Marston Holdings!?

Brainer87

Evening all,

After some advice if possible, my girlfriend found out tonight that approx £1100 has been taken from her bank account yesterday by a company called Marston Holdings, we've never had any dealings with them & never received any letters from them about any outstanding debt for this amount.

We've checked her credit report & can't see anything outstanding for the amount that was taken.

What we can't understand is how they have managed to gain access to her bank account without her permission!? We've had a quick look online & can see that by going through court they can gain a "levy" (I think that's what it was called) but my other half would have been informed about this, which she hasn't been.

She has spoken to the bank & they told her it looks like they tried to take this amount on a number of occasions recently but as there were insufficient funds nothing was taken. They've told her they'll investigate & will be in touch within 72 hours.

This all sounds highly illegal to me but I'm no expert.

Has anyone else had anything like this happen to them? Or had any dealings with Marston's at all?

Cheers

WhenIam64

Marstons do a lot of work for Local Authorities. Are either of you in receipt of tax credits?

An example

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/tax-and-other-debts-owed-hm-revenue-and-customs

Brainer87

Hi,

Thanks for the response, not as far as I'm aware!? We both have full time jobs & none of us are receiving benefits.

My girlfriend did have a letter from the DWP about some money she owed back after claiming universal credit a while ago, but she has agreed a payment plan for this & has been paying it.

Exodi

Marston are a relatively high profile enforcement company so I am somewhat dubious they've taken this amount illegally.

If your bank is unable to return this payment, could you perhaps get in touch with Marston and ask them how/why they've taken payment? They haven't guessed your partners bank details.

Sadly not receiving any communications regarding a debt isn't strictly relevant - it's extremely common that people move house with debts in the hope it makes the debt disappear.

Exodi

Brainer87 wrote: »

My girlfriend did have a letter from the DWP about some money she owed back after claiming universal credit a while ago, but she has agreed a payment plan for this & has been paying it.

I think this is most likely the reason. Agreeing payment plans is fine, but often the memo may be missed or there may be a push to reclaim some outstanding money etc.

I'd assume she's moved since then and her address has not been updated with DWP. I'd imagine there has likely been a lengthy paper trail regarding this sent to the previous address.

Brainer87

We've lived at this current address for 2 years, & the letter she received from the DWP only came through the door a couple of months ago, as soon as it came through she spoke to them to set up a payment plan.

Depending on what the bank say we will have to give Marston's a ring as we are completely in the dark about this.

We're in the process of trying to turn our debts around, but this has come out of the blue as we're not sure why it's happened or what it's for!?

WhenIam64

to give Marston's a ring as we are completely in the dark about this.

Marstons don't make decision, they simply act on [lawful] instructions. You'd be best calling DWP but get a cup of tea as you may be waiting for some time on hold.

Exodi

WhenIam64 wrote: »

Marstons don't make decision, they simply act on [lawful] instructions. You'd be best calling DWP but get a cup of tea as you may be waiting for some time on hold.

I agree that the OP should not be pursuing Marston for the specifics of the debt but I think it's reasonable for them to justify the payment situation - even if they just say 'we're acting on a court order' it sheds some light on what's happened.

Nonetheless, as you've insinuated above; I agree that I think it's highly unlikely anything unlawful has occurred.

sourcrates

Brainer87 wrote: »

We've lived at this current address for 2 years, & the letter she received from the DWP only came through the door a couple of months ago, as soon as it came through she spoke to them to set up a payment plan.

Depending on what the bank say we will have to give Marston's a ring as we are completely in the dark about this.

We're in the process of trying to turn our debts around, but this has come out of the blue as we're not sure why it's happened or what it's for!?

DWP are utterly useless at talking to each other, you may have agreed payment terms with one dept, but another has decided to use their powers of direct recovery to take what is owed.


I would go straight to the DWP for an explanation, as said above, marston won`t be very forthcoming.

D_M_E

You also, when you get to speak to DWP, ask if the £1100 is the original amount or if it's what was left after the payments already made via the agreed payment plan.

Marston's probably got the bank details via the DWP if that's what the £1100 was for, but if not then the bank should claw it back.

Brainer87

Thanks for all the advice guys, I will get my other half to ring the DWP tomorrow & see what they say, if they deny it has anything to do with them I'm not really sure where we'll go with it.

We don't know how much info the bank will give us once they call us back but hopefully they give us some sort of idea of why the money was taken.