Scam UC letters going round?

Own_Worst_Enermy

Hi 

I received a letter today out of the blue asking me to call with my bank details to receive a refund from Universal Credit debt management. The letter has no payment figure amount or why the error. 

It feels like flimsy white paper whereas I thought the job centre did everything on creamy yellow paper though I have not been near a job centre for a while. 

I was asked to repay an apparent UC overpayment shortly after making a pip application in March 2023 which went to assessment a couple of weeks ago 20 months after making that pip application (not joking) and the date of this letter received today is exactly when the DWP confirmed recently they had report from assessment company and were going to write to me in around 8 weeks time.

I did not query the overpayment back in 2023.  When I queried this summer after so long to hear from pip and suddenly hearing out the blue that uc and they were adamant as not connected when I tried to say when I expected to hear roughly from pip a letter arrived about a past UC over payment.  

If this isn’t a scam, can I ask questions as to why this has happened. I’m just worried we are in a cycle where one year they will ask for it then give it back the next. 

Thank you.

huckster

Phone DWP Debt Management using number you find online and not the one on the letter.  They will confirm whether there is an amount owing and if letter is genuine.

Best to be safe, if you are providing bank details.

peteuk

huckster said:

Phone DWP Debt Management using number you find online and not the one on the letter.  They will confirm whether there is an amount owing and if letter is genuine.

Best to be safe, if you are providing bank details.

I agree, a quick google search will give you the correct number to call. If it’s the same as the one on the letter then unlikely to be a scam.  Only a really dum scammer would put the correct telephone number on their scam letter.

You can then call and get the full info.

born_again

Would there no be a message in your journal in UC account telling you about this?

tomtom256

Universal Credit and Debt Management are two separate parts of the DWP and do not communicate with each other.
Universal credit letters are also generally uploaded to your jounral, unless you are a phone claim.

8dayweek

DWP Debt Management’s telephone number is 0800 916 0647. If this is the number on the letter then it’s genuine (or the worst scam going). 

Own_Worst_Enermy

It is ok.  I somehow over paid this to begin with, hence now due a refund.

Own_Worst_Enermy

born_again said:

Would there no be a message in your journal in UC account telling you about this?

My up account closed down in May 2023.

I called the DWP for myself on Tuesday.

Thanks all the same.