Interview under caution for pension credit

dippy3103

Not defending their actions but the interview was with your Mum, not you. It's for her to give her account. They were within PACE guidelines to warn you that they could ask you to leave if you kept answering questions. Any evidence would have to come from your Mum, as its her claim.

I strongly advise you to get a legal representative at any resumed interview.

xylophone

The image of a cowering elderly lady in a freezing cold room being verbally bludgeoned by Stasi like officials certainly makes the hair stand on end.

Such behaviour would be utterly unjustifiable and surely the officials concerned would be aware of this?

I am assuming that once the tape was heard by the officials' manager, an immediate suspension would be the result, possibly followed by dismissal for gross misconduct?

Why on earth would anybody with any concern for his career who knew he was being taped behave in such a fashion?

Pollycat

dippy3103 wrote: »

Not defending their actions but the interview was with your Mum, not you. It's for her to give her account. They were within PACE guidelines to warn you that they could ask you to leave if you kept answering questions. Any evidence would have to come from your Mum, as its her claim.

I strongly advise you to get a legal representative at any resumed interview.

But were they within PACE guidelines to shout at an elderly lady and tell her that she should go and sleep on someone's sofa - 'because they can'?

dippy3103

Pollycat wrote: »

But were they within PACE guidelines to shout at an elderly lady and tell her that she should go and sleep on someone's sofa - 'because they can'?

My post earlier on touched on that (post #13)I seem to recall I suggested such behaviour may well be a breach of PACE. I also started my second post with the words "I am not defending them"


Certainly the behaviour described is unprofessional and out of order. PACE deals with oppression. I certainly don't think any officer in my team would act in that manner - and I have never ever heard anyone use the phrase "because I can". It's a benefit office, not "Life on Mars"

Cheeky_Monkey

xylophone wrote: »

The image of a cowering elderly lady in a freezing cold room being verbally bludgeoned by Stasi like officials certainly makes the hair stand on end.

Such behaviour would be utterly unjustifiable and surely the officials concerned would be aware of this?

I am assuming that once the tape was heard by the officials' manager, an immediate suspension would be the result, possibly followed by dismissal for gross misconduct?

Why on earth would anybody with any concern for his career who knew he was being taped behave in such a fashion?

He wouldn't IMO.

I think it's more likely that the OP is exaggerating! Maybe they were 'shouting' because the old lady is hard of hearing?

I don't believe for one minute that they refused to put the heating on in the room because it would 'interfere with the tape'. I also doubt that the room was freezing if members of staff were spending 90 minutes in there.

Topcat1982

hennesm wrote: »

. They have not sent a written letter specifying the reason, although I think them thinking she owns a house is the reason ? The interview itself was very confusing .
!

So they think she has assets, that's why the benefits were stopped?

If they can clarify that this is the issue should be easy enough to prove

FBaby

The 'authorised officers '(?) proceeded to question her and went through three years of bank statements asking why she had used her card in Ireland and other parts if the uk.

It does indeed sounds like they are accusing her or not residing at her address in the UK any longer, but living at family/friends whilst awaiting to be transferred. You say she has only stayed 6 weeks with you, but has she stayed longer with other people?

I can't see why else they would checking her bank statement and making comments about her using her card in Ireland. To be fair, if they've picked up that she's been doing her shopping every week for many weeks in Ireland, I can see how they would not be convinced by her statements.

I would also suspect that one of her neighbours might have reported her.

FBaby

About the house mainly

Then again, there's that. What house?

hennesm

I am not exaggerating . They would not put the heating on because they only had a fan heater and they said it interfered with the tape. It's winter , the room was cold .I did not answer any questions for her I simply asked them to stop shouting, she is neither deaf nor stupid. She has been open and honest about staying with her relations both with the council, her neighbours and the housing provider . She does not stay with one person more than a couple of times a week and they stay with her , work permitting , in Liverpool . They may well have suspicions but they were unfounded . She answered all their questions. Actually when she asked how long she was allowed to stay outside the uk the 'officer' said she didn't know and she should look it up on the Internet.
Forgive me I wasn't asking for a judgment on my mother, just if this is normal behaviour. I haven't worked for the civil service for a while but I would never have been allowed to speak to someone like that no matter what I suspected them of.
They wouldn't specify the house , I suspect it may be my house but really don't know. Mum did ask but all they did was ask her where it was in return . When I wrote to ask for the interview I directed them to the relevant sites but have heard nothing .
To be quite frank the impression I had was that she wasn't from Liverpool and didn't really belong there .
As to the flippant remarks about moving to my cousins settee I have no idea why they said it but she did . What more can I say ?

tomtom256

I am extremely confused by this.

The DWP use CD machines not tape to record interviews and have do so for some time and the majority of interview rooms have air conditioning that blows hot and cold as they tend not to have windows.

The officers would also have to adhere to PACE and any bullying, harrassement or behaviour you have stated they have done would lead to serious misconduct charge. As would creating a oppressive atmosphere.

An MG6A would also have been issued as they have to do this as it is written in guidance and noted on computer records that it has been given. Normally a copy is kept on file and one given to customer.

There is a set procedure that has to be adhered to. Investigation officers cannot get benefit suspended, they can send evidence to a decision maker and ask if they would consider suspending but again a letter would be sent out advising that benefit had been suspended.

Things do not add up with what you are stating.

What DWP/JCP did this interview take place in? Have you the reference number etc?

I would certainly be raising a complaint and obtaining a copy of the CD, which they could have made at the time and reviewing it. Also contact the DWP office and ask to speak with the team leader/HEO in charge.