Okay no worries. Will keep you updated once I have an update.

Ah sorry, I must have missed this. Can I still go down this route anyway? Or not, if already instigated it through MCOL? PS: do you have a link to HCEO where I can start this, if I can do so in relation to above.

Hi, Ah I see, I'll get that letter drafted and post tomorrow to the address on HMRC's letter. In relation to the MCOL, Judgment was entered into and i've now proceeded with a Warrant, via MCOL. I'll speak to the Victim line and see what comes of it. Yes, the MCOL is against Fast Tax Rebates Ltd.

Yeah, I saw that - is that being sent via post? Via email? There's no email address on the SAR letter they returned and only gives you a number, which I presume is the default HMRC one. I requested only the amount FTR took. So, essentially, the full amount of my "EIS rebate", minus what I received. Any advice on Action Fraud? Action Fraud - I got a text saying: "This is Lancashire Victim Services, an independent charity contacting you following a crime reported to the police. If you require free confidential help and support call 0300 323 0085 or reply Y to this message within 72 hours and well call you back. Visit www.lancashirevictimservices.org . See My Support Space (Victimsup.pt/LANCS) www.victimsupport.org.uk/yourdata" Also - are there any other possible avenues to explore which could result in claiming the funds back from FTR, that aren't directly targeting the Ltd company, seeing as though it seems unlikely this will result in anything? Also, I'm aware if I lose Tribunal against HMRC, I'm gonna still have to pay it all, plus tribunal fees? This could all end worse than if I just paid HMRC...

They accepted and signed for my letters when I sent them, only a month ago... is that not an indication?

Okay, sorry

Hi, via the attached. Is this not right? Company.pdf

@Alvinsmalvin This is exactly what I got, almost word for word. I've attached what they sent to me a few months ago at the start of all this. Email.pdf Another update: MCOL - I got an email from CCBC@Justice.gov.uk saying: "Thank you for your correspondence. I can see that you entered judgment on 23 July 2021. The defendant has been sent a copy of the judgment order and should now contact you to arrange to pay you directly. I hope this is of assistance. If you need more information please contact us." Does this mean FTR have to pay me since they didn't respond to my LBA or to the MCOL claim and it went to Judgment? FTR are still trading and aren't insolvent/going through insolvency as I understand, so they're still liquid. Action Fraud - I got a text saying: "This is Lancashire Victim Services, an independent charity contacting you following a crime reported to the police. If you require free confidential help and support call 0300 323 0085 or reply Y to this message within 72 hours and well call you back. Visit www.lancashirevictimservices.org . See My Support Space (Victimsup.pt/LANCS) www.victimsupport.org.uk/yourdata" Is this worth following up on?

@honeybee13Yes, I do have the documents naming FTR and Cyroblast... I got these from logging in myself via Government Gateway. How do I contact HMRC and say they've missed what I asked for? There's no email on the letter and I don't want to be on the phone for 3 hours trying to speak to someone. @slick132 How do I contact them to say this? There's no email on my letter or direct contact info... just a name.

Hi, MCOL - claim status is still "Issued" - I will let you know as soon as I have an update. Action Fraud - I've submitted the report and I have a crime reference number. I put both Alan O'Hara and FTR as suspects. ICO - no response yet following FTR's ignorance towards the SAR. HMRC - they sent their response to the SAR, which just contained details of my previous tax history. Nothing mentioning FTR and their latest "rebate", even though I requested that. Press - I will leave this until further notice. Will try keep you updated as best as I can.

Hi all, Many apologies for the delay in responding. I've been extremely busy with work. Here is a quick update: HMRC - this is with Tribunal and HMRC gave their first reply which essentially just allocated it to a case handler for the Tribunal. FTR - they missed both the SAR and the LBA. They also missed the MCOL deadline and so this has now gone to Judgment. I've spoke with the ISO re the SAR non-answer. Waiting to hear back. Police - I'm going to contact them tonight and try to obtain a crime reference number. Action Fraud - I'm going to contact them tonight and will keep you updated. National Press/Locally - I may contact someone at the Blackpool Gazette and local MP (Scott Benton I believe). If you need any more info, please let me know.

Hi, All clear now - COVID has been and gone! Nothing in my tax records regarding and EIS scheme or company of any sort, except the part in the PDF above - which just mentioned the scheme in brief details, which was never relayed to me. So HMRC would've seen this and yet still allowed FTR to submit the claim. I did send an SAR to FTR, deadline is this Friday 9th. Surprise, I've not heard anything since. I've also not heard anything from HMRC's SAR.

Hi dx, Sorry for the late replies, I tested positive for COVID last week and so i've not been feeling too great! Finally getting back to it now. With regards to HMRC, I've applied for the case to go to tribunal on 24th and i'm still awaiting a response from this, not sure how long it takes. With regards to FTR, they didn't get back to me regarding the LBA (surprise!), and so I've issued a claim via MCOL on 25th - again, still waiting on an update.

My responses are on the right hand side (red).

