DWP debt - can't get through to them

MyCatIsAwake

To cut a long story short, I was overpaid in 2010, I then had a job till 2017 when I was made redundant. From 2016-2017 DWP started taking money out of my pay, which was fine as I was on a good wage.

From 2018-August 2019 I was on UC.

I got a part time job this August, wage is about £600 per month.

I got a letter 2 weeks ago telling me to contact DWP debt to arrange to pay £600 back or it will go to debt collection or be taken from my wage - I hardly survive as it is!

I had till 24th Sept to contact them. I have called 23 times since then, on average on hold for 30mins!!!

It's now closing in on the 24th and I can't get through! Any advice?

poppy12345

MyCatIsAwake wrote: »

I had till 24th Sept to contact them. I have called 23 times since then, on average on hold for 30mins!!!

That's not long enough to be waiting for them to answer. Very often it can take as long as 1 hour. I'm afraid you'll need to ring again and be patient, they will eventually answer.

Spender£

MyCatIsAwake wrote: »

To cut a long story short, I was overpaid in 2010, I then had a job till 2017 when I was made redundant. From 2016-2017 DWP started taking money out of my pay, which was fine as I was on a good wage.

From 2018-August 2019 I was on UC.

I got a part time job this August, wage is about £600 per month.

I got a letter 2 weeks ago telling me to contact DWP debt to arrange to pay £600 back or it will go to debt collection or be taken from my wage - I hardly survive as it is!

I had till 24th Sept to contact them. I have called 23 times since then, on average on hold for 30mins!!!

It's now closing in on the 24th and I can't get through! Any advice?

Try phoning at around 08:30 am, this used to work for me back in the day, after nine i could never get through but between eight and nine it seemed i was the only person out of bed.:rotfl:

11krage

I have heard debt management phone lines have been busy of late. Unfortunately all I can suggest is to keep trying. As another poster said, it's worth phoning early after the phone lines open as there should be less people in the queue.

System

I waited for 57 minutes this week. I called them just over an hour before closing - I suspect that a lot of people don't know they don't close at 5pm.

poppy12345

Atypi_Gal wrote: »

I suspect that a lot of people don't know they don't close at 5pm.

They actually close at 6pm..

[Deleted User]

Could try writing?
Address on my recent correspondence is
Debt Management (plus) (a letter of the alphabet)
Mail handling site (again letter of alphabet so you'll need to check your orginal correspondence for the letters)
Wolverhampton
WV98 2DF

My experience of getting through was just before 2pm on a Friday afternoon. (It took two attempts)

You have a month to get in contact.

Girlieshopper

My partner received a debt collection letter.   We don’t know what it’s for - in order to get more info, We’ve rang & rang.  At different times & days.  We still can’t get through - it’s engaged ALL the time.   You just get cut off if you try to hold.     There is a fax number & I’m tempted to fax the query!   Any other suggestions?   TIA. 

poppy12345

Girlieshopper said:

My partner received a debt collection letter.   We don’t know what it’s for - in order to get more info, We’ve rang & rang.  At different times & days.  We still can’t get through - it’s engaged ALL the time.   You just get cut off if you try to hold.     There is a fax number & I’m tempted to fax the query!   Any other suggestions?   TIA. 

Starting your own thread would have been better rather than post on the end of someone else's. All you can do is to keep on trying to ring them.

Robbie64

It would appear that Debt Management, now they are back in business after being put on hold earlier this year, have sent out so many letters that their phone lines can't cope with the traffic.

I would suggest contacting your MP. If enough people do this MP's will soon tire of it, will complain to the DWP and the DWP will soon get its act in order and should increase phone call handling capacity.