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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To report a colleague...

73 replies

SpanglyBirds · 21/05/2016 20:37

....for benefit fraud, not just because its wrong, but also because I personally dislike her?

I have concrete evidence that fraud is being committed (has been for around 2 years+) but it just seems sort of childish to do it, when I know my reasons are not solely altruistic.

This colleague is such a nasty, lazy, entitled arsehole that I want to go ahead and report and write it off as karma biting her in the butt. On the other hand I'm not sure I'd be so quick to shop any of my other lovely colleagues.

I don't know... AIBU?

OP posts:
NeedsAsockamnesty · 21/05/2016 22:55

Then you are being quite silly if you do not report her.

But you need to protect yourself whilst doing so.

A report will prompt a compliance check,she has the evidence required to satisfy a compliance check so that will not do much good unless you also report to someone in authority at your work place.

Lucylaceingale · 21/05/2016 22:55

conscience not concious

Collaborate · 21/05/2016 23:15

I don't think anyone should be criticised for reporting benefit fraud, whatever their motivation. It's a shame that people don't report tax evasion too, when tradespeople ask for cash payments and discount the VAT.

Kummerspeck · 21/05/2016 23:20

If she has generated false company information she should be reported to the company too

I think you should report her. If everyone sits back and waits for others to report, people like her will keep getting away with it

candykane25 · 21/05/2016 23:29

It's a sackable offence.
Tbh I would hope you would report any colleague doing this.
It's theft and dishonest.
She'll be sacked and tax credit overpayments will be sought and probably prosecuted.
It's not your fault though. It's hers.
If you liked the person you would warn them off, explain the consequences and hope they stop sharpish.
If they are a cow, just get yours duly is in a row and inform management.

candykane25 · 21/05/2016 23:30

*ducks in a row

Damselindestress · 21/05/2016 23:40

Your feelings about her are irrelevant. If you have evidence that she is committing fraud then you should report it. It's a crime and also morally wrong because she is dishonestly obtaining money that's meant to help people. You should also report her misconduct at work because you could get in trouble if it comes out that you knew and did nothing. Why risk your job for her?

EquinoxBloom · 22/05/2016 07:32

The only person ruining her life is her, by doing it in the first place.

RandyMagnum · 22/05/2016 08:20

Loving the people saying to keep out of it, where do you draw the line? Why not just trot out the old immature "don't be a grass" line or "snitches get stitches"?

Might ruin her life? Tough shit she's the one who's decided that road, plenty of people get through life without being scumbag cunts, don't see why anyone should cover for them incase of "ruining their life".

Glad to see the majority of people on here are in favour of doing the right thing though.

CupidsArrows · 22/05/2016 08:24

I would flag it to senior management.

Hissy · 22/05/2016 08:39

This is a management issue, they need to know.

IceMaiden73 · 22/05/2016 08:57

I would be reporting her at work - this is fraud

Myinlawsdidthisthebastards · 22/05/2016 08:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AugustaFinkNottle · 22/05/2016 09:01

I'm quite concerned that you suggest you would keep quiet about this if it were someone you liked doing it. You have to report it whoever the culprit is.

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 22/05/2016 09:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Itsseweasy · 22/05/2016 09:23

Absolutely report to management. Forget anything else, your employers need to know what she is up to as a matter of urgency.
If she gets caught by someone else and there is even an inkling that you knew what she was up to, don't you think she'll try to drag you down too? "but SpanglyBirds knew and didn't say anything...surely that makes it ok?"...

ThatsMyStapler · 22/05/2016 09:33

"If you liked the person you would warn them off, explain the consequences and hope they stop sharpish. "

If you did this you would be at risk of prosecution yourself. You MUST NOT warn this person that you 'suspect' of fraud, you MUST report to management and let them deal with it

I think you have been very honest here, after all who would feel comfortable about 'shopping' a friend - we can all say "yeah I'd report her" but would you? really? if it was your friend, or relative (that you liked) or would you say "i've spotted it, how long til someone else does?"

bearleftmonkeyright · 22/05/2016 09:40

OP this is outrageous! Not only committing benefit fraud but she is falsifying the company accounts. There are possible safeguarding issues with altering the register. She needs to go! I'm utterly shocked!

