Telephone call?

rosiesq

Hi guys
Wonder if anyone can help? Long story, on here somewhere, but my ex-husband (unofficial) and I live in the same house, although completely separated into two, as it is on the market. We have both had a letter telling us to expect a phone call. He, of course, rang up to find out what was what. They've told him that they're ringing us both, and they want us together, in the same house, to speak to us both! this sounds a load of nonsense to me, we are living completely separate lives, him with someone else's wife in there with him! .. and there is no way I want to be under the same roof as him, let alone in the same room. Any ideas anyone? :mad:

tomtom256

Is this telephone call from the DWP, LA or HMRC?

If it is and you have nothing to hide let them visit and answer the questions.

cattie

I'm confused as you say you're living in the same house currently, yet go onto say that there is no way that you want to be under the same roof as him when describing the possibility of a phone call from you don't say who (DWP, Council tax??)

As you're already living in the same house I'm not sure I quite understand what the problem is. If this phone call needs to be made to both of you, why can't they just speak to you individually, one of you speaking first then calling the other one to the phone so that you don't actually need to be in the same room?

StormyWeather_2

His new partner lives in the same house as you?

Ask her to attend the meeting and explain that they are a couple.

Poppie68

Who was the telephone call from?

NYM

I've just read your earlier thread. Did you manage to sell the house you jointly own ? If it was worth £300,000 in 2012 you should be able to sell and find other accommodation for each of you elsewhere.

I also read that you were going to visit CAB last July to seek advice on your situation. Did they not help ?

rosiesq

Hi all
Sorry this has taken a while, but for some reason unless I go out of the pc, and in again, it doesn't update to say anyone has answered! Okay, I'll answer in order.
The letter is from the DWP, says - Notification of Customer compliance Telephone Interview. We both got the same letter.
I guess the reference to being 'under the same roof' was meant in the sense of being anywhere near him. The house is split into two, but we still share the same phone line, the phones are a set of two cordless, he has one, and I have the other. so we simply check the callers number, and the appropriate person answers.
I was quite happy to do as suggested, thinking that they would ring, and one of us could answer, and then the next phone call would obviously be for the other person. He decided to ring today to find out what they wanted, and that was apparently what they told him...that they want us both together to speak to.
His 'new' partner, one of two, is a married woman who he brings down here for one reason only! Since I discovered this I have stayed as far away as possible. Previously I would be civil if he passed me outside, now I can't even bear to look at him.
Lastly, the house. Is still on the market, no viewing, as has been said before, we are in a very peculiar situation, which will only suit certain people. Also, to be honest, up to now, I have been so ill with my arthritis, that I can't be bothered with the idea of moving.
Citizens Advice were useless, the woman filled in forms for me to apply for DLA, they refused it. I then got onto them, and appealed, added more information to the forms myself, and got it, so I have no faith in them whatsoever.
I claimed benefits in my own right in mid-august, so by now they should have decided which group to put me in, but of course I'm told they're running about three months behind.
Very difficult to survive on the basic income they provide.
Thanks to you all.

missapril75

This reminds me of those stories about disability tribunals held on an upper floor of a building and if anyone manages to attend they are disallowed.

It's not uncommon that estranged couples still live in the same house but it is something investigated and reviewed.

You know what? Being there together - for a conference call or whatever - might (depending on what's asked and answered, as well as 'how') make you appear less estranged than you maintain.

I'd be inclined to tell them you're fine with doing it on your own but that you can't face it jointly and tell them why just as you have done here.

rosiesq

Hi

Thanks, that's exactly what I intend doing. I've no intention of being in the same place as him. The DWP have been told that we are separated, and do not live together, and if they want to speak to us they can do it separately, as you say. :)

FBaby

I think the issue is likely to be in regards to the sale of the house. I believe DWP will acccept a discretional period of ex-partners living together when the house is on sale, however, anything after 6 months would trigger them questioning whether it is really their intentions to sale.

They might question what efforts you've really put in to sale the house. Whether they would accept that you are living separately in the same house and want to continue to do so is another matter. In the end, you still share things and that could be enough for them that you are still a couple for the purpose of claiming benefits, regardless of your arrangement.

tomtom256

They will also want to speak with you at the same time so that answers can not be discussed between interviews in order to make sure you are truly seperated.

Otrherwise one would give the answer, tell the other what was said and they would repeat verbatim.

This way their is no collusion in answering.