A TADCASTER single mum was close to switching her vote in the local elections as her tax credit claim remained unresolved.

Sarah Goldsmith, 29, of York Road, who contacted the Evening Press about the chaos last month, says she still has not had her award claim settled - four weeks after the new credits were introduced.

She is still finding it impossible to get through to the Inland Revenue Tax Credit Helpline, but has managed to obtain an emergency giro from the Tax Office in Piccadilly, York. "The people there were really helpful. I was seen straight away and they could not do enough for me," she said.

But she added: "It's all very well that I have got some money, but it is only because I got off my backside and went to York.

"I had to pay for parking and struggle with my daughter, who was tired. People can't always afford that."

Sarah said she still voted Labour in last week's elections because she believed that the new system was better, despite the teething problems. "I don't think it is Tony Blair's fault at the end of the day. It is the implementation of it by the Civil Service," she said.

"I really did think twice about switching my vote though."

Sarah said the apology for the tax credit shambles made by Paymaster General Dawn Primarolo earlier this week had not brought her any comfort.

"It's actions, not words, that are required. It needs sorting out now," she said.

"They need to get the extra operators trained properly and make extra computer terminals available to them so that when people get through they can actually deal with them properly.

"I know people who are still trying to get through because they need to supply more information for their claims to be processed, but it's still jammed.

"My phone bill went up by £15 in the past month because they left me on hold so much."

Updated: 09:43 Monday, May 05, 2003