DWP phone call about voluntary contributions

true_blue_2

I took Martins advice a while back and signed up to be called up by the DWP about any missed NI contributions I might be allowed to settle before they stopped offering the option.

I got this text last night about it, but a lady from the DWP called at around 12.30 today and asked if its convenient for me to speak and I said actually can you call back closer to the evening, (as I was eating my lunch at the time).
She said we will only call one more time, and I said oh, don't worry then we can continue with this call, while I choked trying to hurry the food down! Then she just said OK, and hung up. 
It's now close to 6pm and still haven't had a callback from her, so I'm a bit worried that she isn't calling back, and has just used my query as an excuse to mark one of the two strikes, some might say that's paranoia, but I know from experience how the DWP operate, and they're devious and underhanded from top to bottom, so nothing surprises me anymore.

My question is, if she calls back tomorrow or whenever(she didn't even give me a rough idea of when) while I'm in a meeting or something, will my chance to settle any potential underpayments be missed completely, or will I be able to complain and/or contact them myself? 

Cheers!

SMS;
DWP will call you tomorrow between the hours of 08.00 AM and 6.00 PM to talk about paying voluntary National Insurance contributions. Our number may show as unknown or begin with 0800. We will make 2 attempts to contact you. Please try to be available.

Marcon

true_blue_2 said:

I took Martins advice a while back and signed up to be called up by the DWP about any missed NI contributions I might be allowed to settle before they stopped offering the option.

I got this text last night about it, but a lady from the DWP called at around 12.30 today and asked if its convenient for me to speak and I said actually can you call back closer to the evening, (as I was eating my lunch at the time).
She said we will only call one more time, and I said oh, don't worry then we can continue with this call, while I choked trying to hurry the food down! Then she just said OK, and hung up. 
It's now close to 6pm and still haven't had a callback from her, so I'm a bit worried that she isn't calling back, and has just used my query as an excuse to mark one of the two strikes, some might say that's paranoia, but I know from experience how the DWP operate, and they're devious and underhanded from top to bottom, so nothing surprises me anymore.

My question is, if she calls back tomorrow or whenever(she didn't even give me a rough idea of when) while I'm in a meeting or something, will my chance to settle any potential underpayments be missed completely, or will I be able to complain and/or contact them myself? 

Cheers!

SMS;

DWP will call you tomorrow between the hours of 08.00 AM and 6.00 PM to talk about paying voluntary National Insurance contributions. Our number may show as unknown or begin with 0800. We will make 2 attempts to contact you. Please try to be available.

If they do try again, I suggest you stop eating and take the call...

Dazed_and_C0nfused

true_blue_2 said:

I took Martins advice a while back and signed up to be called up by the DWP about any missed NI contributions I might be allowed to settle before they stopped offering the option.

I got this text last night about it, but a lady from the DWP called at around 12.30 today and asked if its convenient for me to speak and I said actually can you call back closer to the evening, (as I was eating my lunch at the time).
She said we will only call one more time, and I said oh, don't worry then we can continue with this call, while I choked trying to hurry the food down! Then she just said OK, and hung up. 
It's now close to 6pm and still haven't had a callback from her, so I'm a bit worried that she isn't calling back, and has just used my query as an excuse to mark one of the two strikes, some might say that's paranoia, but I know from experience how the DWP operate, and they're devious and underhanded from top to bottom, so nothing surprises me anymore.

My question is, if she calls back tomorrow or whenever(she didn't even give me a rough idea of when) while I'm in a meeting or something, will my chance to settle any potential underpayments be missed completely, or will I be able to complain and/or contact them myself? 

Cheers!

SMS;

DWP will call you tomorrow between the hours of 08.00 AM and 6.00 PM to talk about paying voluntary National Insurance contributions. Our number may show as unknown or begin with 0800. We will make 2 attempts to contact you. Please try to be available.

You aren't exactly helping things yourself though are you!

artyboy

There are very, very few things that would make me pass up a meal.

This however would be one of them. 

QrizB

true_blue_2 said:

My question is, if she calls back tomorrow or whenever(she didn't even give me a rough idea of when) while I'm in a meeting or something, will my chance to settle any potential underpayments be missed completely, or will I be able to complain and/or contact them myself?

