Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

[UnluckyMe1985]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

I contacted My MP on Saturday. This cannot just be left. They've made the mistake, and surely it can't go without some sort of shaming?

[UnluckyMe1985]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

Thanks once again for that letter, I will of course post it 'recorded delivery!'

[bizzybob]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

I contacted My MP on Saturday. This cannot just be left. They've made the mistake, and surely it can't go without some sort of shaming?

Most definitely, they must now call off their dogs, and have they sent you a letter admitting the mistake, if so a copy with your cease and desist notice would be good.

[CleverClogs]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

Thanks once again for that letter,

I thank you (and Miss FM and labman) for having given me the opportunity of having been able to help, which I believe to be a privilege and honour.

If it proves unsuccessful, I would willingly draft a more emphatic letter.

[UnluckyMe1985]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

The DCA is Credit Security Limited. Don't who they are associated with...They have been quite fair on the phone and the last lady I spoke to had some sympathy for me..but of course that doesn't help.

As for the NI number, it is mine that the whole thing was linked to, which has made it so difficult to sort out.

[UnluckyMe1985]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

I haven't received any correspondance. I emailed the ombudsman, who said that the DWP are going to write to apologise. Which will most probably take ages..will be surprised if it has any substance relating to their incompetence!!

[UnluckyMe1985]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

I will keep all you helpful folk on here up to date and let you know when I next hear. Cheers Clever clogs, a more emphatic letter would be much appreciated if needed. Thankyou!!

[UnluckyMe1985]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

I thank you (and Miss FM and labman) for having given me the opportunity of having been able to help, which I believe to be a privilege and honour.

If it proves unsuccessful, I would willingly draft a more emphatic letter.

I will keep all you helpful folk on here up to date and let you know when I next hear. Cheers Clever clogs, a more emphatic letter would be much appreciated if needed. Thankyou!!

[CleverClogs]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

As for the NI number, it is mine that the whole thing was linked to, which has made it so difficult to sort out.

I haven't received any correspondance. I emailed the ombudsman, who said that the DWP are going to write to apologise. Which will most probably take ages..will be surprised if it has any substance relating to their incompetence!!

I do not believe that the DWP has been utterly incompetent, as it seems to have been a case of fraud or of identity theft. However, they may have failed to realise what had happened.

It is most unlikely that someone would have used your National Insurance number by mistake - assuming that the letters and numbers are even distributed, the odds of that happening are one in 17,576,000,000 - so someone must have claimed a qualifying benefit (probably Income Support) using your name and NI number but using their own address or a postal address from which they could get the mail diverted. Worse, they had been running that claim for at least six months, as that is the qualifying period for a loan from the Social Fund. After they had obtained the loan, they closed the scam; they emptied the bank account, stopped claiming and did not reply to any letters from the DWP - they probably just returned them with "gone away" written across them. With the minimum school leaving age being 16 but the minimum age for voting being 18, there is no reason why the DWP should check the Electoral Roll for evidence of where a claimant lives.

Of course, this would have been so much easier to do if the fraud had been perpetrated by someone working in the DWP, which is not exactly unknown.

[enquirer]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

This is a major breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 by the DWP. File a complaint with ICO at once. You can also use the same legislation to force the DWP to disgorge all the paperwork relating to this matter.

[UnluckyMe1985]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

I do not believe that the DWP has been utterly incompetent, as it seems to have been a case of fraud or of identity theft. However, they may have failed to realise what had happened.

It is most unlikely that someone would have used your National Insurance number by mistake - assuming that the letters and numbers are even distributed, the odds of that happening are one in 17,576,000,000 - so someone must have claimed a qualifying benefit (probably Income Support) using your name and NI number but using their own address or a postal address from which they could get the mail diverted. Worse, they had been running that claim for at least six months, as that is the qualifying period for a loan from the Social Fund. After they had obtained the loan, they closed the scam; they emptied the bank account, stopped claiming and did not reply to any letters from the DWP - they probably just returned them with "gone away" written across them. With the minimum school leaving age being 16 but the minimum age for voting being 18, there is no reason why the DWP should check the Electoral Roll for evidence of where a claimant lives.

Of course, this would have been so much easier to do if the fraud had been perpetrated by someone working in the DWP, which is not exactly unknown.

Fraud did cross my mind to be honest, I have never thought that it could have been someone working in the DWP, you never know! All the correspondence came to my address at the time, and according to the DWP this person has made two payments out of their benefits? But of course this may have been to put them off the scent. Maybe they are not completely incompetent, but this has nearly been going on for 7 years now and originally they told me they knew who it was who originally owed the money and said I wouldn't hear anymore from them...not cool!!

[UnluckyMe1985]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

This is a major breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 by the DWP. File a complaint with ICO at once. You can also use the same legislation to force the DWP to disgorge all the paperwork relating to this matter.

What is the ICO?

[bizzybob]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

What is the ICO?

Information Commissioners Office http://ico.org.uk/

[wales01man]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

Are the DHSS or DWP so incompentent they dont know where the money went a bank account or a post office where the giro was cashed all starting to look like a fraud started or aided and abetted by someone at the benefits office .this may be why they are so slow in giving out information makes you think

[labman]

Re: Being chased for a debt that isn't mine!

Are the DHSS or DWP so incompentent they dont know where the money went a bank account or a post office where the giro was cashed all starting to look like a fraud?

Yep!