Government departments...mmmmm

Almost every day you hear those political types banging on about all those benefit cheats and the money not claimed for benefits.  This morning, after 4 weeks tussling so far, I have now heard it all.

Since 1992 I have been in receipt of a disability benefit, given to me for 'life'.  Simple enough, don't you believe it.  Made a phone call 4 weeks ago to let this dept know that there has been a change of circumstances.

"We don't have you on our books as receiving anything from this dept, sorry"

hmmmmm...OK.  Called local office.

"We don't have any record of you being on benefit before 2003"

hmmmmm....now trying not to lose temper.

Four weeks down the line, many calls to/from both offices we are getting closer to sorting this mess out....maybe.

Appears the Isle of Wight office deleted instead of archiving my records prior to 2003 and to add insult to injury they were supposed to pay me an extra �45 a week from 1998-02...they didn't. 

So now we still have no records prior to 2003 at one dept, records from 1992-present at the other.  But cos I can't prove I didn't get the money owed and they can't prove they didn't pay it we are all quietly having a nervous breakdown for another week while we await written confirmation from one dept to reach the other before the money owed can be released.

So far the IOW office have blamed 'computer errors'...yeah right, more likely they knew they hadn't paid me what they should have and are hiding the evidence.

Sorry but if I was an asylum seeker, this would never of happened.  You get told to claim and when you do, they muck it up.

Whoever wins the next election I do hope they know the difference tween their left and right hands and they shake up the departments and offices that can't seem to do the job they are supposed to do.

I have a damn good mind to demand compensation for this cock-up.

Peter Fenwick wrote: The problem with departments like these is that they don't exactly attract the cleverest people. Lets face it how many people aspire to work for the DSS or which ever department it is that handles this sort of stuff. It's only one step up from flipping burgers

And if its a government department, do they say..

"And would you like lies with that?"

Didn't you get remittance advice slips every time you recieved a payment?

They have to keep paper records of everything (alongside computer) for at least ten years, So if they REALLY wanted to find it, they could, just means sifting through the archives).

Computer error cannot be blamed, as even if it was deleted, your data would be held on a period-end, write protected backup tape somewhere (also got to be kept vaulted for ten years).

If I were you, and you dont think you are getting anywhere, then I would go and see my MP. and if they dont help, go and see the opposition MP.

There is no excuse for this sort of behaviour, the CSA is a classic example of government departments making major cock-ups ... And they always seem to think they can use "computer error" as the excuse ...

Seems strange that a business or individual have to keep tax records etc for 6 years, but a government dept can delete after 3!!

Goldryder wrote: ....One thing is certain, if I had been overpaid �9k, you can bet your life they would be camped out on my doorstep, cap in hand waiting for it.

Err, not exactly. But you might have been summoned to an interview at your local DWP orifice by the area fraud investigator..... and "invited" to suggest ways of paying it all back.....

What are your chances of claiming a backdated payment for the increased portion that they were meant to have paid you?

Goldryder wrote: ...The way I feel though is that I will believe it when I see it.

If my experience of helping welfare clients is anything to go by, you could be in for a bit of a wait.....

If you received the payments to a bank account then you may be able to use bank statement records to back up your position.  If necessary the bank should be able to trace the source of the payment as well as the destination (your bank account).  They should also be able to provide you with copy bank statements if you don't keep them (they probably charge for this service).

Goldryder wrote: ...the third office (IOW) just won't co-operate in any way, shape or form...

Sounds like you'd have had more chance if you'd been a resident of the Isle of Sheppey....

Say Farewel to your welfair.

Railways records has now been made more than 10 years ... when I woked for the Chamber of Commerce, Im sure it was close to, if not exactly 10yrs (def. more than 5).. I cant beleive they get away with 3 !!!, especially as e.t.a has pointed out, us mere minions are meant to keep ours for 6!!!!

What a joke. (not from were ur standing obviously)