Housing Benefit Overpayment passed to Jacobs 17year old with mental illness

[reallyrathercross]

Hey lovely Caggers

 

Just after some advice on how to help my daughter, if you don't mind.

 

 

She was in a private rented flat but cut the tenancy short,

we agreed with her landlord (I was the lead tenant although I didn't live there because she's under 18)

Housing benefit was paid up until the date her tenancy officially ended,

a month after she'd physically moved out.

 

 

She stayed with her ex's family until ending up in a hostel with her young baby when her ex headbutted her. Nice eh?

 

there was some overlap between the housing benefit on her flat and the housing benefit she got while in the hostel.

 

 

She accepts she should have told the original council that she'd moved but at the time assumed her landlord would do it.

 

 

there's been an overpayment & we're happy to pay it for her.

 

My issue is the council have already passed it to debt collectors (the overpayment was only in July)

 

 

She's now in a house of her own with her little one and is doing a fab job a as a mummy, but...

 

Question is, seeing that she's only 17, living on her own with a baby and being treated for anxiety and depression,

do you think the council would take the debt back from Jacobs and allow us to pay it in full for her direct to the council?

 

I don't trust jacobs not to have whacked charges on top but the last thing she needs is the threat of 'bailiffs' knocking on her door,

as they've called themselves. There's no court order that we know of.

 

She lives 4 hours away so it's not like I can just go with her to the council to sort it.

 

 

I wish she lived nearer but it's her choice and she wants to stay where she is

 

TIA!

[dx100uk]

they will be not be bailiffs I'm sure and operating under their DCA wing.

 

can you not pull the vulnerability string here.

 

the new rules mean they must be withdrawn forth with.

as soon as they are aware of the status

 

 

dx

[reallyrathercross]

That's what I hoping to do, but do we speak to the council or jacobs? Obviously I don't trust jacobs! Thanks mate, you're so helpful I've given you reputation & have to share more love around before I can give you more haha

[Mr.P]

Are bailiffs (acting as a DCA) allowed to pursue a 17 year old ?

[dx100uk]

their dca has no legal powers whatsoever.

 

 

having dug around

I think this could be the DCA wing

and not bailiffs.

 

 

dx

[dx100uk]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?401113-Jacobs-Debt-Recovery-chasing-a-Housing-Benefit-Overpayment-from-2002

 

 

never pay a dca on a gov't debt

 

 

dx

[reallyrathercross]

So we can get the council to take the debt back and them pay it off? Not paying jacobs if I can help it!

[dx100uk]

read me last post and the link

 

 

we crossed

 

 

dx

[reallyrathercross]

thank you

[BankFodder]

In any event point out the vulnerability issue to both of them - with evidence. make sure that it is all clear and in writing. Finally lodge a formal complaint to the council and say that you want it brought before the LA ombudsman on the basis that their heavyhanded approach in vie of her vulnerability is maladministration.

 

Even if the complaint is spurious, this should be enough to make them take a closer look at what they are doing

[reallyrathercross]

thanks bank fodder, they weren't aware of her illness so I think that would be their getout. Any way, I just tried ringing the council but they won't talk to me unless she gives permission. I'm all for DPA but I'm actually not sure if it applies to 17 year olds???

[reallyrathercross]

In any event point out the vulnerability issue to both of them - with evidence. make sure that it is all clear and in writing. Finally lodge a formal complaint to the council and say that you want it brought before the LA ombudsman on the basis that their heavyhanded approach in vie of her vulnerability is maladministration.

 

Even if the complaint is spurious, this should be enough to make them take a closer look at what they are doing

 

Nothing makes this council look at what they're doing, they're probably the worst local authority I've ever dealt with, and I've dealt with a few!

[reallyrathercross]

Update: a quick call to the council, the debt was recalled there and then and it's paid

[Nystagmite]

Glad there's been a positive outcome to this.