single mum, i have an interview with a "customer compliance" officer?

john539

I wish people would update their threads, to put others' minds at rest about these Customer Compliance Officer visits, as I'm sure many are carrying out simple checks and don't warrant the worry they cause.

Customer Compliance Officer Visit

poppy10_2

john539 wrote: »

I wish people would update their threads, to put others' minds at rest about these Customer Compliance Officer visits

They can't, they're all in jail now :eek:

Elvisia

I had a compliance meeting, they're formal but they don't cart you off to prison. They write a statement which you have to check and sign. This is why I say to people get things clear in your mind, she was asking me specific questions and I was thinking out loud trying to remember, and I found she'd written down something that wasn't correct.
They then lost all the paperwork, I was told case was closed, then got a letter saying I hadn't provided the paperwork they wanted and gave me a deadline for it. I wrote to the JC manager saying I was writing to my MP and it was all cleared up. End result is I have an overpayment of JSA (JC's fault not mine but I still have to pay) but I wasn't arrested. It's stressful, but it was eventually sorted out, even though it's left in a very difficult place financially, but my case is probably vastly different to yours.

Jummy

Squidge2009 wrote: »

i split up with my partner in january of this year and he moved out

we have 2 small children (who live with me) so i started claiming income support and housing benefit

i was sent a form to fill in from the DSS the other week from the "benefits integrity centre" which was basically the same as the original form i had filled in for income support. (i actually posted on here then to ask if anyone else had ever had this) but anyway, so i filled it in and returned it.

i got a letter from DSS early in the week saying that my "change of circumstances had not affected my benefits" or something along those lines. but my circumstances have not changed, the only time they changed was in jan when my ex left.

then yesterday i got a letter saying i have been "invited" for an interview with someone at the jobcentre who is a "customer compliance officer" and have to bring id with me, passport, bank statements, rent book etc

i am confused and worried as it sounds ominous. does any one have any experience of this? does it mean someone has reported me for something? coz i have done nothing wrong so there would be no grounds for it unless it was malicious.

i have to wait till april 17th so i am gonna be really worried till then i am on my own with 2 under 5's and really could do with out the stress.

I had this when I split with my partner in 2010....nothing to worry about.
I took in all the info needed and had to sign a form and that was it

Dognobs

Makes me laugh, people want to be handed money on a plate but not answer a few questions or jump through some hoops!

Squidge2009

Dognobs wrote: »

Makes me laugh, people want to be handed money on a plate but not answer a few questions or jump through some hoops!

erm that was uncalled for. do you know what "dognob", i am 34 years old and i have worked and paid tax since i was 16.

so don't tell me i am expecting money on a plate just because i have been unfortunate enough to end up with a !!!!less man who has f**ked off from his own kids and partner at the first sign of trouble. i am doing this until i can find another job. so don't tell me what i am thank you

and i don't mind answering questions or jumping through hoops, i am just worried because i think someone might have maliciously lied about me which has caused this.

but thanks for the posters who have given constructive advice x

dseventy

Squidge2009 wrote: »

i am just worried because i think someone might have maliciously lied about me which has caused this.

Sounds like your new to this benefits thing (working since 16) so you need to understand that :

1) You are claiming to be single (ie no boyfriend/partner/whatever)
2) If people know you are claiming to be single , yet see you (on facebook, out and about, shopping, socialising etc) with a "partner" in their eyes. They may report you.

I only point it out as it sounds like this may have happened. You need to think and reflect on your behaviour recently think if anything you did could be seen as having a other half/partner/boyfriend/lover etc as someone at DWP wants to check a few facts over and get your version of the truth.

D70

Squidge2009

dseventy wrote: »

Sounds like your new to this benefits thing (working since 16) so you need to understand that :

1) You are claiming to be single (ie no boyfriend/partner/whatever)
2) If people know you are claiming to be single , yet see you (on facebook, out and about, shopping, socialising etc) with a "partner" in their eyes. They may report you.

I only point it out as it sounds like this may have happened. You need to think and reflect on your behaviour recently think if anything you did could be seen as having a other half/partner/boyfriend/lover etc as someone at DWP wants to check a few facts over and get your version of the truth.

D70

i haven't put anything on fb as i keep it private on there. in fact my fb is not even my real name, its a nickname. but believe me there is no "partner" at the moment, i will be thinking long and hard before i let someone else in to my life

antrobus

Squidge2009 wrote: »

...

then yesterday i got a letter saying i have been "invited" for an interview with someone at the jobcentre who is a "customer compliance officer" and have to bring id with me, passport, bank statements, rent book etc

i am confused and worried as it sounds ominous...

It's likely nothing more than a standard compliance check-up. It's only when you hear the phrase 'interview under caution' that you need to start worrying.

Ellejmorgan

I had one a few years ago, i was accused of selling on ebay when it was actually my sisters account, long story but my partners ex though it was my account and reported me for working..
Luckily for me my sister had used her account while i'd been in hospital having back surgery..
Was reported again the next year and i let the officer go through my computer and explained this was revenge as my partner was in legal proceedings with his ex..no problems i had nothing to hide..