Who to complain to.

I received two letters yesterday both dated 11th July, one from Jobcentreplus and the other from Debt. Management. Between them they stated I owed nearly £3000 in an over payment and that it would be deducted from my ESA at £150 per month. There was no reason or explanation, with one letter saying I could phone them to find out the reason.

I was very upset and worried to receive such letters, but what made it worse the post arrived just before l was going out to a funeral, so I was unable to phone them straight away.

When l was eventually abale to phone them yesterday afternoon l called the number on the Jobcentreplus letter. After checking their computer l was told it was an over payment on DLA as I wasn't entitled to it. I explained I was entitled to it and had not been called in or notified if this. I was then told to phone Debt. Management as they would know the full reasons. The number l was given turned out to be wrong, it was basically a number for the same Dept I had just called.

When I eventually spoke to someone at Dept. Management I was left totally dumbfounded. After explaining the contents of the letters I had just received and that I wanted to know exactly what the reasons were for what I'd been told about the DLA, I was asked " So what do you want" ?

After checking the computer I was told it was an over payment from 7 years ago on my DLA. 7 years ago I had a situation where they stopped my DLA and said I would have to pay back almost £3000. I appealed and my case was eventually settled by a judge at an Upper Tier Tribunal, who ruled in my favour. My DLA was reinstated and I received back payment to when they stopped my DLA.

I was told to hold whilst they sought advice. I was then told that the debt had been suspended and that it had been put back to £0. I was also told that Debt. Management had received a letter from the DLA dept dated 15th July that I no longer owed them any money. When l tried to ask why such an error had been made especially from something which occured 7 years ago I was only told that it had nothing to do with Debt. Management and it was all the fault of the DLA dept. I had to even ask if I would be receiving a letter confirming what I'd just been told. They were a bit vague, but said that I should receive one.

Like most people I have absolutely no faith in DWP and feel if I complain to them directly I'll just be fobbed off. Is there any independent organisation I can complain to? This has caused me immense upset and stress, and even now l am very unsettled as I only have the word oif someone on a telephone, and nothing in writing to say they won't take any money from my ESA. From the way this is making me feel at the moment I can see why things such as this are enough to tip some poor people over the edge.

See the link I've just posted on making complaints.