just phoned benefit fraud line to report my son's friend's mum.

[foogle]

I have sat on the info for ages and didn't do anything except get angrier and angrier.

For christmas son's friend got a pony, bmx bike, x box, ipod and family ski trip.

My son got a second hand lego set as that is all we could afford this year.

Son's friend gets free school meals and all school trips paid for.

We can't afford school dinners and scrimp and save for son to go on school trips.

Son's friend's dad lives with them and works but I know she claims benefits as a single mum.

She earns £25 an hour cash in hand at a racing stables.

She gets everything paid for, including housing benefit etc.

We can't afford ponies nor lessons yet she has 2 competition horses.

I never thought I 'd do this as she's a nice person but I've had enough.

If she wasn't committing fraud I would not have reported her.

If they wanted to investigate the extent/detail of the fraud they'd best look at son's fb posts, but is that possible or legal?

That is just heresay, there would need to be documentary/physical evidence.

Well done OP (from a skint taxpayer!)

I doubt a kid bragging about his christmas gifts would be relevant.

Or did he say "my mum is claiming as a lone parent while my dad lives with us..she also works cash in hand which is why I have all these wonderful expensive presents?"

Just asking?

Are people saying that it is acceptable for a family on benefits to own a horse? If so, wtf! Why should I pay taxes so others can not work and have free fucking ponies?

Not free obviously, just cross!

I'd like to buy you a drink. Well done and thank you on behalf of the taxpayer. Benefit fraud, however minor, is a drain on valuable resources that could be used elsewhere.
I'm an investigating accountant for a well known Government department, have seen the impact of the budget cuts and my job is all the more vital as I spend my time ensuring the taxpayer is getting value for money and doesn't pay for things we shouldn't.

Wish there were more people like you xxx

I'm thinking of shopping someone I know who is working cash in hand and not declaring and living with her partner. It doesn't make you a benefit basher automatically, it means you are anti-fraud surely? Protecting people who are genuinely claiming?

I haven't yet. I'm torn

Why is it jealous and vindictive as opposed to 'they shouldn't be doing that, I will tell someone'

Ha ha @ all the congratulatory posts from 'tax payers'...do you think you'll get a rebate each time a 'fraudster' is caught

Keep your eyes on your own paper, I say.

If you want to protect the countries assets and reclaim tax payers money why not campaign for all those big companies currently making deals with the government to reduce their tax bills by MILLIONS to pay up.
Funny, I never see threads from people saying they are spending their time doing that...

I'm lolling at the sons fb bragging

I think you should mind your own as it will do nothing to improve your situation at all. Concentrate on your own family and let the agencies that we pay taxes to fund do their job rather than rely on the public to tell tales.

and it's from the Daily Fail not the Guardian

I bet the bastards buy new clothes too.

Cassette: I don't think northernlurker is on this thread, but if she were I hope she would say something like:

Big business avoiding tax is completely morally wrong, and costs "the taxpayer" far more than the odd benefit cheat.
About £25 billion in fact.

That's pretty rational actually,