Freddy and DWP

[Rhinotested]

Rhino, please give some more details

on what the debt to to the DWP is and

how it occurred, have you been contacted

by DWP debt management before this letter,

I have considerable experience in dealing with

this type of debt and you need to be careful

how you approach the matter, we can help

you more easily with more information before

you write anything.

 

Brig.

 

Thought I'd start a new thread rather than Hijack the other fellow's.

 

I received a letter before action from Fredrickson saying that I owed money to the Dept for Work and Pensions, and that they were working on behalf of their client iQor who were then acting on behalf of DWP.

 

IT states the usual about paying in the next 7 days or it will proceed, etc, etc and they give me a nice little box with fees, etc on it.

 

Now my only concern is, I have no recollection of any debt for the amount they ask, and I don't even know who DWP are...

 

I was thinking of sending them a letter, for which I found a template on this site, which is the following....

 

 

Name/Address:

 

Date:

 

Dear Sir/Madam

 

You have contacted me/us regarding the account with the above reference number, which you claim is owed by myself/ourselves.

 

I/we would point out that I/we have no knowledge of any such debt being owed to (insert company name).

 

I am/we are familiar with the CPUTR 2008 and the Office of Fair Trading's Guidance on debt collection, which states that it unfair to send demands for payment to an individual when it is uncertain that they are the debtor in question.

 

I/we would also point out that the OFT say under the Guidance that it is unfair to pursue third parties for payment when they are not liable. AND in not ceasing collection activity whilst investigating a reasonably queried or disputed debt you are using deceptive/and or unfair methods.

 

Furthermore ignoring and/or disregarding claims that debts have been settled or are disputed and continuing to make unjustified demands for payment amounts to physical/psychological harassment.

 

I/we would ask that no further contact be made concerning the above account unless you can provide evidence as to my/our liability for the debt in question.

 

I/we await your written confirmation that this matter is now closed. Otherwise I will have no option but to make a complaint to Trading Standards and also inform the Office Of Fair Trading of your actions.

 

I/we look forward to your reply.

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

To think all this because I changed my address with my bank... Bloody nightmare.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Hi Rhino DWP is the Government Department for Work and Pensions, (ex benefits agency etc.,

The Labour Government of the barmy B's (Mc Broon & Blur) introduced the use of

DCA's to collect benefit over payments and unpaid loans, there was atrial carried out a coupl

of years ago.

Have you any recollection of anything of this nature, if so how long ago?

The Government debt can become statute barred, but can only be written

off the the Secretary of State.

If the debt is statute barred the Government can still recover monies owed

if you are in receipt of a a MEANS TESTED STATE BENEFIT.

If you have any personal info please feel free to PM me and I'll answer

on the open forum.

 

Brg.

[Rhinotested]

I'll be honest, BRG, I have no recollection at all of any outstanding debt. I was once on a means tested income when I was 16/17 years old, and I'm not 29 so quite a while ago. However, after an evaluation I had (about 6 months after the income support) I was told that I was not entitled to any more and payments stopped if I remember rightly. I don't even have the same bank account anymore, so couldn't even check to see when last payment was, but like I said, that was well over 10 years ago.

 

My concern now is how to respond to "ol Freddy's letter, do you think I should go ahead with what I proposed to do in the first instance?

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

I take it you are not on any means tested

benefit at the moment?

So I suggests the following:

Dear Fred,

I am in receipt of your letter claiming that I am

in debt to HM Governments Department Of Work And Pensions,

however I have no knowledge of any such debt or have I been

contacted by the DWP in reference to any debt.

I would however point out that in any event any such debt

would now be STATUTE BARRED due to the length of time

since I had dealings with the predecessors of the DWP,

therefore I will not be paying or offering to pay now or in the future,

please note I am also aware that should I in future claim a relevant

benefit deductions could be made from any award..

Try that Freds will no doubt say it cannot be SB but be assured they

are WRONG.

 

Brig.

[Rhinotested]

I shall give that a go and thank you for your help.

I once read on here somewhere that the address they give at the top of their letter (Weybridge) is not normally the best one to write to. Have you heard this, and what's your view? I only ask as at the bottom of the letter is also states that they have a registered office in London

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

The Weybridge address is the correct one, to stop this

going to some moronic desk jockey in customer disservice

address it to the compliance manager.

Brig.

