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Original poster

Universal credits

57 replies

Bexter801 · 02/01/2018 02:58

I can't sleep,my universal credit payment due on Friday,is way lower than normal. Yeah,I can ring them in the morning,but they're not going to change this. I accept it,because I know they can do what they like,but wondering is anybody else on here experiencing the same problem? Or shine a light on why?

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Original poster
Bexter801 · 04/01/2018 15:40

Quick update,universal credits aren't going to change my payment amount! Apparently their allowed to take 40% of your payment without even having to inform you

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Vitalogy · 04/01/2018 15:55

Of crap. Have they given you their reasoning behind it?

Original poster
Bexter801 · 04/01/2018 21:30

Their words were they're allowed to take the maximum amount(40%),from your payments to debts owed

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Vitalogy · 04/01/2018 22:03

Oh right. Have they just told you about the debt, have they over paid you in the past then?

SingaSong12 · 05/01/2018 16:53

OP - I suggest contacting a debt advice charity/citizens advice to see whether/how you can challenge owing the debt or negotiate lower monthly payments. You can of course do this yourself but you might want to check out any time limits/procedures. If you attend take in details of the debts and be prepared to log into your account while there. (Where I volunteer we now ask clients to sign in on one of our tablets (and sign out so they know that has been done.)

Original poster
Bexter801 · 05/01/2018 18:29

I've been in touch with my previous landlord(in which there taking rent arrears for),and its now come to light,that we don't know for sure if it's allowed for universal credits to take rent arrears from my payment for a previous address. I've noted exactly how much rent arrears they've already taken,on what dates and when I moved out of the property on my journal. Also got in contact with debt management to find out why they're taking payments off me(what for/how much is owed) to be told they can't see what for,so rang universal credits and they also don't know what for! But the new legislation allows universal credits to take up to 40% of anyone's universal credit payment,without even informing them. I've been in touch with cab,shelter and uc and debt management! I will pursue debt management again,because by law they HAVE to at least tell me why I'm paying these payments and to whom,etc

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Original poster
Bexter801 · 05/01/2018 18:33

Also there's a free phone number now for universal credits 08003285644,and a free phone number for debt management(the ones you ask to reduce repayments that are taken for anything else besides rent arrears) phone number:08009160647

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Vitalogy · 05/01/2018 19:25

So they can't even tell you why! Unbelievable.

Original poster
Bexter801 · 05/01/2018 19:44

No they can't tell me why,but that their going to continue taking 40% of my payment,nearly half!

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Oldsu · 05/01/2018 20:44

Ok so you have rent arrears that you have to pay back, if indeed you can prove that UC cant take any of your benefits to clear the arrears I take you have or will be making alternative arrangements to pay back the money you owe your ex LL

Original poster
Bexter801 · 05/01/2018 21:25

I sense a tad bit of bitterness in your comment Oldsu? As in if you owe money elsewhere,no matter,what the situation,you pay it?! Who mentioned anything about an ex :/

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TotallyWingingIt · 05/01/2018 21:29

OP if it's deductions due to debts you can ask them to reduce this if you are struggling to cope with the amount set. I have been in this position and was very calm when I spoke to them and they reduced the amount without fuss.
If it's due to money you have earned I'm afraid they won't change the amount the deduct from UC money as it's a set amount per £ after a certain amount.
I hope you get through to someone lovely as I have when I've needed to ring and they help you solve the situation

TotallyWingingIt · 05/01/2018 21:33

Also it has to be on their system what they are taking the money for or how would they be able to pay it to the person/company owed? I'd ring the number underneath the part about deductions on the payment breakdown(again if you already have) and if they can't give you the answer ask to speak to a supervisor.
I think PP meant ex landlord (LL) not ex as in partner Smile

Original poster
Bexter801 · 05/01/2018 21:34

I've asked several times would they please reduce this,to be told its out of their hands. Money is owed and their entitled to take 40%,policy they said. I couldn't have been more chilled and compliant. It's not money I've earned,but thank you....I'm going to keep trying,especially as I'm not sure where this money is going

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Original poster
Bexter801 · 05/01/2018 21:40

