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Original poster

Paid someone else's JSA

60 replies

Moonfig · 31/07/2020 13:00

The DWP have paid me someone elses JSA (i don't claim this) and I've spoken to 4 people in 2 different departments and haven't got anywhere yet. Meanwhile someone is waiting on their benefits payment.

I'm frustrated - they seemed genuinely surprised by me calling. How can they not be setup to have a process when this happens?!

Anyone got any advice? I obviously won't spend the cash but im concerned they don't do anything to take it back then come chasing and blaming me in 6 months time.

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonfig · 31/07/2020 17:03

No crime has been committed so no point phoning the police.

OP posts:
Original poster
Moonfig · 31/07/2020 17:10

the cash back to their Finance office using the NINo on your bank statement (you will be issued a receipt) and then it should be reconciled and can be reissued etc.

I phoned and they said I couldn't make a payment against any number bar my own. They also said that there is no debt account set up so that's not an option. I'm not willing to make a payment under someone else's NI number anyway as it will appear they have made the payment.

They have confirmed they have the info in "black and white" that it is my account details he has given.

OP posts:
LemonSqueezy0 · 31/07/2020 17:10

What would anyone expect the police do in this situation?! Confused

You've tried your best OP, it sounds like a complete shambles.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Benefits
Brieminewine · 31/07/2020 17:13

Wow try chill out OP, you’ve informed them there’s a problem, you’ve tried to rectify it with your bank so just inform DWP what your banks said and leave it at that. It’s their mistake so down to them to recover the money.

Original poster
Moonfig · 31/07/2020 17:20

@Brieminewine

Wow try chill out OP, you’ve informed them there’s a problem, you’ve tried to rectify it with your bank so just inform DWP what your banks said and leave it at that. It’s their mistake so down to them to recover the money.
I'm calm, i'm not calling anyone else now. I was stressed because they told me someone would have no money because of me. I'd hate to be in that position.

I've done my best, the money is there for whenever they figure out how to take it back.

OP posts:
lilylion · 31/07/2020 17:49

Was it paid by bacs? If so then they absolutely can reverse it and are misinforming you.

I was paid my season ticket loan twice in error and was able to get the bank to reverse it

lilylion · 31/07/2020 17:50

Rather than the police I would call your MP’s office as they should be able to get things sorted

Original poster
Moonfig · 31/07/2020 17:51

@lilylion

Was it paid by bacs? If so then they absolutely can reverse it and are misinforming you.

I was paid my season ticket loan twice in error and was able to get the bank to reverse it

I've spoken to two people at the bank and both have said they are not able to do this. The DWP need to get it reversed at their end or need to give me a way to pay it over to them.
OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 31/07/2020 18:00

I was stressed because they said that some one would have no money because of me.

They made the mistake and put it into your Bank account. You have waded through heavy water to try to give it back, and from I have read you've been treated like an inconvenience. How is this in any way shape or form your fault. Am I missing something

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 31/07/2020 18:02

And they've cost you mone y. I imagine the DWP is an 0845 number.

8dayweek · 31/07/2020 18:09

Yeah they won't be able to give you bank details to transfer to (other than Debt Management) but you can cash pay to the Finance Office in the Jobcentre.

Original poster
Moonfig · 31/07/2020 18:30

8dayweek thanks for this - I'm going to email my MP as at this point I'm scunnered. No chance i'm going to the job centre - it's not my mess and I'm not convinced they'd know what to do with it!

OP posts:
Nandocushion · 31/07/2020 19:29

Yes, I'd say MP, and also I bet your local press would be interested.

lyralalala · 31/07/2020 19:38

Yeah speak to your MP. Also flag up to them that the DWP have given you the person's name. They absolutely shouldn't have done that at all and hopefully your MP can sort it.

There is a chance that they live locally to you (if the sort code is right then it'll be the same branch) so may have also contacted the MP for help

8dayweek · 31/07/2020 21:05

The thing is, what is the MP going to do?

Someone has been asked to provide bank details where their benefit can be paid to (this doesn't have to be their own bank details), they have confirmed the information they supplied (you have to review it all online prior to submission of your claim) and they've been paid into the account they supplied...

Yes, I get it's wrong but people use all manner of different peoples bank accounts.

