Compliance Officer Visit

louiseg0151

I have done a search about this but it appears that this case is slightly different to others so here goes.

I currently claim ESA and my mum has been my appointee since October, however, since moving in with my Fiance we are trying to get my Fiance as my appointee instead of my mum.

My Fiance had a phone message from the Jobcentre asking him to phone them to make an appointment but never got round to it and today we had a letter as follows

Dear Mr X (addressed to my Fiance)

We need to visit you to get some information or documents to help us deal with Miss Y's claim.

A Customer Compliance Officer will be calling at the above address on Monday 7 June 2010 between the times of 9.30am and 3.30pm. Please note we will not be able to state a specific time.

We will need to see Miss Y at the visit if possible.

If you or Miss Y are unavailable, please let us know as soon as possible before our visit, our contact telephone number is at the top of this letter. We will then rearrange the visit.

The Customer Compliance Officer will need to see a number of things to verify your and (Miss Y's) identity and make sure the right amount of benefit is being received.

A Customer Compliance Officer will need to see proof of identification, such as:

• A vaid Passport or ID card;
• A full/provisional Driving License;
• Utility bills;
• Mortgage or Rental agreement including the residing address
• Bank statememnt etc bearing your name and current address.

Now, my question is - we've only recently moved into our current address and my bank statements are still going to my mums. All of the utility bills are in my fiances name but the tenancy agreement is in both our names. Additionally, my fiances bank statments etc are in storage - we've got current utility bills (online billing) but no bank statements to hand.

In the above letter, are they asking for bank statements purely as 'proof of ID' or are they trying to ensure we're not getting money we're not entitled to?

Also, what will happen if they come and my fiance can't provide them with bank statements?

Thanks in advance

louiseg0151

has anyone got any advice please?

SuziQ

When I have been asked for bank statements, they have looked at them and queried some of the entries, especially if there has been a credit of some kind. They have also taken notes. They have always accepted my explanation of what the money was for.

I would try to get the statements if you can. They accepted ones from the internet from me as I had one missing, luckily the most recent which was online. I offered to bring it up online to show her it hadn't been tampered with but she declined and she accepted it as it was.

edited-debit changed to credit.

bestpud

louiseg0151 wrote: »

I have done a search about this but it appears that this case is slightly different to others so here goes.

I currently claim ESA and my mum has been my appointee since October, however, since moving in with my Fiance we are trying to get my Fiance as my appointee instead of my mum.

My Fiance had a phone message from the Jobcentre asking him to phone them to make an appointment but never got round to it and today we had a letter as follows



Now, my question is - we've only recently moved into our current address and my bank statements are still going to my mums. All of the utility bills are in my fiances name but the tenancy agreement is in both our names. Additionally, my fiances bank statments etc are in storage - we've got current utility bills (online billing) but no bank statements to hand.

In the above letter, are they asking for bank statements purely as 'proof of ID' or are they trying to ensure we're not getting money we're not entitled to?

Also, what will happen if they come and my fiance can't provide them with bank statements?

Thanks in advance

I have some stuff in storage and if I want it, I just go and get it... :cool:

I may be wrong but it seems to me you have something to hide.

Breast_Cancer_Survivor

Does your bank not provide an internet banking service so you could print off your bank statements?

I know Nationwide & Halifax do so would of thought most would of.

Blackpool_Saver

If you have kept them informed of changes of address and income you will not have any problems............have you?

louiseg0151

That's nice isn't it...get accused of all sorts.

My fiances stuff is in his dads garage which is 40 miles away and as they've given us short notice that's what's made it difficult. Yes his bank has online banking and he is willing to show them any printouts they want but they won't prove is ID will they?

Fiver29

Looking at that letter it doesn't say you need bank statements, it just says you need identification and bank statements are one of the options open to you.

AnxiousMum

You could also go into the bank and ask them to print out however many statements are needed couldn't you?

bestpud

Well, I guess the worst outcome is they will call again if you don't have everything they need so why not show them what you have and take it from there?

rosalie-lavender

My OH is on income support because of disability and we had a similar letter saying that a compliance officer was coming and asking for ID.

All he had to show was his passport, bank statements was on the list but as an option instead of passports, driving license etc. In our case it turned out we had a small overpayment that was caused by my payslips for my holiday work not getting through to them quickly enough. The lady that came was very nice and said to my husband that they deliver overpayment letters in person "because we have to look after people like you."

I think if they want to see bank statements as well as the ID, it will be clear on the letter that they want both. We got our bank statements ready but OH wasn't asked for them.