unfairly being interviewed for benefit fraud

luceno1

hi,
I'll try to explain everything as properly as I can in my aggitated state!
Im a single mother of two young children and claiming income support etc. and a couple of months ago recieved a letter from the job centre asking me to attend an interview to discuss the payments i was recieving. Thinking this an routine formality I thought nothing of it and went along to the interview..... how wrong i was!
The interview was with a very cold, hard, b***h of a woman who never once explained why i was there, or made any point throughout the 30 minutes, but continued to be very rude to me and make very offensive derogatory comments. I started to feel like i was been accused of something rather than what the letter had had me believe. She asked me why when she rang my old land line number (which was disconected years ago which they were fully aware of) it went through to an employment agency? obviously that had nothing to do with me which i told her, and if she didnt believe me to get in touch with BT and they would be able to explain more. She then went on to ask me why i was wearing an engagment ring, and i explained that it wasnt an engagment ring, just a small celtic band that i got when I was a little girl when my family went to edinburough that i used to wear on my index finger, but when it got too small i switched it to my wedding finger. Still she didnt appear to believe anything i said and kept on verbally attacking me with accusations. She then started talking about my childrens father, asking how often he came to my house, what his hours of work, wages etc were, and if i ever let him have sex with me!
I was shocked, but answered everything sencerly and honestly which with hindsight i should of been more diligent and not told such personal details of my life to a stranger that was obviously was out to get me in some way. I left the interview feeling very confused, offended, naive and hurt and when making my way home it dawned on me what her intentions had been, to investigate me for some kind of benefit fraud (still dont know on what grounds, dont know if it was to do with my old phone line or having a relationship with my childrens father) i broke down and cried all the way home. And what seemed the most unfair of all was that as i have basically no babysitting support, i had to take my 3 year old son to this interview so he was a witness to this woman talking to me in this way, and having to explain to him why i was crying.
After the interview i just kind of drew a line under it, upestting as it was, knowing that i hadnt done anything wrong and surely nothing would come of it. (and obviously as soon as i got home rang my old landline number to see if what she said was true... it wasnt, the number wasnt in use at all. why would she lie?)

Anyway, 1 month later i recieved another lettter to attend another interview, which is tomorrow.
Now Im totally paranoid and a nervous wreck! its almost as if im being set up and i have no idea what allegations they are going to throw at me tomorrow.
I would just like to know if anyone else has been through this, and if this is normal? seems a very sick state of affairs if it is
thanks for taking the time to read this. x

vax2002

Does this state interview under caution ?
If not anything they interview you about can not be used anyway.
But my advice is, someone is grassing on you behind your back.

luceno1

i think so, but i dont know if i will be under caution at my interview tmoro, surely i would of stated that in the letter?

luceno1

But my advice is, someone is grassing on you behind your back.[/QUOTE]


I cant imagine why anyone would though, I know that seems like the most likely cause but i dont know anyone in the area, i keep myself to myself and above all else i have done nothing wrong!!!
It would make things a hell of alot clearer if i knew what i was being accused of. I supose i've just got to hope that ccso will realise they have made some kind of mistake and all of this will just go away....but im of a nervous disposition naturally ha

McKneff

The letter would actually say 'interview under caution'

Go with an open mind, tell the truth, be calm but firm.

If you havent done anything wrong, of course you will be okay.

It probably wont even be the same person so like I say, dont go in all defensive. Ask them first of all why you are being
interviewed and let us know how you get on.

kingfisherblue

I have had two interviews in the past - the first was because some numpty in the office had noticed that I had declared my voluntary work with GirlGuiding UK, but they thought I was in a paid position and not declaring wages. Thye obviously didn't know what 'voluntary' meant :rotfl:. I had also provided a letter from my Division Commissioner that stated I do not receive any payment for my work as a Brownie Guider (I provided this when I first started to claim income support).

The second interview, I was told that an anonymous call was made by a female to the Benefit Fraud Enquiry Line. They knew some details, such as my children being at the same school as my friend's children, and the fact that my friend received Direct Payments to look after my son once a week. The report was that the caller had heard me discussing the DPs with my friend on the playground, and the fact that I was 'creaming off' some of the money. Whoever made the call hadn't realised that my friend's children (infants at the time) used a different playground to my children (juniors - separate playgrounds on opposite sides of the school). I never came into contact with my friend at school, due to the layout and the different ages of our children. I also offered to provide evidence of the DPs (which IS were aware of) and gave permission for the Job Centre to speak with the DP department at the local council.

On both occasions, I was found to be innocent of any wrongdoing. I have no idea why someone made a malicious and untrue accusation about me.

If you have done nothing wrong, OP, then you have nothing to worry about. Go in, tell the truth.

Good luck.

zagfles

They probably think you aren't really "single".

Do you have a boyfriend/partner who stays overnight regularly?

Does anyone else pay/share your household bills?

Do you have a joint bank account/share finances with anyone?

If the answer to all the above is no then you should be OK - try not to worry

luceno1

zagfles wrote: »

They probably think you aren't really "single".

Do you have a boyfriend/partner who stays overnight regularly?

Does anyone else pay/share your household bills?

Do you have a joint bank account/share finances with anyone?

If the answer to all the above is no then you should be OK - try not to worry

no no and no. The only thing i can really think of is that my childrens father recently started working away and obviously couldnt come over and give the financial support for the kids that i was used to by hand, so ocassionally puts money into my bank account for clothes etc. for them

luceno1

oh, just remembered, there has been a few occasions that my childrens father has paid my rent for me, purely because i was getting really behind

sundays

It is very important to know what that letter says, if its says its under caution they must give you suffic ient notice and you should have legal advice which will be free.
if it is that , ring and say you need legal advice and they will suspend it.

if it is a compliance interview, it is your choice whether you attend or not, but ask to allow the interview to be recorded on your mobile phone.

If what you are saying is true and they did ask you those questions esp about sex you have grounds for a serious complaint regarding the person who interviewed you.

If you are likley to panic , take some one with you , not having a clear head is no defence and you will get even more muddled up.

And ask where there information is coming from, they should tell you.

sundays

Any cash you receive must be declared and if not already declared can be deducted as income from your benefit , instead he is better to send you shopping vouchers or pay for actual stuff like a online shop.