Many thanks for your replies-I hadn't realised the housing benefit run on had been scrapped! Very disappointing but I'm not surprised-I've found ESA a tough experience, ironically never more so than in returning to work. If I'd been on jobseekers I'd have got a free one month buspass to enable me to get to work at a time when I could least afford it. On ESA-no help at all and I've been extremely lucky that my employer agreed to make an early part payment of wages, otherwise there was a real risk I'd have had no money for transport. I've also been lucky in that the dreaded work capability assessment was scheduled for a few days after I returned to work and I was able to cancel it. I would certainly have been deemed fit for work and lost ESA. If this job trial hadn't been available I figure I would have had to ask my employer to sack me or risk no money at all! My job trial ends at Christmas and if they decide they don't want me then jobseekers looms in the new year-worrying times! Paul

Good evening all, I wonder if someone can advise me on the following? I'm an auxiliary nurse with the NHS. Just over 12 months ago I was struck down with Rheumatoid arthritis and was unable to work. My sick pay and SSP ran out and I have been claiming ESA since last April despite remaining employed. As my condition has improved somewhat and as I was about to be considered for medical retirement/dismissal, I took the only course open to me which was to apply for redeployment to a lighter less physical role. Such a role(Admin) became available recently and I've embarked on a one month trial. I was given a Fit note by my doctor and posted a copy to the DWP and to my HR dept. I backed this up with a phone call to DWP advising I was returning to work on 21st Nov. I also seperately advised the DWP as I had an imminent work capability assessment. I assumed this would suffice as the last thing I need is to receive any payments I'm not entitled to. However, yesterday I received the usual letter/reply paid envelope from the DWP that they send out to return your sick notes. I then checked my bank account and found I'd just received a fortnight's benefit! Is ESA paid in arrears and could I have actually been due the recent payment or do you think the DWP have just ignored my notifications and paid me by mistake? I'll obviously give them a call on Monday but right now I'm worrying

Thanks Mr.P! I'll get on to the council asap. Appreciate your comments about the union etc too...that £41 was actually a tax rebate...so I'dve had nothing otherwise! Just to add insult to injury, the council asked for payslips but as payroll hadn't sent me any since I've been off, I had to call to ask for duplicates. They said they'd send me the last one(May) free of charge but for April they charge £15...unbelievable! Paul

Good afternoon all, I'm hoping someone can help with regard to a housing benefit issue. I am currently employed by the NHS but have been off sick with a serious condition for quite some time. I believed I would get sick pay for 6 months and until recently I did get a flat wage. However, when I checked my pay last month I had only received £41. I called payroll to investigate. They advised that due to an audit, they had discovered they had been overpaying me and that my sick pay should have stopped in January! (My length of service meant I should have got full pay for 2 months and then half pay for 2 months) Also that SSP should have stopped in April. They said they would send me a form SSP1 to enable me to claim ESA. This they did and I've made my claim successfully. A week or so later I got a letter from payroll advising the details of the overpayment (£2500)which they want paid back within 18 months following my return to work. My question is this....If they hadn't overpaid me, I would undoubtedly have claimed and received housing/council tax benefit for that period. Since I have to repay the overpayment, is there any way I can claim this 'lost' housing/council tax benefit back? If not, do I have any claim against my payroll dept? To my mind they've cost me 4 months rent and council tax! Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated. Paul

I believed it was the new supplier-Co-op- as they requested info from me regarding the meters etc. Remember sending one of their agents photos of both meters showing the serial no's and readings. The sticking point seems to be this Data Base the Co-Op refer to which still shows me as their customer over a year after the switch was reversed-who knows whose responsibility it is to update it!

Thanks Notts Lad. I do still have the bills yes. As I suspected, the Co-Op one only showed the main meter. Npower's showed both. The serial no.s are correct. The meter in question-the one that wasn't switched to Co-Op-has been inactive for at least 10 years and the reading has never changed. It was there solely for the underfloor heating and the landlord had it disconnected from the flat. It is however, seemingly still live-i.e registered with Npower. I am calling shortly to ask for it's removal as it's clearly a barrier to any future switch. With regards to the Npower bill-there was an outstanding balance from the previous year and this was transferred to the current one once the switch was reversed. It's a shame the switch wasn't successful as the Co-Op was considerably cheaper and through no fault of my own I've ended up paying a higher rate for the whole period I was supposed to be with them.

Thanks for your reply Bazooka Boo. I've written to them threatening the energy Ombudsman so hopefully they'll take notice now!

