The IR apparently tapes all telephone calls. Since the telephjone is the preferred contact mode, these records could be very important when considering "did the claimant make the call/report properly?". The following areas seem affected by this availability:

1) When trying to establish an error is an official error, for the purposes of securing arrears back beyond 3 months (and the matter is within tribunal jurisdiction)

2) When trying to argue whether an overpayment should be recovered (COP 26 goes on and on about official mistakes etc). I recognise that the IR will be reluctant to provide this evidence, espcially outside of tribunal jurisdiction.

3) Whether a penalty should be imposed because of an alleged failure to notify a change and/or information etc.

At the recent CPAG conference, it was suggested that the IR are prepared to provide this data (they need the day and time of call, and the name etc), but has anyone actualy had any joy getting the tape? Is it transcribed? Is it in the form of notes?

Steve