social fund loans

Alias_Omega

Off Topic Question -


If my wife had previous loans which were required to be paid back, and now we are married. My wife has no income.

Would this be seen as a joint debt, would i be responsible to payback her loans in the past from the DWP.?

Mrs A_O files a tax return to the HMRC for £500 a year income from a property we rent, apart from that, its just CTC & CB paid..

liannee22

CHR15 wrote: »

And you genuinely have zero recollection of obtaining these loans to buy beds and pots with?

i was 16 at the time and not in a very good place, im 30 now and i genuinly do not recall getting loans for the stuff that was stated, eg loan 1 was for a single bed, bedding loan 2 a couple of months later was for a double bed, bedding etc then load 3 was for pots, pans and cutlery. I lived in a small bedsit. it would not fitted a double bed in so i would not of asked for a double bed a couple of months later! i have not been on benefits since i was 17, although i have claimed child benefit since my daughter was born 3 yrs aso, but they could of tracked me down at anypoint via electral role, NI number etc etc.

liannee22

these are the people that are claiming the money from me...
http://www.ccscollect.co.uk/DWP_debt.htm
ive just sent them an emailed letter from the link above, fingers crossed! x

fatbelly

liannee22 wrote: »

...looks like im stuffed then and im gonna have to pay!:mad:

Why? You can make voluntary payments. Is that what you want to do?

liannee22

fatbelly wrote: »

Why? You can make voluntary payments. Is that what you want to do?

What do you mean voluntary payments?

mcjordi

pay a couple of quid a month or whatever you can afford it means..

cheqmate06

They would be unable to take legal action through the courts to recover this debt. In England the DWP firstly send out a letter requesting you contact them to discuss an arrangement and if this isn't answered they check its suitability for their own legal department. If the debt is timebarred or under a certain amount the cases are then referred to 3rd party companies like the one that is hounding you. The DWP pays approx 30% commision on monies collected by the debt collection companies.
Regardless of what the letter says and if no payments or signed agreements are held by DWP, after 6 years the only way they can collect the monies is by voluntary payments from yourself or deductions if you go on to benefits.
When signing an agreement for a social fund they ask you what you want the money is for for their records but that doesn't necessarily mean you use the money for this purpose. If their are no signed agreements they can't take you to court as there is no proof you received them!!

liannee22

mcjordi wrote: »

pay a couple of quid a month or whatever you can afford it means..

When i called them they said i will have to pay it in full and they will not take installments. They said they will start legal proceedings if not. I have sent them a letter someone posted me the link to above so ill wait to see what response i get to that. Thanks for your advice x

mcjordi

call the DWP as they would accept a payment plan.. its in the DCA's interest to ask/demand full payment as they will get their commission quicker.. they cant just order in the bailiffs.. thats up to the court to authorise should you fail to pay on any CCJ they may award..

liannee22

mcjordi wrote: »

call the DWP as they would accept a payment plan.. its in the DCA's interest to ask/demand full payment as they will get their commission quicker.. they cant just order in the bailiffs.. thats up to the court to authorise should you fail to pay on any CCJ they may award..

ive spoken to them, they said its nothing to do with them now, its in the hands of the debt collectors! its a bloody joke! looks like ill just have to pay it, dont want to be going to court!