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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Threatening DWP letter saying I owe money - no explanation

Anyone else having the same experience?
I received a letter from DWP Debt Centre Trafford in the past few days.
It says I owe them over £500.
There is no explanation about what it relates to and there are no workings showing how they have arrived at the figure.
I have tried calling the call centre but cannot get through. I wait for 10 to 15 minutes and then the line cuts.
The letter states I have until 6 December to make contact. Then they will pass this to debt collectors.
This is very poor given the total lack of information and impossibility of speaking to anyone about it.
I am more than happy to pay money back if it is justified.
Until I do understand what this is about, just paying does not seem a wise thing to do.
I've written to David Lammy about it.
Any other thoughts about what to do?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Catherine Smith on November 28, 2020 at 12:58

It sounds like a scam

Permalink Reply by Jez Phillips on November 28, 2020 at 14:17

I was in Angry from Harringay mode when I first posted. I neglected to say that DWP is department for work and pensions.

The letter shows my national insurance number.

I did think scam at first.

But, it is quite a scam if it is one.

Permalink Reply by Lesley Ramm on November 28, 2020 at 14:11

Almost certainly a scam. Similar ones from HMRC, DVLA etc. Do not pay. If genuine you can appeal. Do not give them any personsl info. If it is addressed to Dear email address rather than your name its definitely fake. 

Permalink Reply by Xavier on November 28, 2020 at 14:19

Sounds like you may have already been scammed on a premium-rate number, what number did they get you to ring?, and did you google it?.

Permalink Reply by Mavic Starfish on November 28, 2020 at 14:19

Scam communicationAs with any scam emails that make it through the work firewall, I forward on to IT so they are aware.  In this situation lease forward on to the official DWP so they are aware. Link is for the official DWP.

Check a letter, phone call or text is genuine
Letters and forms
Any letters and forms will have the Jobcentre Plus or Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) logo.

Permalink Reply by Gordon T on November 28, 2020 at 14:45

A current scam involving the DWP and an unexpected debt letter is described in the link below. In that case it was done by online impersonation. 

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/nov/14/universal-credit-frau...

If this is what's happened in your case, it can't be binned like nearly all scam communications can, it sadly seems.

Permalink Reply by Jez Phillips on November 29, 2020 at 7:40

Hmmm that doesn't sound good. The rest of the letter looks genuine and phone number given to call them is same as on gov.uk. 

The letter mentions getting help from likes of citizens advice bureau so in absence of being able to speak to dwp that seems a good next step.

Permalink Reply by Gordon T on November 29, 2020 at 9:08

There's a National Benefit Fraud Hotline, 0800 854 4400 which may be useful. A bit more info here.

Permalink Reply by Jez Phillips on November 29, 2020 at 12:22

thanks for everyone's replies on this

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