Interview Under Caution for Benefit Fraud investigation

Dunroamin

ktate wrote: »

please no bashing i know i did wrong
to be honest id defo go and get a decent solicitor strait away
the dwp make things up and youve got to prove them wrong
i went along for an interview under caution
he told me thanks for been honest that was two and half years ago it was surposed to have been for overpayment of £4,000 first offence i was sent to crown court and sent to prison for 4 months i was put on a tag and went back to court wear the dwp had added 8% interest and was told to sell the home which iv tried to do iv tried everything cab solicitors disablity this week i had to go to birmingham has the confiscation order said if id not paid it then id be sent back to prison for 20 months and still have to pay it plus the 8% thats been added daily and all because i didnt make a phone call to the dwp it ruins lives and familes and yes the stigma you get too
so good luck your going to need it

This is unhelpful and, I strongly suggest, untrue!

tomtom256

ktate wrote: »

please no bashing i know i did wrong
to be honest id defo go and get a decent solicitor strait away
the dwp make things up and youve got to prove them wrong
i went along for an interview under caution
he told me thanks for been honest that was two and half years ago it was surposed to have been for overpayment of £4,000 first offence i was sent to crown court and sent to prison for 4 months i was put on a tag and went back to court wear the dwp had added 8% interest and was told to sell the home which iv tried to do iv tried everything cab solicitors disablity this week i had to go to birmingham has the confiscation order said if id not paid it then id be sent back to prison for 20 months and still have to pay it plus the 8% thats been added daily and all because i didnt make a phone call to the dwp it ruins lives and familes and yes the stigma you get too
so good luck your going to need it

Really I call bull on this, the chance on getting sent to prison on a £4k overpayment is no chance. POCA/confication order on this amount again next to no chance, solicitors would just not do it.

As for making things up, would that really work in a crown court trial!

Give us a link to the press coverage to show this is real as a fraud case involving prison is always publicised.

Now O/P prison is highly unlikely, google cases to see that the majority of people taken to court get community service and a fine, some get suspended sentances but very few get a proper custodial sentance.

I have had cases involving over £50k overpayments were all they got was a fine and 100 hours community service.

Until you have had your say and explained the situation a decision cannot be made, even if the evidence looks bad.

Take any address history and relevant dates, with you to the interview as they will ask for alternative addresses.

MacMickster

ktate wrote: »

please no bashing i know i did wrong
to be honest id defo go and get a decent solicitor strait away
the dwp make things up and youve got to prove them wrong
i went along for an interview under caution
he told me thanks for been honest that was two and half years ago it was surposed to have been for overpayment of £4,000 first offence i was sent to crown court and sent to prison for 4 months i was put on a tag and went back to court wear the dwp had added 8% interest and was told to sell the home which iv tried to do iv tried everything cab solicitors disablity this week i had to go to birmingham has the confiscation order said if id not paid it then id be sent back to prison for 20 months and still have to pay it plus the 8% thats been added daily and all because i didnt make a phone call to the dwp it ruins lives and familes and yes the stigma you get too
so good luck your going to need it

OP, IGNORE THIS TROLL'S POST.

You say that you are not a fighter, so at the very least get someone to go along to this interview with you who is a fighter.
Also, don't be afraid to ask for a break as many times as you want during the interview to enable you to discuss things with your companion privately.

Ideally you need some legal advice. I appreciate that it can be costly, but some people overlook the fact that they have access to a legal helpline through various insurances that they may have.

Only you know whether you have done anything wrong. If you haven't then the DWP can't have any concrete evidence of wrongdoing - just (unfounded) suspicion. Don't worry unnecessarily.

BurnleyBob

I don't believe that post either.

Read this http://benefitfraud.blogspot.co.uk/ benefits fraud blog for yonks and no case comes anywhere close to what that poster claimed. The 8% interest attached is also total cobblers.

Jobseeeker

Mumof1littlegirl wrote: »

I'm at the stage now where I'm seriously considering just walking in there on Monday and not even trying to fight it. Just tell them I've stupidly let him carry on using my address, I've stupidly allowed him to visit often, I can't prove my innocence, that I've been very naive, and that I honestly didn't realise it would be a problem, and just offer to pay the money back. And pray that they go easy on me and just give me a penalty without the hell of going to court.

And then I guess they will stop all my benefits as if they think someone is living with me, they won't be paying them anymore...and i will have to try and find a job, and hope I can find childcare that can look after my daughter with her problems. Although I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to pay rent and bills, as well as feed and clothe my daughter, on top of childcare costs.

I've never been a fighter, and I don't think I have the energy to fight this.

Thank you again for your comments and advice. It's much appreciated x

No don't admit to a crime you didn't commit. You have done nothing wrong just tell the truth.

You won't be the first person to have a partner leave them and they don't bother to change their address. A woman on here was in the same situation except it was her daughter who moved out and didnt bother changing address. They must see it all the time

Get your ex on side and make sure if they contact him he is going to tell the truth

dibuzz

I just want to say good luck and I hope you get it all sorted.
Try not to worry too much (not easy I know) and concentrate on looking after your little girl.
Whatever happens, keep us updated as there are a lot of very helpful people on here.

ampersand

That troubling[and troubled] poster seems to be a male, not a new Mum to a 14mth-old daughter with problems.

