DWP

[iamtheoneandonlyyy]

I've had a letter from DWP saying I owe them money. There is no explanation of when and the letter says call within two weeks or debt collectors will be coming.
I've immediately tried to call, three times the automated voice has taken my details after a long wait and three times it cuts me off. I've looked online and a lot of people are saying the same but nobody seems to know what to do. Has anyone here had similar?

Have you googled the telephone number?

It sounds a bit 'scam'.

I thought that but it comes up as a government number. Lots of reviews on trustpilot saying the same thing.
I accept that I may owe it but as of June it's just me and the kids living on UC and I'm trying not to panic about how much they will take back.

Can you use your UC online journal thing to ask about it?
Otherwise do you have a welfare rights department in your area? They’re usually quite good at helping with anything like this. And they’d be able to tell you whether or not it’s a scam.

Sounds very scammy. What kind of details did you give the automated message?

What's the number?

I'll investigate.

0800 9160647
It all seems legit just odd. I'm guessing they just have a high volume of calls but I'm starting to spiral now 😢

Don’t worry op, you’re trying to engage with them so they won’t send out the bailiffs. If there has been an overpayment (were you ever in receipt of tax credits by any chance?) you can make a manageable plan to repay.

Yes, I see it's DWP debt enforcement.

I'm wondering if it's not actually your enforceable debt, because if it was they'd happily take it off your UC.

Has anyone in your family died in the last year or so?

Meanwhile, I would do what pp suggested and query it on your UC journal. Say you dispute the assertion that you owe money - do NOT admit the 'debt'.

Seems a lot of people are getting them because they stopped repayments for tax credits over payments at the beginning of the first lock down, meaning the computer system is spewing out letters for all over payments now they’re allowed to start collecting them again.

I managed to get through on Monday in about 20 minutes, I knew what mine was for though as I was paying it before and had noticed the deduction from uc had stopped so just restarted it so they could take the same amount.

If you manage to get through they’re usually quite good at telling when it was for and there’s a way you can dispute it if you don’t believe you owe the money.

Easy enough to set up a payment plan with them though and they’re usually quite good when it comes to you telling them how much you want to pay each month.

They have, wrongly in my opinion, made the letter seem quite threatening and I have been seeing quite a few people getting really upset over the amount they supposedly owe.

It’s lovely of them to do this right before Xmas on top of what’s already been such a shit year for many though isn’t it

I hope you manage to sort it

@Prufrocks, tax credits would be dealt with by HMRC.

I'm wondering if this is one of the DWP's hamfisted attempts to enforce a non-enforceable debt of a deceased relative.

It's complicated but I had a joint claim with my former partner. Working tax for him and child for me. Without being too detailed we fled from him in June and since then I've found limitless debts in both of our names that he accrued and lied about. He insisted on handling the financials and I have a sinking feeling this will be another thing he's caused that I'm left with.
I can cope and face it it's just getting too much.
Thanks for taking the time to have a look, I thought it seemed legitimate

[quote JamieLeeCurtains]@Prufrocks, tax credits would be dealt with by HMRC.

I'm wondering if this is one of the DWP's hamfisted attempts to enforce a non-enforceable debt of a deceased relative.[/quote]
I’m still paying for historic tax credit overpayment via my UC claim.

@JamieLeeCurtains the dwp deals with all benefits over payments for some reason.
I think it’s something to do with the move to Uc

Bloody hell, @Prufrocks, that's awful. Sorry. Amazing how they can talk to each other (HMRC and DWP) when it's to take money away isn't it?

I hope they're not taking too much a week.

I'm wondering if the OP can settle on, say, £2 a week or similar (assuming it's an enforceable debt).

Thanks for the info, @AngelOfTheSilence. I just got a massive bill from HMRC.

Universal Credit don't have access to the debt systems, if you message them then you'll be directed to ring the debt number. It is difficult but you can eventually get through

DWP Debt Management collect on behalf of HMRC.

@iamtheoneandonlyyy when you close a joint claim there is often an over payment where a payment had already been issued before the claim was fully closed.
When you manage to get through to them, make them aware that as this was a joint claim, you are only responsible for 50% of the amount, they need to chase him for the other half.

You can just ask them to set it up to come straight out of your Uc and give them an amount you feel is acceptable each month.
Sometimes Uc end up taking more than you have asked when they first deduct it but they can put a note on your account so you can ring and have it refunded straight away.

Ime writing an honest letter about your circumstances with exh and his financial abuse may see your debt written off...
Also ime dealing with their debt department is a lot more productive than dealing with the tax credit helpline...
Legally they have to give you at least 2 years to repay.. Ime 6 years if willing to do a financial disclosure form.
I repaid £££ at £15 a month for years...

Yup. I can’t get through to them - just keep getting cut off after the long long long never-ever-ending message

JamieLeeCurtains it’s really no bother, they take a very modest amount (hence why I’m still paying!). I hope the op can take a little comfort in that.

Unfortunately tax credits were a right bugger for awarding staggeringly random amounts of money. Happily UC seem to have their shit together at least in this respect.

To be honest on the never ending list of financial dramas one more barely makes a difference it's just a setback mentally. If they will take it back slowly I can do that.
It's just a bit shit while he wanders round in Jew clothes, new tattoos and living rent free. I'm here mopping up his mess and he doesn't care at all. Being in terrible debt doesn't phase him at all and when he could he got me in it instead.
Gonna shake off the pity party before I pick the kids up lol.
If they will take small payments that will be a relief for sure

*new clothes

It sounds as if getting advice from Stepchange would be helpful for you OP. To sort out the credit mess he left you. Good luck getting through to them.

I think the best thing I can do is pull my sleeves up, face it head on and never be a gullible twat again