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DWP forcing me to repay a debt caused by identity fraud
Comments
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Made up story.Uriziel said:I did work experience at an DWP office back in the day and I was told there were two offices that had to be shut down because the entire team there was paying benefit money into their own accounts by using a random National Insurance Number."You've been reading SOS when it's just your clock reading 5:05 "3 -
Appears DWP have a different number to call regarding these alleged fraudulent claim debts.
“Anyone receiving a debt recovery letter they believe relates to a fraudulent claim should contact us on 0800 916 0647.”
Has the OP phoned this number to register this issue correctly?The comments I post are personal opinion. Always refer to official information sources before relying on internet forums. If you have a problem with any organisation, enter into their official complaints process at the earliest opportunity, as sometimes complaints have to be started within a certain time frame.1 -
Yes that is indeed the number I called to report the fraud. It was the number provided to me by my employer. My employer had received a DEA letter although I hadn’t. I presume my employer got the number from the DEA letter. After I called the number and reported it to them they carried out some type of ID hijack fraud investigation. The result of their “investigation” was that I made the claim.huckster said:Appears DWP have a different number to call regarding these alleged fraudulent claim debts.
“Anyone receiving a debt recovery letter they believe relates to a fraudulent claim should contact us on 0800 916 0647.”
Has the OP phoned this number to register this issue correctly?Or in their words:“An agent from the specialist team spoke with Mr XXXXX to complete an information gather beginning our enquiry process. These details were shared with colleagues in the Counter Fraud and Compliance Department, who conducted a detailed interrogation of the available information on DWP systems and that provided by Mr XXXXX*.”
*The information “provided” by me came via a brief telephone call/interview type thing. They didn’t ask any in-depth questions or any questions to verify my whereabouts on any particular dates.I have tried the fraud number twice in the past - 0800 854 440, without any luck. It’s my intention to call them once again and try to report the fraud to them. In the past they’ve always told me that their line is for reporting “someone” that you suspect of fraud - or words to that effect.0 -
The Counter Fraud and Compliance Team are separate.myDWPhell said:
Yes that is indeed the number I called to report the fraud. It was the number provided to me by my employer. My employer had received a DEA letter although I hadn’t. I presume my employer got the number from the DEA letter. After I called the number and reported it to them they carried out some type of ID hijack fraud investigation. The result of their “investigation” was that I made the claim.huckster said:Appears DWP have a different number to call regarding these alleged fraudulent claim debts.
“Anyone receiving a debt recovery letter they believe relates to a fraudulent claim should contact us on 0800 916 0647.”
Has the OP phoned this number to register this issue correctly?Or in their words:“An agent from the specialist team spoke with Mr XXXXX to complete an information gather beginning our enquiry process. These details were shared with colleagues in the Counter Fraud and Compliance Department, who conducted a detailed interrogation of the available information on DWP systems and that provided by Mr XXXXX*.”
*The information “provided” by me came via a brief telephone call/interview type thing. They didn’t ask any in-depth questions or any questions to verify my whereabouts on any particular dates.I have tried the fraud number twice in the past - 0800 854 440, without any luck. It’s my intention to call them once again and try to report the fraud to them. In the past they’ve always told me that their line is for reporting “someone” that you suspect of fraud - or words to that effect.
Compliance, who you have spoken to already, re:the phone call; they have dealt with your query and have made the decision of no change.
Hence why you need to go to tribunal.
Fraud: completely different and a fraud officer or department will not call you to discuss anything.
Referring yourself(as I explained previously), may not generate an actual fraud file, but at least when/if you go to the tribunal you can actually let them know you have actually made a fraud referral.
If you do not want to make a referral then I would just wait for the tribunal to put your case to them.
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The DWP at their best:
21/03/25: Sent letter to DWP
NO REPLY
09/05/25: Called DWP re letter of 21/03/25 advised it hadn’t been received and that I should send my letter again.
09/05/25: Sent further copy of my letter to DWP.
