Major benefit cockup.....Help needed!!

[veilside01702]

In April 2007 I contacted the Incapacity benefit office and gave them my new account details for my parachute account.
They couldn't set up the new D/D straight away so they sent a giro instead. They told me they would set it up for the next payment date.
I then won back my charges from natwest and put the cheque in the parachute account in June. I suddenly noticed that my benefit payments had not gone into any of my accounts.
I called the DWP and was told they had forgotten to set up my D/D or send any giro's...
They appologised and i told them that I had incurred charges due to their mistake...
Can I make them pay my charges??
Can I charge them for the bank charges and charges from the companies that also charged me??
If so....what do I put in the letter??
Any idea's??
Russ

[biscuits]

Sorry you cant charge them as its up to you to check what goes into your account and when
You can only claim back from the bank what you were charged

[Tools]

Hi Russ

If it was a Direct Debit that was set up you may be covered by the Direct Debit Guarantee . Other than that I would write a stern letter to the benefits payment department that was dealing with it outlining exactly what has happened , trying to get them to refund it over the phone is no substitute for a good old letter.

[Amethyst]

The DWP will pay your bank charges - I was reading a few articles about this the other day. (which I'll grab in a bit for you)

And yes definately do it all by letter too.

[veilside01702]

Thanks amethyst, tools and cillitbanger...
I called the DWP and got a big appology from a nice girl there who admitted again it was their mistake and said send in proof of charges and they will look into sorting it out!
Apparently because they sent one cheque to me the system freezes the direct payment to my New parachute account with HSBC...
I was told someone should have been monitoring the claim and restarted it in April-May....They forgot.....she said it happens and they are sorry for any inconvenience caused...I just said I know it wasn't her fault and appreciated her help.....she was very polite and helpful....
I think she told me more than she should have done....lol
So now i gotta do a letter and copy statements from Natwest and HSBC as both have added charges, as well as elec, water, gas, phone, etc.....who all charged me as banks bounced the D/D's....must be about £700....
Strangley HSBC were nice and agreed to waive further charges as it was a mistake....all it took was letter from DWP and HSBC helped...Good manager in branch....lol
I still would like to see amethysts articles as well if you could....please.....