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Debt collectors
breedsey
Posts: 28 Forumite
Hi all, not sure if i'm posting this in the right section but, i'm after some advice on a debt collection agency that's persuing me quite agressivly for money i'm no longer liable for due to the 6 year statute of limitations.
It all started abput 14 years ago when i received an income support overpayment totalling £408, The DWP (or whatever they were called back then) contacted me saying they wanted it back, i went through all the appeals processes and lost, they said they would take the money from my wages each week.
Shortly after i was made redundant and after signing on received a letter saying i no longer needed to make payments and they would contact me when i was to start paying again.
Fast forward approx 8 years and a letter arrives from the DWP saying they wanted the money back in full within 30 days.
I called the number on the letter and they agreed it was over the statute of limitations and the only way they could make me pay was if i went onto any type of benefits but they would continue to send demands for payment just in case i payed up one day.
Then after a couple of months i started to receive letters from IQOR debt recovery services saying they had been instructed by the DWP to recover the money.
I called them and told them i wasn't liable for it anymore and they said i WAS liable because its a government debt and they're not covered by the statute of limitations.
I called the national debt helpline and they told me it IS covered and gave me a letter template to send saying if they continue to persue me for the money knowing i'm not liable for it, it would be considered harassment, i've received another couple of letters from them since but, i've now recieved a letter from Incasso Debt Recovery Solicitors saying i have to pay the full amount by 9th november or face legal action.
How should i continue now, the national debt helpline dont have a template for the next letter and i'm not sure who i should complian to about being harrassed or who to complain about, is it the DWP for instructing Iqor or Iqor for persuing me?
Sorry its such a long post but i wanted to make siure you've got as much detail as poss.
I feel like just ignoring it and seeing if they take me to court so i can tell my side but i cant really afford to take time off work and my wife is getting worried about it all, i've already taken today off to go to the Citezens Advice.
Hope someone can help, cheers, Paul
It all started abput 14 years ago when i received an income support overpayment totalling £408, The DWP (or whatever they were called back then) contacted me saying they wanted it back, i went through all the appeals processes and lost, they said they would take the money from my wages each week.
Shortly after i was made redundant and after signing on received a letter saying i no longer needed to make payments and they would contact me when i was to start paying again.
Fast forward approx 8 years and a letter arrives from the DWP saying they wanted the money back in full within 30 days.
I called the number on the letter and they agreed it was over the statute of limitations and the only way they could make me pay was if i went onto any type of benefits but they would continue to send demands for payment just in case i payed up one day.
Then after a couple of months i started to receive letters from IQOR debt recovery services saying they had been instructed by the DWP to recover the money.
I called them and told them i wasn't liable for it anymore and they said i WAS liable because its a government debt and they're not covered by the statute of limitations.
I called the national debt helpline and they told me it IS covered and gave me a letter template to send saying if they continue to persue me for the money knowing i'm not liable for it, it would be considered harassment, i've received another couple of letters from them since but, i've now recieved a letter from Incasso Debt Recovery Solicitors saying i have to pay the full amount by 9th november or face legal action.
How should i continue now, the national debt helpline dont have a template for the next letter and i'm not sure who i should complian to about being harrassed or who to complain about, is it the DWP for instructing Iqor or Iqor for persuing me?
Sorry its such a long post but i wanted to make siure you've got as much detail as poss.
I feel like just ignoring it and seeing if they take me to court so i can tell my side but i cant really afford to take time off work and my wife is getting worried about it all, i've already taken today off to go to the Citezens Advice.
Hope someone can help, cheers, Paul
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Just giving you a bumpUnless I say otherwise 'you' means the general you not you specifically.0
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bump bump bump0
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