Recorded interview under caution help!!!

seven-day-weekend

Did he have NO bills, not even Council Tax/utility bills, go to the addresses he rented? Nothing at all? He must have had SOME sort of documentation for the place, surely? What address is on his driving licence? Was he registered with a Dr at that address? Electoral Roll? I find it hard to believe there is NOTHING to prove he lived there.

I still have post going to a property I have not lived in full-time for five years!

Kath13

He lived in a room, belonging to family friendsnds...paid them 40 pounds a week, he doesnt drive either.

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Did he have NO bills, not even Council Tax/utility bills, go to the addresses he rented? Nothing at all? He must have had SOME sort of documentation for the place, surely? What address is on his driving licence?

I still have post going to a property I have not lived in full-time for five years!

fabforty

Kath,

We are not accusing you of fiddling your claim (at least I don't think we are), but we are not the ones that you need to convince. The fact is (whatever your intentions) by having your husbands mail sent to your address - especially as he was your carer/boyfriend/husband - the authorities are likely to believe that he was living there. It's up to you to persuade them otherwise, but the general opinion on this forum is that they probably won't believe you. I wouldn't if I was in their shoes, and I suspect you wouldn't either. You are unlikely to go to prison, and if it's a first offence, there is a good chance that they won't prosecute although you will have to repay what they believe you owe. Your protestations to us about what you did and why you did them are fruitless. Save your energy for working out what you will say when you are interviewed. My advice is simply tell thr truth, but accept that they probably won't beleive you.

JimmyTheWig

Kath13, I don't know what you expect us to do.
Think about the evidence.

Evidence that he was living with you...
1. He had his mail delivered there.
2. The council themselves had that as his address.
3. He really did live there for 2 weeks (during which you still claimed benefits).
4. He could have been seen to be living there 2-3 times a week.

Evidence that he wasn't living with you...
1. Your word, his word, family and friends' words.


Regardless of the truth, do you expect them to believe you?

seven-day-weekend

Kath13 wrote: »

He lived in a room, belonging to family friendsnds...paid them 40 pounds a week, he doesnt drive either.

So was he registered with a Dr there, or on the electoral roll? Or does he have any proof that he paid them £40 a week (bank statements, receipts etc)?

Quizzical_Squirrel

Kath13 wrote: »

He lived in a room, belonging to family friendsnds...paid them 40 pounds a week, he doesnt drive either.

Can they write letters to substantiate this? Maybe it will help.
Was he using your address for the whole two years?

Unfortunately although he was living with friends and staying with you for 2 or 3 nights a week, on paper it looks like he was living with you and staying overnight with friends 4 or 5 days a week.
It's a pretty close call either way isn't it, especially over a two years period and the mail will push it over the edge.

There must be some documentation or letters you you can have written by someone to back you up.

MORPH3US

aj2703 wrote: »

As has been said the main mistake is his mail.

I disagree, the main mistake was not keeping the council (or whoever) informed of what was going on...

tincat

The people he lived with should have been declaring the extra income (£40 per week) they got from the room, so maybe they can substantiate his living there?

aj2703

MORPH3US wrote: »

I disagree, the main mistake was not keeping the council (or whoever) informed of what was going on...

Do you mean as in inform them he is having his mail sent there but not actually living there...? If so then good point.....

MORPH3US

Kath13 wrote: »

He lived in a room, belonging to family friendsnds...paid them 40 pounds a week

I'm not accusing you of lying OP, but the above is exactly what I would say if I was caught for this sort of thing and I was wanting to lie about it to get me out of the crap.

Only problem is I would know it wouldn't wash, without proof it just looks like a bad lie that you made up and got friends to back you up on...

Sorry, but thats the way it sounds.