Post office card account - changing the way we pay you letter

jj20

Hello, I've received a letter from the dwp saying they are changing the way we pay you and  that the post office card account is closing and I need to open a bank account and asks for my bank details. 
The letter seemed different in that the paper was more flimsy, my initials weren't printed as usual on my ESA letters and it was signed by office manager (but no name) so I am worried it's a scam letter.   I checked online and the phone number comes up as possibly dangerous but it is the correct telephone number for the customer service centre, cosham, Wolverhampton.   So I called the number and it was an automated Asian accent and asking If I wanted to speak to someone in English and then she spoke in a different language.  This concerned me so I hung up.    Has anyone else had this response when calling them?  

poppy12345

Yes, post office accounts are closing from November so a new bank account will be needed. According to this link here they are starting to send out letters to claimants. https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/what-to-do-now-your-post-office-card-account-is-closing

What telephone number was on the letter and what benefits do you claim?

calcotti

Closing of PO accounts has been a long time coming (3 or 4 years now) and has been delayed more than once.

I think it is because DWP contract with DWP has ended and it has been decided that to continue it represents poor value for the tax payer.

jj20

At present I claim ESA and DLA.  The telephone number is 0800 085 7133 and the address is customer service centre, cosham, post handling site b, Wolverhampton, wv99 2fj.  It just kind of puzzled me why it was an automated Asian voice when I called and then asking if I want to speak to someone in English.  I've never had that before when calling the dwp so I called a bit worried and hung up.

poppy12345

I googled that number and according to this link here it's a genuine number to support those that have post office accounts only.

https://revenuebenefits.org.uk/blog/post-office-card-account-poca-holders

I don't see anything that said it's "possibly dangerous" even this link here states itsDWP for those with post office accounts.

https://who-called.co.uk/Number/08000857133

jj20

Hi, it had a mixture of responses to the number on the who called me site and that some people thought it was a scam, and then when I called, as I said i found it strange that the first thing it says is do I wish to speak to someone in english and that's never happened before.  I've been scammed before and regularly get scam calls so I was wary and just wanted to check if other people got the same response when they called them.    I'm probably over reacting but thanks for checking for me though.

TELLIT01

calcotti said:

Closing of PO accounts has been a long time coming (3 or 4 years now) and has been delayed more than once.

I think it is because DWP contract with DWP has ended and it has been decided that to continue it represents poor value for the tax payer.

The wheels of DWP do turn exceeding slow.  They had started trying to move people away from PO accounts when I was still working there.  I retired in 2016!

Spoonie_Turtle

jj20 said:

Hi, it had a mixture of responses to the number on the who called me site and that some people thought it was a scam, and then when I called, as I said i found it strange that the first thing it says is do I wish to speak to someone in english and that's never happened before.  I've been scammed before and regularly get scam calls so I was wary and just wanted to check if other people got the same response when they called them.    I'm probably over reacting but thanks for checking for me though.

Could the other language have been Welsh?  If it's a UK-wide line (rather than regional / for England only) that would not be unusual.

Spoonie_Turtle

poppy12345 said:

https://who-called.co.uk/Number/08000857133

Sorry for the double post but wow, some of those responses - especially the ones who've had multiple letters ... they may be in for a shock in November

jj20

Spoonie_turtle.   The other language was not Welsh, it sounded like Hindi or something similar.  It doesn't even say anything else, just an Asian lady automated voice asking if I want to speak to someone in English, then it talks in another language and at that point I hung up.   I guess it must be genuine but it's still weird as even the letter isn't like the usual letters I get from the dwp.

poppy12345

jj20 said:

it's still weird as even the letter isn't like the usual letters I get from the dwp.

In the link i provided above it says exactly the same...