It's under rent arrears and other benefits owed,but their not saying directly to who,so I don't know how much I'm meant to owe or what for. Ah I see,what you mean about PP,but still the tone of pay them,end of story,isn't the best approach I think(not knowing the circumstances of my situation at that time,and reasoning I left),but cheers for clearing that up :) Thought was an actual ex,commenting! Phew :)

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TotallyWingingIt · 05/01/2018 21:47

Hope you get to the bottom of it. Have you got children OP? Wondering if that's why they are being so strict about it.
They never told me what or how much I was paying until I rung and they knew exactly what for, how much I had to pay and how long it would take me to pay off. Stand your ground and keep hounding them

Oldsu · 05/01/2018 21:53

Bexter801 you said it was a debt owed to your previous LL so an EX LL yes?

And yes if you owe money you have to pay it back, if 40% taken from your benefits will cause you hardship are you negotiating with your ex LL to pay back your arrears at a reduced rate.

Original poster
Bexter801 · 05/01/2018 22:05

Totallywingingit...i do have 2 children,but their both in their late teens now. I plan to make it my mission to hound them,untill we come to some sort of resolution that's fair :)

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Original poster
Bexter801 · 05/01/2018 22:10

Oldsu...I don't know what you mean by ex LL? And by all means,if I owe money,I owe money!,but no,not at nearly half my payment! I'm assuming these are getting paid to My last residence(nobody is giving me a straight answer to this),so how am I to negotiate when I don't know who to ask?

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Original poster
Bexter801 · 05/01/2018 22:18

Landlord,you mean oldsu,and if you weren't so far up on your judgemental high horse...(pressuming these rent arrears are for my last tenancy),and you knew the situation regarding that,then maybe you wouldn't be so quick,in telling me 'simply' just pay them back.

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IfyouseeRitaMoreno · 05/01/2018 22:26

So basically they’ve told you it’s for debt arrears, but haven’t told you to whom or for how long it’ll go on.

And 40% of your payment is more than you owe your ex Landlord?

Can you possibly contact your ex LL to find out if they’re receiving the money as well as how much you owe them?

Good luck.

Original poster
Bexter801 · 05/01/2018 22:37

Exactly right :) well I don't know how much I owe my ex landlord,but I'm not quite sure taking 40% each payment is fair.(been taking payments now as far back as June) I have rang the council(my previous landlord),but they keep passing me on to different people,so I'm none the wiser.

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Oldsu · 06/01/2018 03:45

Well I was obviously correct in my presumptions as you responded to another poster by saying Exactly right well I don't know how much I owe my ex landlord,but I'm not quite sure taking 40% each payment is fair.(been taking payments now as far back as June) I have rang the council(my previous landlord),but they keep passing me on to different people,so I'm none the wiser.

But I will get of my high horse and give you some advise if you feel that you have paid off your debts the do something about it, I would suggest that you send the council a subject access request this is a link to one councils policies and procedures your own council should have something on their website
www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201045/data_protection/1421/subject_access_requests
You should be given information about your rent arrears and council tax arrears if CT arrears are part of the other debts you owe, if you have debts with benefits or tax credits then you will have to send SARs to the DWP and HMRC ( I believe the DWP and tax office don't charge for SARS)
Once you have done so inform UC that you are disputing the amounts you owe and have paid back and have asked for SARS from everyone who you owe money to I am not sure about UC but normally a debt would be put on hold and repayments stopped if the debt is in dispute and you are waiting for an SAR , its worth asking them.

Hopefully going down this route will get you the information you require and may get a favourable reaction from UC rather then just 'hounding' them or just saying the amount is unreasonable

Original poster
Bexter801 · 06/01/2018 12:19

Oldsu,I fear if there wasn't people like me,you'd have no high horse at all! I'm merely highlighting that it's only a new legislation that UC can now take 40%,plus they give you no alternative than to 'hound' them. If I wasn't persistent,I wouldn't even have become aware of their 'we can change the rules whenever we choose,without informing you' policy. And yes I do think that's more than unreasonable.

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TotallyWingingIt · 06/01/2018 12:35

Its not just UC that can take 40%, the same amount can be taken from wages also