Hi there
The other day I received a cold call from a debt collector who said he as working on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions to reclaim money that I owed from July 2004. I told the gentleman that I have no recollection of ever taking out such a loan in my life, and that I would appreciate him providing evidence in writing before I would consider the matter legitimate in any way.
After much discussion as to the reasons that I was not prepared to make a payment there and then over the phone, I insisted that all correspondence regarding this matter be conducted on paper from now on. He was trying to insist that they didn't have to provide any proof and that if I wanted any, I would have to go to the DWP myself and ask for it.
It all just seemed rather strange if I'm honest! Long story short, I asked him to write to me to outline his request for repayment of the alleged loan on paper so that I could follow it up with a response.
I received a letter on paper headed with "DWP Debt Management". From my online research, this is not actually the DWP, but a third party commisioned by the DWP to chase down debts. I might be wrong, but I suspect from the content of the letter that this is the case.
Anyway, the letter essentially claims that the DWP "...is not obliged to provide customers with copies of their original loan acceptance forms." and that "...The evidence and details of the loan are held on the Social Fund Computer System, from the point where payment was awarded, and repayment of the loan agreed."
It was actually evidence of this repayment agreement that I was hoping to see, since I have literally no recollection of this loan ever existing. Admittedly, it was 10 years ago, and the sum is for around £70, so it's plausible I suppose that I've simply forgotten about it.
But shouldn't they be able to provide more proof than writing a letter to me which effectively says no more than - "Thanks for asking for proof of this loan, but we don't have to give you any. Please pay now."
I'm planning to write back to this debt management (sf) who are based in Gloucestershire to say that I'm not prepared to afford this matter any further consideration until proof of my agreement to repay any loan is provided to me.
Anyone have any advice on how I should word that?
Or does anyone have any experience of something similar perhaps?
Any help would be very much appreciated!
Thanks
-Alan
The other day I received a cold call from a debt collector who said he as working on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions to reclaim money that I owed from July 2004. I told the gentleman that I have no recollection of ever taking out such a loan in my life, and that I would appreciate him providing evidence in writing before I would consider the matter legitimate in any way.
After much discussion as to the reasons that I was not prepared to make a payment there and then over the phone, I insisted that all correspondence regarding this matter be conducted on paper from now on. He was trying to insist that they didn't have to provide any proof and that if I wanted any, I would have to go to the DWP myself and ask for it.
It all just seemed rather strange if I'm honest! Long story short, I asked him to write to me to outline his request for repayment of the alleged loan on paper so that I could follow it up with a response.
I received a letter on paper headed with "DWP Debt Management". From my online research, this is not actually the DWP, but a third party commisioned by the DWP to chase down debts. I might be wrong, but I suspect from the content of the letter that this is the case.
Anyway, the letter essentially claims that the DWP "...is not obliged to provide customers with copies of their original loan acceptance forms." and that "...The evidence and details of the loan are held on the Social Fund Computer System, from the point where payment was awarded, and repayment of the loan agreed."
It was actually evidence of this repayment agreement that I was hoping to see, since I have literally no recollection of this loan ever existing. Admittedly, it was 10 years ago, and the sum is for around £70, so it's plausible I suppose that I've simply forgotten about it.
But shouldn't they be able to provide more proof than writing a letter to me which effectively says no more than - "Thanks for asking for proof of this loan, but we don't have to give you any. Please pay now."
I'm planning to write back to this debt management (sf) who are based in Gloucestershire to say that I'm not prepared to afford this matter any further consideration until proof of my agreement to repay any loan is provided to me.
Anyone have any advice on how I should word that?
Or does anyone have any experience of something similar perhaps?
Any help would be very much appreciated!
Thanks
-Alan