MSE News: Single parents sent 'threatening' letters demanding proof they live alone

Teresa60

After, because it hadn't entered my mind to be honest with everything else going on

PETIE

I don't get how they want people to prove there living alone.

What is you have no utility bills, ie, prepayment meter.
Phone bill is generally in a single person's name, same as bank accounts, tv license, etc, heck I'm married and could probably pass there 'tests' to prove I live alone.

Sounds to me they are just making people jump through hoops so they can stop making payments, all to save money

Londonsu

Teresa60 wrote: »

After, because it hadn't entered my mind to be honest with everything else going on

then you cant blame them for wanting to investigate further

Cornucopia

TV Licensing have been doing this sort of thing for years.

Same sort of flaws-

- Making written allegations without proper evidence

- Making people jump through hoops when there is no legal need

- Demanding people prove a negative

NYM

Teresa60 wrote: »

I had the same letter before Xmas, my husband had left and moved to Malaysia. They say he is still living with me! They have asked for evidence. I have removed him from the council tax and electoral roll. ..

Has he come back then...?

Teresa60 wrote: »

He is staying with a friend he pays a bit of rent to, he gets cash in hand for a job (a temporary one). I have sent them a copy of the address where he lives

Londonsu

Cornucopia wrote: »

TV Licensing have been doing this sort of thing for years.

Same sort of flaws-

- Making written allegations without proper evidence

- Making people jump through hoops when there is no legal need

- Demanding people prove a negative

well of course there a legal need to prove entitlement to benefits

Cornucopia

Haven't they already satisfied the requirements? If not, why are they being paid the benefit?

I suspect the problem is that they are obtaining data from other databases that weren't designed with this in mind, and aren't reliable enough.

NYM

Cornucopia wrote: »

Haven't they already satisfied the requirements? If not, why are they being paid the benefit?

But what if there has been a change of circumstances ?

Cornucopia

Has there been?

They already had a process for this.

NYM

Cornucopia wrote: »

Has there been?

I couldn't possibly know the answer to that...

Cornucopia wrote: »

They already had a process for this.

'New broom' and all that...