Good morning. I'm worried about the action Co-Op Energy might take against me and would welcome any advice. My story is as follows. Just over two years ago and having been out of work for a number of months, I decided to switch my energy supplier from NPower to Co-Op energy. It was not a smooth process from the start, mainly due to my flat having two meters -one being formerly connected to economy 7 but for a number of years previously disconnected from my flat. However I provided all the information asked for and assumed all was ok. It took some months before I started receiving bills and to be frank, this suited me as I was struggling financially. As time went on I continued to get quarterly bills and to my shame -due to lack of funds -I continued to ignore them. This was made easier due to the fact I got no threatening letters just the odd reminder. This situation continued for around 12 months, at which point I got a letter from Npower along with a bill. I had just found work so decided to call them and sort things out. They advised me that the switch had failed due to the two meters issue -in effect only the main meter had been switched-and that as a result the switch was going to be reversed. Accordingly I got another bill from Npower for an amount I would have paid had I still been with them-and never switched. I made a payment arrangement with them in respect of this debt and future energy use. Sometime after this I got a bill from the Co-Op. I called them advising that I had now been back with Npower for some months and had been paying the debt etc. Co-op advised that according to the national data base I was still their customer and owed them money. After calling Npower they confirmed I was their customer and to advise Co-op. This I did but they refused to accept this. They also refused to speak to Npower....and Npower refused to speak to Co-Op. After a number of further calls, the advisor at Co-Op finally agreed to raise an issue with their complaints dept. This was about 6 months ago and I've heard nothing from them. yesterday I found a card outside my flat from a meter reading service saying they had tried and failed to read my meter! I can only assume Co-Op still believe I am their customer and owe them money. Npower advise not to worry as Co-Op can't disconnect me-but what's to stop them? My meter is outside my flat so access wouldn't be an issue for them. There seems no point in calling them and I'm at a loss as to what action to take. Paul.

Hi. I've been working for a financial institution for over 12 yrs, firstly as a temp, then for the last 9 yrs as as a contracted temp. Wonder of wonders they have finally offered me a proper full time position! I was delighted as my current position is being offshored next mnoth and I was facing either having to work on a call centre or find work elsewhere. My excitement however has taken a big knock since completing the application form. There are a number of questions concerning ccj's etc, and they want to do a credit search. I do have 2 ccj's which I pay off monthly, and my credit rating must be pretty poor following the break up of a long term relationship a few yrs ago, and I got into debt problems. Although I have made arrangements with everyone I owe money to, I am very worried that when they do the credit search they will withdraw their job offer. Has anyone been in a similar position? Can you reassure me at all????

Ok I see. thanks a lot. Ive had a good read on here and its eased my mind a great deal. My experiences seem very typical of most others on here, and although I wouldnt wish it on anyone else, its good to know I'm not alone. As Ive seen suggested I am going to challenge the charges for a start. The bailiff has only visited twice to my knowledge yet the amount I owe the council(£224) has risen to £386.50! I am also writing to the council explaining my circumstances and with an offer of payment that I can afford. I was actually paying Equita for 6 months and was a few days late with a payment so they handed it to bailiff. He came round 2 weeks after I'd payed it. He left an open letter wedged in between the door and frame so 'Bailiff removal' in big red letters, was in full view of my neighbours! I did call their office but as others have found their staff are vile. I was in middle of trying to explain myself when they cut me off. I called back, and as soon as I said my name they cut me off again! Anyway I'll be having nothing to do with them in future except for challenging their fees.

Hello, its my first time here, and would appreciate some help. I came home today to find a hand delivered letter from the bailiff(Equita), stating that he'll be back within 24 hrs for his money etc. I've read what people like martonman have said and its given me quite a lot of comfort, so thank you for that! (i've been coming home from work not daring to turn the tv on or even the lights until its turned 9pm('our bailiff can call upto 9pm' etc), for fear of a knock at the door! I want to ask where I personally stand in terms of the debt as it relates to two periods. The first was being handled by the bailiff, whilst another was subject to an attachment of earnings order. The order was never set up, even though the letter sent by the council clearly stated 'we have contacted your employer'. Today I see on the 'hand delivered' letter from the bailiff that both debts are on there. Do I treat them both as suggested by martonman? My concern is because I assume a court would have authorised the attachment of earnings. Am I at risk of being in contempt?

Hello, its my first time here. I came home today to find a hand delivered letter from the bailiff, stating that he'll be back within 24 hrs for his money etc. I've read what people like martonman have said and its given me quite a lot of comfort, so thank you for that! (i've been coming home from work not daring to turn the tv on or even the lights until its turned 9pm('our bailiff can call upto 9pm' etc), for fear of a knock at the door! I want to ask where I personally stand in terms of the debt as it relates to two periods. The first was being handled by the bailiff, whilst another was subject to an attachment of earnings order. The order was never set up, even though the letter sent by the council clearly stated 'we have contacted your employer'. Today I see on the 'hand delivered' letter from the bailiff that both debts are on there. Do I treat them both as suggested by martonman?