Anyone any advice? I'd be very grateful.
The DWP are chasing me for alleged overpayment of income support some 21 years ago ... I was a young, single mother than and on IS for a few months till I got a job and in fact re-married shortly afterwards. This is on the basis of a letter written to them by my ex claiming that he was sending me child maintenance payments. He sent me precisely one - for about £20.00. Nothing whatsoever after that and so my IS claim was entirely legitimate.
All that remains in the record is some hand written note from an office (then the DSS) at the time, claiming that there was this overpayment. I know about the letter from a much more recent conversation with the debt people at DWP.
I first heard of this alleged debt in 2001 - although they had my address, of course, through national insurance etc. So, you could say it's statute barred - the six year rule. I have asked, repeatedly, for a re-consideration, been told (18 months ago) in a phone conversation that in the end they have no proof and would have to give way but they are still chasing and chasing - and threatening legal action. It's about £600.00 they want. My husband and I are about to appeal .... again. He was with me at the time and knows full well that I didn't get a penny, apart from that first postal order. There was a court order for voluntary payments but that wasn't fulfilled and the CSA weren't involved at all.
What to do, please? Bank statements? No maintenance payments would show up but I have a different bank now and can I get hold of statements going back to that time? This is now harassment - it's really getting me down. Thanks.