Deeside MP Mark Tami urges probe into tax credit company Concentrix

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami has called for an urgent investigation into the activities of Concentrix.

The private US contractor had been brought in by HMRC on a reported £75m contract in a bid to save the UK government money by preventing incorrect or fraudulent claims.

Ministers have been accused of showing a “complete lack of urgency” in responding to accusations that a Government contractor was incorrectly withdrawing tax credits from hundreds of claimants.

No new cases will be passed to Concentrix before its contract ends in May next year, with staff from HMRC drafted in to deal with the tens of thousands of cases that need to be resolved.

Whilst Labour welcome that HMRC has finally taken action in announcing that the Concentrix contract will not be renewed after pressure from the public, it is regrettable that it has taken so long to reach this decision.

Labour will be holding an Opposition Day Debate in Parliament to urge the government to take action to compensate people who have been badly impacted by the inadequate service from Concentrix.

MP Mark Tami has demanded straight answers for the people of Alyn and Deeside.

“My office has been bombarded with concerned constituents who are fearing for their livelihood after having tax credits stopped for no reason at all.

“There are serious questions to be answered about the administration of the child tax credit system in general, and by Concentrix in particular. What we have is an example of a commercial organisation pursuing profit at the expense of the public service they ought to be providing.

“Labour stood up and fought back on proposed Tax Credits cuts and we will not stand by now. I will continue to fight for justice for all those people in Alyn and Deeside who have been unfairly targeted by SYNNEX-Concentrix.”

Rebecca Long Bailey, Labour’s Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said:

“MPs are being approached by growing numbers of distressed people in their constituencies who appear to have been unfairly targeted by SYNNEX-Concentrix.

“In many cases Tax Credits have been completely stopped by the company who have a contract with HMRC to supposedly “correct” tax credit claims. This has pushed many families over the breadline into very serious situations.
“The Government must act as a matter of urgency to ensure that those affected by this receive the financial support and justice they deserve.

“The Government also has a moral duty to commit to an official investigation into Concentrix’s conduct since it was granted the contract in 2014, so we can determine how this situation was allowed to arise”