Scores of HMRC customers have spoken out over accusations the tax office is handing out their money to a "mystery" company.

The revelations came to light last month when a Blackburn woman said she had "no idea" how a cheque from HM Revenue and Customs was sent to another company, Tax Credits Ltd.

Since then, dozens of people from across the UK have contacted the Lancashire Telegraph detailing how they have lost hundreds and thousands of pounds.

There was anger and frustration at how HMRC continues to pay the company despite customer complaints.

Some have spoken of anxiety and worry that the company will pocket further claims on their behalf.

HMRC was asked several times to clarify if payments were still being made to the company but said it "could not comment on identifiable businesses or individuals".

Instead, it said customers "wishing to cancel an assignment with a repayment agent must take this up with the company, as it is a legal agreement between the two parties and HMRC is not a party to it".

It said this despite being told customers were unable to speak directly to anyone at the company to carry out this action.

HMRC itself was not able to supply a viable contact at the company, and many customers told of being re-directed to an address not used by the company for more than 18 months.

Customers who are emailed by the company are asked to forward more personal data, something they are unwilling to do because they feel they have already lost money which belongs to them.

The Treasury said all queries should be directed towards HMRC and would not comment. Companies House was asked twice to comment and did not respond to our request.

In a special investigation in May we revealed while companies House lists an address for Tax Credits Limited at an office building in Cardiff – this had not been used “for over a year”.

The offices when contacted revealed they were receiving 20 calls a day from angry HMRC customers who had been left out of pocket.

They were contacted again this month and told us they had no dealings with the company but were still receiving calls from concerned HMRC customers.

When we contacted other addresses associated with the director of the company, this also proved fruitless.

Following our initial investigation, we have been inundated with complaints from dissatisfied HMRC customers.

However, last week the company replied to our request for information and said they were "not able to claim money from HMRC without instruction form the taxpayer".

The company also forwarded a new address in Wenlock Road, London, which was registered with Companies House on June 22.

The company told us: "Unfortunately there are always some individuals who don’t seem to 'remember' making the instruction.  These are an extreme minority. 

"As we don’t prompt our customers to leave reviews, only the negative ones have prominence."

Some people who had several thousand pounds sent to the company spoke of their frustration and anger that HMRC was continuing to send customer's money to the company despite the level of complaints.

One customer told of how she had lost £1,600 and despite complaining was told to contact the company herself which is proving to be almost impossible.

Another woman revealed how HMRC told her it "had her signature" despite her "never signing anything".

A man from Scotland said when he was told to contact the company he was given no phone number.

A woman said she had written emails to the company asking for her cheque, filed a complaint with HMRC and written to the HMRC stating she gives no authority to anyone to act on her behalf. But no action has been taken.

Another HMRC customer feared the company was eligible to take further tax refunds in the future on a so-called ‘signed agreement’.

A frustrated HMRC customer said she was at a loss and "scared that this company will forever gain financial benefit from me".

In some cases people said they had simply clicked on an advert on social media and filled out a query form.

They said they had not signed anything nor knowingly given authority to anyone to act on their behalf.

There were accusations the HMRC was simply "ignoring the issue" and customers realise the only people who can remove then from this so-called 'contract' is the company themselves.

Tax Credits Limited was up until June 22 listed as based at Brunel House, Cardiff, according to its latest Companies House records.

Companies House list Tax Credits Ltd with a director by the name of Nicola Jane Walmsley.

The company had two previous addresses at International House, Churchill Way, Cardiff and Moody Hall Annexe, Moody Street, Congleton, which were changed to the recent address in May and June respectively.

Nicola Jane Walmsley is also listed as director for Tax Rebate Processing Limited, based at St James House, 14 Moody Street, Congleton, Cheshire, a company which was incorporated with the name David James Brennan with controlling shares.

Calls to St James’s House are not possible with its telephone number listed as ‘suspended’.

A website www.taxrebate.uk lists one e-mail, an address at Brunel House, Cardiff and is believed to be linked to Tax Credits Limited. The website states it does not offer telephone support.

When approached for comment through the website the company was asked to forward a telephone number and a registered address.

The company responded by saying: "We can confirm that taxpayers authorised us in one of two ways.

"By requesting a paper form via post. This would then require completing (including NI number) signing and retuning to us.

"Or by signing online. Again this would require details such as NI number. The taxpayer would have to click to confirm that they have read and agree to our terms. They would then have to sign and submit.

