Income Support - Direct Earning Attachment
nicolafrost
Posts: 3 Newbie
Hi,
Apologies that my first post is me asking for help but my usual first go to of scouring the internet to find a similar post in a forum has been unsuccessful so I'm hoping somebody here has the right knowledge to help guide me with my problem.
I'll try my best to write this out in chronological order:
- On the 06/08/2017 I received a letter completely out of the blue stating I owed the DWP £2723.08 and could I kindly call the number included to pay the amount supposedly owed...
- I immediately called the number on the letter to dispute which put me through to the Contact Centre Trafford Debt management SF, I stated that I do not acknowledge or have any knowledge of the debt they are stating and could they please provide evidence around payments made, who to & from when they relate to. The adviser informed me they were just the debt management co and the only information they had was that the debt was for overpayment of income support. They informed me that they couldn't accept my dispute and that I'd have to take it up with the job centre, for which they provided me the contact number 0345 604 3719.
- I then rang the provided Job centre number to query the debt, be sent evidence and to understand the circumstances as to why they are now pursuing me for it. I was put through to the income support department, from which the operator said that they don't store records from so far back and after using my name and other details they couldn't provide any record of me existing within their systems
- The Job centre adviser stated I'd have to submit a written letter disputing the debt to "the job centre plus, Leeds southern house, Site A mail handling". I put together a letter stating I do not acknowledge this debt and have no recollection of receiving income support and could they please provide all evidence re this overpayment to myself.
- I then received a second letter dated 27/08/2017 on Saturday 2/09/217 informing me they will be starting a direct earnings attachment repayment plan with my employer.
- I then rang the debt management company immediately who again said there is nothing they can do, they don’t have any evidence to provide to explain the sums owed and that I’d again have to ring income support.
- 04.09.2017 I have rung the Income support and discussed the issue with them once again, to which once again no evidence could be provided around the sums supposedly owed be that dates, bank accounts or actual values over any time frame or as to why they are only now contacting me in relation to the supposed debt owed.
- I then received a letter dated 12/09/2017 from the DWP. The letter said that they'd contacted the debt management on my behalf, who stated the debt is £2,7000 and relates to a period 14/04/09 to 22/04/10 where income support was paid to me which I was not entitled to. I'd supposedly had an interview with a compliance officer on the 12/05/2010 where it was supposedly discovered I'd been working full time at my employer (basic wage shoe store) from 14.04.09 to 22.04.10. The specialist decision maker decided, based on evidence supplied by the compliance investigation which included my interview that I should not have been entitled to income support. On the 20.10.10 the overpayment was calculated and notified to me in writing. Income dispute guidance states I must dispute a decision within 1 month of the original decision, in this case the original decision date was 20.10.10. The letter then states as the original decision is over the absolute time limits I now need to put in writing the reason why I'm disputing the overpamyent and why this dispute is late; the letter would then be passed on to her Majesty's courts & tribunals service to consider if it will be accepted.
- I then responded to the above letter, stating I did not receive the original decision letter dated 20.10.10. I presented the facts that I've paid council tax, income tax, held a license etc for the past 8 years so have been 'findable' so why only now have they contacted me re the supposed amounts owed. I have no information about my employment from 2009-10, nor any bank statements or even what bank I belonged to (I was very young at the time). I informed them that I'm more than happy to co-operate if sufficient evidence can be provided to myself and asked for the details of the interview that took place on 12th May 2010, I also requested details of where the overpayments went, i.e. the Bank Account details and name to help me find evidence from my perspective. I sent this letter to Leeds southern house job centre, mail handling site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1RW
- Come the 02.11.17 and I've had no response so I called a new number 0345 608 8545) and spoke to somebody at the stockport office, who informed me of a new address to send the letter to: Doncaster Benefit Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton.
- Come today 11.04.18, I receive a letter from DWP stating they have been unable to contact my current employer regarding DEA deductions and can I please advise my payroll dept. to contact DWP to enable the charges to begin......If my employer fails to contact DWP in 14 days they will "seek alternative methods of recover" - any ideas what this means? Again this letter was from Contact Centre traffic, debt management (SF) as per my first ever letter 06.08.17.
