DWP debt management have made a big mistake!

Darter245

Hi,

I would appreciate your advice and guidance on a very big problem that I have. I will try and keep this as brief as possible for everyone.

Last Feb I received a letter from debt management based at DWP, they stated that I owed them £982 resulting from an overpayment from 2006 when I was claiming JSA. I was gobsmacked when I seen the letter, never had a clue what they were talking about it. I rang debt management up and got passed back and forwards from themselves to the Sunderland benefits office. It was like a vicious circle. I asked them to provide some evidence to substantiate their ridiculous claims. All they could provide is the dates I claimed JSA back in 2006. I rang both departments up on stacks of occasions finally I was advised to take all my notes to my local job centre who would then fax them to Sunderland benefits office. They in turn would action a mandatory reconsideration. I heard nothing for weeks so assumed wrongly everything was OK.

March 15th this year a whole 14 months later I received the same letter again from debt management stating I owed £982 and it must be paid or a plan put in place before May 6th, today or they would apply for a DEA and take money from my wage. I again rang them up and was passed from pillar to post. Finally after 2 weeks of phone calls a team leader from Sunderland benefits office rang back today. She said the two departments had liaised and contacted the fraud department who had apparently investigated me in 2006. Something which I dispute 100 percent and really don't know what they are talking about. She said however they don't keep any information for more than 10 years so couldn't prove anything or provide any information but would still require £982 from myself as originally in 2006 they did some form of investigation. I told her that was outrageous she said she couldn't comment on individual cases.

I really don't have a clue what is going on or where this is coming from. I have never been investigated about this ever and only received a letter to my parents address in 2015 even tho this apparently dates back to 2006. They are threatening to take money from wages but are impossible to deal with or get a straight forward answer from.

HELP, what do I do next?

Thanks for your time.

Micky

Bananas123

are you sure you have not been overpayed in 2006 ?

if it were me, i would ring the bank and ask if they keep records of the period inwhich they were stating.

although, you could have "been under investigation", they won't neccesarily inform you of this i belive (?).

if you were definately not overpaid / claiming benefits you were entitled to then, i would just send them or liase what your bank tells you.

it should not be difficult to work out,

perhaps they have mistaken you for another individual.

sorry of not much help

regards

dippy3103

First of all- were you on JSA in 2006? Are you clear on the dates?

Secondly, have you moved since then?

Darter245

I am certain I was only given what I was entitled to. I have asked for every shred of evidence they have to back their claims up but apparently after 10 years the original evidence has gone. I thought about going to my bank but have changed since then as it was 10 years ago. I am adamant I have done nothing wrong they simply can't support what they are saying.

Darter245

Yeah I was on JSA then for a few months first and only time. Yeah I have moved twice since then thanks.

dippy3103

The DWP should be able to give you a print detailing every payment of benefit made to your Nino.

Darter245

Made to my nino?

TGH

National Insurance number

Ugguy

It's very interesting that all they could provide in the way of evidence, maybe ask to see dates of payments, etc?

I'm wary of people that say they cannot comment on individual cases, that usually means they have something to hide. And seeing they're being very vague about the reasons for this, then this really sounds like a scam to me. Don't forget that banks make their money out of getting people into debt.

missapril75

Sounds like they have previously written giving the reasons for the overpayment and what gives them the authority to seek recovery. That's standard and also advises various appeal rights.
Perhaps your subsequent address changes were not reported and previous notices have gone unanswered, hence this coming out of the blue when they have an up to date address for you.

Darter245

I have only ever claimed JSA once and that was for a few months in 2006, I never moved house till about 2009 and never had any correspondence at all. The first letter I got was sent to my parents address in Feb 15 the address I lived whilst claiming JSA.

They can't provide an ounce of evidence to substantiate what they claim. All they can say is a fraud claim was started in 2006, news to me! They deem this to be enough to ask for me to pay £982 to them even though they now claim to have nothing in terms of evidence to support this. I really have no idea what they are going on about.