Hi, DWP recently wrote to me to say I owed them £600 and that they would be taking this from my wages via a DEA. I have worked full time for 9 years now so I was not even aware of how I could owe them this money. I called them and they said it was from a historic - 9 year old budgeting loan. I was annoyed because as far I was aware this was paid off years ago when I still received income support, however I agreed to set up a standing order for £20 each month. They said they would write to my employer to cancel the DEA. I kept to my side and sorted the standing order and low and behold on payday they took a £200 out of my wages directly! My employer said they never received notification that they should cancel the DEA the delightful staff member I spoke to at the DWP said they did send it and it's my debt to deal with. Thanks to the maladministration that has taken place somewhere we are now in a really difficult financial place this month and it will be a very long July which will now include visiting a foodbank no doubt. I would be very grateful for any advice as to how I could request that the DWP refund me this money and we maintain our original agreement. Surely as we had a agreement it is unlawful for them to accept he payment that my employer deducted to give to them??? Any advice is extremely welcome. Thank you in advance.

Hi, thanks for taking the time to read my post, I will try to keep a long annoying complex matter as simple as possible. When we moved in to our flat approx. 6 year ago I called BG to set up account and they insisted they didn't supply our gas, I tried on more than one occasion and they still said they do not supply us. Last October we finally got a bill that said our meter reading was 000000. In January it was still 00000, suddenly by March it was pushing £1000! I know we were very lucky it took them so long to actually bill us however the meter is now working double time it would seem and we are now pushing a bill of £2000. Since March I have requested that I pay £40 per month towards the gas while they look at the meter as I am quite sure we have not used that much gas since January, we live in a small two bed flat, the place heats up quickly once we have our tumble dryer on and cooker, we have not even had to use our heating yet this Winter. So we are only using gas for the hot water as the oven is electric. I keep opening complaints with them to request that they look at our meter and the way the meter has been connected as we are a large block I fear we are now being charged for some other flats usage also. They keep closing my complaints and saying I did nt reply in time although I did, every one of them I email never actually answers my questions and fobs me off, I really do want this sorted as it is stress I really don't need. We have our electric account with them which is also high (but understandably as we use it a lot) surely they can see I am not making a fuss over nothing as I pay that in full each month, but I am so sure there is a problem with the gas meters - obviously given it has read for 00000 for years ! Any help/support/advice would be very welcome, BG are just not listening to me. I am happy to pay them, just what is fair and right! Thank you in advance x