So, I have no evidence or information to really dispute what they are saying, I genuinely cannot remember as it was 8 years ago and my life was extremely hectic at the time (not just busy, other problems). All I'm asking is DWP to provide evidence as to where those payments were made, what was said in the interview from which they made their decision and a schedule of said benefits payments over the period but it seems they cannot or do not have this information.
I'm not sure of what the next steps are to take, as the DEA is extremely punitive and completely un-affordable based off the calculations table contained within some of the letters I've received. Any advice would be greatly appreciated around what to do next or where I stand with this 'debt'
Apologies that my first post is me asking for help but my usual first go to of scouring the internet to find a similar post in a forum has been unsuccessful so I'm hoping somebody here has the right knowledge to help guide me with my problem.
I'll try my best to write this out in chronological order:
- On the 06/08/2017 I received a letter completely out of the blue stating I owed the DWP £2723.08 and could I kindly call the number included to pay the amount supposedly owed...
- I immediately called the number on the letter to dispute which put me through to the Contact Centre Trafford Debt management SF, I stated that I do not acknowledge or have any knowledge of the debt they are stating and could they please provide evidence around payments made, who to & from when they relate to. The adviser informed me they were just the debt management co and the only information they had was that the debt was for overpayment of income support. They informed me that they couldn't accept my dispute and that I'd have to take it up with the job centre, for which they provided me the contact number 0345 604 3719.
- I then rang the provided Job centre number to query the debt, be sent evidence and to understand the circumstances as to why they are now pursuing me for it. I was put through to the income support department, from which the operator said that they don't store records from so far back and after using my name and other details they couldn't provide any record of me existing within their systems
- The Job centre adviser stated I'd have to submit a written letter disputing the debt to "the job centre plus, Leeds southern house, Site A mail handling". I put together a letter stating I do not acknowledge this debt and have no recollection of receiving income support and could they please provide all evidence re this overpayment to myself.
- I then received a second letter dated 27/08/2017 on Saturday 2/09/217 informing me they will be starting a direct earnings attachment repayment plan with my employer.
- I then rang the debt management company immediately who again said there is nothing they can do, they don’t have any evidence to provide to explain the sums owed and that I’d again have to ring income support.
- 04.09.2017 I have rung the Income support and discussed the issue with them once again, to which once again no evidence could be provided around the sums supposedly owed be that dates, bank accounts or actual values over any time frame or as to why they are only now contacting me in relation to the supposed debt owed.
- I then received a letter dated 12/09/2017 from the DWP. The letter said that they'd contacted the debt management on my behalf, who stated the debt is £2,7000 and relates to a period 14/04/09 to 22/04/10 where income support was paid to me which I was not entitled to. I'd supposedly had an interview with a compliance officer on the 12/05/2010 where it was supposedly discovered I'd been working full time at my employer (basic wage shoe store) from 14.04.09 to 22.04.10. The specialist decision maker decided, based on evidence supplied by the compliance investigation which included my interview that I should not have been entitled to income support. On the 20.10.10 the overpayment was calculated and notified to me in writing. Income dispute guidance states I must dispute a decision within 1 month of the original decision, in this case the original decision date was 20.10.10. The letter then states as the original decision is over the absolute time limits I now need to put in writing the reason why I'm disputing the overpamyent and why this dispute is late; the letter would then be passed on to her Majesty's courts & tribunals service to consider if it will be accepted.
- I then responded to the above letter, stating I did not receive the original decision letter dated 20.10.10. I presented the facts that I've paid council tax, income tax, held a license etc for the past 8 years so have been 'findable' so why only now have they contacted me re the supposed amounts owed. I have no information about my employment from 2009-10, nor any bank statements or even what bank I belonged to (I was very young at the time). I informed them that I'm more than happy to co-operate if sufficient evidence can be provided to myself and asked for the details of the interview that took place on 12th May 2010, I also requested details of where the overpayments went, i.e. the Bank Account details and name to help me find evidence from my perspective. I sent this letter to Leeds southern house job centre, mail handling site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1RW
- Come the 02.11.17 and I've had no response so I called a new number 0345 608 8545) and spoke to somebody at the stockport office, who informed me of a new address to send the letter to: Doncaster Benefit Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton.
