Interview under caution

hoobily

Oh god. I changed the interview to tomorrow. Now I'm getting really worried now it's getting closer. I have got all the forms they need and I noticed on all of them it says that no further recovery action will be taken all the while repayments are being made! So why are they investigating? Is it because they are going to prosecute me? Please please help! xx

vax2002

You have been invited to attend an interview under caution, you do not have to attend and you do not have to answer any questions under caution.
You have a right to silence.
To be interviewed under caution means that they are looking to use words you say against you in a prosecution and the reason they need you to attend a IUC is because they do not have enough evidence to charge you or to have the police arrest you.
If you are unhappy or worried, dont go, tell them to send the police if they think you have committed a crime, then if they do you will get a free solicitor .
It is a invite, to grass yourself up

hoobily

i havent got anything to hide though. I admitted that I didnt tell them about Childcare costs and I am paying it back. I have every intention of going as I dont feel that I have anything to hide. I just cant stomach all these thoughts going round in my head any more :-(

Anubis_2

Hoobily, if you have nothing to hide, then go. They can't uncover what isn't there.

vax2002

hoobily wrote: »

i havent got anything to hide though. I admitted that I didnt tell them about Childcare costs and I am paying it back. I have every intention of going as I dont feel that I have anything to hide. I just cant stomach all these thoughts going round in my head any more :-(

It is not a question of having nothing to hide, it is a question of not giving information or getting pressured in to giving incorrect information which could incriminate yourself.
You are not entitled to legal assistance in the interviews yet the information could be used to convict you.
At least if the police are involved, you get legal help.
You do not use interviews under caution to sort out trivial problems, you do that in a informal meeting, you use them to gain evidence.

hoobily

Is that what this is then? They want me to say something I don't mean to? I admitted didn't tell them as I thought it didn't matter. What else can I say? I only realised that Childcare costs mattered when they said that I didn't tell them? So most certainly wasn't deliberate xx

make_me_wise

Hoobily, you have advised us that you have informed them of everything already and are paying back the overpayments. If you have been completely above board and have nothing to hide then there is nothing to worry about.

Out of interest how much was the overpayment? My understanding of it is that if you have an overpayment of under 2K, then they may just fine you a penalty fee for having money when you shouldn't have, as well as paying the overpayment back.

Are you taking anyone with you as moral support to the interview? My advice is go along, answer all their questions honestly and find out what it is all about. It will most likely go against you if you dont.

You cant stitch yourself up if there is nothing to hide.

vax2002

It sounds like you are aware that you have kept information regarding your income from them, if this is the case I can not offer you any more advice other than the legal implications of what you are facing and inform you that you have a right to silence and sometimes you are far better off using it and that the interview is completely voluntary and you do not have to attend or give any interview under caution.

hoobily

I was only aware after they told me I shouldve informed them. I didn't know I should have told them about Childcare cost so didn't knowingly do it. The overpayment is roughly £2000 now. Though have already made arrangements to repay it x

vax2002

hoobily wrote: »

I was only aware after they told me I shouldve informed them. I didn't know I should have told them about Childcare cost so didn't knowingly do it. The overpayment is roughly £2000 now. Though have already made arrangements to repay it x

IMO : It may not be about this, if it is then they are looking to prove it was deliberate and prosecute, they have no other reason for anything else.
You are attending voluntarily, you can refuse if you are sure you have done no wrong.
If they feel they have a case they will send the police who will then interview you and you can have a free solicitor who will tell you what evidence they have against you.