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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To report fraudulent benefit claimant

224 replies

racmun · 12/08/2013 22:22

So bil and SIL who have a 1 year old daughter have 'broken up'.

As a bit of background bil works but SIL is a SAHM. They were in private rented but it was costing too much so They broke up SIL and niece got housed and 4 days later they are back together and bil has moved in!

Apparently he stays at mil once a week as she is claiming benefits as a single mother (have no idea what difference this makes) and if the state finds out she'll lose her benefits. This is what mil has told us btw, I f

This has made me really furious and I'm inclined to report them for benefit fraud and let the authorities decide if they are doing anything illegal.

Or am I just being a bitch.

OP posts:
Monty27 · 13/08/2013 02:25

Lil that wouldn't sit right with me either. I'm talking about the genuine poor. And yes, those sort of people wreck it for the truly needy. :(

My dd is at uni and gets very little financial help (a bit off topic I know) and all her well off friends with parents who have artistic accountants) get all sorts of benefits from the uni, book grants, laptops, all sorts. Poor dd gets more or less zilch. Just because we're above board.

Ah well, we can sleep at night eh.

MistressDeeCee · 13/08/2013 02:55

tbh I wouldnt have the heart to report them. I know theres a lot of 'benefit bashing' these days but I truly can't understand the rage it causes, when the bankers, MPs etc are blatantly fleecing us all daily and justifying it in all sorts of ways. Reporting benefit fraudsters isnt going to put any more money in my pocket, or anybody elses, as far as Im concerened. As ever, 'fraud is ok in a suit', it seems.

This couple may be doing what they feel they must for now, and not planning long term benefits..anyway, are you 100% sure you know the ins & outs of it all..?

Monty27 · 13/08/2013 03:12

Mistress my sentiments exactly. See previous posts. :(

Monty27 · 13/08/2013 03:13

Theft in government is not a need to pay rent or feed dcs. It's greed. Angry

Original poster
racmun · 13/08/2013 07:18

Right I had read the whole thread.

I don't think I am being unreasonable and actually typed the form up last night before starting this thread.

We aren't close to Bil and SIL ( who are currently on a 2 week holiday) and no that is not the reason I am considering reporting them (I've had a lovely 2 week holiday). To make it clear the Information I have is that they are deliberately playing the system. Their Facebook pages are full of them 'together'.

Reading the rationale on here of some posters as to why I shouldn't report them, ie blaming bankers, multi nationals Mp's and worrying about being a grass etc is ridiculous.

Individual bankers who commit fraud get sent to prison!
Just because the legislation has loop holes which some people take advantage of it makes other fraud ok? In any event going back to school ground sayings, '2 wrongs don't make a right'

I'm the sort of person who has previously called the police on someone who went to drive off drunk. They got pulled over and list their licence. My conscience is clear on that as I think it will be if I report bil & SIL.

I'm not going to act as judge jury and executioner if ithe set up continues into September I will report them. As I've said before if they're not doing anything wrong nothing will co e of it, if they are then they know they are and deserve what they get

OP posts:
musicismylife · 13/08/2013 07:51

Racmum, you said, up thread, that the fact that they could go to prison puts a different slant on things.

Why should that make a difference?

Surely if you are reporting them because they are committing fraud, then they would deserve the punishment. Or is your conscience pricking you? Hmm

Uptheairymountain · 13/08/2013 08:02

No, YABU and reporting through malice, which really is the reason you mentioned their holiday. As someone upthread (Conina?) said - own your actions and speak to your sil and bil before doing anything and maybe find out the truth. You even admit that you don't know what's going on; if you make a false report it will waste a lot of time and money.

Quite frankly, you come across as a vindictive, nasty gossip who just wants to cause trouble.

smokinaces · 13/08/2013 08:11

You need to be 100% sure if you do. I've been "reported on" twice by people in my life. One time my entire benefits stopped. Luckily I work part time so had some money but for six weeks had literally my part time wage. Second time they kept my money going whilst investigating me. I was meant to feel like shite when I have done absolutely nothing wrong - people just see the outside and judge. I nearly put a photo of the letter clearing me of any wrong doing on Facebook i was that pissed that someone had reported me instead of speaking to me and asking how i afforded things.

dirtyface · 13/08/2013 08:12

tbh I wouldnt have the heart to report them. I know theres a lot of 'benefit bashing' these days but I truly can't understand the rage it causes, when the bankers, MPs etc are blatantly fleecing us all daily and justifying it in all sorts of ways. Reporting benefit fraudsters isnt going to put any more money in my pocket, or anybody elses, as far as Im concerened. As ever, 'fraud is ok in a suit', it seems.

