DWP Chasing old Debt that’s not mine

frust123

Please advise if i have posted in the wrong section
Hi, Hope someone can help me with my query

For the last 6 months I have been sent letters from DWP claiming that I owe £400 for JSA back in 1998.

I called them twice advising that I have no recollection of this, I have asked for proof that this was me.

I asked for copies of
Signature
Photo ID
Agreement between apparently me and the DWP

All they have sent me s a letter stating that I claimed this money in 1998; they cant even advise why i owed it but is probably due to me working and claiming at the same time.

They didn’t provide a copy of the signature
They didn’t provide a copy of the photo
They didn’t even provide a copy of the agreement

They did say they traced me through my national insurance number.

I was fed up of talking to them so every letter they sent I sent back to them asking for Signature, Photo ID & Agreement between apparently me and the DWP

They never sent this.

Today I have received a letter from the DWP claiming that they have sent a request to my employer and my wages will be deducted monthly until the debt is cleared. Apparently my employer is aware and has agreed to make these deductions.

How can DWP do this? They can’t even prove that this is me? All I ask is that they prove this. It’s not me! Now I am going to have money ‘stolen’ from me every month

They did say they traced me through my national insurance number. How do I know if someone who was here illegally didn’t use my national insurance number years ago? It’s not unheard of.

Any assistance you can offer will be appreciated. Xmas is coming up and this is the last thing i need!

sourcrates

Ring National Debtline for advice on this as the DWP are a law unto themselves.

Call us free on
0808 808 4000
Monday to Friday
9am to 9pm
Saturday 9.30am to 1pm

National_Debtline

Unfortunately, it is becoming increasingly common for the DWP to chase very old benefit overpayments and social fund loans. This is because they now have the right to do a Direct Earnings Attachment - this is a deduction from your wage without the need for a court order (which is exactly what seems to have happened to you).


You were right to ask for more details of the debt but, unfortunately, the DWP is not under an obligation to provide them and they will normally ask you to disprove the debt instead (which is very difficult when a debt is 17years old). You can try and complain that it is unreasonable to chase such an old debt and ask them to write it off ..... but unless you can show that you have always lived under the same local authority or that you have been the victim of identity theft before..... I am afraid your complaint may get lost amongst many others that are very similar. I hope you get it sorted.


Laura
@natdebtline

frust123

Cant believe they are allowed to do this in this day and age! Its disgusting.

vlad

I would ask why its disgusting?if they think you owe them/the govt/the people money then why should they not try and reclaim it?
Im not being nasty just voicing what many others might leave unsaid.The question I suppose is were you claiming benefits at that time?im sure they don't have to supply the ID you seem to want,and i doubt that manual copies of any paperwork still exist.
And remember that at the end of the day they can wait till you retire and stop the money from your state pension.

frust123

vlad wrote: »

I would ask why its disgusting?if they think you owe them/the govt/the people money then why should they not try and reclaim it?
Im not being nasty just voicing what many others might leave unsaid.The question I suppose is were you claiming benefits at that time?im sure they don't have to supply the ID you seem to want,and i doubt that manual copies of any paperwork still exist.
And remember that at the end of the day they can wait till you retire and stop the money from your state pension.

fair enough. I see where you are coming from so I respect your comments. Issue is that I have never claimed any form of benefits. ..I have always worked and paid my way..

Marktheshark

If you are 100% Honest you have never claimed, then issue a LBC to the DWP for each and every weeks payment they take.

You should also be able to file an appeal at the local court against the collection order as it is what is known as a statutory collection order

sourcrates

DWP complaints procedure here :

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/complaints-procedure

To get these matters sorted, it's best to follow there own procedures.

fatbelly

frust123 wrote: »

Today I have received a letter from the DWP claiming that they have sent a request to my employer and my wages will be deducted monthly until the debt is cleared. Apparently my employer is aware and has agreed to make these deductions.

Your employer commits a criminal offence if they do not comply.

The DWP is under no obligation to prove anything to anyone

This is the sort of state we now live in.

There was a query this week sent on this topic to the CAB and the advice was to bring this to the attention of your MP (unless your MP is Cameron, Osborne or IDS - I added the last bit).

There is a possible loophole if your employer is a small business, under 10 employees, and existed pre- 2013.