Attachment of Earnings - taking random amounts

LadySher

Last year I had an AOE put on my salary by the DWP for a budgeting loan from 2013. Rough amount was £501.

At first it was fine, they were taking the 5% they were allowed. Then my company switched payroll companies and it all went wrong. First the April payment was taken from my wages but never reached the DWP. They say they don't have it. Payroll say they sent it. Nobody knows where it is. It is on my payslip as paid for that month though.

Then they started taking random amounts of money. The 5% was about 42 pounds. In May they took 80 odd pounds. In June 120. July back down to 40. August 100 odd. Clearly some of these payments were over the 5% they are allowed to take for my wage bracket.

I have repeatedly called DWP and payroll and i'm not getting anywhere. DWP say they've written to payroll to say the debt is now paid and to stop taking money. Payroll say they haven't got a letter. Payroll also say they have no paperwork about the debt and they will keep taking the 5% until DWP tell them to stop. They have again taken £42 from my wages today! With the missing payment I've now overpaid by around £100.

I spoke to payroll today and they said they have a new letter from DWP saying my debt is £230. This letter is postmarked June, but they seem to think it is a new debt and have said they will keep taking until this is paid.

I have no idea where to turn with this absolute nightmare! Any advice please?

LadySher

Also spoke to DWP today who say the Sept payment hasn't reached them and looks like that has gone missing too!

fatbelly

Suspect this is a DEA.

Frankly your payroll dept could be more helpful here. They should phone

Employer helpline Telephone: 0800 916 0614

and sort out where they have gone wrong and what the current status is.