Alleged crisis loan debt

pink_princess

I really am in shock. I have come home tonight to a phone call from the DWP, they informed me that I have an outstanding crisis loan from when I was aged 18.
I did get a loan in October 1998 but they are saying this is from April 99. I was working by then and have never claimed since.
The loan I did get to furnish a flat in 98 was paid back in instalments yet they are saying I never made any payments.
My account cannot go back that far and according to the very rude woman I spoke to they don't have to prove it I just have to pay it! :mad:

I asked why they have not contacted me earlier and they said they have been trying to find me, strange as I pay my tax and ni month in and month out via the same nin :cool:

The woman, even said to me that "When you borrow you have to pay it back, that is how it works" I have NEVER not paid a bill in my life. To say I am fuming is an understatement.

Legally where do I stand as I am sure the loan on a very different date was paid back?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Twisted_Cherry

I am sure someone will be along shortly to offer better advice than I can, and I for one would be interested in what you would have to do.

Surely they should put any monies owned to them in a letter, rather than a random phone call some 14 years later.

pink_princess

Twisted_Cherry wrote: »

I am sure someone will be along shortly to offer better advice than I can, and I for one would be interested in what you would have to do.

Surely they should put any monies owned to them in a letter, rather than a random phone call some 14 years later.

I find it ridiculous, I asked for proof I owed this and I was told they don't have to provide it!

The woman told me that if I did not pay then she would send a bailiff.

NYM

:shocked: I too find it very odd that they'd just 'phone you to advise you of the alleged 'debt'... if they managed to get your telephone number, they should be able to get your address and the very least they should do is inform you in writing.

Maybe it's a new scam...:undecided

pink_princess

NYM wrote: »

:shocked: I too find it very odd that they'd just 'phone you to advise you of the alleged 'debt'... if they managed to get your telephone number, they should be able to get your address and the very least they should do is inform you in writing.

Maybe it's a new scam...:undecided

They said that they had wrote to me three times over the last nine months since finding my location.

I have never recieved a letter or call before. I have always been paid via PAYE and my details have always been updated with the tax office if they changed. I do believe this was the DWP I even demanded the persons name and team number.

help4help2013

write to them and request a SAR ( Subject Access Request) from them this will hold all information the DWP have on you ( claims loans ect ect)

pink_princess

help4help2013 wrote: »

write to them and request a SAR ( Subject Access Request) from them this will hold all information the DWP have on you ( claims loans ect ect)

Would that show payments made? I'm going to ring them today for more information.

NYM

pink_princess wrote: »

Would that show payments made? I'm going to ring them today for more information.

The Data Protection Act allows you to find out what information is held about you on computer and in some paper records. There is a fee of £10 or thereabouts for processing. I think they have to supply the information requested within 14 days (?)..and they also have to provide that information in a comprehensible form.

Here's a link to the form that needs to be completed:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-request-for-personal-information

Best of luck

MissMoneypenny

Ask your bank for your statements from the time you repaid the loan, as that will be your proof that you paid.

missapril75

Twisted_Cherry wrote: »

Surely they should put any monies owned to them in a letter, rather than a random phone call some 14 years later.

They will have done. From when there's a balance and no current recovery it would be automatic. And would be reviewed. They would write to the last address held.

pink_princess wrote: »

They said that they had wrote to me three times over the last nine months since finding my location.

I have never recieved a letter or call before. I have always been paid via PAYE and my details have always been updated with the tax office if they changed. I do believe this was the DWP I even demanded the persons name and team number.

And that would be just since then. There will have been many before that. They don't just sit on what they think is a debt without trying to do something about it.

There are a few possibilities:

Were you ever paid benefit "clerically"? This is when there's some glitch in the computer records. It means they can't "find" you on the computer and they have to pay locally/clerically rather than via the computer.

It means that because there are no payment records on the computer, there are no records of deductions/recovery either.

You agreed to repay and assumed the deductions started. Perhaps they never did.

Perhaps you had a change in circumstances that interrupted recovery.

The dispute over dates...you say Oct 1998, they say April 99. Perhaps April 99 was actually when recovery was interrupted?

If it really was a payment issued when you were in work, well after your claim ended, then you need to dispute it was you that applied/received it.

The subject access route is the way to go. But if you dispute you ever had what they're asking for, you could ask them to check the three minimum signatures involved.

Indie_Kid

DWP don't charge for subject access reviews.