Hi, PDF attached for screenshots in #27. I've also yet to hear back from FTR in relation to the SAR or LBA. I've not yet responded to HMRC as per my quote reply in #40. Note: a different friend of mine claims that he has spoken to HMRC and ONLY has to pay back what he was given by FTR, which seems interesting.... PDF attached (messages.pdf). Screenshots.pdf Messages.pdf

Here is HMRC's response to my email: The tax has been postponed pending the outcome of your appeal. My letter of 9 June 2021 was my decision about your appeal but this is not the end of the matter. You can ask for an independent review and a hearing at Tribunal which was explained in my letter. The appeal will remain open and the tax postponed whilst you go through this process; or withdraw your appeal. I have removed Fast Tax Rebates from your record as instructed. I'd never even heard of EIS prior to receiving the letter from HMRC saying that I'd submitted a rebate in relation to it - well, FTR has done so "on my behalf".

Okay I've done that. Will let you know of the outcome! I can probably afford £100 a month to pay back right now. In a few months, this figure could increase.

Thanks both. FYI: I've just gone over the letters and the total rebate amount actually totals £3700ish. So, actually FTR took around £2500, and I still got £1200. But HMRC are only requesting £3000. So it's actually less than the rebate amount (as I understand it), with no penalties attached (which the HMRC agent did explain a further letter that they weren't adding any). Let's see what the SAR brings up and i'll keep you updated. Anything else you think I should know, please feel free to let me know!

Okay great, thanks dx. I'll submit the SAR to HMRC now. But I'm confused as to why FTR would be mentioned in relation to their awareness to HMRC via my information? Surely the only mention of FTR on my info would be from the tax rebate? How would I know if HMRC were aware of FTR, prior to my dealings from a SAR into my personal dealings? Sorry if I sound dumb, I'm just trying to understand.

Sorry - will follow the guides moving forward. The fact they say it's a "compliance check", doesn't this mean it was random? Also, how would I decipher from the information I receive that they DID know about FTR at the time of my rebate being submitted for EIS?

Hi slick, I always ONLY correspond in emails and in writing. If there was a phone call, I always follow up by email and start "as discussed over the phone". Here is the email I sent to HMRC yesterday: https://i.postimg.cc/Wpf4kt4M/Screenshot-2021-06-10-at-12-52-03-pm.png I'll submit the SAR to HMRC now. It may seem silly me asking, but I just want to ensure I do this right... So, do I go to https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/shortforms/form/DPU_SAR and fill this out? Selecting "Other" in Part B, and then in Part C mention "I would like all data about my income tax account for the last 6 years"? Once this has information been received, how would I decipher to understand whether they knew about FTR's dealings prior to paying out? I understand the rebate was applied for/paid out June 2020. Here is a snippet from the initial letter I received: https://i.postimg.cc/HnVcGy6t/Screenshot-2021-06-10-at-12-59-56-pm.png I got the same letter for 17/18, 18/19, and 19/20 - all in one go. They mention it's a "compliance check". Does this change things at all?

Hi, Why would I send an SAR to HMRC - what would I be asking for exactly? I don't want to annoy them or anything like that and make it seem like i'm being pedantic. Also, who would I send this to/address it to? HMRC are asking me to pay the full amount, but I've not had a response yet in relation to a payment plan or anything of the sort. May also be worth mentioning: I've logged in to HMRC online just now and can see this from taking a look at my previous tax rebate form (first time I've checked)... it clearly states the money was paid to FTR and that they mentioned the EIS in the rebate - something I had no idea about, like I said... https://i.postimg.cc/JnKs51pw/Screenshot-2021-06-10-at-10-02-27-am.png https://i.postimg.cc/kXNgQMGT/Screenshot-2021-06-10-at-10-02-46-am.png Surely this can prove, based on my email and text copies to the company in which they never once mentioned EIS, and the fact it was written in the rebate submitted by FTR, that it's been done fraudulently? There MUST be something I can do

Hi, They appointed a new director yesterday so I presume it's still in operation? I've already contact HMRC as soon as I got the letter a month ago, and explained the whole situation - attaching all email threads and text threads with FTR. I presume it's because they're aware it's not me and was done "on my behalf" wrongly, they say they "empathise" with me and so only requesting me to pay the original rebate amount and nothing more. I've sent the SAR via email and via post this morning!

hi, 1. Yes, I believe so. They were quite sympathetic to me and as I understand I only owe what was incorrectly rebated. 2. Not anywhere close. 3. I think this is my only option. I've just replied with what my next steps potentially could be - are they correct? Thanks again!

Thanks for this. I've had a look via my Government Gateway account and can only see submission receipt reference numbers for the returns. The deadline given by HMRC in their email is 23 June for me to inform them of my decision, including if I want to appeal, which I presume is pointless. So... my thought process: 1: I contact HMRC and tell them I wish to set up a payment plan to pay off the full amount. 2: In the meantime, I write to FTR and explain they failed under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to provide a service that was ‘fit for purpose’. 3: If FTR fail to repay me then I will need to take further action to secure the repayment, i.e. bring a small claims/MCOL action against them. 4: Also, send them a SAR for the data they have on me, and ask HMRC to revoke them as the "agent". Is that all right - am I missing something? PS: in '2', do I also send them an email with the letter PDF attached? Obviously, the letter is to be sent 1st class signed for so I can track receipt on the letter. PPS: Are there any templates I can use to send the initial request for payment? Or is it simply a one liner? Thanks for all your help.