Ccs collect

[Jaderc88]

I was receiving letters from dwp for jus under £60 when I had a quick look on the Internet about it as I wernt on any benefits there was a few posts about old crisis loans, these went on to say that if they were over 6 years old I didn't have to pay. I kept receiving letters so I phoned dwp and it turned out the debt was 9 years old. I mentioned I don't have to pay and the lady on the phone said they can't take me to court but can take from future benefits which I agreed to.
I am now receiving text messages from ccs collect telling me to contact them immediately. I emailed yesterday explaining this and received an automated reply but then received another text message today.
is there anything else I can do or do I just wait for them to stop messaging me?
Thanks

[Kati]

Re: Ccs collect

I'd just ignore ... they're not bailiffs (just debt collectors) and as such have no 'powers'. The lady at the DWP is right tho' - after 6yrs they cannot take you to court, but they can deduct from any future benefits (including a state pension) or try to use other collection methods
CCS are working for the dwp, but if you don't have anything to do with them they'll eventually pass it back

[nemesis45]

Re: Ccs collect

I was receiving letters from dwp for jus under £60 when I had a quick look on the Internet about it as I wernt on any benefits there was a few posts about old crisis loans, these went on to say that if they were over 6 years old I didn't have to pay. I kept receiving letters so I phoned dwp and it turned out the debt was 9 years old. I mentioned I don't have to pay and the lady on the phone said they can't take me to court but can take from future benefits which I agreed to.
I am now receiving text messages from ccs collect telling me to contact them immediately. I emailed yesterday explaining this and received an automated reply but then received another text message today.
is there anything else I can do or do I just wait for them to stop messaging me?
Thanks

.

The over 6 years old means that the debt cannot be enforced in court, however the DWP
can and will attempt to collect all outstanding amounts an can make deductions from present
and/or future DWP benefit awards there is no time limits whatsoever!

I believe some debts below a certain value can be written off by the department, but you will need
to contact The Manager at DWP debt management. ( sorry I can't be more specific on that but I'm not
in my office at present.

The oldest such debt I have assisted with was over 25 years old.

CCS are nothing more than a debt collection agency it cannot enforce the debt (s), it works under a partnership agreement
with the DWP and all their letters are templates approved by the DWP.

If CCS keep contacting you by any method just e-mail/ write to DWP DM and state the you will only deal
with this matter in writing, and all other forms of contact must cease immediately.

nem

oops sorry Kati I missed your post!

[Kati]

Re: Ccs collect

oops sorry Kati I missed your post!

no worries Nem We basically agreed anyway :lol: xx

[Jaderc88]

Re: Ccs collect

Thank you both for your replies. i have now received a letter telling me if i do not pay they will take me to court etc etc.
are these just scare tactics? my husband is saying we should just pay it so they leave us alone as they are contacting me everyday now.

where would i write to to say its statue barred. and is there a template anywhere?

[Kati]

Re: Ccs collect

Can you post up a redacted copy of the letter??
How long is it since you last paid anything towards it (benefit deductions etc...) ?? If it's over 6yrs then you cannot be taken to court for it!

You could always write a letter to the dwp saying that under no circumstances will you be talking to/dealing with their debt collectors and request a breakdown of the debt

- - - Updated - - -

Benefit Overpayments & Social Fund Loans

The Department of Work & Pensions (DWP) has 6 years to take action through the courts to recover benefit overpayments and social fund loans. This time starts running from the date of the final decision made on the overpayment and from when the social fund loan was due to be paid. But the DWP are still allowed to make deductions from your benefit for a debt over 6 years old as they don’t need to go to court to do this. This applies to overpayments of benefits such as income support, job seekers allowance, pension credit, housing benefit, council tax benefit and paying back social fund loans.

[nemesis45]

Re: Ccs collect

Thank you both for your replies. i have now received a letter telling me if i do not pay they will take me to court etc etc.
are these just scare tactics? my husband is saying we should just pay it so they leave us alone as they are contacting me everyday now.

where would i write to to say its statue barred. and is there a template anywhere?

CCS are a very amateurish business, they tend to ignore the obvious in the hope people will
give in!!

CCS cannot start court action it's not within its remit.#

I suggest the Following for the constant contact and the threats of court.

To CCS
their address.

date

Ref: use theirs.

Sir /madam,

I refer to the correspondence from CCS in regard to an alleged debt to the
DWP.
I note that CCS makes threats of " court action", please not I am aware that
such action is not part of its remit as a " private sector partner" with the DWP.
The alleged debt has not been acknowledged in more that 6 years and therefore
no such action can be started.

The level of contact from CCS has now reached that which amounts to harassment,
and all telephone calls to mobile numbers and landlines will now cease immediately
CCS receives this letter All contact must be in writing only via Royal Mail post, please
note proof of posting is not accepted as proof of delivery.

I refer you to the Appeal Court Judgement in Roberts- v - BOS , and their Lordships
decision on harassment by telephone once an individual has stated he does not want
to be contacted this way.
I am making a formal complaint to the DWP regarding the fitness of CCS to be carrying
out collection activities for the DWP.
I will now only deal with the DWP directly.

yours etc.

Use signed for post.

nem

[Kati]

Re: Ccs collect

It might be an idea to send a SAR request to the DWP too :nod: From personal experience these are not charged for (although they are allowed to charge up to £10 for it). Ask them for all the information they hold on you
They have 40 days to provide it ...

[Jaderc88]

Re: Ccs collect

the debt is from 9 years ago which is when i last paid anything towards it.
i had no knowledge of it till a couple of months ago when dwp sent me a letter

[Kati]

Re: Ccs collect

Can you post up the letters (redacted)?