Strange Carers Allowance Letter - any one else?

Alex_the_lad

Hi!

I wonder if anyone else who claims Carers Allowance has had a similar letter to the one I'm going to describe.

It's a letter telling me that they are conducting a review on a small number of claims. It asks me to complete an attached form. The form asks for my D.O.B., my bank account details and the details of the person whose carer I am.

The letter just seems really suspicious. The format of the letter is nothing like I've ever seen before. The form looks like its photocopied and the fonts used on the letter are unusual (one of the telephone numbers is in comic sans!). Also it's on a off-white colour of paper that I've never seen on any other DWP letters.

There is a return envelope with is a stamp on it that says 'STAFF IN CONFIDENCE DO NOT OPEN UPON POST OPENING' and it lists the name of a person (though I'm not sure I should mention it here).

I'm not worried about there being anything wrong with my claim but what concerns me is that they are asking for information they already have about me (afterall my benefit gets paid into my account!). Does this sound like some kind of scam? Or am I just being overly suspicious?

I will of course give them a call on Monday (why do these types of letter always arrive on a Saturday!).

Any opinions would be appriciated1

Mojisola

Phoning to check sounds the best thing.

I wouldn't use the phone number on the letter just in case this is a scam. Phone a number from previous correspondence and ask about it.

Let us know what happens. Feed-back on these things is always useful in case others get the same thing.

dmg24

What is the return address?

Alex_the_lad

The return address is for Palatine House in Preston which is where the benefit is administered. However there is a stamp on the return envelope that states that the envelope should not be opened during what is, I assume, normal post opening but rather passed on to a specific named person.

Also since posting here, I've found a post on another forum which is specifically for carers. There's someone on there who had a similar letter 2 weeks ago. When they rang the Carers Allowance Unit they were told there was no record of any such letter being send nor was there one due to be sent. I've posted on the other forum to find out what happened next. Not sure if that was a case of one part of an organisation not knowing what the other part is doing or whether there is something a bit dodgy happening.

Suddenly sounds a bit more intriguing...

dmg24

Alex_the_lad wrote: »

The return address is for Palatine House in Preston which is where the benefit is administered. However there is a stamp on the return envelope that states that the envelope should not be opened during what is, I assume, normal post opening but rather passed on to a specific named person.

Also since posting here, I've found a post on another forum which is specifically for carers. There's someone on there who had a similar letter 2 weeks ago. When they rang the Carers Allowance Unit they were told there was no record of any such letter being send nor was there one due to be sent. I've posted on the other forum to find out what happened next. Not sure if that was a case of one part of an organisation not knowing what the other part is doing or whether there is something a bit dodgy happening.

Suddenly sounds a bit more intriguing...

That is quite possible! The reason for the instruction for it not to be opened could be to protect your privacy, and I have seen DWP letters with odd fonts before, but I would agree to check before replying. Let us know what you find out!

Alex_the_lad

That is quite possible! The reason for the instruction for it not to be opened could be to protect your privacy, and I have seen DWP letters with odd fonts before, but I would agree to check before replying. Let us know what you find out!

I think you're likely quite right. It does seem like quite an audacious scam if it is one. Best just to double check on Monday. I'll report back...

anmarj

Alex_the_lad wrote: »

Hi!

The form looks like its photocopied and the fonts used on the letter are unusual (one of the telephone numbers is in comic sans!). Also it's on a off-white colour of paper that I've never seen on any other DWP letters.

can't help on your enquiry but will say that the department has changed paper suppliers so it is the off-white paper that is being used, it is possible the letter has been typed by the processor which means they could of chosen any font, although we have been told which font to use when typing letters

bigbill

Don't want to worry you but I think the named person is in their fraud department, if this is the case and you are being investigated the person you spoke to on the phone would have no knowledge of that or the letter.

As a rule the minute a fraud investigate is started your records are removed from the normal section and no further information is given.

If you do phone ask for the person named on the letter.

thistledome

bigbill wrote: »

.

If you do phone ask for the person named on the letter.

But if it is a scam then just speaking to the person named on the letter (i.e., the potential scammer) wouldn't help him.

BargainRani

Does it have your or the person you are caring for national insurance number? Normally all DWP letters have national number on as your reference number.

Alex_the_lad

Thanks for all the replies guys! Even the worrying fraud one! Best thing will be to give them a call on Monday and talk to someone. In the meantime as Nick Ross said on Crime Watch, 'don't have nightmares, do sleep we'll!