DWP want overpayment back that was nothing to do with me

neilc75

In 2023 DWP sent me £600 that was nothing to do with me , I am not on any benefits and have no dealings with them , I called them up and after weeks of telling them that I had this money and them acting confused they finally admitted to the error , I have heard nothing since, until today , they have stated that their recovery company want it back in one payment , I'll be honest I do still have it however do they have the right to ask for it all at once and are they likely to add any charges on at all ? , As stated this was their error and I have emails stating that I was the one trying to give it back for a number of weeks. Also am I now going to be penalised as I have had my name associated with a debt recovery agent? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you .

kaMelo

There is nothing to stop them asking for repayment in one go although generally DWP would accept a repayment plan. Given you have (sensibly) kept the money to one side why not just pay it back and be done with it?

It's not a commercial debt so will not show on your credit file.

elsien

^^^ 
What they said.  Why would you not pay it back all in one go?
You have the money and trying to pay it back in dribs and drabs is only going lead to more confusion if they get things wrong a second time. 

FlorayG

It's not worth the hassle. Pay it back and send them a really snotty letter
Hopefully you've had it in a high interest account so at least have made something of it

HillStreetBlues

What's the wording on your bank statement for the transaction?

neilc75

Do high interest accounts still exist ? , I also queried a breach of data protection at the same time because when they sent me the payment it had someone else's details on the email , the wording on the credit stated 

DWP RM MAIN NO1 9432291-943

It took them weeks to figure out where it has come from because they said (literally) , " it could have come from anywhere " 

HillStreetBlues

I would agree with kaMelo about them letting you pay back in stages.
There will be people in your position who after trying to sort it out at the time forgot about it and ended up being spent.