DWP asking for money, but I don't think it's reasonable

okay79

[ removed ]

McKneff

Well if I borrowed something like 500 quid ten years ago, I would certainly remember, I would also remember whether I had paid it back or not.


You must have some recollection of it.


Ask them to send you proof, Don't ignore it because it wont go away.

McKneff

Just ask them to send you proof.


And if they do and you agree, ask them for a payment plan.

paragon909

okay79 wrote: »

I've received a letter from the DWP today asking for about £500. No explanation of why, so I called them and they said I hadn't repaid a social fund loan almost ten years ago.

I don't know if this is true - perhaps I never took the loan out, or maybe I did repay it. With all the reports of the DWP messing people around in the news, I feel very suspicious about them. I also think that if I pay it and it's just something they made up, they can keep on making things up and asking for money whenever they want.

I'm not sure how to handle this situation. Should I just pay, and get them off my back? They have only given a few days to make the payment in. Or is there a way to challenge it - or at least demand they give evidence for their request?

I dont know if the limit 10 years ago was higher, But a budgeting loan for a single person is like £350. Maybe it was £500 10 year ago you could maybe question them on this factor. Did you have a partner who maybe took out a loan without your knowledge.

Do you currently get benefits??? The letter you would got would be from DWP debt collection department. If your getting benefits they will just take the money out of that. If not then i suggest you do a Subject Access Request.


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/382417/request-for-personal-information_-_dec_-2014.rtf


Just fill it in and hand it into your local job centre and get a receipt it can take up to 40 days.

tanith

DWP don't make things up, they might get things wrong but the don't invent things. Just ask them for proof and then if you owe the money pay it back .

NYM

Did you ever apply for a social fund loan ?

How do I challenge a decision when they won't send the info I need?
The Tax Credit office are saying I owe them hundreds of pounds. I've asked them to explain why but they sent a confusing and incomplete explanation with a further demand for me to repay. I sent another letter saying I need them to send information so I can respond to their claim, they say they've already answered me.

This is crazy! How do I challenge their decision when they won't reply to my requests for information? Is there someone else who I can raise this with? Are they accountable to anyone for behaving like this?

Did you ever get that sorted ?

Colin_Hunt

okay79 wrote: »

Well good for you and your excellent memory!

But ten years is a long time ago, I don't remember this happening.

The deadline they have given is so close - 5th Jan - that with the Christmas post I don't expect proof would arrive before it. I'm angry at how they have put me in a corner about this instead of giving me reasonable time and sending proof with their letter.

Ten years sounds reasonable to me.

AngelOfTheNorth

They will, at a minimum, have some kind of procedure for people needing to repay in instalments. There's no way they'd expect someone to cough up the whole £500, especially at this time of year. I certainly wouldn't just pay the whole thing, I'd ask for more information.

[Deleted User]

OP hope you'll see this, have you seen thread on the Debt free wannabe board, it's under the subject Dwp

Sounds like something in the water or clutch of straws, so check the authenticy of the letter to?!!
Isn't it weird how these letters are demanding bang on the 100 pounds exact figure like it's all nicely rounded.. and for this time of year?

missapril75

Deleted%20User wrote: »

Isn't it weird how these letters are demanding bang on the 100 pounds exact figure like it's all nicely rounded.. and for this time of year?

Originally Posted by okay79
I've received a letter from the DWP today asking for about £500.

rogerblack

tanith wrote: »

DWP don't make things up, they might get things wrong but the don't invent things. Just ask them for proof and then if you owe the money pay it back .

Fraud happens.
People - especially in the past - have been able to claim loans with very much less proof than currently.
A letter may then have been sent to a non-working address, as the person has for example moved and not updated the DWP because they are working.
The DWP will have shredded most or all of the paperwork after a couple of years, once the right to appeal the decision has gone.
The DWP are not required to have proof of a given loan, or who it was paid to, or retain any evidence that could let them investigate this now.

This makes challenging fraud almost impossible.