DWP Shenanigans on budgeting loan

[GeneralSod]

Hello I'm after a bit of advice please as to best way to proceed.

 

Bit of background. I got a letter out the blue from DWP saying I owed £306.58 and to get in contact by 31/8/15 otherwise they would take this as my refusal to engage and no more letters would be sent and it will be passed to a Debt Collection Agency or they'll get an Attachment of Earnings.

 

I phoned the number on the letter and asked to speak to the name of the person printed - they'd never heard of him/her. But, we got to the bottom of the letter and it seems I DO owe £346.40 for a budgeting loan I took back in 2013.

 

Fair enough, I seem to remember that. I said to the phone monkey can I make a repayment plan as I'm now only working part time and can't take it in one hit - No! Her system shows £0 balance.

 

What can I do then? She says wait until it is transferred over to her department and they'll send another letter.

 

I told her I thought that was terrible advice as the letter clearly states no more letters will be sent and the next I'll hear will be a letter from a DCA with added fees or worse, an AOE - I work in a sensitive new job and if my boss got instructions to do an AOE it could see me sacked!

 

I explained this to the DWP woman on the phone and she said there was nothing else she could do. I asked if she could put in an email or mail to me confirmation that she was refusing payment, telling me nothing was currently on her system and her advice: She asked for my phone number, I refused as I only want to deal with these snakes with a paper trail. She said no and hung up.

 

Any advice? I've got previous with the DWP **** and despite what she said on a phone call that will be denied, I fully expect to hear nothing more until a DCA bangs on my door!

[reallymadwoman]

Call back, see if you get the same information, but this time record it. Make sure the person you are speaking to identifies themselves as DWP staff. No need to mention that you are recording since it's for your own use.

 

On the other hand, you might get someone more reasonable.

 

Worst case is that it will be passed to a DCA who will write to you, can't add fees and is unlikely to turn up on your doorstep, however if they do they have no more authority to do anything than next door's cat.

[GeneralSod]

I was just worried about more fees being added, or worse - getting called into the boss' office asking me to explain why he's been told to make an AOE on my pay!!!!!

From bitter experience in the past I don't trust these f*ckwits at the DWP.

 

Thanks for your advice ReallyMadWoman (great name btw). I will call them tomorrow and record it, see if I get the same response a second time!

[citizenB]

If her system is showing a £0 balance, it sounds like it might already have been sent out to a collection agency.

[GeneralSod]

I thought that too. But the letter from DWP was dated 15/8 and told me I had till 31/8 to make contact before they "released the kracken, etc".

I can scan it up if it help?

[mikeymack2002]

Even if this goes to a lame DCA do not pay them, always pay the creditor direct and you should always make the payment via your bank with the reference number as a form of protection too....

[GeneralSod]

thanks, I will.

 

I was just worried because if I get a massive fee bill and tell them "No it's cool I don't have to pay because mikeymack2002 told me" I'm not sure what credibility that has with the DWP?

 

Thanks for advice though. x

[mikeymack2002]

Lol ... others will tell you the same thing especially dx100uk you never pay a dca for a government debt.. Dwp will always make an arrangement for you to pay an overpayment/debt A DCA will try to make you pay them stand firm deal with DWP directly...

[GeneralSod]

cool, I will do. I might just drop your name though just to scare 'em a lil'

[mikeymack2002]

DWP already know this and as a last resort they could always issue you with an attachment of earnings (AoE) so either way they get their money...