- Come today 11.04.18, I receive a letter from DWP stating they have been unable to contact my current employer regarding DEA deductions and can I please advise my payroll dept. to contact DWP to enable the charges to begin......If my employer fails to contact DWP in 14 days they will "seek alternative methods of recover" - any ideas what this means? Again this letter was from Contact Centre traffic, debt management (SF) as per my first ever letter 06.08.17.
So, I have no evidence or information to really dispute what they are saying, I genuinely cannot remember as it was 8 years ago and my life was extremely hectic at the time (not just busy, other problems). All I'm asking is DWP to provide evidence as to where those payments were made, what was said in the interview from which they made their decision and a schedule of said benefits payments over the period but it seems they cannot or do not have this information.
I'm not sure of what the next steps are to take, as the DEA is extremely punitive and completely un-affordable based off the calculations table contained within some of the letters I've received. Any advice would be greatly appreciated around what to do next or where I stand with this 'debt'
0
Comments
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did you claim income support during the period they're referring to? Surely you know whether and where you were employed 8 years ago?0
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nicolafrost wrote: »Hi,
Apologies that my first post is me asking for help but my usual first go to of scouring the internet to find a similar post in a forum has been unsuccessful so I'm hoping somebody here has the right knowledge to help guide me with my problem.
I'll try my best to write this out in chronological order:
- On the 06/08/2017 I received a letter completely out of the blue stating I owed the DWP £2723.08 and could I kindly call the number included to pay the amount supposedly owed...
- I immediately called the number on the letter to dispute which put me through to the Contact Centre Trafford Debt management SF, I stated that I do not acknowledge or have any knowledge of the debt they are stating and could they please provide evidence around payments made, who to & from when they relate to. The adviser informed me they were just the debt management co and the only information they had was that the debt was for overpayment of income support. They informed me that they couldn't accept my dispute and that I'd have to take it up with the job centre, for which they provided me the contact number 0345 604 3719.
- I then rang the provided Job centre number to query the debt, be sent evidence and to understand the circumstances as to why they are now pursuing me for it. I was put through to the income support department, from which the operator said that they don't store records from so far back and after using my name and other details they couldn't provide any record of me existing within their systems
- The Job centre adviser stated I'd have to submit a written letter disputing the debt to "the job centre plus, Leeds southern house, Site A mail handling". I put together a letter stating I do not acknowledge this debt and have no recollection of receiving income support and could they please provide all evidence re this overpayment to myself.
- I then received a second letter dated 27/08/2017 on Saturday 2/09/217 informing me they will be starting a direct earnings attachment repayment plan with my employer.
- I then rang the debt management company immediately who again said there is nothing they can do, they don’t have any evidence to provide to explain the sums owed and that I’d again have to ring income support.
- 04.09.2017 I have rung the Income support and discussed the issue with them once again, to which once again no evidence could be provided around the sums supposedly owed be that dates, bank accounts or actual values over any time frame or as to why they are only now contacting me in relation to the supposed debt owed.
- I then received a letter dated 12/09/2017 from the DWP. The letter said that they'd contacted the debt management on my behalf, who stated the debt is £2,7000 and relates to a period 14/04/09 to 22/04/10 where income support was paid to me which I was not entitled to. I'd supposedly had an interview with a compliance officer on the 12/05/2010 where it was supposedly discovered I'd been working full time at my employer (basic wage shoe store) from 14.04.09 to 22.04.10. The specialist decision maker decided, based on evidence supplied by the compliance investigation which included my interview that I should not have been entitled to income support. On the 20.10.10 the overpayment was calculated and notified to me in writing. Income dispute guidance states I must dispute a decision within 1 month of the original decision, in this case the original decision date was 20.10.10. The letter then states as the original decision is over the absolute time limits I now need to put in writing the reason why I'm disputing the overpamyent and why this dispute is late; the letter would then be passed on to her Majesty's courts & tribunals service to consider if it will be accepted.
- I then responded to the above letter, stating I did not receive the original decision letter dated 20.10.10. I presented the facts that I've paid council tax, income tax, held a license etc for the past 8 years so have been 'findable' so why only now have they contacted me re the supposed amounts owed. I have no information about my employment from 2009-10, nor any bank statements or even what bank I belonged to (I was very young at the time). I informed them that I'm more than happy to co-operate if sufficient evidence can be provided to myself and asked for the details of the interview that took place on 12th May 2010, I also requested details of where the overpayments went, i.e. the Bank Account details and name to help me find evidence from my perspective. I sent this letter to Leeds southern house job centre, mail handling site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1RW
- Come the 02.11.17 and I've had no response so I called a new number 0345 608 8545) and spoke to somebody at the stockport office, who informed me of a new address to send the letter to: Doncaster Benefit Centre, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton.