NO REPLY
02/06/25: Called DWP DM re my letters of 21/03/25 and 09/05/25 advised that they hadn’t been received. DWP agent advised that she would put a “post-trace” out on my letters and call me at the end of the week.
No call back.
11/06/25: Called DWP re letters, failure to call back and post-trace. Informed both letters had been located - 3 MONTHS AFTER SENDING LETTER the first.
11/06/25: Submitted appeal re DWP decision to decline my SAR request. Submitted appeal my email and letter. Requested confirmation of receipt.
NO CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT/NO RESPONSE/NO REPLY/ - still no response as of 24/09/25
16/06/25: Called DWP complaints team and left a voicemail requesting a call-back.
NO CALL BACK
17/06/25: Called DWP complaints team and left a voicemail requesting a call-back.
NO CALL BACK
17/06/25: Emailed DWP at there correspondence@dwp…email address requesting assistance and a call-back.
NO REPLY/NO CALL BACK
22/06/25: Further to my email of 17/06/25 and my voicemails of 16 & 17/06/25 I emailed DWP at their correspondence@dwp… email address. Stressed that I had not been provided with a copy of the “written explanation” (an entitlement) nor had I been provided with any of the details of the allegations. Expressed my concerns that I desperately needed this information to provide information/evidence for the Mandatory Reconsideration. Requested confirmation of receipt.
NO CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT/NO RESPONSE/ NO REPLY
02/07/25: Received a call from DWP!!! Informing me that due to administrative arrears on the part of the DWP my Mandatory Reconsideration (submitted on 17/03/25) had not been properly processed and as a result was not submitted until 27/06/25.
06/07/25: Submitted formal complaints to the DWP UC via their online complaints portal. DWP are supposed to respond within 10 days.
NO REPLY - NO RESPONSE - STILL NO REPLY (as of 24/09/25)
07/07/25: Called DWP DM. Requested copies of the LBA and DEA letters I should have been sent. Informed agent would investigate and call back the following day.
NO CALL BACK
10/07/25: Further to my call of 07/07/25 and the failure of the DWP to call back as they’d claimed they would. Called DWP DM. Requested copies of the LBA and DEA letters I should have been sent. Informed they would be forwarded to me by 14/07/25.
NO COPIES SENT TO ME (as off 24/08/25)
23/07/25: Submitted formal complaints to the DWP UC via their online complaints portal. DWP are supposed to respond within 10 days.
NO REPLY - NO RESPONSE - STILL NO REPLY (as of 24/09/25)
13/08/25: Submitted formal complaints to the DWP UC via their online complaints portal. DWP are supposed to respond within 10 days.
NO REPLY - NO RESPONSE - STILL NO REPLY (as of 24/09/25)
26/08/25: Emailed DWP at there correspondence@dwp… email address. Informed DWP that their failings had left me exposed to a data security breach.
NO CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT/NO RESPONSE/NO REPLY
11/09/25: Emailed DWP at their correspondence@dwp… email address. Also sent duplicate by post. Requested confirmation of receipt.
NO CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT/NO RESPONSE/NO REPLY
11/09/25: Emailed DWP at their correspondence@dwp .gov.uk. Also sent duplicate by post. Requested confirmation of receipt.
NO CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT/NO RESPONSE/NO REPLY
12/09/25: Emailed DWP at their correspondence@dwp .gov.uk. Also sent duplicate by post. Requested confirmation of receipt.
NO CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT/NO RESPONSE/NO REPLY
The DWP at their very best!
DWP: Dysfunctional, Woeful, Predatory
DWP - Not fit for purpose!
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It’s definitely my intention to call them and discuss what you’ve suggested. I’d hoped to have found the time over the past few days. It may well be this afternoon or tomorrow.Blancmang25 said:
The Counter Fraud and Compliance Team are separate.myDWPhell said:
Yes that is indeed the number I called to report the fraud. It was the number provided to me by my employer. My employer had received a DEA letter although I hadn’t. I presume my employer got the number from the DEA letter. After I called the number and reported it to them they carried out some type of ID hijack fraud investigation. The result of their “investigation” was that I made the claim.huckster said:Appears DWP have a different number to call regarding these alleged fraudulent claim debts.
