DWP chasing debt over 6 years old!

madassmax

muselover wrote: »

huh! Well, after losing my job last year, and claiming benefits for the first time in years, I was informed that the DSS had overpaid me in one month in 1999 and were taking the money owed out of my benefits!!!! They are taking it at £1 / week, but, I have spoken to them about this and the overpayment was their fault, not mine. I had informed them I had started work even claiming Working Families Benefit (or whatever it was called at that time) so they were fully aware that I was working and earning more than my previous job. So if they can come after me after 10 years AND take the money out of the pittance I am receiving on ESA, then they can come after anyone. Fair? No. But if you took a loan and then 'forgot' about it then I think it is fair. you couldn't forget a loan of that amount surely, regardless of where it had come from. Maybe contact your MP for assistance??? Namaste

As i said if i owe it i'll pay it but it's the way they've gone about it that astounds me. If you got a four lined letter from someone saying that you owe them £300 with no explanation of when or what the money was given to you for, you then chase it up and find out that the amount on the letter is'nt even correct because it doesn't take into account a significant amount of money you've already paid back...it doesn't fill you with confidence to roll over an pay it does it?

Maybe i'm bad with money, but if you came and asked me what i'd spent on my credit card in 2004 would i be able to tell you...no i wouldn't, it's much the same thing. Only difference is a credit card company would be albe to tell me what they gave me, when they gave me it, what i'd payed off it and how much was left to pay, something the DWP seems unable to do. I've been at the same address since this loan was apparantly taken out, a sum of £125 is said to have been paid in 2007 so why have they only just contacted me now?

harry7075

Hi

Firstly the threat that the sum owned is being sent to a collection agency is just a bog standard letter, don't worry. Secondly phone them explain it's unexpected and can you pay a set sum each month. I guarantee they will say yes.

madassmax

got another letter from the DWP still stating i owe £300 yesterday i called them to question the figures and they really are clueless. The system says £300 but the departments system i called the day before says £175? The women on the phone really didn't sound that bothered and told me to send a letter if i'm disputing the amount, which i will do.

This has moved on from me just having a grumble to a serious message to anyone who receives one of these letters;
Do not just pay the amount they say you owe unless you are absoloutley sure it's correct.
I will pen a letter next week asking for the correct figures and exact dates of payments, etc.

When i questioned why it had taken 6 years to contact ne about this her answer was that mine was recent compared to some of the demands they had sent out!

madassmax

letter sent in response;

Dear Sir,

In response to your letter dated xxxxxxxxx. Having received a previous letter dated xxxxxxx I called the phone number on that letter to question this repayment . I was told by the customer service representative that a payment of £125 had been made during 2007 towards this account.

Given that there is conflicting information from yourselves as to what the exact amount owing is I would be grateful if you could forward full details. I would like to see written evidence of exactly when this loan was taken out, what payments have been made since this date and an explanation as to why, if there is money outstanding, it has taken so long for you to contact me about this matter. I have to say I find the whole situation very strange an the information given in your correspondence both vague and very unprofessional given it has come from a government department .

Needless to say I am unwilling to make any payments on this account until I am in receipts of the information requested above.

Will post their response if i get one

beddysash

Hi There

Im wondering if you can give me a little advice??
I recieved a letter from DWP stating that i was overpaid from Income support back in 2001. We are now 2011 and i have never heard anything about this before. I was shocked at recieving this letter some 10 years on and called them to ask what this was all about? The young girl on the end of the phone stated this was an overpayment and they have tried to contact me before bak in 2002?
I then asked for all the information to support this, she stated again that the nformation is over 5 years old and will be on their old system so will take a little longer to get this information to me. I said that fine!!
I have now recieved this information... Oh sorry forgot to say... Since 2001 / 2002 i have moved house,got married etc etc, however i did not move house until 2004!!The paperwork included is a letter that was so say sent to me back in 2002..... This is asking for the monies owed to them of £281.68??????

Im now wondering if this has gone to long to be able to claim this back? People talk about Barred Statuee?? What is this?

Any advice welcome!!

Beddysash

Barry1108 wrote: »

Hi,

I recently had a letter from the DWP stating that I owed £303, which I had no idea of. After phoning them, I found out it was from a Social Loan from 2002, which I took out when I was unemployed and have totally forgotten about.
The letter states that the debt will be passed to a private debt collecting agency unless I pay it.
As it is over 6 years old, is the debt still enforceable? Or is statute barred?
Any advice is much appreciated.
Thanks,
Barry

fermi

beddysash wrote: »

Im now wondering if this has gone to long to be able to claim this back? People talk about Barred Statuee?? What is this?

It basically bars them from taking court action to recover the overpayment.

They can still ask for it back (nicely) and deduct it from any benefits that you might now receive, but they can't take you to court for it.

beddysash

How do we know if it is Statuee Barred???

fermi wrote: »

It basically bars them from taking court action to recover the overpayment.

They can still ask for it back (nicely) and deduct it from any benefits that you might now receive, but they can't take you to court for it.