I would work on this assumption that your "one more call" will be your only chance. Miss it and you've missed out.

true_blue_2 said:

She said we will only call one more time, and I said oh, don't worry then we can continue with this call, while I choked trying to hurry the food down! Then she just said OK, and hung up.

They will have a call recording.

Depending on exactly what you said, and how it sounded whole you spoke with a mouthful of lunch, it's possible your "oh don't worry then" was taken to be your agreement that she could end the call.

bry54

I never received a call on the day they said , when I contacted dwp they said they don't send sms messages  and have no record of me applying for avc's , had another sms today  said I'm still eligible to pay them but never mentioned a phone call !

Rattles

I think this is a new scam. I had the same sms and call yesterday and stupidly gave my national  insurance number and date of birth  I have been waiting for a call back so only thought this was odd after I hung up and thought about it. I’m almost certain they took this to access my national insurance information so they can call back as an ‘DWP expert’ with my NI details at their fingertips. I’m sure an offer to pay over the phone will follow. BEWARE!!!! 

MallyGirl

Rattles said:

I think this is a new scam. I had the same sms and call yesterday and stupidly gave my national  insurance number and date of birth  I have been waiting for a call back so only thought this was odd after I hung up and thought about it. I’m almost certain they took this to access my national insurance information so they can call back as an ‘DWP expert’ with my NI details at their fingertips. I’m sure an offer to pay over the phone will follow. BEWARE!!!! 

It is not a scam but it is being managed very badly for those who left it near to the deadline and had to opt for callback

see - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6601795/dwp-claim-they-do-not-send-text-messages-advising-they-will-call

CrisisApparition

Rattles said:

I think this is a new scam. I had the same sms and call yesterday and stupidly gave my national  insurance number and date of birth  I have been waiting for a call back so only thought this was odd after I hung up and thought about it. I’m almost certain they took this to access my national insurance information so they can call back as an ‘DWP expert’ with my NI details at their fingertips. I’m sure an offer to pay over the phone will follow. BEWARE!!!! 

I had an sms today saying:

"DWP have received your request to call you to discuss paying voluntary National Insurance contributions. You do not need to contact us. If you submitted your request by the 5 April 2025 deadline, you will still be able to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions".

It's exactly 8 weeks since the day I filled that form in for them to ring me. So, I thought the sms was probably genuine, and they don't give me a time they'll ring me anyway. However, I won't be giving out my national insurance number or other details to someone who rings me up at an unspecified time. Not unless they provide details that any scammer wouldn't know eg. details about my voluntary contributions. I'll just ring them back.

Brave321

Same thing here, text yesterday, saying I would receive a call today to discuss. Got a call today number was 0800 731 0175 caller ID said Michael Letch. Was a bit suspicious, a woman asked for my NI Number and D/O/B, was very brusque with me when I tried to question the call. I asked if they could give me some info to prove it was them and she shut me down immediatley. Said if I didn't provide it, that was it, there would be no call back!.

I eventually gave it as I thought if it is dodgy not much they can do with NI number and D/O/B?? As soon as I gave the info, she said I will receive a call back at some point. I'm left feeling quite confused. DWP will know my NI number and D/O/B surely. So feeling bit worried now! If it was DWP, it is not a good way to go about things!!! If it wasn't, dunno what they can do with the info they got! 

Any advice appreciated!  

Ritusrex

Same call I had yesterday, and like others, it all seems very strange.  I had the message  saying  that DWP would call me the next day, etc.  Yesterday I took the call, fulling expecting to get my NI query sorted. BUT, after going through the security questions posed at me, my full name, NI no. etc I was told someone else will call me back 'sometime'.  I asked for the lead time on when that may be and the woman just said she had no idea!  She said todays call was just to clear 'security'.  
I feel I may have been duped, as what on earth was the point in phoning me to go through security only to end the call.  
I am normally sharp when it comes to spotting scams but I have given a complete stranger my full name and NI no. on the basis I believed the initial SMS text saying DWP would call me.  
(Yes, I had requested a call back from DWP following the Martin Lewis tv programme which was aired in early March as I needed to make voluntary NI contributions).  I can't help but feel edgy about this incident.