"We had spent a significant amount of money promoting an under claimed tax allowance.  It’s often our marketing that made people aware of their ability to claim.

"All of our submissions to HMRC are legitimate responses to this campaign.

"We can be contacted on help@taxrebate.uk; we provide support over email as opposed to telephone support."

The company was asked to forward a telephone number to a named director or manager. It as also asked to forward how HMRC customer's could cancel an assignment.

The company has yet to reply.

The HMRC was sent customer's complaints.

In June when the HMRC was told what customers should do to ‘cancel their assignment’ with a company that has no telephone number nor a registered address they said, “Customers wishing to cancel an assignment with a repayment agent must take this up with the company, as it is a legal agreement between the two parties and HMRC is not a party to it.”

When pressed further as to the actions were being taken the HRMC said they could not ‘comment on identifiable businesses or individuals.’

A HMRC spokesperson said: “Customers should be careful when responding to online adverts. They should check who they are dealing with before they hand over personal information, and carefully read the repayment agent’s terms and conditions to understand what they’re signing up for, the fees they’ll pay, and the legal agreement they’re signing.

“Where a customer has used a repayment agent and has an assignment in place, we take steps to ensure its validity and will investigate when we suspect a customer's signature is not genuine."

Here are just some of the responses from HMRC customers…

I feel completely sick

“I have a tax rebate of over £1500 which says they have sent the cheque to Tax Credits Limited. I filled in a form online previously which they sent me a contract, I looked at it and didn't trust it so I went on the government website and found that I could apply for working from home rebate myself, which I did.

“I have asked HMRC to cancel the cheque and they refuse saying I have a legal binding contract and I said I haven't signed anything, I still have the contract in front of me, (which even says ‘HMRC has not seen or endorsed this contract’, but he said he can see a signature.

“They just kept telling me to contact them myself and I explained there is no number to contact them and how do they have more rights than myself to my HRMC.

“They have had my cheque for 4 weeks now, I have sent them emails and I have had no response, I feel completely sick.”

I have not seen any of my money

She said: “I find most suspicious is that HMRC is able to post cheques to this company but that the address does not exist? 

“It makes absolutely no sense that a company can send a claim form in and they instantly give them the money. HMRC told me they have a signature from me but I NEVER signed anything nor would I ever agree with terms of a 50% fee. (I would be happy if I got the 50% but even that will never happen).

“My main worry is that any money in the future will keep going to HMRC so that I never can claim any money back ever. I am waiting for appointment with citizen advise bureau but I doubt anything will come of it.”

I can’t contact this company

“I received a letter from HMRC to say I was due a tax rebate, however the cheaque was being sent to Tax Credits Ltd. As I was unsure why this would be, I called HMRC who basically told me there’s nothing they can do as they received a signed form by me allowing this company to act on my behalf. I’ve never signed anything!

“When I got off the phone I had a look online trying to find a number for Tax Credits but instead I found hundreds of people in the same situation as me. There is no phone number for this company, only an email address which nobody seems to get an answer from.”

Why have my rights been handed to a third-party?

“I received my HMRC tax rebate in May with excitement however when upon opening it I quickly noticed that HMRC was sending a cheque to Tax Credit and not myself. I phoned HMRC asking what is ‘Tax Credit’ only to be informed that at some point I had signed away my rights to a third party who from now on deals with my tax claimants.

“I had never heard of them and was told to contact them as they could not do anything and I would have to revoke a deed of agreement with them. The call handler even gave me a contact number.

“The number provided was for Brunel House in Cardiff - when phoning, the receptionist answered and was extremely confused and made me feel like an idiot when she hung up.”

They knew I could not contact the company

“I have no knowledge of signing any paperwork authorising them to act on my behalf and have asked HMRC why I was not notified of the change to my details after 30 years of direct contact.

“I have written many emails to the company asking for a cheque for my refund and to remove me as a customer - who will not respond, filed a complaint with HMRC and written to HMRC stating under my right to choose I should be allowed to remove them. Business accounts on HMRC can remove agents online but a personal account does not even show you have an agent or the facility to change/remove them.

“HMRC have stated I can only remove the agent if I have their stamp, they quite freely told me they knew I could not contact the company and are aware there is a problem but the only assistance offered was to send me the paperwork which I am still not in receipt of.”

I didn’t sign over anything

“I then got a letter from HMRC stating I was due a refund of over £1000 for overpaid tax and they had sent a cheque to Tax Credits ltd. I called HMRC to find out who Tax Credits Ltd were and they said I had assigned them to my taxes.

