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‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

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  • #31
    Re: ‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

    Originally posted by Chelin View Post
    Your money will continue to be paid into your Post Office Account,they cannot change that,any further letters can be destroyed without responding,&this is what I&others do.Don't worry about it,it's entirely your decision,it's just a shame that they waste so much of our money on postage trying to get us to switch.This government is about boosting the private sector,&many members of the government have more than just their MP income,so it is in their interest to do this,but not ours!Open your eyes to what is happening&don't trust them.
    If you have,or think that you may have further problems,then join the union"Unite",they can give you good advice,also training,&it only costs fifty pence a week if you're unemployed.

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    • #32
      Re: ‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

      Changing Benefits payments from PO accounts to Bank accounts was part of the roll out preparation for Universal Credit. It was also intended to try to reduce some of the social exclusion for people who only have PO accounts.

      For example: When someone pays bills by direct debit, they often get a better deal from their supplier (energy suppliers, tv etc). This option is not available for those who only have PO accounts.

      It was also part of the preparation for those who would not be able to get Universal credit. If they rent from a private landlord, in most cases they will not be able to get their benefits paid to the Landlord any more and where this is the case (our council - not sure about others) will not pay HBenefit into Post Office accounts. It has to go to a bank account.

      The other thing was to force banks to stop discriminating against people on low income and on benefits, in that agreements are in place for banks to offer basic accounts with direct debit and standing order facilities.

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      • #33
        Re: ‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

        Originally posted by Wylderose View Post
        Changing Benefits payments from PO accounts to Bank accounts was part of the roll out preparation for Universal Credit. It was also intended to try to reduce some of the social exclusion for people who only have PO accounts.

        For example: When someone pays bills by direct debit, they often get a better deal from their supplier (energy suppliers, tv etc). This option is not available for those who only have PO accounts.

        It was also part of the preparation for those who would not be able to get Universal credit. If they rent from a private landlord, in most cases they will not be able to get their benefits paid to the Landlord any more and where this is the case (our council - not sure about others) will not pay HBenefit into Post Office accounts. It has to go to a bank account.

        The other thing was to force banks to stop discriminating against people on low income and on benefits, in that agreements are in place for banks to offer basic accounts with direct debit and standing order facilities.
        If the above were the reason,then they wouldn't phrase in such a way that it gives the impression that you have no option but to change to a bank or building society account!Don't be duped,only change if that is what you want to do,for many a Post Office Account is more suitable,&isn't reduced to an"online service only",as is increasingly the case with the diminishing high street banks.DO NOT BE DUPED,IT IS YOUR CHOICE.

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        • #34
          Re: ‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

          It is the way they word the letters that bugs me. It's misleading. Just leaves a bad taste. If they'd just be honest it would be much better and I'd be more inclined to comply with their demands. maybe.

          As soon as you have your monies paid into a bank you are losing control. The post office account has money go in, it can only be touched by you and removed in cash ( and the Post Office have cash points - there was talk of them expanding access to other ATM's as well but think that died a death in favour of forcing people into the clutches of banks )

          It is improving with banks ( just! ) and Lloyds removing completely the returned direct debit charges ( from Nov 2nd) is a game changer IMO, so long as they retain the ability to opt out of allowing any unauthorised overdraft.

          Im still keeping my PO account until the kids stop getting Child Benefit - the last one will stop getting it in 2020.
          #staysafestayhome

          Any support I provide is offered without liability, if you are unsure please seek professional legal guidance.

          Received a Court Claim? Read >>>>> First Steps

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          • #35
            Re: ‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

            Funnily enough, post just arrived and another letter ....

            Attached Files
            #staysafestayhome

            Any support I provide is offered without liability, if you are unsure please seek professional legal guidance.

            Received a Court Claim? Read >>>>> First Steps

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            • #36
              Re: ‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

              Originally posted by Amethyst View Post
              Funnily enough, post just arrived and another letter ....
              that means I'll be getting another one soon
              Debt is like any other trap, easy enough to get into, but hard enough to get out of.

              It doesn't matter where your journey begins, so long as you begin it...

              recte agens confido

              ~~~~~

              Any advice I provide is given without liability, if you are unsure please seek professional legal guidance.

              I can be emailed if you need my help loading pictures/documents to your thread. My email address is Kati@legalbeagles.info
              But please include a link to your thread so I know who you are.