Edited September 4, 2011 by BRIGADIER2JCS

[Rhinotested]

Thank you

[Rhinotested]

Hello Brig, as I thought I had a response from the letter I had sent. Funnily enough though, it's worded nearly exactly the same, instead it's now from Bryan Carter Solicitors... Says the usual, important to pay immediately, etc, etc. I did find the green envelope a nice touch though...

 

Any ideas on how to proceed?

 

As always, any advice or help is much appreciated

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Hi, Carter is an alleged solicitor for rent, issues CC claims

the discontinues at first sign of defence, so just send the pratt

the same letter as sent to Freds but send it RD.

Ah the colour coded threatogram ploy perhaps he's got

new crayons as well:madgrin:

[Rhinotested]

Thanks buddy, I thought that'd be the case. I send all my letters of this type RD... Just to be safe... I'll print one of those letters off tonight, and send it tomorrow then...

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

One more thought were you contacted

by DWP debt management at all prior

to Freds contact, just that might be useful

in my letter to lord Freud.

[Rhinotested]

No I wasn't mate, although I've only just changed my address at the bank, and that's when I started getting these letters from Freddy...

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Now that's interesting, debt management

are supposed to send periodical ''reminders/statement''

of outstanding debts, and to check changes of circumstances,

not for you to worry about now though just my quest for info.

 

Brig.

[Rhinotested]

Well, I ad changed my address with my bank about 2 weeks ago (it was of an old address where my old debts (most of which cleared)) were registered to. I didn't think that "they" would be able to get my address from my bank, I thought that was breach of DPA. Then a week later, I received a letter from Freddy saying something like "we note that you may have changed address and to call them to verify ( I didn't )... Then shortly after that letter I then received the one about the outstanding debt with DWP... And to my knowledge, I have never had a debt with them, although as I've said before, I was on Disability Living Allowance, but we are talking when I was 17 (I'm not 29).

 

I hate it too, as every time I receive letters like these I feel like my life's going backwards, and I get so stressed out to the point I feel ill. I mean who "buys" a debt from someone... It doesn't make sense to me.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Hi, the bank would have updated your

credit files that's where they have got their

information.

I agree on debt purchase all the way.

The DCAs' working for DWP are just

working on contract to the DWP I have all

of the data on how, when and why they

are regulated, but you have given me a clue

in your last post as to something that may

be going wrong, I'll let you know when I get

a reply from his Lordship.

[Rhinotested]

Well, I finally had a response to my letter, and low and behold they have "gone back to their client, to see what the next course of action" will be.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Probably the '' debt is still owed, but unless you claim benefit

we are unable to pursue you'' letter.

[katrinaj72]

I have had similar from Fredrickson for DWP, but this all happened back in 2001/2002 I am still a bit confused about what is classed as " statute barred" would this be?

Silly me though, sent a letter agreeing to £10 a month, obviously I would rather not pay this, if I do not have too!!!

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Sorry if you have acknowledge the debt and

made or offered payment the debt is not

statute barred, so you have agreed to pay

the debt.

[Rhinotested]

Well, Brig.

 

I have received yet another letter today to do with the above. It says...

 

"we have recently been in contact with you regarding an outstanding debt with our client. You informed us that you believed the information in respect t this debt was incorrect.

 

We provided details of your dispute to our client and have now received a response from them which indicates that the debt details are correct. We would very much like to discuss the matter further... Blah Blah Blah"

 

 

Any ideas?

[Abrigadier]

Hi it is the Brig. just email/hacking/??

Have they told you what exactly the

reply stated?

If they haven't I suggest writing to the

DWP debt management centre who will have

placed the debt with Freds.

You must be given site of the reply.

Brig.

[Rhinotested]

What do you mean by Site of reply?

In the letter I received, as ever, it wasn't very specific.

 

What I had written on my previous post, is what the letter said word for word.

 

When I do write to the DWP Debt Management, what do you suggest I ask them?

 

I know it sounds like I ask a lot, but I really don't wish to get lumped with this debt by not following a particular path, so to speak.

[Abrigadier]

They should have sent you the

reply exactly as it was sent by the DWP

otherwise how the hell can you challenge

anything.

So you need to send what amounts to a SAR

to DWP DM stating that you require to know

how and why in detail the alleged debt has occurred,

they must all so provide the reason they believe

any over payment was made.Also they should

state if at any time any payment or acknowledgment

has been made and if so when.

 

Brig.

[Rhinotested]

SAR?

 

I will get this written up when my head is not feeling so rubbish.. (Been a mad couple of days), Should I just ignore Freddy for now then?

[Abrigadier]

I would if they come back tell them

you are in touch with DWP debt management.

 

Brig