Customer compliance officer

PoisonIvy80

I had a baby 6 months ago and got called to attend an interview with the compliance officer about 3 months ago. He was pretty shocked to hear that my baby was not my husband's (who he suspected was still living with me). I explained that I was in an on off relationship with another man and the baby was not planned (another story). He asked over and over again if at that current time I was in a relationship or not. I struggled to answer this question as the father to my baby is barely on the scene and when he is, its only 2 nights a week. He does stay over but the majority of the time it is on the sofa. He does not spend any time at all with my other children and I have never met his children. He does not give me any money, I do not make his meals (if he does turn up, its after 9pm when my children are in bed and he leaves before they wake up). The officer was pretty intimidating with the way he was speaking to me and told me that I had to make a decision if we me and my baby's father were a couple or not and if we were, then he had to move in with me. I tried to explain there is no way that could happen. He pushed for a decision so I told him 'no', signed my declaration and left. He gave me a month to get back to him if anything changes.
Nothing has really changed, apart from I see my baby's father a bit less. We speak every day on the phone and I see him one night a week.
I have just received another letter to attend an interview with the same compliance officer. I am so worried and stressed about it, I have done nothing at all wrong here. I am claiming as a lone parent because that's what I am.
Is there anyone that can advise me on this situation and help me stay calm? I do not want to be bullied and pushed into moving a man in with my children that clearly cannot commit himself to a relationship. Although he is the father to one of my children, we do not have a normal relationship.
Thanks in advance.

Caz3121

Where does he live when he is not staying over with you. If he has his own property, pays his own rent and mortgage, has his car insurance registered to that address, is on the electoral roll there etc you will be able to use this.
Why does he not pay maintenance?

PoisonIvy80

He lives about 7 miles away in his own 2 bedroom flat. I gave the officer all his details in the last interview. I even provided my bank statement to prove all my bills are my own.
Ive tried to ask him for maintenence but he just said if I need milk or nappies for our baby, he will provide them. He has so far bought three packs of nappies and 4 tubs of milk and one outfit. Hardly worth going to the CSA as he is self employed so can be out of work for weeks in the quiet months. He hardly earns anything, just enough to cover his own bills.

paulineb_2

As far as Im aware, if hes only staying with you one night a week that shouldnt affect any benefits you are on. You've to make a decision about whether you are a couple and if so hes to move in with you???

Seriously, who died and allowed this idiot to become king of the world?
Id be complaining about his conduct. My advice, get to the CAB as soon as you can and get a formal complaint in about the way youve been treated.

paulineb_2

And for goodness sake take someone along with you the next time you see this person.

PoisonIvy80

Ive just rang my local CAB office and they advised me to come down next Thursday if it can wait until then (local office is only open on a Thurs) or go to the main CAB which is open every day until 12.30 but there could be a wait of up to 3 hours. Not good if i've got to get the bus with 6 children and wait around for 3 hours. Looking better for the Thursday option.
Ive also just rang the number at the top of the letter to try and rearrange another date as this date is when my children are still off school so I would have to take them with me. I do not want my children to sit in an interview room and see me get interrogated like last time. There is suprisingly no answer on the number they have given. Ive left a voicemail. Im going to try and get them to do a home visit, that way I can tell the officer to go and have a good snoop around my home which will prove I am single.
Can I take my sister or a friend in the interview with me?

paulineb_2

Id have someone from the CAB there if they can and you are comfortable with it. Id also be letting them know you are going to take legal advice on the way youve been treated to date.

But yes, have someone there with you, if only to witness this. And ask them to take a minute of the meeting as a record as well.

PoisonIvy80

I've never used CAB before so I didn't know they would sit in the interview with me, that would be great. Also never been on the wrong side of the law either so this interview is pretty nerve wrecking.
Thank you for your advise, I will record the full interview on my mobile phone so I can make sense of what has been said. Last time, I came out with my mind in bits as most of the questions asked were hard to comprehend and I felt the officer was trying to twist things that I said and put words in my mouth.
I went into that interview confident knowing I had done nothing wrong and came out worried sick that I was getting charged with benefit fraud if I didn't move my baby's father in with me. I felt like a criminal because I accidently got pregnant.

princessdon

PoisonIvy80 wrote: »

I've never used CAB before so I didn't know they would sit in the interview with me, that would be great. Also never been on the wrong side of the law either so this interview is pretty nerve wrecking.
Thank you for your advise, I will record the full interview on my mobile phone so I can make sense of what has been said. Last time, I came out with my mind in bits as most of the questions asked were hard to comprehend and I felt the officer was trying to twist things that I said and put words in my mouth.
I went into that interview confident knowing I had done nothing wrong and came out worried sick that I was getting charged with benefit fraud if I didn't move my baby's father in with me. I felt like a criminal because I accidently got pregnant.

You can't record someone without their permission.

Someone has probably reported you, or there is evidence linking someone. Does your ex have financial links to you still?

If they have had you under surveillance would they have seen more than 1 night a week?

Does anyone else use your address for mail or to obtain credit.

PoisonIvy80

Funny you should ask that, I did have a call from HMRC about my child tax credits about a month ago saying a query had come up and I had to send off my bank statement and utility bills. After speaking to the guy for a few minutes, he linked my ex husband to my house as he is still named as a joined tennant. They were actually very helpful and managed to run credit checks and find out my ex husband's new address and clear any dispute regarding to him living here. I did not actually know my ex husband had not removed himself from my tennancy. I am in the long process of removing his name myself through my housing officer so after that, there is no link to my address with anyone else.
I was thinking that I had been maliciously reported after a full on argument with my ex about child maintinence. But there is no evidence other than my baby's father coming one night a week I can guarantee that.

Jobseeeker

Take evidence of our boyfriends rent, council tax and bills in his own 2 bedroom flat. This is the only way to prove it. Clearly he would not be paying rent and council tax somewhere else if he lives with you