Dontyouopenthattrapdoor · 22/05/2016 09:56

I would be reporting her for fraud without blinking, both to my employer and to the tax credit people.

Arfarfanarf · 22/05/2016 11:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
SpanglyBirds · 22/05/2016 12:32

See I'm agreeing with both the YABU and YANBU here, that is why I'm in two minds what to do. It is wrong, no matter who is doing it, but anyone else I'd probably be having a quiet word along the lines of- 'I know you are doing this, we both know its wrong etc......' But there is no way I'd approach this colleague the same way. People have had strip torn off them in the past for mentioning far less serious stuff, there's no way I'd go there. I was also not shocked to find this out about her, where I would have been about anyone else.

I'm not a nasty person by nature. I truly don't want to ruin anyone's life. Last night I wrote out a long, wine-fuelled rant reply, detailing all the many horrible things she has done, the major problems (including at least 2 very serious ones relating to children) her laziness and incompetence have caused, and the other instances of abuse of company resources. It felt good to let it all out and has made me realise how big a problem there really is here, but it also felt mean and spiteful too, so I deleted.

I think its clear to me now though that reporting the benefit fraud (I've checked the website, tax credits do come under this umbrella term) will come to nothing. SHe knows how to play the system and any investigation would be impossible. Then the risk that it would come out I'd reported would cause huge problems for me. I'm not willing to lose my job over this.

Similarly I don't think trying to alert the manager will work either. Although this colleague is technically only the same grade as the rest of the team, in effect she is part of the management. She has always seen herself as being 'above' the rest of us and has manipulated her way into a position of authority (and of course higher wage/smaller workload) over all of us. In her own words 'she runs the shop' and it would be very difficult to make any complaint without going through her first.

Going above her head isn't likely to work as the manager currently works remotely. All calls and post go through this colleague first and she has access to the manager's emails. One other person has made an official complaint about her in the past. That person was absolutely ripped to pieces and had their life made hell at work, while the complaint was dismissed and the fraudulent colleague came out looking like the victim. Reporting colleague left very soon after.

So I think my mind is made up. I'm not going to report anything to anyone. It's not worth the risk IMO. I'll just have to manage the guilt at doing the wrong thing and worry that I could end up implicated. Though it will break my heart to leave this job, as I love it and have been here nearly 6 years, I'm going to focus on finding another job instead. Anything as long as I can make it fit around our family, is better than remaining in this position.

OP posts:
herecomethepotatoes · 22/05/2016 12:40

Do it.

It isn't purely spite. I genuinely think it's fear of being harassed by her that's stopping you doing the right thing.

I see this in the same way as a policeman enjoying arresting someone for a crime when the perpetrator happens to be an arsehole too.

MadameCholetsDirtySecret · 22/05/2016 12:49

My concern would be that if you know she is defrauding the company and don't report it, you might be in a difficult position too. I wonder if the employer might start a disciplinary with you?

ilovesooty · 22/05/2016 12:52

If you don't report it and your knowledge comes to light you'll probably lose your job.

I can't imagine why you would risk that.

DailyMailAreAFuckingJoke · 22/05/2016 12:53

I personally don't believe in karma. What I do believe in is personal accountability. There is a difference between telling tales and the 'don't be a grass' code, which is utter self-serving nonsense. Anyone who says that they wouldn't 'grass' needs to examine their moral compass because I bet there are degrees in that decision. You might not 'grass' a shoplifter but would you keep a paedophile's secret? Thought not.

Anyway, in this case I would report her to the benefit fraud hotline. If their investigation comes to nothing then that's not your fault. Every person that plays the system makes life very difficult for genuine claimants.