Maliciously reported for tax credit fraud!

wayneyb

Hi all,

Bit of advice needed on this one, and it will be greatly appreciated. My apologies for such a monster post.

Basically my estranged sister has reported me (so she has told me tonight by text!) for tax credit fraud.

Now I don't even claim tax credits, or any other form of benefit. Her accusation is groundless, malicious and purely out of spite. I have received about 20 texts from her tonight, which I will retain as evidence if needed, which are harrassful in nature, gloating about her reporting me. I won't go into gory detail but my mum passed away last February and unfortunately a family row erupted over money (as always!) which has left my sister estranged from myself and my other brother and sister.

I have not seen her at all for about 8 months, she knows nothing about my personal situation, but she regularly texts me giving me all sorts of grief, which I rarely reply to, about how she has nothing to lose now she is estranged from the rest of our family - now she has hit a new low.

I dont know 100% if she has reported me, or if it is an empty threat. Should I ring the tax credit office to discuss this with them or wait for some/any contact from them? Because would they tell me anything anyway if she has reported me as it is all confidential, and I dont want them thinking where there is smoke there is fire.

The one thing I am worried about is my ex-girlfriend does claim working tax credits for our 3-year old son. We used to live together as a couple, and had a joint tax credit claim when our son was born. She started to suffer from severe post-natal depression which put such a strain on our relationship that we separated. She moved back in with her mum and took full custody of our son. It was an amicable split so we didnt go through CSA, I dont pay any maintenance to her, but provide (spoil!!) for my son on the couple of nights I have him, he has a bedroom at my house where I live with my sister.

Last year my partner was very ill and not coping with her depression so my son came to live with me fulltime for several months to give her a break, tax credits were informed and I had my own claim. When my ex was in a position for my son to move back in with her I cancelled my claim and she claimed again - due to the number of changes we had done regarding the tax credits she had to provide evidence of her circumstances etc.. to an investigation dept and her claim was accepted.

Now I am worried that if she is investigated it will have a detrimental effect on her health, and I feel guilty that my sister is trying to get at me but it may be my ex that suffers as a result of this if she is investigated, even though she is an innocent party in all this.

If my sister has reported ME could they investigate my ex just because we had a linked claim/claim changes last year, because I dont receive tax credits? Would they make contact by letter in the first instance or do they 'investigate' first, surveillance etc...?

Like I said I have kept my text messages where she has told me she has reported me, and all the other abusive ones, in case I need them.

Any advice on what is likely to happen next / what I should do would be greatly appreciated. I have already informed my ex as to what has happened and she is in a right state although I have assured her it will be ok. Thanks for reading.

Elvisia

Personally I would wait and see if you get a letter. I got a letter from the Job Centre saying there was a query on my account, and when I spoke to my friend who worked there he said it might be because someone had maliciously reported me for working while claiming benefits. Apparently this happens a lot. If you haven't been claiming this benefit in the first place, I don't see that they will have anything to pick you up on? Are you sure your sister wasn't just being drunk and malicious sending those texts, and hadn't really done anything? It's a very nasty thing to do either way.

wayneyb

Elvisia wrote: »

Personally I would wait and see if you get a letter. I got a letter from the Job Centre saying there was a query on my account, and when I spoke to my friend who worked there he said it might be because someone had maliciously reported me for working while claiming benefits. Apparently this happens a lot. If you haven't been claiming this benefit in the first place, I don't see that they will have anything to pick you up on? Are you sure your sister wasn't just being drunk and malicious sending those texts, and hadn't really done anything? It's a very nasty thing to do either way.

Thanks. So is contact likely to come by letter in the first instance? Do you know if they would contact me or my ex?

And no I don't think she was drunk, she is just a very bitter person who cares more about money than family.

eskimo26

use the evidence to get a restraining order, its clear harassment and its pretty pathetic since most reports of this nature are impotent and end in nothing more then wasted tax payers money.

I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

Contact will be by letter, if she reported you then that's who they will look at though your ex may be involved given the details.

wayneyb

eskimo26 wrote: »

use the evidence to get a restraining order, its clear harassment and its pretty pathetic since most reports of this nature are impotent and end in nothing more then wasted tax payers money.

I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

Contact will be by letter, if she reported you then that's who they will look at though your ex may be involved given the details.

Thanks - I did think of reporting her for harrassment. Is it an easy process to get a restraining order? - it would be a last resort, but if I am contacted by tax credits I will have no hesitation in pursuing this, because I believe she will only try something else to hurt me when that fails.

Try as I might its 2:30am - I am definitely losing sleep over it. Mostly through anger rather than worry.

Parva

Call me cynical but why are you so concerned about your ex's welfare? I wouldn't go as far as wishing death on my ex-wife (I've come close!) but nor would I be worried about her welfare, particularly where a child is involved as you are then more likely to get custody, which most adoring fathers would relish!

You also mention....

It was an amicable split so we didnt go through CSA, I dont pay any maintenance to her, but provide (spoil!!) for my son on the couple of nights I have him, he has a bedroom at my house where I live with my sister.

I'm sorry but none of this rings true. If it is true then you have nothing to fear from an investigation.

bestpud

wayneyb wrote: »

Hi all,

Bit of advice needed on this one, and it will be greatly appreciated. My apologies for such a monster post.

