Can anyone advise me on a way forward?

LostAndAshamed

Hi,

A taxi company are hounding me, and I'm not sure what to do.

Access to Work pay for my taxis to work. They are supposed to pay a certain percentage, and the rest be paid by my work. The only action I have is to confirm that I worked the dates that are claimed for. I've been doing this all year.

The taxi company contacted me a fortnight ago to say that £400 is outstanding. This is, allegedly, the difference between what AtW have paid and what was owed, which the taxi company maintain is my liability.

I knew nothing about this. I left my place of employment over a month ago now, and they've said they believe all debt is settled.

The taxi company are sending me threatening emails. They've said it is in the contract that I am liable - but there is no contract between me and the taxi firm. Only me and AtW, which expired when I left work anyway.

They've started calling me, and have today left a message saying that I was once in a taxi with someone who paid via card, and they will take the full amount from that card if I don't call them and settle the debt today. I have no recollection of who that is, or what card it would be. It won't be mine, I don't have a credit card.

They tried to pass it off to debt collectors today, but I believe the debt collectors have said that it is too low value to be worthwhile. They've offered me a payment plan of £60 a week, but I can't afford that.

I'm considering writing to them to ask them to leave me alone. I could offer a few pounds, but I'm reluctant to even do that when I'm struggling at the moment, and I'm not sure why the liability falls to me.

Any advice on the best way forward?

I have severe anxiety and I'm getting very worried about them turning up at my house.

Bobarella

Hi there
Can you contact Access to Work & check what they say? Im really sorry you are being harassed in this way.
Bob

LostAndAshamed

Access to Work are washing their hands of it. They say that the contract has expired, and that if my company agreed to pay it, they should settle it directly there. They are refusing to pay any additional moneys now that the contract has come to an end.

Work...well, I've written them an official letter, but they've ignored it. I've been advised not to contact them too much, because of pending legal issues.

I gave my manager's contact details to the taxi company for them to sort this out directly, but they didn't get anywhere. My manager has now left.

I'm not sure whether to send a "prove it" letter, because I haven't signed anything so I'm pretty sure they couldn't prove that I'm liable, or just to ask them to leave me alone and offer a low, affordable payment.

[Deleted User]

I wouldn't offer to pay anything, until/unless they establish that you owe them something.

sourcrates

Hi,
First of all I would write to the taxi firm and ask for a complete breakdown of the charges they say you owe.
Impress on them that this situation is not of your doing, that your travel costs were shared between access to work, and your employer. I`m assuming this scheme is run by the dept. for work and pensions.
I would go straight to DWP`s complaints procedure, you should complain in writing to the :


Director General of


Operations for the Department for Work and Pensions or a DWP Director


on his behalf.


Caxton House
Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA


Explain what has happened, the grief you are getting from the Taxi firm, and ask them to resolve the issue for you.