‘Please change your payment account’ letter - DWP

[Kati]

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

I get one every year for my CB (the only thing that gets paid into a PO account). I'm not going to change my account until 2021 ~ by which time my sons' will both be 20, so I wouldn't get it for them anyway lol

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

But will they take any notice?

- - - Updated - - -

But will they take any notice?

have they ever? if not why now?

[Chelin]

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

I think that the only reason for these letters is that the government wants to further wind-down the Post Office,contractually they are obliged to continue with the P.O.Card Accounts until at least November 2021.If a Post Office Account is what you want,then keep it&tell me in writing that that is what you're going to do(use their prepaid envelope which came with the letter to do so).

[Amethyst]

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

I got a second chaser letter today too. Don't recall getting two letters last time so ramping up the pressure. Might give them a call. Not changing until the Post Office tells me they are closing my card account. It's the safest place for the child benefit. No one can touch it.

[Chelin]

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

You do not have to close your Post Office Acc',there is a contractual agreement that these acc's remain open for benefit payments until at least November 2021.

[barneydog]

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

got my second letter today. no way am i changing from the poca.

[Kati]

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

Both the POST OFFICE and the DWP still have a PO account as a valid way to receive benefits ... in fact the DWP published a document in December 2014 saying that the PO Account option was safeguarded for 7yrs (which takes us to Nov 2021 at the least )

A new £250 million 7 year contract, which will protect a key service for vulnerable pensioners and benefit claimants as well as help safeguard the future of the Post Office network, has been agreed by the government.DWP Minister Steve Webb has announced in Parliament today the signing of a new deal with Post Office Limited to ensure the Post Office Card Account remains available until at least November 2021. The service was previously due to be withdrawn in March 2015.
The new contract realises efficiency savings of 10% compared to the previous contract – saving the taxpayer millions of pounds – but the amount of money paid to subpostmasters for each transaction will remain the same.

[JayOwl]

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

I had this letter today, and about six months ago. When it last happened I rang and asked if it is mandatory, as the letter is deliberately made to appear that way. They said 'no'. And the change over is not due to be enforced for many years yet! It is simply scare tactics, which Im sure has worked for a large number of people. It makes me so angry!

You do NOT have to open a bank account at all, and may I suggest we get a petition together/write to MP... anything! Im doing my bit, please everyone stand up now, before they actually enforce it in the future.

[Amethyst]

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

Still not changing....



See if it's a year till the next letter.

Might do a FOI to find out how many people changed after each round of misleading letters.

[Kati]

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

I'm not changing either. These misleading letters can cause so much worry for people. It would be interesting to hear what advice they offer if you ring them for help with opening a bank account.

I might ring them later ... it's a freephone number
0800 085 7133

[Amethyst]

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

I'm not changing either. These misleading letters can cause so much worry for people. It would be interesting to hear what advice they offer if you ring them for help with opening a bank account.

[Kati]

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

It's not compulsory to change it anyway

As most bank accounts can be accessed at the post office it does not need to change
how or where customers collect their money and importantly sub-postmasters will
continue to receive revenue from those transactions while maintaining footfall.
Finally while benefit and pension payments are usually paid into a bank account we do
recognise that some customers remain unable to access such services. DWP committed
last year to maintain POca’s until 2021 to ensure that people who cannot use a
mainstream account can continue to access their benefits and pension
If you have any queries about this letter please contact us quoting the reference number
above.

[Kati]

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

I got my own copy of this letter today ... guess what? I'm still not going to change my account for Child Benefit payments (which is the only thing that goes in to my PO account)!

[Moonshine]

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

I can't seem to edit my post, but just to say the website I used for looking up phone numbers was in fact called who-called.co.uk

[Moonshine]

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

Hi everyone I'm a newbie.

I have also received these letters, one last year and one this year. The one this year is more demanding.

I found this post via google when doing research regarding these letters and they are fake. I also used who-phone.co.uk to look up the phone numbers and other people have reported that it is a scam.

I have tried to ring C.A.B but just get load so recorded messages, so in the end I rang my local trading standards and they said it's fraud and I have to ring the police, so did. I was given another number for Action fraud.

Last year when I received this letter and my friend phone up for me while I was present the woman said the reason why I had to change was that the PO only had contact with the dwp for 9 years.

So when I got another letter end of June I rang up the post office after see this thread here. I was told to ignore the letters and that loads of people had been ringing up for the same reason. They also told me that if the PO were going close the accounts their company would tell their customers in writing.

I also found out that their so called free phone number on the letters, 0800 085 7133 are premium rate number calls.

So the fake dwp person asked could they ring me back and I said no. I asked my friend to tell them that I was recording the phone call, so I think that is why she asked if they could call me back. I have speaker phone so still would of recorded the phone call.

So under no circumstances reply to these letters or fill out the attach form they send you.

Even people with bank accounts have been rang up and told that the dwp have over paid them and they have to give them their details only to find their bank account has been completely clear out.

I hope they catch these scum bags.