- Come today 11.04.18, I receive a letter from DWP stating they have been unable to contact my current employer regarding DEA deductions and can I please advise my payroll dept. to contact DWP to enable the charges to begin......If my employer fails to contact DWP in 14 days they will "seek alternative methods of recover" - any ideas what this means? Again this letter was from Contact Centre traffic, debt management (SF) as per my first ever letter 06.08.17.
So, I have no evidence or information to really dispute what they are saying, I genuinely cannot remember as it was 8 years ago and my life was extremely hectic at the time (not just busy, other problems). All I'm asking is DWP to provide evidence as to where those payments were made, what was said in the interview from which they made their decision and a schedule of said benefits payments over the period but it seems they cannot or do not have this information.
I'm not sure of what the next steps are to take, as the DEA is extremely punitive and completely un-affordable based off the calculations table contained within some of the letters I've received. Any advice would be greatly appreciated around what to do next or where I stand with this 'debt'
You've gone from having no recollection of claiming IS to then not really being sure what you were doing at the time. Be careful not to make false declarations to the DWP, especially when compliance has already been involved.
What are your memories of the time, you must know if you might have been claiming benefits at the time?0 -
That is, literally unbelievable. No-one is going to believe such a ludicrous claim, and the system, rightly, will not accept such a !!!! and bull story as a way out of your obligations.nicolafrost wrote: »H
So, I have no evidence or information to really dispute what they are saying, I genuinely cannot remember as it was 8 years ago and my life was extremely hectic at the time (not just busy, other problems).'
You need to stop with the woe is me, sit down, and work out what you were doing at the time. I can look back on Facebook, at bank statements, at emails, and if I could not remember before, know exactly where I was every week eight years ago.
Heck, Imcan remember. Once I realise that I had recently started a certain job then I can remember month by month.0 -
That is, literally unbelievable. No-one is going to believe such a ludicrous claim, and the system, rightly, will not accept such a !!!! and bull story as a way out of your obligations.
You need to stop with the woe is me, sit down, and work out what you were doing at the time. I can look back on Facebook, at bank statements, at emails, and if I could not remember before, know exactly where I was every week eight years ago.
Heck, Imcan remember. Once I realise that I had recently started a certain job then I can remember month by month.
I think OP has been reading the Debtfree Wannabe board, they're all about demanding proof and denying everything, even when they're well aware of the debt. I'm surprised statute barred hasn't been mentioned too
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I can't remember what I had for dinner yesterday let alone what I was or wasn't doing 8 years ago, some benefit of the doubt might be an idea here?0
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.....where it was supposedly discovered I'd been working full time at my employer (basic wage shoe store) from 14.04.09 to 22.04.10.
That should help you to recall where you were working during the relevant time period.....0 -
I don’t believe you. There are records that you can access that will jog your memory,photographs, pay slips, emails, and so on.I can't remember what I had for dinner yesterday let alone what I was or wasn't doing 8 years ago, some benefit of the doubt might be an idea here?
Are you honestly trying to tell me that you could not go away now and work out if you were working, and for whom, eight years ago? You genuinely have no way to find out what your employment status was in April 2010?0 -
The thing to do is to start at the beginning, how old were you when you left school? And how old are you now? That gives you a year that you left school, and work forwards from there, what did you do immediately after leaving school? And put the pieces together chronologically from there.
Social media, bank accounts, friends and relatives may be able to help you put the pieces together. I managed to use Facebook to figure exactly when a friend passed her driving test when adding her to my insurance, it has it's uses.
It sounds as though the DWP have extensive evidence to support their assertions - not least meeting records, if you're wanting to dispute them you will need evidence rather than not being able to remember.
Good luck0 -
Do you have a CV? Won't it list this shoe shop if you worked there?0
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Did you have children in 2010? If so think back to how old they were then, that may get you to remember where you were working at the time.0
This discussion has been closed.
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