Interview under caution!!!

terryw

cookingmama31 wrote: »

I would like to add that NOT all people are able to set up bank accounts which is why the Post Office account thing was set up for benefits and before I get bashed by some DWP employees I know the majority of them are very nice people...!!! Especially the back to work advisors who have in the past helped me out a great deal.

The vast majority of people are able to set up basic bank accounts. Please search through the MSE Forums or do a simple check via google. Even new bankrupts can open a basic bank account. The most likely exception is people who have been convicted for fraud..............and perhaps this might be understandable.

I fear that you have been a trifle naive in allowing someone else to have their wages paid into your account when you are claiming benefits. This would set all sorts of alarm bells ringing. The benefits people have investigated this and appear to be satisfied that you have not done anything wrong. But be careful about this sort of thing in the future as, even though you are completely innocent, the benefits people have to look into this.

This has nothing to do with you being a single mum. If a self-employed person was investigated by HMRC the same sort of questions would be asked............"Why as someone's wages been paid into your account". Indeed, in this case they would probably investigate the one whose wages has been paid into someone else's account in case there was a fraud there. Perhaps that person has obtained this money illegally?

The days of wages in cash have largely gone (I know there are exceptions) and I am sure that the reason is that the authorities are checking on fraud and, at a larger level, money laundering. They are looking for "paper trails".

Cases of benefit fraud (and I stress that I am not meaning you here as I am talking about reported newspaper cases) refer to "data matching" as the means of catching the culprits. Electronic payment enables the authorities to do this. Rightly or wrongly, but this is the future.

Cookingmama, you have done nothing wrong but please learn from this and do not let anyone have use of your bank account. Apart from the things mentioned, there are fraudsters out there who con innocent people into paying cheques into their bank account taking the money and then, weeks later, the cheque bounces. Use your bank account for your own purposes.

best wishes

terryw

Chesnut1

terryw wrote: »

I am quite pleased that this is checked by the authorities. I can't understand why the ex would want or need to use someone else's account. Basic bank accounts are available even to those with a poor credit history.

If I were a benefits investigating officer this would raise warning bells with me, until I received a satisfactory and innocent answer.

Or would you not be concerned about this?

terryw

Actually I am not on benefits but my mothers pension and pension credit is paid into my bank account. She is one of those people who cannot get a bank a/c and she has tried for years! The reason is not poor credit history it is because she has never been in debt but has no passport, driving licence or photgraphic ID. We tried to get her a Post Office A/C but they could not sort out her surname (It is too long and highfinated) So she is one of these people that is off the radar and although she was born in the UK and has never been in any trouble she is suspicoius. She cannot even get a bus pass as utility bills are not enough:rolleyes:

terryw

Chesnut1 wrote: »

Actually I am not on benefits but my mothers pension and pension credit is paid into my bank account. She is one of those people who cannot get a bank a/c and she has tried for years! The reason is not poor credit history it is because she has never been in debt but has no passport, driving licence or photgraphic ID. We tried to get her a Post Office A/C but they could not sort out her surname (It is too long and highfinated) So she is one of these people that is off the radar and although she was born in the UK and has never been in any trouble she is suspicoius. She cannot even get a bus pass as utility bills are not enough:rolleyes:

I have just received my free bus pass. I took birth certificate , photo, and utility bills to office and received the pass two days later. Here's the link to the government site stating that proof of age, photo and proof of address is required:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Over50s/TravelAndLeisure/TravellingAtHomeAndAbroad/DG_10026845

Here's a link to basic bank accounts:
http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/pdfs/bank_accounts.pdf
Possibly your best first port of call is your own bank where presumably you are known.

terryw

nej

real1314 wrote: »

Are you suggesting that you should be able to keep single parent money when you are not a single parent?

Not exactly... it should be phased out, rather than cut immediately or something.

There should be some encouragement to actually have a stable family life though.

Glittermonkey

Thanks...I'll just have too wait and see...I have no doubt I'll be called back in!

Thats exactly what I though..I was wrong!

9 months fater my interview they sent a demand for the money to be paid back within one month, they never called me back or ever actually informed me what the outcome of the interview was.

Silly things were picked up in my interview as well, such as he spent £200 in a baby shop so we must of been living together! Honestly, you'd think he was on trial for wether he was a good dad not if I was living with him or not.

lil_me

You don't need to be living in the same home 7 days a week to be classed as a couple, for example people who are in the armed forces, those who work offshore etc etc the list is endless, what they class as a couple in most cases is being financially linked, sharing bills, shopping, meals, buying things for the children etc etc.

ALIBOBSY

cookingmama31 wrote: »

I tell ya it's very scary, everyday people with access to data can be snooping through your personal details...I always thought the misuse of peoples data was something looney people talked about but quite obviously it's not! I didn't have a clue my bank acc was being monitered and it's making me wonder how many times it has been or will be in the future! Something to think about.

Just wanted to reassure people that the processing staff do not, and cannot sit "snooping" your personnel data. We get randomly checked on everything we look at online, and it is a very serious thing to be caught looking at an account without supporting evidence as to why you accessed the account. Usually resulting in immediate dismissal. We have no access to your tax records online or your bank accounts.
Regarding the friend with a police officer partner. If the police call us for someones details we cannot give them any info. There is a special dept to deal with police requests and my understanding is info is only given if the potential offence is classed as serious, not just a random general request.
Obviously the fraud officers can and do request further details from various bodies, but again they are subject to levels of checking and as far as I know only request things like bank access if they have already got some evidence or strong suspicion.

Hope you get things sorted soon. Just a thought they may decide you are not LTAHAW but treat the money into your account as income, which would still give you an overpayment,sorry.
ali x