SW screwed up and now I'm in debt... Will they compensate it?

rawn

I'm a student and currently receiving BTEA at a reduced rate (I'm cohabiting). When I applied for my college course I applied for dispersed VTOS, which I didn't get. The college gave me a letter stating that I didn't receive any VTOS payments. I handed it in with my other documents while applying for BTEA and the SW took a copy of it. My claim went through fine, started receiving money into my bank account, sorted. Got a call a week or two later saying they needed the letter from VTOS, I said I brought it in but could bring it in again, he said "oh actually I remember seeing it here before, no worries I'll close your VTOS case, you don't need to do anything" Then last Thursday I checked my online bank statement, and noticed that not only did I not get paid, but my bank account is now -€46 in irregular account charges as I had several bills due to go out by direct debit that day,and they failed. I went down to the SW on the Friday to see what happened, they said my payments were suspended until I bring in the VTOS letter. I told them I had brought it in and had gotten a call about it saying it was fine, they said I would have to bring it in again. As he was saying this, he opened up my file and the bloody letter was right there on top. He basically just said "oh well, you'll just have to wait until next week, nothing we can do now"

Now I know, "wah wah wah the government owe me more free money". But the thing is, I am already on a reduced rate of €156, when you factor in rent. bills, food, travel to college and lunches, the fact that I am minus nearly €50 cos of their mistake is kinda crippling me! It was 100% their fault but I now owe my bank cos of it. Is there any chance they would compensate me for it?

Corkbah

rawn wrote: »

I'm a student and currently receiving BTEA at a reduced rate (I'm cohabiting). When I applied for my college course I applied for dispersed VTOS, which I didn't get. The college gave me a letter stating that I didn't receive any VTOS payments. I handed it in with my other documents while applying for BTEA and the SW took a copy of it. My claim went through fine, started receiving money into my bank account, sorted. Got a call a week or two later saying they needed the letter from VTOS, I said I brought it in but could bring it in again, he said "oh actually I remember seeing it here before, no worries I'll close your VTOS case, you don't need to do anything" Then last Thursday I checked my online bank statement, and noticed that not only did I not get paid, but my bank account is now -€46 in irregular account charges as I had several bills due to go out by direct debit that day,and they failed. I went down to the SW on the Friday to see what happened, they said my payments were suspended until I bring in the VTOS letter. I told them I had brought it in and had gotten a call about it saying it was fine, they said I would have to bring it in again. As he was saying this, he opened up my file and the bloody letter was right there on top. He basically just said "oh well, you'll just have to wait until next week, nothing we can do now"

Now I know, "wah wah wah the government owe me more free money". But the thing is, I am already on a reduced rate of €156, when you factor in rent. bills, food, travel to college and lunches, the fact that I am minus nearly €50 cos of their mistake is kinda crippling me! It was 100% their fault but I now owe my bank cos of it. Is there any chance they would compensate me for it?

long answer .... no.

chances are slim ..but talk to someone in the SW office and see what they say.

to be fair - its not their fault you went into overdraft (you didn't have enough money - doesn't matter to them that you are reliant on their money to bankroll you)

rawn

Corkbah wrote: »

long answer .... no.

chances are slim ..but talk to someone in the SW office and see what they say.

to be fair - its not their fault you went into overdraft (you didn't have enough money - doesn't matter to them that you are reliant on their money to bankroll you)

Damn... pretty much the answer I expected Looks like I'll be walking to college after the midterm or going without heating :rolleyes: