How Do They Get Away With This?

Hi All,

Firstly mods please feel free to move this to a more appropriate forum if you think this is the wrong place.


My wife had a letter this morning stating that the DWP were going to start taking just under £75.00 per month from her Carer's Allowance due to money owed from Income Support in 2002.

They claim (and we refute) that she was working while claiming Income Support - this has NEVER been proven, so they are assuming she is guilty till she proves innocence.

I pointed out to the lady in the call centre that my brother is Executive Director of Change for the DWP -ie- a VERY senior civil servant in charge of the DWP for the entire country. They then changed their attitude and asked if they could speak to their Team Leader and phone back. Sure enough 5 minutes later they phoned back - what a change in attitude. They couldn't do enough for me.

They agreed that obviously we need to see paperwork relating to this case before they start taking reductions, they'd phone Carers Allowance and stop any deductions being taken and would phone back to confirm they'd done this which they just have.

Now that is fine....BUT what if my brother had not held the position he does? They'd have taken the money for an unproven offence dating back over 8 years. The average person would have had to accept this.

I honestly think the DWP stinks and how they can be judge and jury over someone after 8 years is beyond me.

If anyone else gets into a situation with them, feel free to contact me, but fight. They backed down for us and I suspect they have no proof as the offence never happened!

[WendyB]

Re: How Do They Get Away With This?

well wouldn't it be SB now anyway?

[Caspar]

Re: How Do They Get Away With This?

Believe it or not if the DWP think you owe them money, it NEVER becomes statute barred, even if it's after 40 years!

Ridiculous, but true. What really irritates me is they get away with totally reversing the basis of our entire legal system -ie- innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. They've managed to get it changed to Guilty unless you can prove you were innocent as far back as we want to go.

What about human rights?

[pompeyfaith]

Re: How Do They Get Away With This?

Wendy debts to the gov are never stat bared

[middenmess]

Re: How Do They Get Away With This?

Hi Casper

Sorry to hear that another problem has cropped up for you.

DWP think they are a law unto themselves and once on their wrong side they will deem your good lady forever suspect and will treat her accordingly.

As they are fully aware of your illness it must go against all of their own guidelines of dealing with people like yourself as this sort of upset can only be detrimental to you.

On the one hand it's good that your brother has such a position that you can threaten them with but as you say an ordinary unconnected soul would in effect be defenceless to their actions.

Even if their case is proven,taking £75pm would appear to be a bit steep--IMO.

[Caspar]

Re: How Do They Get Away With This?

Hi Casper

Sorry to hear that another problem has cropped up for you.

DWP think they are a law unto themselves and once on their wrong side they will deem your good lady forever suspect and will treat her accordingly.

As they are fully aware of your illness it must go against all of their own guidelines of dealing with people like yourself as this sort of upset can only be detrimental to you.

On the one hand it's good that your brother has such a position that you can threaten them with but as you say an ordinary unconnected soul would in effect be defenceless to their actions.

Even if their case is proven,taking £75pm would appear to be a bit steep--IMO.

Their case won't be proven as there's nothing to prove! I did remind them of their need to deal with us sensitively due to my illness on the phone, but would have preferred not to have to use my brother's position as a threat in order to get justice. As you so rightly say most would be defenceless.