How to pay back an overpayment Click to get info
There are several ways you can pay back the overpayment.
You can either:
- make a one-off payment to pay the full amount
- set up a Direct Debit to pay in instalments
- contact us to make an arrangement to pay in instalments
Make a one-off payment
You can use one of the following methods to pay back your overpayment in full.
Telephone banking
If you have a telephone banking facility, contact your bank. You’ll need to give:
- your invoice number
- sort code: 20 00 00
- account number: 53234460
By phone
You can phone our automated payment system on 020 8496 3000 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You’ll need:
- your debit card
- your invoice number
At a Post Office or PayPoint site
You’ll need to take your letter because you need the barcode to pay.
If you don’t have it, please call us on 0208 496 8551 to get another one.
In person
Waltham Forest Town Hall
Forest Road
Walthamstow E17 4JF
Pay in instalments: set up a Direct Debit Click to get info
If you need more time to repay, you can set up a Direct Debit with to pay in instalments.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Use the table below to check how many instalments you need to pay over. To find the amount we'll take each month, just divide the full amount you owe by the number of monthly payments.
- Download and complete the Direct Debit form (PDF 225KB)
- Return it to: Revenue.Services@walthamforest.gov.uk or by post to: Waltham Forest Town Hall, Forest Road, Walthamstow E17 4JF.
| Amount of overpayment | Number of monthly payments |
|---|---|
| from £5.01 to £50 | single payment only |
| from £500.01 to £1,500 | 3 |
| from £1,500.01 to £2,500 | 9 |
| from £2,500.01 to £5,000 | 12 |
| over £5,000 | 24 |
If you don’t want to complete a Direct Debit, you can contact us to propose a payment arrangement. Please be aware, we may still expect you to pay over the same number of instalments as listed in the table above.
Pay in instalments: Make an arrangement Click to get info
You can use the below form to make an offer of payment towards your overpayment, the form will be reviewed and responded to by one of the overpayments team
Pay in full or one off instalment amount Click to get info
You can use one of the following methods to pay back your overpayment either in full or at an agreed instalment amount.
How to challenge or appeal an overpayment Click to get info
If you disagree with the overpayment, you can:
- write to us and ask for a more detailed explanation
- ask for us to look at our decision again
You must do this within one calendar month of the date on the letter.
If you’re still not satisfied, you can appeal to the HM Courts and Tribunal Service. They will run an independent tribunal to hear your appeal.
What happens if you don't pay Click to get info
If you don’t pay or make an arrangement to pay, we’ll send you a final demand for payment.
If you still don’t pay, we can take steps to recover the money by:
- reducing your Housing Benefit
- reducing your other benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions
- asking your employer to give us a percentage of your wages if you are working
- using Housing Benefit paid to landlords for other tenants to recover an overpayment - this is only relevant for overpayments which we can recover directly from the landlord.
We can recover overpayments from:
- the person claiming
- someone acting on behalf of the person claiming
- the person the Housing Benefit is paid to (including the landlord if we paid them direct)
If we can’t recover the money this way, we may ask a debt collector to visit your home.
We may then ask the County Court to issue an order for payment. This will increase the amount you owe because costs and interest will be added to the debt. It may also affect your ability to get credit in future.
We may apply to the court for:
- you to be made bankrupt: All your existing assets and your bank account will be frozen and controlled by the official receiver. You’ll be liable to pay our costs, plus the receiver’s costs (up to £2000) and any insolvency practitioner costs (up to £50,000 or more if the case is complex). If you’re a homeowner, you may be forced to sell your house to settle your debts.
- a charging order on your property: You’ll be liable to pay costs and daily interest. We may also apply to enforce the order and sell your property.
- a warrant of execution giving court bailiffs the authority to seize goods: Your goods will be sold at public auction and the proceeds used to pay the debt you owe.
- an attachment of earnings order: This allows deductions to be made directly from your earnings.
- a third party debt order: This allows payment to be taken directly from your bank or building society accounts.