Basically my estranged sister has reported me (so she has told me tonight by text!) for tax credit fraud.

Now I don't even claim tax credits, or any other form of benefit. Her accusation is groundless, malicious and purely out of spite. I have received about 20 texts from her tonight, which I will retain as evidence if needed, which are harrassful in nature, gloating about her reporting me. I won't go into gory detail but my mum passed away last February and unfortunately a family row erupted over money (as always!) which has left my sister estranged from myself and my other brother and sister.

I have not seen her at all for about 8 months, she knows nothing about my personal situation, but she regularly texts me giving me all sorts of grief, which I rarely reply to, about how she has nothing to lose now she is estranged from the rest of our family - now she has hit a new low.

I dont know 100% if she has reported me, or if it is an empty threat. Should I ring the tax credit office to discuss this with them or wait for some/any contact from them? Because would they tell me anything anyway if she has reported me as it is all confidential, and I dont want them thinking where there is smoke there is fire.

The one thing I am worried about is my ex-girlfriend does claim working tax credits for our 3-year old son. We used to live together as a couple, and had a joint tax credit claim when our son was born. She started to suffer from severe post-natal depression which put such a strain on our relationship that we separated. She moved back in with her mum and took full custody of our son. It was an amicable split so we didnt go through CSA, I dont pay any maintenance to her, but provide (spoil!!) for my son on the couple of nights I have him, he has a bedroom at my house where I live with my sister.

Last year my partner was very ill and not coping with her depression so my son came to live with me fulltime for several months to give her a break, tax credits were informed and I had my own claim. When my ex was in a position for my son to move back in with her I cancelled my claim and she claimed again - due to the number of changes we had done regarding the tax credits she had to provide evidence of her circumstances etc.. to an investigation dept and her claim was accepted.

Now I am worried that if she is investigated it will have a detrimental effect on her health, and I feel guilty that my sister is trying to get at me but it may be my ex that suffers as a result of this if she is investigated, even though she is an innocent party in all this.

If my sister has reported ME could they investigate my ex just because we had a linked claim/claim changes last year, because I dont receive tax credits? Would they make contact by letter in the first instance or do they 'investigate' first, surveillance etc...?

Like I said I have kept my text messages where she has told me she has reported me, and all the other abusive ones, in case I need them.

Any advice on what is likely to happen next / what I should do would be greatly appreciated. I have already informed my ex as to what has happened and she is in a right state although I have assured her it will be ok. Thanks for reading.

What would surveillance show? You clearly have something to worry about as surveillance wouldn't cross the mind of someone with absolutely nothing to hide...

Are you spending a lot of time with your ex at her address or vice versa?

I'm not sure how you manage to contribute your share of your child's upkeep by spoiling him two days a week either. That's not what child maintenance is about.

If you are both completely innocent then you have nothing whatsoever to worry about so just leave it be.

bestpud

eskimo26 wrote: »

use the evidence to get a restraining order, its clear harassment and its pretty pathetic since most reports of this nature are impotent and end in nothing more then wasted tax payers money.

I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

Contact will be by letter, if she reported you then that's who they will look at though your ex may be involved given the details.

Bit OTT isn't it?

They've not seen each other in 8 months so I don't think they are anywhere near the point of needing a restraining order!!

How about the OP stop acting like his sister and just ignore the texts (as he's been doing), change his number or block her?

It would also be a waste of tax payers money to bother the police and courts with a ridiculous demand for a restraining order!

nonnatus

First, get a new SIM card and change your number so your nutter sister stops harrassing you.

Don't phone HMRC. IF she really did contact them, they MIGHT do a quick search and realise soon enough that your name's not even on their current list of Payee's.
They have WAY too much to do to chase people who aren't even getting tax credits

Secondly, be reassured - You sound convinced that you've never acted dishonestly, so be confident! If you haven't cheated, you can't be in trouble

Mara69

Thirdly, start paying proper maintenance for your son. Your do realise the child's mother could claim you've made no payments (and I agree buying the child a few bits a pieces twice a week is hardly maintenance in the true sense of the word) and contact the CSA. Your 'spoiling' your son will hold no truck with them.

wayneyb

bestpud wrote: »

What would surveillance show? You clearly have something to worry about as surveillance wouldn't cross the mind of someone with absolutely nothing to hide...

Are you spending a lot of time with your ex at her address or vice versa?

I'm not sure how you manage to contribute your share of your child's upkeep by spoiling him two days a week either. That's not what child maintenance is about.

If you are both completely innocent then you have nothing whatsoever to worry about so just leave it be.

No I have nothing to hide, but I would rather HMRC just get in touch so this can get sorted out, rather than be kept thinking, is someone watching.....etc.
I dont see my ex apart from picking up/dropping off my son, and the occasional social gathering as we have the same friends.

Without going into too much detail it was horrible seeing my ex change as a result of post-natal depression, we didnt split because one of us cheated or anything like that so I don't hate her at all and wouldnt punish her by applying for full custody, she has never stopped me seeing my son. He did live with me fulltime for several months last year when she was going through a bad time. Believe me I know I am lucky when it comes to the access I have to my son.