Hi

This is the short version: I've had years of ongoing problems with the IRD. Mostly, the faults are down to extremely poor record keeping and lack of accuracy on their part. I have evidence of this and in my most recent encounter, I had an appointment with a gentleman who identified himself as a member of their legal team. In my appt. I presented paperwork that showed a difference between what I was being billed for and what I was to be billed for and he assured me that the computer was "not correct" and "frequently made these errors" and I was to "ignore the statements and paperwork" as his word was "in fact the correct deal". Prior to this, I had the same conversation with two customer support reps on the call centre number. When I challenged him to write a letter to me, explaining the error and to produce a correct statement, he agreed that was a reasonable request which would take time as the statement would have to be manually produced, but he called an hour later to inform me that he was in fact wrong, that the information he gave me in our meeting was incorrect and the computer statement was right, but he would need to alter it by wiping the incorrect late payment fee (for a charge in question, that we have now agreed is not correct). Honest, this is what was said.

I have this same fiasco every three to four months. Each time, the new CSR or interviewer I speak to denies the last detail I was given was right or even that I was there or even had an appoiintment or even that there is any evidence I have ever complained (no sh!t) and I have to start fresh. I am always having 'extra' charges wiped that are, supposedly, put there by error, "by the computer". It is always explained to me that the computer system is so old it can't understand modern tax law or there is a minor difference in the date of my deduction and the date of precessing etc.

I once threatened to take them to court as at one time, the amount in question was about $13k and they told me to feel free to take my case to family court at which I was told by my lawyer there is no chance of winning against them unless I can prove they are doing it deliberately and the pain is real and I have to "put up with it". Their "independent lawyer" had an interview with me in which she told me they were right even when they got it wrong and I should suck it up - honest, I was gobsmacked.

So now it is routine that every three months I book an appt with IRD, go in, insist on seeing my statement and make them justify every line item wich ALWAYS results in them admitting error and "refunding" me. This is not over charges or tax variations, this is penalties and interest on penalties that are not supposed to be charged at all.

Who can I call to say: "enough!" or are they just building a case for a new computer system?


TL;DR: IRD short charges my payroll NCP deductions by a few dollars each mo., then bills me late payment every month for the remaining months of the year + interest and tells me to suck it up. I'm over it. Who's in charge?