Housing benefit overpayments

stev0

Hey guys

I recently got done claiming housing benefit and accepted to pay the council back every month. I told them that I was willing to pay them back £20 a month, to which they insisted I pay £30...... I've been paying them £20 for a few months now as I am under the impression they can't refuse my terms as long as I am paying back the debt..... I have received another letter with a new "Agreement" telling me to pay £40 a month now

Am I well within my rights to tell them to bog off?? I'm paying back the debt on a regular basis so what's their problem? If it went to court I'd tell the judge the same thing, I'm paying it back!!

Oh, I should point out that I am in West Lothian..... different rules in other countries and all that!

stev0

Come on guys - surely someone out there must have a clue???

chocdonuty

You fraudulently claimed housing benefit and are complaining about paying it back???

livermum

People are not offering you any advice on this matter because you have knowingly defrauded the system and are now complaining about the fact that you have to pay it back! On the topic that you are actually asking for advice on, no you are not "within your rights to tell them to bog off" but you were also not within your rights to claim for money that you were not entitled too either!

Oldernotwiser

Considering you may have been lucky not to have been prosecuted in the criminal court for benefit fraud, I would recommend you bend over backwards to keep in the council's good books.

dseventy

stev0 wrote: »

Come on guys - surely someone out there must have a clue???

You'll get no help here for being caught cheating.

I suggest you pay up and count your chickens that you don't have a criminal record.

D70

viktory

stev0 wrote: »

Am I well within my rights to tell them to bog off?? I'm paying back the debt on a regular basis so what's their problem? If it went to court I'd tell the judge the same thing, I'm paying it back!!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Idiot.

Orville

I'd write back and offer them a tenner.... they won't say no....

AnxiousMum

I'd go with the bending over backwards! I'm quite certain that if they chose to, and the overpayment was due to fraud on your part (you do say you 'got done' for it.....so assume you mean you got caught claiming fraudulently?) - they can still prosecute you if they wish. They will often make an agreement to have the monies paid back, but then the claimants are surprised that they get called in for an appointment so the prosecution ball can start rolling. Be grateful you have so far been let off of the prosecution route, pay your debt back as quickly as you can or they have asked, and hope you keep them happy by doing that and they don't go the prosecution route.

If you were claiming fraudulently, you had extra money all that time - now it's time to suck in the belt and pay your debt back.

fluffymovie

Legislation doesn't prescribe the amount only method of recovery.

Someone on income support who has an HB overpayment is expected to pay back 9.90 a week so why do you think you would be ok to pay less?

stev0

It's refreshing to know that everyone on here follows rules and protocol and have never been put in a difficult position before.... or so it would seem. As you don't know who I am or what difficult position I was in it's nice to see that the bulk of you are quick to judge

All I asked was can the council tell me what I'm paying back despite me not agreeing to what they ask! But seeing that was difficult for a majority of you then I'll do what I feel is right

Thanks to anxiousmum and Orville for not taking the opportunity to flame..... Other debts are almost caught up with so perhaps I can afford that wee bit extra but I have 2 more months left before I can do so. Orville - I already told them I'd pay £20 but it seems it fell on deaf ears despite them sending a copy of the agreement!