The DPS found in the landlords favour and allowed him to keep £450 for allegedly stealing 2 locks when I moved a few years ago. The locks were never installed and the outhouse in question didn't have a hasp for a lock in the first place.
I was never informed who the DPS was at the start despite asking and after e-mailing around the various ones, I had a reply from one stating that there was a deposit held in the landlords name as the tenant and that they wouldn't discuss it with me. After going back and forth and with 1 hour to go to their deadline, they agreed that I could appeal. When I did, they went back to telling me that I couldn't appeal because the landlord was down as the tenant. After that, they admitted it was a clerical error and let me know why the deductions were being made, I responded with the pictures, but they still sided with the landlord.
I actually went as far as contacting the previous tenants who said he tried the same thing with them.
I got the last laugh as my wifes sister had him sacked.