how to report a fraud

wazza

this concerns a friends neighbour. the couple split up. the wife took the kids and managed to get a council house. the thing is she has moved back with her husband but still has the council house. according to my friend he has seen her at home for over a month. looks like she has no intention of moving to the council house but has not given it up. how can he report her to the authorities?

i think he would prefer to phone them or write them a letter etc. he has no access to a pc so can't complain online. i have told him i will post this and depending on results he can file online using a pc at the local library

thanks in advance

MyUserNamesTaken

Contact the local council and ask to speak to their benefits investigation team. Chances are, if she's got a council house and isn't working, she's claiming CTB and HB.

Fran

My personal opinion is that it's a shame that people feel the need to report everyone who appears to not fit into the right boxes now. If the couple are going through a rocky time with their relationship they only have a month in this case to sort it out before a nosey neighbour reports them and possibly any benefits they receive are stopped which could mean no money for them or their children while it's sorted out. Perhaps she has decided to try again with the relationship and perhaps she has decided not to take the council house. As I said it's my personal opinion, but I know it's hard enough claiming benefits legitimately without the high publicity that has been given to fraud meaning that people who are genuinely trying to sort out their lives have to put up with interference and premature reporting, so ostracising them even more from society as they are always under suspicion.

furby-2003

hear hear. I didn't live in my house for 6 months due to a relationship breakdown. don't judge people before you know the truth. but the truth is not really yours to know.

less2303

I think if your `Friend` is really that concerned, they should speak to the neighbour when they see them next. This would give the neighbour a chance to explain any reason for their actions, and also give them chance to rectify it. How does your `Friend` know that she has moved back in, she may be somewhere else altogether?

Finally, the actions of your friend would also impact on the husband, and the children, not just the wife, and could ruin any long term chance of the family patching things up.

If your `Friend` has a concience, they may want to consider this before taking any action.

looby75

I agree with everything everyone else has said. A month is no time at all and your friend should keep his nose out......for the time being at least.

It's very easy to jump to conclusions, which are often wrong, when you don't know all the facts.

I doubt that anyone here would condone benefit fraud but please give the woman a chance first, 4 weeks to change her entire life isn't being fair to her.

jmo

wazza

i agree with your remarks but it is not that simple. before posting this i have told him to leave it it could be she may want to come back home etc. which would be good because they have 3 young children. trouble is friend's neighbour's wife was the cause of my friend's marriage breakup. this person does nothing but gossip and cause problems around the area so naturally my friend is seeking revenge.

sad i know but i am only acting as a middleman :-( so be gentle on me :-)

will print this page so he can have a read.

looby75

wazza wrote:

trouble is friend's neighbour's wife was the cause of my friend's marriage breakup. this person does nothing but gossip and cause problems around the area so naturally my friend is seeking revenge.

Which is all the more reason he should back off and walk away. He won't be seeing this objectively and in the long run it's the kids who will be hurt the most if him reporting this woman causes her to give up on trying to get back together with her husband.

Believe me I know what it's like to want revenge on someone who has caused your marriage to break down, it eats you up but what exactly does getting revenge solve. It just lowers you to their standards It's just not worth it.

EmmaLi

But what if someone out there really needs that house? Is it fair for someone to keep hold of it just because they "might" need it at some point in the future?

Also, I think that people taking advantage is actually why it's so hard for genuine claimants to get the help they need.

joannemc3

wazza wrote:

this concerns a friends neighbour. the couple split up. the wife took the kids and managed to get a council house. the thing is she has moved back with her husband but still has the council house. according to my friend he has seen her at home for over a month. looks like she has no intention of moving to the council house but has not given it up. how can he report her to the authorities?

i think he would prefer to phone them or write them a letter etc. he has no access to a pc so can't complain online. i have told him i will post this and depending on results he can file online using a pc at the local library

thanks in advance

your friend needs to get a life and stop interfering , what business is it of his/hers anyway ??????????? your friend is obviously a jealous person

dro

Perhaps the OP's critics could suggest a suitable length of time that the friend's neighbour should be allowed to claim a council house and extra benefits that she's technically not entitled to. 6 weeks? 2 months? 6 months?

If the fact that she might lose her council house (that she isn't living in) is going to stop her getting back together with her partner then perhaps they are not meant to be together?