“Anyone receiving a debt recovery letter they believe relates to a fraudulent claim should contact us on 0800 916 0647.”
Has the OP phoned this number to register this issue correctly?Or in their words:“An agent from the specialist team spoke with Mr XXXXX to complete an information gather beginning our enquiry process. These details were shared with colleagues in the Counter Fraud and Compliance Department, who conducted a detailed interrogation of the available information on DWP systems and that provided by Mr XXXXX*.”
*The information “provided” by me came via a brief telephone call/interview type thing. They didn’t ask any in-depth questions or any questions to verify my whereabouts on any particular dates.I have tried the fraud number twice in the past - 0800 854 440, without any luck. It’s my intention to call them once again and try to report the fraud to them. In the past they’ve always told me that their line is for reporting “someone” that you suspect of fraud - or words to that effect.
Compliance, who you have spoken to already, re:the phone call; they have dealt with your query and have made the decision of no change.
Hence why you need to go to tribunal.
Fraud: completely different and a fraud officer or department will not call you to discuss anything.
Referring yourself(as I explained previously), may not generate an actual fraud file, but at least when/if you go to the tribunal you can actually let them know you have actually made a fraud referral.
If you do not want to make a referral then I would just wait for the tribunal to put your case to them.0 -
This isn’t just about me. This must have happened to hundreds, if not thousands of other innocent people:
https://www.reddit.com/r/DWPhelp/comments/tta6f8/fraudulent_universal_credit_advance_taken_out_in/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
“I have never received any government benefits, let alone Universal Credit, and I have been in full time employment for years. This debt is not mine…”
“I called the debt management department and they confirmed that the letter is legitimate and according to them I owe the money.”
“This isn't my !!!!!! up, it is theirs, and I shouldn't have to spend my limited time sorting out their mess, so what am I feasibly expected to do?“
Well put!
Four years on from the Reddit post above the DWP are continuing to treat innocent victims as though they are the criminals. And like the Post Office Horizon scandal the DWP has known about this issue for years. In fact the DWP have been told to stop “hounding innocent victims” - an instruction they have chosen to ignore.DWP - Not fit for purpose!0 -
The image above is a screenshot taken this morning 26/09/25. It’s from the HMCTS portal and details the current status of my appeal.It reads:
“We've told DWP that you've appealed against their decision. They should respond before 29 August 2025. We'll contact you and explain the next steps when they’ve replied.”
The status and message have remained unchanged since I submitted my application.
“They should respond before 29 August 2025 - it’s now 26 September 2025 and still NO RESPONSE.4 WEEKS LATER, 4 WEEKS OVERDUE - 4 WEEKS LATE and no response.
My Tribunal (appeal) application had to be submitted, “one month from the date of this letter” - the DWP MRN letter. I submitted my application within the timeframe specified. Can you imagine what their response would have been if I tried submitting my Tribunal application 4 WEEKS LATE - it would have been two fingers - sorry too late.
The DWP falsely accused me, gave me no “written explanation”, provided me with no details of their allegations, refused to discuss the case with me, declined my Subject Access Requests. Now they have failed to meet the deadline given to them to provide their response.This entire situation (mess) is the creation of the DWP but somehow I have had to spend the last year trying to clear it up. Something I bear absolutely no responsibility for. The DWP have acted like some type of criminal enterprise.A comment left by Taylor2000 to a previous post seems particularly pertinent:“The imbalance of power - 100% to DWP, 0% to the member of the public. There is nothing the victim can do.” - Taylor2000
DWP - Not fit for purpose!0 -
TBH.
If they have failed to provide the required info, then the tribunal should sit & make the decision based on the evidence provided at that point.
So a default win.Life in the slow lane0 -
Personally I would not be looking for a default win as nice as it would be. I would be looking for a whoops sorry we got it so wrong type win.0
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