Help needed please re. Rossendales

[lathspell]

Hi there, I'm new to this forum and really need some help and advice please.
The debt is a housing benefit overpayment from last year when my partners work changed.
We moved house in September and were not aware of the debt until I received a letter from Rossendales on 19th Feb 2015 claiming I owed £900.
I phoned them immediately and offered to pay £30 a month. My partner is the sole earner. I am a Mum with a 2 year old so this is the most we could afford.
They refused this offer, wanting £60 instead, so I asked for an expenditure sheet, which I filled in and sent back to them.
I received a second letter this week refusing the offer again and demanding £60 again.

"We can confirm that your repayment offer was refused due to the following items on your expenditure list;
We reserve the right to cancel this arrangement with out notice, should you fail to make payments as agreed."

I haven't agreed anything and they didn't give a reason or list anything on the expenditure list.

Today I phoned the council and explained the situation and offered to make repayments. I spoke to a very unhelpful woman who said she could do nothing now that it has gone to debt collection. Is this true?
I just want to pay the council back without all this hassle!

[Kati]

Re: Help needed please re. Rossendales

What items on your expenditure list did they refuse it on? If it is included here, they shouldn't really refuse (http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/englan...our_budget.htm)

Listing your expenses

The next thing you need to do to work out your budget is list all your expenses. Be honest and make sure that the amounts are realistic. Under expenses, you should include:

• housekeeping. Include realistic amounts for what you spend on food, toiletries, school dinners and meals at work, cleaning materials, cigarettes, sweets, children's pocket money and pet food
• housing costs. This should include mortgage or rent, a second mortgage or secured loan, buildings and contents insurance, service charges and life or endowment insurance cover attached to your mortgage
• council tax
• gas, electricity and water charges
• telephone charges
• travel expenses. Include both public transport and the cost of running a car such as road tax, insurance, and maintenance
• insurance that is not part of your housing costs (see above)
• childcare costs
• TV licence and any TV rental costs
• clothes
• any other essential expenses, such as medical and dental expenses or support for an elderly relative
• money you should set aside for unexpected events and contingencies. This includes saving for things like the replacement of essential household goods when they break down.

[lathspell]

Re: Help needed please re. Rossendales

They didn't specify. There wasn't anything that wasn't on that list and we live to a tight budget.