^^ this

aturtlenamedmack · 13/08/2013 08:14

If you don't think you are being unreasonable and are going to report them no matter what is said them why start the thread?

musicismylife · 13/08/2013 08:16

So long as you're not inviting the 'crims' around for a sympathetic cuppa and slice of Biscuit when shizzle hits the fizzle..

JourneyThroughLife · 13/08/2013 08:17

I'm actually shocked reading all this....benefit fraud is a crime, it's stealing and it should be stopped. If you have reason to believe it's happening, it should be reported, report it anonymously if necessary. The authorities will sort it out, if there's nothing to fear then all will be well, but if they're cheating, well, they take the consequences.
For heavens' sake, how come honesty and truthfulness and proper moral standards are being branded as "the moral high ground" and "spite"? The country wouldn't be in the state it is if everyone did the right thing in the first place...
YANBU OP, you wuld be doing the right thing....

musicismylife · 13/08/2013 08:21

Because, journey, I don't think the OP would be doing it if she wasn't able to report anonymously.

If you're going to do something like that, at least have the gonads to put your name to it!

hugsandbutterflies · 13/08/2013 08:24

Are you going to tell them that you have decided they have until September?

Are you going to tell them that it was you who reported them?

Uptheairymountain · 13/08/2013 08:27

But if OP's wrong (don't forget she's said she doesn't know for sure, it's just hearsay) then just to report without making even the most basic check that fraud is taking place will have serious repercussions for innocent people. It's not like a quick police check, sil's money could be suspended. Given the drip-feeding and background info, it's just malice Hmm.

GoodTouchBadTouch · 13/08/2013 08:31

I would report them.

Weirdly I have a friend who has a marijuana factory, well, a house full, and makes thousands every few months but I wouldn't report him. I suppose he is making his own money, while your in-laws are taking my husbands taxes.

Feelingworried67 · 13/08/2013 08:35

Mind your own business.

musicismylife · 13/08/2013 08:38

Brother in law
Sister in law
I'm confused Confused
Sorry, op, thought it was your brother.

pleasestophidingskinnygirl · 13/08/2013 08:41

Goodtouchbadtouch are u for real. You would be happy to report benefit fraud but not your friend who is making money out of others misery. Do you really think everyone who smokes weed is some hippy dancing around a meadow:-/

JerseySpud · 13/08/2013 08:42

I am quite shocked how many people think benefit fraud is okay.

If its any other crimes then people are told to report them. But it seems benefit fraud is seen as 'don't get involved' 'do you really want to be that person?'

No wonder so many people get away with fraud.

musicismylife · 13/08/2013 08:43

Good touch, but from a moral point of view, I don't understand why you wouldn't report neighbour but think OP should report the in-laws? A crime is a crime, surely?

98percentchocolate · 13/08/2013 08:44

Journey - yes, fraud should be reported - when there is evidence. OP doesn't have evidence - just gossip from MIL. Considering the possible outcome (stopping benefits, prison, baby going into care), this is spiteful.
If people have hard evidence then yes, by all means report. That just isn't the fact in this case which is why so many posters are saying "yabu".

musicismylife · 13/08/2013 08:50

Good touch, yes, your friend is making his own money illegally, which brings us back to the OPs 'dilemma'.

mignonette · 13/08/2013 08:51

Mary sorry but you are wrong again. A recent case I was involved in the person was interviewed under caution. Then they contacted the relatives of the alleged 'live in BF' by door stepping and interviewed them under caution to ask if he really was living there (he Was). Then they sequestrated the bank account details. Then they interviewed a neighbour. Made me laugh actually because it was so incompetent. If a person had been committing BFraud, they'd have had ample time to go and coach their relatives. My patient just laughed and said to them 'if you'd bothered to do all this first, you'd have seen I had no case to answer. And they didn't'....

And this has happened several times in the past too. They interviewed first after a false anonymous report, investigated after. Hilariously inefficient.

mignonette · 13/08/2013 08:56

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