The Benefit Centre has no mechanism for taking a payment that's been encashed, nor does it have Bank Details for incoming payments.

Debt Management's details are on the Gov.uk website and so you could send it there under the reference number (NINo) on your bank statement.

Alternatively it's cash to the Jobcentre. You will get a receipt. The reference number (NINo) associated will be updated with details of the refund.

Ooooorrrr, you can complain to your MP who will get a reply along the lines of due to COVID we've had to take a different approach to verifying information and that if people can't get their bank details right then short of kicking their doors down and physically demanding to see their bank card there isn't a lot more that can be done.

Original poster
Moonfig · 31/07/2020 21:08

Should have said, i setup the account line so its just their online sort code.

OP posts:
lyralalala · 31/07/2020 21:55

@8dayweek

The thing is, what is the MP going to do?

Someone has been asked to provide bank details where their benefit can be paid to (this doesn't have to be their own bank details), they have confirmed the information they supplied (you have to review it all online prior to submission of your claim) and they've been paid into the account they supplied...

Yes, I get it's wrong but people use all manner of different peoples bank accounts.

The Benefit Centre has no mechanism for taking a payment that's been encashed, nor does it have Bank Details for incoming payments.

Debt Management's details are on the Gov.uk website and so you could send it there under the reference number (NINo) on your bank statement.

Alternatively it's cash to the Jobcentre. You will get a receipt. The reference number (NINo) associated will be updated with details of the refund.

Ooooorrrr, you can complain to your MP who will get a reply along the lines of due to COVID we've had to take a different approach to verifying information and that if people can't get their bank details right then short of kicking their doors down and physically demanding to see their bank card there isn't a lot more that can be done.

The MP can push to make sure it was client error.

When something similar happened to someone I know they were told they'd given the wrong details, but after getting their MP involved it showed it was actually an input error.

It will also protect the OP later if there are any further issues.

CurbsideProphet · 31/07/2020 22:35

The MP would also ask if the DWP have reported their breach of GDPR via the necessary channels within the legally required time scale.

@Moonfig you've really done your best there to get it sorted. UC claims are made online now, so likely someone who isn't used to the system put their bank details in and didn't notice their mistake.

Original poster
Moonfig · 31/07/2020 23:43

Alternatively it's cash to the Jobcentre. You will get a receipt. The reference number (NINo) associated will be updated with details of the refund.

The issue is who's details I give - mine because its me paying the money or theirs because it's their payment?

I'll email my MP - it's stressed me out enough without a trip to the job centre.

OP posts:
cantstopsinginglittlebabybum · 31/07/2020 23:57

This happened to me. Payment went to wrong person. The bank can only recall when instructed to do so by the bank liaison team within dwp.

I put wrong details on the form by accident and never got the money back.

Smallsteps88 · 01/08/2020 00:04

I’d tweet them about this. Include the fact they’ve breached data protection laws by giving you his name. They’ll soon get in touch with you and sort it Wink

8dayweek · 01/08/2020 00:30

The reference number you would use is the one from your bank statement (i.e. the other person's NINo). Your NINo doesn't come into it all - as you keep saying, it's not yours and nothing to do with you.

I genuinely don't see another way of this catching up. The DWP won't back check your bank details against everyone with a same or similar name in the country and then somehow assign it to you as debt?

Haven't you ever seen threads on here where the OP has fucked up and transferred / sent money to the wrong bank details and the banks response is generally "you authorised it, now all we can do is wait to see if it's returned, we can't force it's return"... this is similar, although I expect it has already been replaced and written off.

DWP aren't generally in the business of receiving money so it's not really set up for that. As I've said, easiest way would be pay it to the Jobcentre using the reference number under which it was received and it should then be sorted.

lilylion · 01/08/2020 01:49

MPs can get the DWP to sort things out more quickly

Tiredmumno1 · 01/08/2020 02:03

Can't the DWP ask the man if he gives permission for them to disclose his bank details, you can then pay him direct. At least they would have gained his permission.

Don't know if that's possible, if not, then just ignore little ole me 😁

transformandriseup · 01/08/2020 02:16

I also say MP as I think the OP has done enough already.

Yes government organisations aren't set up to receive payments (i know as my work were once overpaid by a enormous sum), so it's unlikely the payment can be revered.

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