DEPT of works and pensions DWP

[dougiedickson]

Hi i have been getting a lot of letters lately from the DWP Debt Collection dept saying that i owe them £694.o1 and to not ignore them and reply or make payment by the 23rd June 2011 or they will either a) recover the money throught the courts or b) refer my case to a private company for repayment collection.

Now all i can think of is i was last unemployed nearly 14 -15 years ago and after splitting with my wife i went back to scotland with my 5 year old daughter where i got a council flat and had no money. I approached the dss (now the dwp) and applied for an emergency grant for furniture. Looking back it must have been a grant or loan they gave me but where i was desperate and a single family did not look at the forms right, Now all this time later they are chasing me what do i do? Do i write to them or just avoid it as it was nearly 15 years ago now my daughter is now 21.I do work now but am in receipt of working tax credits and on a low income

[rebel11]

Thread moved.

[watchinginvestigation2011]

You have every right to contact them and ask them to disclose the reason for you owing the money.

[dougiedickson]

I totally understand that but I really cannot understand why it has taken them such a long time to ask me for anything in the first place surely this should be time barred?

 

Thanks for the prompt reply also...

[Life-Goes-On]

If it is that debt, it's only time barred in relation of them being about to take you to court. That can recover it other ways such as though other benefits you might get from DWP.

[ErikaPNP]

As life-goes-on says, time barring does not apply to DWP debt in the same manner as it does to other debts.

 

From what you have written, although you have an idea of how this debt originated, you appear uncertain. If you are not sure that you owe the money, or are uncertain of the amount then you should absolutely write to them requesting evidence of the debt. If they are unable to produce that evidence, they should write it off. If they are able to produce the evidence (or if you avoid it) then they will continue to ask you for it either via their debt management, a DCA or by future deductions from benefit (including pension).