“I have never wittingly assigned another company to all of my taxes.

“I emailed Tax Credits Ltd to revoke my deed of assignment as informed by HMRC. They did not reply to this however, the next day I got an email from a different email address stating they have my “working from home tax rebate” (which it is not) and asking me for identity documents so they can send my share. As if I have to prove who I am to them but they don’t need to prove they are legitimate to HMRC!”

A shambles

“It is hard to believe that HMRC is doing nothing to stop this and are fully aware of what is going on. They didn't even check my details and the deed of assignment before they released the funds to the company. Shambles!”

Why are the HRMC not checking identities?

“I had my rebate letter in May which means it's too late to do anything regarding the cheque.  HMRC have refused to stop the cheque or put a hold on it/stop them cashing it as they still say I signed something. I did not.

“I cannot see any emails from the company either which apparently creates the contract between us. I have emailed them again with the address provided, no response.

“The first person I spoke to at HMRC was really rude and couldn't care less. The subsequent people were fine but said there's nothing they go do as they have my signature.

“I asked if they have verified it was my signature, they couldn't as they 'don’t know how that department works'.

“People are really angry as HMRC are the ones that should and could stop this yet they refuse?

“Why are they not stopping the cheques, checking peoples identity and realising these companies are acting in an incredibly misleading way? Why are they not checking if we were aware of what was happening hidden behind the scenes?”

I have lost money twice

“I received two letters from HMRC stating I was due money and this was ‘paid via cheque’ to a company called Tax Credits.

“I have never been in contact with this company nor have I ‘signed’ anything as the tax officer appears to have told me I have.”

‘Disgusted’ with the response from HMRC

“In April 2022, I clicked on a Facebook advert which I believed to be from HMRC. The advert was created using HMRC fonts, wording and design and was clearly, deliberately masquerading as an official HMRC advert. I filled in my details (name, national insurance number etc), believing that I was requesting tax back directly from HMRC. 

“As soon as I had filled in my details, I became suspicious and quickly discovered that I had been tricked. I emailed the company immediately letting them know that I did not want them to make any claims on my behalf. I also emailed phishing@hmrc.gov.uk to let them know what had happened. 

“In spite of this in May, I received a letter from HMRC stating that I was due tax back and that a cheque would be sent out to Tax Credits Limited. I called HMRC and was told that this cheque had already been sent out to the company and could not be cancelled.

“I am absolutely disgusted with the response from HMRC, who have basically said that there is nothing they can do. Luckily, I have only lost £60 to this, but I have read about people who have lost thousands to this scheme.”

I am at a loss what to do

“The scary part is they’re eligible to take any further tax refunds in the future and the only way to get out of this is by having a signed agreement from me and them to end the contract, in which they will not respond to anyone so that’s useless.

“I am outraged HMRC are going along with this and deem them a ‘legal company’. It’s disgusting. The company are taking people’s money and frequently using their signatures.

“I am at a loss of what to do and scared that this company will forever gain financial benefit from me.”

What checks took place?

“I recall reading on social media that if you worked from home you could get a tax rebate.  The set up looked genuine and appeared to be associated with HMRC. I  completed the brief questionnaire and heard nothing for about 3 months.

“I then received a letter from HMRC confirming a tax rebate. I was delighted, especially as I've worked for 50 years and never had a rebate. I saw that the letter said the cheque would be sent to Tax Credits. 

“I rang HMRC who said I had signed for Tax Credits to act on my behalf.  I don't recall agreeing to that but the HMRC said that I would have to sort it myself. I do not know how to even start this process and am devastated.”

I didn't authorise anything

“I received a letter from HMRC stating they paid Tax Credits by cheque. I didn’t authorise them to do this."

'Ludicrous' from the HMRC

“It’s rather ludicrous that the income tax department has been took in by them and sent refunds to the company without any security checks done what so ever. Therefore, the department should take responsibility for this also and not inform us that there is nothing they can do about the matter.”

HMRC launches new consultation

Last week the HMRC announced it had launched a 12-week consultation to consider ways to better protect taxpayers from Repayment Agents who make routine tax claims on people’s behalf but can take up to half, or even more, of the payment.

New measures to stop what the HMRC called 'rip-off agents' taking advantage of people and pocketing their tax repayments have been proposed by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The consultation is being run in line with the Tax Consultation Framework. Responses should be sent by 14 September by email to repaymentsconsultation@hmrc.gov.uk