The standard of writing suggests someone inarticulate - accurate observation, not catalyst for hate comments, thankyou. Regardless of whether or not it is a troll posting, I would strongly suggest that this, plus evident attitude, certainly mitigated against him. Inability to express oneself accurately, communicate, or write well, is never going to help.

Now - dear Mumof1littlegirl, listen, please!

YOU ARE NONE OF THOSE THINGS, NOR ARE YOU DISHONEST. No, I don't know you in person, but I am prepared to venture this.

If you have been unfortunate with your CAB advisor, that is rotten luck. Not all are good, I know, but they should be accurate.
Could you be brave enough to try again, saying you felt unable to take it all in?
PLEASE DO.

Surely the compunction is on the DWP to insist on exOH having a different address.

To your post:

Hiya...well CAB was a complete waste of time. They said they can't advise because its a criminal case.Not so - did you say this, or did they state it?
All they told me was what I already knew. Basically, that the fact they've called me in for an interview under caution means that they have hard evidence that will stick - no, they don't. If they had hard evidence, you would already be charged, by the Police, and that the fact that the father of my child's post still comes here and i cant provide another permanent address for him is a massive thing that will go against me.This is NOT massive, apart from the fact that it is not true, but you must ensure his post goes elsewhere[/COLOR]. And in not so many words that they are going to wipe the floor with me - this is your natural reaction and they are probably more used to having to make miscreants face the worst possible scenario-and to get myself a solicitor ASAP.

Which I don't have the money to do.

I just feel totally deflated with it all. Understandable. I am so stressed and worried and trying to look after my baby girl on little sleep because I'm having nightmares all night about going to prison- THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN

I can't seem to get any help from anywhere without paying hundreds of pounds, which I don't have, and I've just got to tackle it on my own. The thought of the interview and interrogations, and a possible court case is just too much for me to bear. You are here now. The CAB should give you a list of local solicitors offering 30mins free appointments./COLOR]

I'm at the stage now where I'm seriously considering just walking in there on Monday and not even trying to fight it. WE WON'T ALLOW THAT - WE'RE WITH YOU. Just tell them I've [STRIKE]stupidly[/STRIKE] let him carry on using my addressnot knowing it was against regulation. Just did so as for any friend temporarily having problems, I've [STRIKE]stupidly [/STRIKE]allowed him to visit often - to be part of his daughter's life, I can't prove my innocenceyou are doing so, loud and clear-, that I've been very naiveNOT A CRIME, and that I honestly didn't realise it would be a problem,[STRIKE] and just offer to pay the money back.[/STRIKE]Do no such thing straight away. And pray that they go easy on me and just give me a penalty without the hell of going to court.
nothing else needs saying at this point. don't get ahead of yourself, or them!
And then I guess they will stop all my benefits as if they think someone is living with me, they won't be paying them anymore...and i will have to try and find a job, and hope I can find childcare that can look after my daughter with her problems. Although I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to pay rent and bills, as well as feed and clothe my daughter, on top of childcare costs.

I've never been a fighter, and I don't think I have the energy to fight this.
You were writing to us at nearly midnight, doubtless in a very churned state, after a disappointing first visit to CAB, who are under huge pressure themselves, given the times we are in.
Thank you again for your comments and advice. It's much appreciated x

##########

Look at the sensible posts and advice and reassurance here.

Think about how you'd be advising a friend who came with this to you.

You know you'd be seeing things in a better light, knowing her as you do, knowing the true situation. It can be the mark of an honest person to be terrified of such things, precisely because they've never done anything wrong, never had cause to think they'd be suspected.

Now tell yourself that you are that friend. Be kind to yourself and enjoy your daughter. Ask for DWP to make exOH register another address. He has other family.

Just look at fluffymovie's excellent post again, especially:
The IUC is your opportunity to explain your side of things for evidence they have. The interviews are conducted in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) and you need to be cautioned before you go into things.

Again I say that printing this out could be a real help for Monday.
You are not abandoned. Nor are you condemned. It's a sunny day; make sure you absorb some, take a book out with you - it will help.

MacMickster

Ampersand.

Fantastic post above, and I'm sure that the OP will benefit from it.

Poppie68

ktate wrote: »

please no bashing i know i did wrong
to be honest id defo go and get a decent solicitor strait away
the dwp make things up and youve got to prove them wrong
i went along for an interview under caution
he told me thanks for been honest that was two and half years ago it was surposed to have been for overpayment of £4,000 first offence i was sent to crown court and sent to prison for 4 months i was put on a tag and went back to court wear the dwp had added 8% interest and was told to sell the home which iv tried to do iv tried everything cab solicitors disablity this week i had to go to birmingham has the confiscation order said if id not paid it then id be sent back to prison for 20 months and still have to pay it plus the 8% thats been added daily and all because i didnt make a phone call to the dwp it ruins lives and familes and yes the stigma you get too
so good luck your going to need it

According to your other thread you state you owe the gov 45k? seems a bit more than 'not making a phone call to the dwp'. In your case it looks like you have ruined your own life and not the dwp.

Poppie68

OP just be honest with them, give them his mothers and girlfriends addresses. What address do his employers have for him? You need to contact his insurance etc and inform them he does'nt live with you and give his mothers address.