              Specialist advice can be sought via our sister site JustBeagle

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              • #37
                Re: ‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

                Just rang them, they're so nice ( well the guy I spoke to was) I'm fine to keep it till CB ends (when youngest is 18) and yes it is cause the contract with the PO is running out (but not till after my last CB payment will be made) so all cool, they just wanted to check I'd close it once that ended... which I will unless any circs change. Presumably ( I haven't checked) the PO charge the gov a fee for having the account in existence as well as them having the higher transaction charges hence wanting the account closed down as well as the payments moved over.
                #staysafestayhome

                Any support I provide is offered without liability, if you are unsure please seek professional legal guidance.

                Received a Court Claim? Read >>>>> First Steps

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                • #38
                  Re: ‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

                  My answer above came directly from what the DWP told us in a Local Authority briefing on Universal Credit

                  This however is an answer to a FOI request on this subject. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reque...02102.pdf.html

                  If you still wish to use the POffice then that is up to you. No-one would force you to change, You do after all have freedom of choice.

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                  • #39
                    Re: ‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

                    Once more basic accounts follow Lloyds and remove returned DD/SO charges, and have an opt IN system to allow unauthorised overdrafts ( preferably just not allow them unless actually applied for ) then I'll be more behind the policy of moving people to bank accounts. Possibly.

                    My PO money is completely safe ( barring being mugged ) No one can use a dodgily set up continuous payment authority, claim the wrong amount by DD, take banking charges, con me into making a bank transfer... and so on and so forth.

                    I chose that peace of mind over not being able to get £5 off my Gas bill cause I don't pay by DD ( for example ). ( actually I'm still on a prepay meter just because I prefer it that way - no surprise £2k bills just cause some twerp typed a meter reading in the wrong box )
                    #staysafestayhome

                    Any support I provide is offered without liability, if you are unsure please seek professional legal guidance.

                    Received a Court Claim? Read >>>>> First Steps

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                    • #40
                      Re: ‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

                      Originally posted by Amethyst View Post
                      I'll be more behind the policy of moving people to bank accounts. Possibly.
                      I'll NEVER be behind it ... an option for a DD/SO (that you can't get with a PO account) means that more people are gonna get in debt

                      - - - Updated - - -

                      Originally posted by Amethyst View Post
                      no surprise £2k bills just cause some twerp typed a meter reading in the wrong box
                      we're on PP meters too ... I send a quarterly reading to SSE (emailed with a pic of the correct screen) just to prove we're on the "up&up"
                      Debt is like any other trap, easy enough to get into, but hard enough to get out of.

                      It doesn't matter where your journey begins, so long as you begin it...

                      recte agens confido

                      ~~~~~

                      Any advice I provide is given without liability, if you are unsure please seek professional legal guidance.

                      I can be emailed if you need my help loading pictures/documents to your thread. My email address is Kati@legalbeagles.info
                      But please include a link to your thread so I know who you are.

                      Specialist advice can be sought via our sister site JustBeagle

                      Comment


                      • #41
                        Re: ‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

                        My mother - who receives her state pension into a PO card account - received one of these letter this morning. Just to be clear, she is neither required to contact the DWP with the number included on the letter, contact them with the enclosed form or to change her account in any way, right?

                        I'm only asking because this letter has made her extremely anxious.

                        Comment


                        • #42
                          Re: ‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

                          Originally posted by SM78 View Post
                          My mother - who receives her state pension into a PO card account - received one of these letter this morning. Just to be clear, she is neither required to contact the DWP with the number included on the letter, contact them with the enclosed form or to change her account in any way, right?

                          I'm only asking because this letter has made her extremely anxious.
                          You are completely right ... the DWP have said that they are going to still pay into PO accounts until 2021 at the very least!

                          see ~ http://revenuebenefits.org.uk/blog/p...t-poca-holders
                          and ~ https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reque...over_from_post
                          Debt is like any other trap, easy enough to get into, but hard enough to get out of.

                          It doesn't matter where your journey begins, so long as you begin it...

                          recte agens confido

                          ~~~~~

                          Any advice I provide is given without liability, if you are unsure please seek professional legal guidance.

                          I can be emailed if you need my help loading pictures/documents to your thread. My email address is Kati@legalbeagles.info
                          But please include a link to your thread so I know who you are.

                          Specialist advice can be sought via our sister site JustBeagle

                          Comment


                          • #43
                            Re: ‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

                            Originally posted by Kati View Post
                            You are completely right ... the DWP have said that they are going to still pay into PO accounts until 2021 at the very least!

                            see ~ http://revenuebenefits.org.uk/blog/p...t-poca-holders
                            and ~ https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reque...over_from_post
                            This topic was bought up earlier in the year, it seems that the DWP are still tying to move perhaps on cost grounds to bank accounts rather than post office

                            http://legalbeagles.info/forums/show...2&goto=newpost
                            Last edited by Spirit200; 30th September 2017, 21:49:PM. Reason: added info

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