Customer Compliance visit???

Lisey_Loo

I am currently in receipt of IB and have been for several years due to ill health, and today I received a letter from the DWP telling me that next Wednesday they are sending a Customer Compliance Officer to my house.

What does this mean?

Why does that job title have such an ominous tone to it?

Has anyone else had one of these visits and what exactly do they do at one?

Any advice gratefully received...

cattie

Often people who've been claiming benefits for a while will get a visit, just to check out all is as it should be.

Generally they will check that you are claiming all you are entitled to, so some lucky people find out they are entitled to a bit more money. Let's hope you're one of the lucky one's!

Lisey_Loo

Thanks so much for that info, I feel a bit better now.

lil_me

I think these only started in April, taken from a gov site

From 1 April 2006, we are introducing a revised referral decision system that will also identify cases that require action at a level below the criminal law standard. Cases identified under the new system will be referred for action by Customer Compliance Officers. Customer Compliance Officers will deal with cases of lower level fraud, enabling the Fraud Investigation Service to concentrate its resource on cases requiring criminal investigation.

Lisey_Loo

Blimey!!!

That sounds a bit scary!!!!

:eek:

lil_me

Nahh nothing to worry about if there isn't anything incorrect about your claim (which I pressume there isn't of course) same with any visit. My friend had a visit as they believed was too much money going into her account. When she showed them she withdrew money on a Friday to pay to back in on the Monday so didn't look too bad with her bank (who she had loans and OD with) they were fine about it (but they did have 3 years of her bank statements) The only other thing they questioned was paypal money paid in, but that was from selling second hand goods she had so they did noting about that either. They did have her on tape and under caution for the interview tho.

Lisey_Loo

That`s the thing, there isn`t anything wrong with my claim.

They just seem to have sprung this meeting at my house on me, which I don`t like.

I don`t trust them at all...

lil_me

I think they have set cases, then they pick some from a lucky dip almost on who to investigate just to make sure. My friend found out someone had told them she was claiming incorrectly. False allegation of course, but these things happen.