Council - Housing benefit overpayment

[datxman]

Need help, I have just recieved a final demand from the council saying that they have sent me a invoice and I haven't replied so they have give me 7 days to pay £2700. However I have not recieved any such invoice or any other letters from them.

Can anyone help.....

[silverfox1961]

Hi datxman,
First of all, do you know anything as to why this overpayment happened. It does seem to be an awful lot?
Have you supplied them with information when your circumstances changes eg pay rise. if you didn't you could be liable.
I would not advise you ring them as what is said cannot be proved. Write a letter telling them exactly what you have told us and ask for the info as to why this overpayment occurred. either hand deliver and get a receipt or send by special delivery (recorded delivery sometimes take too long-rare but it does happen)
This might stop the clock.
which council is it?

fox

[silverfox1961]

Right, just found out that you can Subject Access Request the council (thanks 42man)
It costs £10.00 but in my view a tenner well spent as you can then check what they hold on record about you.

fox

	Subject Access Request A Subject Access Request is a demand which you can make to any organisation to disclose any personal information which they hold on you. The right to disclosure of data is provided by the Data Protection Act. There is no time limit. The organisation is obliged to reveal everything they have about you - which you ask for - as far back as you ask for. There are very few exceptions. It does not matter whether the data is held on microfiche, in an archive, on tape, in a cardex system, in sound recordings or in screen notes. Some companies are saying that they do not have to disclose where it would be difficult to do so - "disproportionate effort". This is untrue. Disproportionate effort refers to something else under the Act. If you are seeking bank charges information then you should ask for "all data held on you" and you should make it clear that you want everything as far back as it goes. Do not be put off by excuses. Do not accept being fobbed off. It is not in your bank's interest to make full disclosure to you. This means that it is in your interests to get it. If you have not started gathering your bank charges information yet, then you should start now. There will soon be a big rush once the OFT test case has been settled. Get all of your bank account informtion as far back as possible. At least as far back as 1995. If your bank says that they don't keep data as far back as this, don't accept it. Be persistent. They've got what you need in some form or other.