My JSA deductions have stopped, who do I contact, council or DWP?

[Mcall]

Hi,

 

I got a liability order for unpaid council tax last year. The arrears were £70, but then they added court costs of £120 for liability order (great!) So I owed £190 which I was informed by letter they'd take each fortnight from my JSA. This deduction has been coming off since around January, but I recently changed the London Borough I sign on and for the last two JSA payments they haven't taken any deductions (and I've been paid full JSA).

 

I've read horror stories over on the Bailiff forum that councils don't need to contact people anymore but can just send in the bailiffs incurring a further £310 fee without notice. Ending up owing £500 from an original £60 arrears is worse than Wonga interest and should be illegal, but we know DWP and councils seem to make their own rules these days.

 

So my question please is do I need to phone up DWP and ask why they have stopped deductions, or phone up my previous council and tell them DWP has stopped taking deductions, or should I just leave it because I haven't stopped signing on, and DWP database must be linked centrally?

 

I don't want to kick the hornet's nest and say "Oh please can you take my money", but likewise I don't want bailiffs turning up. Thanks...

Edited December 3, 2014 by citizenB

[citizenB]

I think you should say something, if only to show that you noticed this problem and were prepared to deal with it.

[Mcall]

I think you should say something, if only to show that you noticed this problem and were prepared to deal with it.

 

Do you think I should contact DWP and ask why deductions have stopped, or phone old council and explain that I'm still signing but in a new part of town? My concern if I phone council direct is that they might say "well, you started a new claim (?) with new council, it was your responsibility to let us know, not DWP to continue taking deductions, it's now with bailiffs, etc" (I'm catastrophizing here, but everything's so bad in my life at the mo, this is just how my luck will go)

[Mcall]

PS/ the old liability order was over a year ago, I've no paperwork, no idea what my council tax ref number was or anything.

[Nystagmite]

Phone the old council to find out why the deductions have stopped. And get it in writing.

[Mr.P]

[...]phone old council and explain that I'm still signing but in a new part of town?

 

Telephone the council concerned, and follow it up with a letter. If there is a problem somewhere down the line, you have established a paper trail. Presumably, this debt has not been paid in full yet, and if you close your JSA claim shortly, you will need to make alternative arrangements to settle.

[Mcall]

Thanks for advice folks. I'll phone council tomorrow and see what's happened.