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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for help with possible qualification fraud?

332 replies

Shambu · 27/07/2019 11:38

I've discovered a relation of a close family member is promoting himself to his clients as having an Hons degree he does not have.

I've known him for 20 years, and his qualification was a much lower status one which he didn't finish.

It is featured on his email on all communication with clients.

How would I find out? I contacted the institution to find out if they offered that course at the time, but I cannot make a request for specific information without his being informed.

OP posts:
boosterrooster · 27/07/2019 13:03

All you can do is strongly advise your sis to have him remove the qualification from his email signature and any other profiles he has. I wouldn't report him. It's really none of your business. You could open a massive can of worms and end up regretting it.

NettleTea · 27/07/2019 13:10

The chances are that if your sister knows and if he is a lying unpleasant man, there is actually nothing to be done. He is a liar, so he will continue to lie. He is very very unlikely to change anything on his correspondance. And, bar you reporting him, he has got away with it this far so probably believes he will continue to do so

so the question is really, are YOU going to report him, because it seems only you are aware that he never finished his degree

Im not saying its right, but doubt your sister has the power there to change anything, even if you highlight the risks

PennyGold · 27/07/2019 13:10

I'd leave it up to your sister, as long as she's fully aware then you've done your job.

Original poster
Shambu · 27/07/2019 13:12

In that case it's hard to know what you can do, beside being there to support her if it all comes crashing down

You're probably right.

I have no intention of outing him which is why I have not mentioned it on the thread.

I feel bad for his clients though.

OP posts:
CecilyP · 27/07/2019 13:15

Why does it bother you? If he is providing a service that his clients are happy with, does it really matter what he did or didn't do 20 odd years ago?

Original poster
Shambu · 27/07/2019 13:16

Also - if my sisters life and that of her kids came crashing down it would be quite traumatic. I have two friends whose fathers lost everything (in their case through no fault of their own) and it had such a deep impact on the family.

OP posts:
Myboyamelie · 27/07/2019 13:17

I don’t understand what you want here.

You say in your title it’s ‘possible qualification fraud’. But your OP seems certain that you know of this fraud.

The qualification fraud is one thing - saying you have a qualification when you don’t is poor form.

The second point is about his work - if he needs this qualification to discharge his responsibilities then you’re asking if you could/should blow the whistle? Until you know the answer to the possible/definite fraud, I don’t think you can do much without risking making unfair accusations which could be damaging. Getting him to remove the qualification from his signature might not be enough - if it’s a prerequisite for his job then he’ll lose it. If his employers refer to the qualification in tenders for example, he’ll need to remove it from those too and there could be a career limiting conversation at that point.

Then there’s the third point around your sister which comes across as very muddled based on the two points above. If you are going to go in like a half-cocked gun to his employer and cost him his job.... then why would you do that?

I think your OP could have been much simpler tbh:

Hi All - posting for advice. Does anyone know whether you need x qualification to do y role? If you don’t, what are the repercussions and how would I report someone who is misrepresenting themselves as qualified?

That might give you some answers

Original poster
Shambu · 27/07/2019 13:19

If he is providing a service that his clients are happy with

We don't know that they are happy. We know several of them have been distinctly unhappy. Including one of my sis's former bffs who was one of the people who sued him.

OP posts:
Cacacoisfarraige · 27/07/2019 13:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Aridane · 27/07/2019 13:25

What an unbelievably shitty thing to even contemplate do No!

Aridane · 27/07/2019 13:26

Drop an anonymous note to the employer. They can check whether he has a degree or not

Shock

At least own the shitty decisions and don't hide between an anonymous poison pen letter.

Aridane · 27/07/2019 13:27

If someone finds out then he could lose his job and be blacklisted from the profession. This impacts my sister directly

Then speak with your DBIL!

Alsohuman · 27/07/2019 13:30

Or better yet, just mind your own business.

Pondering2019 · 27/07/2019 13:31

If you have no intention of outing him and your sister already knows then what is your goal here??

Whatafackinliberty · 27/07/2019 13:31

I'd suggest keeping your beak out tbh.

ArranUpsideDown · 27/07/2019 13:32

If there have been either defences to legal suits or settlements arising from them, it seems odd that the companies or their legal representatives/insurers wouldn't have done due diligence.

Yabbers · 27/07/2019 13:33

My sister knows but she's in denial about the whole thing. She's used to him lying. I feel like I need to talk to her about the consequences for the whole family. If he gets found out he won't just be fired but he won't be able to practice in that area again.

And you want to be the one who makes that happen? This isn’t about protecting your sister at all, is it?

I have a vocational degree that my employer requires. I’ve never been asked to produce the certificate. My 20 years in the profession is worth way more than the shit I learned at uni. In fact, the degree they teach now doesn’t even cover the core parts of my job, but employers still insist on it.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 27/07/2019 13:33

Is it a legal profession, as you've used "practice"?

My instinct is still to stay out of this; you could unwittingly dig your sister in deeper here, if for example he was to fake a certificate because he got questioned on his degree and the deception got deeper. I'm not suggesting that it'd be your fault, but if your aim is to protect your sister, you might want to go about this carefully.

Original poster
Shambu · 27/07/2019 13:34

Myboyamelie

I'm fairly certain what he claims is not true - whether that counts as qualification fraud in his field I don't know. It's not like posing as a lawyer or doctor - which has set consequences. But he certainly stands to lose his job and not be able to work again in that field. As much for the long term deception as qualification issue.

I have not asked whether I should blow the whistle.

I did not ask the question you thought I should ask because that was not the question I wanted an answer to. I don't think there are any answers tbh.

I think the best advice here has been that there's really nothing I can do if it goes tits up. I will just have to accept it and pick up the pieces.

OP posts:
Original poster
Shambu · 27/07/2019 13:37

Is it a legal profession, as you've used "practice"?

I think I've already said it's not legal. I shouldn't have used the word practice, it gives the wrong impression.

OP posts:
TSSDNCOP · 27/07/2019 13:38

If it goes tits up then it does. He’s made a decision to risk that, and it sounds like your sister has accepted it too.

No need for you to give it a special little shove to help it off the cliff is there?

You’re like their own little sword of Damocles as it is.

motheroftinydragons · 27/07/2019 13:40

I think it depends on how it directly impacts his job really. Not as serious but I put my GCSE results on my CV (when I was much younger) and a recruiter changed my D grade in Maths to a B. I didn't notice initially. The rest of my results were As and Bs so the D did stand out a bit I guess.

I later got a job in financial services which required a minimum of a C grade at Maths. B or D not really relevant - I wasn't doing anything like accountancy - and I excelled in the job for years until I gave up to be a SAHM. I'm perfectly capable with numbers as a fully grown adult. Was just awful at sitting exams and at things like algebra (I did the GCSE twice!).

I never changed the CV back. Who cares, no ones ever checked (and probably couldn't anyway now because it was 20 odd years ago). I wouldn't go so far as to invent a degree though Confused

So if it doesn't actually affect what he does (and it's not something that could hurt someone) i'd mind my own business tbh!

How do you know he doesn't actually have that qualification? It's a pretty big lie to tell!

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 27/07/2019 13:41

think I've already said it's not legal. I shouldn't have used the word practice, it gives the wrong impression.

Apologies; I must have missed that.

Dotty1970 · 27/07/2019 13:42

Is got shit all to actually do with you, you sound like a shit stirrer

Taylor321 · 27/07/2019 13:45

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