I've been asked a favour..

Alisha2008

Hi,

A good friend who's moving abroad has asked me if i could include his name on one of my utility bills (he'll be using my address for his mail too). He will stay in my home when he comes to the UK (about 1 week every 2 months).

Is this possible, would it cause me any problems if i do it..? Would it be enough just telling the company that he's living with me and needs proof of address...?

Wywth

Alisha2008 wrote: »

Hi,

A good friend who's moving abroad has asked me if i could include his name on one of my utility bills (he'll be using my address for his mail too). He will stay in my home when he comes to the UK (about 1 week every 2 months).

Is this possible, would it cause me any problems if i do it..? Would it be enough just telling the company that he's living with me and needs proof of address...?

If accepted by the supplier, you will become 'financially associated' with this 'good friend' ... who you may then discover is not quite such a good friend as you currently believe.

On the other hand, he will also become jointly and severally liable for your utility bill.
I do not understand why anyone would wish to take up this liablility given the limited information you have supplied.

rogerblack

If either of them are claiming benefits of any form, this may also raise issues.
If the friend is claiming to live at the OPs house, nasty ones.

victor2

rogerblack wrote: »

If either of them are claiming benefits of any form, this may also raise issues.
If the friend is claiming to live at the OPs house, nasty ones.

Maybe the friend receives a state pension and wants to retain a UK address so that he'll be able to claim he's still a UK citizen and will get pension increases, rather than it being frozen.
Ask why the friend really needs it if you don't know. Smells of fraud.

chanz4

It smells fraud to me too, get your name on a bill to obtain credit.....

Joyful

If you are associated and getting the single persons discount for Council tax this may be proof that you had someone living with you if checked.

macman

Only one question: why?
Tell us that and maybe we can answer your question.

steve-L

There are lots of possible reasons and it all really comes down to if you want to be financially associated with your good friend and how much you trust them!

I have lived outside the UK for a long time and used my parents address for a lot of things.
One of the main things is just getting a Dr. .... driving license .... but there are a whole host of other things that just come up where you need a utility bill with a UK address.

Alisha2008

I trust him 100%, it's like family, no fraud or any issues here. There won't be any issues with benefits or anything like that.

He's been asked for an utility bill by the HR dpt in his company so they can keep him on the UK payroll (it's easier for him to earn his salary in £ even living abroad, as he has his main bank account & pension in the UK)

pooch

Alisha2008 wrote: »

I trust him 100%, it's like family, no fraud or any issues here. There won't be any issues with benefits or anything like that.

He's been asked for an utility bill by the HR dpt in his company so they can keep him on the UK payroll (it's easier for him to earn his salary in £ even living abroad, as he has his main bank account & pension in the UK)

I see you trust ebay sellers too :cool:

... so much so that you were prepared to defraud ebay and lose any protection they offer by agreeing to the sellers request to trade outside of ebay :eek:

victor2

Alisha2008 wrote: »

I trust him 100%, it's like family, no fraud or any issues here. There won't be any issues with benefits or anything like that.

He's been asked for an utility bill by the HR dpt in his company so they can keep him on the UK payroll (it's easier for him to earn his salary in £ even living abroad, as he has his main bank account & pension in the UK)

Sounds more plausible then.
Has he really thought it through? One advantage of living abroad is that you become non-resident in the UK and not subject to UK tax - he would have to be paid abroad though. Not sure what local regulations he'd be subject to in the country he'll be living in either, but presumably his HR department will know that.