Customer Compliance

roseview

I have today had a letter "Invitation to Office Interview" saying that they need to see me in order to discuss a query that has arisen.

I suffer badly from stress and anxiety and waiting for the meeting to arrive is going to cause me some concern.

The only thing I can think of is that I have been having ongoing problems with the Benefits Agency and was recently told that somebody (not the person named in the letter) would be contacting me about my complaint. Is it possible that this is what it is about?

real1314

I'd say it's unlikely to be about a complaint you have made. It will be about some sort of discrepancy in the records - this may be an actual discrepancy or might just be an incorrect record.
Does it say what format the interview will take place or give any other details?

roseview

It does not give any further details. I only have to take ID with me.
When will the DWP realise the effect these generic letters have on some claimants.

Luvly.cuppa.T

Sounds like someone else has made an accusation against you, ie that you are not entitled to receive the benefits that you currently do.

Whenever they get a complaint like this, they have to 'invite you in' to discuss it. Then they decide based on what you say whether they will take it further or not. This will mean an investigation of sorts.

However if it is something that you can own up to, the process is stopped there and then and a method of paying back whatever is owed is discussed.

You should not be taped in this interview, and you have the right to stop it any point.

I could be completely wrong, but I had something like this a good few years ago (regarding working whilst on benefits, which I did for a month for a bit of cash, but paid back![cleaning a pub now and again, I have to add before all the tut tuts come out!]), and a friend of mine was thought to have had her bf living with her, which wasn't so.

You can phone them up and ask to see what it is about, but they will not give anything if there is an alligation about you.

bright_side

Hi, I also received one of these letters yesterday. 'A question has arisen regarding your claim for benefit' I rang them to ask what it was about and was told it was nothing to worry about and that it is basically a review of circumstances but 'unfortunately the letter was worded badly'. I too suffer badly with anxiety and am currently looking after my sister who has a brain tumour. We get the results from her biopsy today and I really didn't need this added worry of the letter! Maybe give the compliance office a ring and see if they tell you the same as they did me??

Let me know

Karen

demonicangel

Luvly.cuppa.T wrote:

Sounds like someone else has made an accusation against you, ie that you are not entitled to receive the benefits that you currently do.

Whenever they get a complaint like this, they have to 'invite you in' to discuss it. Then they decide based on what you say whether they will take it further or not. This will mean an investigation of sorts.

However if it is something that you can own up to, the process is stopped there and then and a method of paying back whatever is owed is discussed.

You should not be taped in this interview, and you have the right to stop it any point.

I could be completely wrong, but I had something like this a good few years ago (regarding working whilst on benefits, which I did for a month for a bit of cash, but paid back![cleaning a pub now and again, I have to add before all the tut tuts come out!]), and a friend of mine was thought to have had her bf living with her, which wasn't so.

You can phone them up and ask to see what it is about, but they will not give anything if there is an alligation about you.

I had that a few months ago, basically my exes sister rang up the hotline and told a load of lies about me and her brother (that he was living with me etc) that were a load of lies. She had it in for me because i split with him and she didnt like that (shes 15).

It was all ok though when i had explained it all.

If you have nothing to worry about, then dont worry!! I know its hard but it will make things worse

roseview

I've been told that it is something to do with information they have received from the Inland Revenue about savings I had in 2004, which is before I claimed any means related benefits anyway. They want to know what happened to the savings.
Does anybody know what sort of information the IR passes on to the Benefits Agency?

hjb123

I think it also depends on the amount of savings that you woudl have and whether they might think that you have spent them quickly or etc to enable yourself to receive benefits.

Which benefit are you on? Is it Income Support?

roseview

Yes, I have been on Incapacity Benefit since 2004 but only claimed IS at the end of August 06.

real1314

Inland Revenue (IR) will have full details of any accounts you have for the purpose of tax due on interest.
From this they can estimate the balance of the account.

IR are able to share info with DWP.

If you had significant savings, they will want to know what's happened to them.