Would you report someone you knew for benefit fraud?

janninew

To all the people that think benefit fraud is acceptable, would you (or are you!) commit(ting) benefit fraud yourself?

janninew

SandC wrote: »

I wouldn't report her but it does drive me a bit mad. It goes on all over the place. But I kinda think it's not affecting me personally so why bother? I know, I know....

I've never claimed a penny in benefits and I don't get tax credits or anything either - no children.

Thing is, I would feel a bit of a hypocrite because if I have someone doing work on my house I will ask them if there's part or all of it I can pay in cash and not have to pay the VAT. I've only actually managed to save a bit of money once by asking that as it's not the done thing these days - more agro than it's worth apparently. But still, if I'm prepared to save a bit of VAT that way it's the same thing I guess. Likewise in actual fact hand on heart if I knew someone wasn't working right now but would come and do my decorating so summat I would be happy to just pay up and not expect them to declare it.

Aren't there others who hand on heart would do this? Or is this just a mate doing a favour for a few quid?

Do you only report crimes that affect you personally? I witnessed a hit and run when I was younger, didn't affect me in the slightest, should I have just walked away and pretend I didn't see anything?

I have also never offered cash in hand for work, I normally pay by cheque, even if you do pay by cash, what the tradesmen then declares isn't my business and I have no control over that.

pimento

janninew wrote: »

To all the people that think benefit fraud is acceptable, would you (or are you!) commit(ting) benefit fraud yourself?

I don't think it's acceptable but I wouldn't dob my neighbour in if I thought s/he was doing it. I might be minded to make a phone call if I knew a Hedge Fund Manager evading his taxes though.

The answer to your second question, the answer is no. I'm a higher tax rate payer so more of my money goes towards paying the benefits out.

Pollycat

biscit wrote: »

Well... sometimes it's because people disagree in an over emotive way and use lots of hyperbole and aggressive language.

I don't - but the person who suggested we in favour of reporting benefit frauds should 'get a grip' did.

Whatever your take on a situation, it's always better to express yourself as a mature and intelligent adult, using calm tones.
I know. Have you read Eastie77's post?

You don't need to get excited to express disapproval.
I didn't.

It was actually a hypothetical question but thanks anyway.

Pollycat

SandC wrote: »

I wouldn't report her but it does drive me a bit mad. It goes on all over the place. But I kinda think it's not affecting me personally so why bother? I know, I know....

I've never claimed a penny in benefits and I don't get tax credits or anything either - no children.

Thing is, I would feel a bit of a hypocrite because if I have someone doing work on my house I will ask them if there's part or all of it I can pay in cash and not have to pay the VAT. I've only actually managed to save a bit of money once by asking that as it's not the done thing these days - more agro than it's worth apparently. But still, if I'm prepared to save a bit of VAT that way it's the same thing I guess. Likewise in actual fact hand on heart if I knew someone wasn't working right now but would come and do my decorating so summat I would be happy to just pay up and not expect them to declare it.

Aren't there others who hand on heart would do this? Or is this just a mate doing a favour for a few quid?

Nope, not me.
It's condoning benefit fraud and I feel so strongly about people claiming what they are not entitled to that I just couldn't do it - not even if it saved me money.
I'd rather pay the going rate for whatever job I wanted doing.

Pollycat

pimento wrote: »

I don't think it's acceptable but I wouldn't dob my neighbour in if I thought s/he was doing it. I might be minded to make a phone call if I knew a Hedge Fund Manager evading his taxes though.

The answer to your second question, the answer is no. I'm a higher tax rate payer so more of my money goes towards paying the benefits out.

Why not?
If it's not acceptable to you, why not report it?

pimento

Pollycat wrote: »

If it's not acceptable to you, why not report it?

I find it a bit too windy up on the moral high ground.

biscit

Pollycat wrote: »

It was actually a hypothetical question but thanks anyway.

It was a general answer to the hypothetical question asked, not a criticism of any specific person.

Pollycat

pimento wrote: »

I find it a bit too windy up on the moral high ground.

Hmmm.

If people didn't try to get money that they are not entitled to by being benefit cheats, there'd be no need to have a hotline to report them and no need for anyone to take 'the moral high ground'.

The crime comes first, reporting it is just putting things right (assuming DWP do their job and really investigate these dishonest people).

According to the DWP website, last year they caught 56,493 benefit thieves (232 every day) and had over 677 calls a day to the hotline and over 476 reported online every day.

biscit

Pollycat wrote: »

Nope, not me. [...]
I'd rather pay the going rate for whatever job I wanted doing.

I had my car serviced at a small garage. My uncle said that he'd paid cash in the past to avoid VAT, and I couldn't get him to understand that I had a moral problem with not paying my taxes, particularly with the nations finances being so perilous.