Credit Casualties are returning to Westminster to launch the 'Voices of the Victims' campaign. Invitations have been sent to MPs, but to ensure that this event is a success we are asking you to contact your MP and ask that they attend. The launch will take place in Room 'N', Portcullis House, Westminster at 3pm on Monday 9th June. Our latest newsletter contains more details, so if you aren't a subscriber yet you can subscribe here, and you'll be sent the latest one very soon. (If you are already a subscriber and haven't received it yet, please check your 'spam' or 'bulk' folders to make sure it hasn't gone in there - and add noreply@taxcc.org to your 'friends' or 'safe' list.) Most of you will probably want to contact your MP using e-mail, so here are our suggested steps:
However, if you want to 'phone your MP, or attend one of their local 'surgeries', please do! Maybe you could do both! But, however you do it, please can everyone contact their MP in one way or another. It will make a difference.
As webmaster, I know that there are several hundred users of this website who haven't posted (i.e. VOTED) for us yet. Maybe we haven't helped you, and you have chosen not to support us - and that is fine; it really is! However, if you would like to show your support but haven't done so yet, please go to the New Statesman website and post your comment or nomination. The voting closes very, very shortly - so please do it NOW. Tomorrow will be to late! If we have a HUGE response, it will only add more weight to our campaigning! OVERWHELMING SUPPORT is much better than just 'support'. Thank you. |
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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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Yesterday, Tax Credit Casualties returned to Westminster, to launch 'Voices of the Victims' - the booklet written by Tax Credit overpayment victims. Not a 'selection' of the 'juiciest' stories, but a collection of tragic and heartbreaking truths that we collated on a first-come basis. It’s the first piece of qualitative research on Tax Credit overpayment and brings together nearly 40 cases in the victims own words. The victims who volunteered their stories for inclusion in the booklet showed tremendous courage. Thank you!