SIL has been financially abusing MIL, need to put a stop to it...

[PurpleLostPrincess]

Its a messy long story but its all come out that she has been building up debts in her mothers name (76 and frail), we think in her old addresses, then when the companies chase her, she gives them her mothers address and they chase her. MIL is now paying £80 per week of her daughters debts as she is scared of getting in trouble from the companies. She doesn't want to report her daughter as she says she is her blood and doesn't want to send her to prison and apparently it would be different if she was a stranger. (this is DH's half sister, same mum, different dad).

She has borrowed literally thousands of pounds on the promise of paying her back but never does. She even said she would pay the debts (mentioned above) but now they've had an argument, MIL is being chased again as she isn't making the payments. She is an evil evil person and needs to be stopped. MIL's partner died a couple of weeks ago and she is already heartbroken as it is, this on top is too much. The money he left her won't come through for a few months and she has nothing to live on in the meantime (possibly her pension?). She is housebound too, very ill - DH's other sisters/brother are doing all they can to pop round and do shopping etc and look after her but she is over an hours drive away.

Thing is, SIL has always been forging names etc - she stole DH's inheritence when his father died many years ago by forging signatures, we think to the tune of around £60k (a portion of which was DH's for when he turned 21, he's 33 now). Again, MIL wouldn't take action because she is her flesh and blood. We think she may have some sort of hold over her and is blackmailing her. I've already called crimestoppers but they said that unless MIL co-operates, there's nothing we can do .

We've had nothing to do with her for a few years as she is poison but she used to brag about getting all sorts of benefits - thinking of reporting her for benefit fraud as a start to get the ball rolling but not sure what she might be claiming etc. ?

Any advice would be much appreciated - might not be able to get back on here till tonight...

TIA xx

Have you all got together and asked her up front about it? Maybe everyone taking the hard line with her might frighten her into stopping.

You can report her anonymously re; the benefits but if she isn't doing anything atm it won't really help and she might not link it the family situ.

Sorry don't have any legal know-how but hopefully someone will be along shortly.

on your poor mil's behalf.

there is an advice line for this they may be able to advise you....

Elderabuse-0808 808 8141

Phone all the relevant agencies you possibly can. Get as many of the family together as poss and confront her. She's been up to no good for years and years and really should be stopped. I wouldn't be surprised to find your dh could prosecute her if she did steal his inheritance even though it's a long time ago. That could get the ball rolling.

Usually, I'm not in favour of grassing people up, but this is an exception.

What Jux said. Disgusting behaviour. I'd also telephone the Police.

The Police are the best bet, she's commiting outright fraud, benefits are the least of the worries here.
Your MIL should get her money back because the debts weren't hers but only if you go to the police.

Thank you for your responses. Police won't do anything as MIL won't press charges. However, I rang elderabuse and they gave me the number for the adult protection officers in her town and I have passed these on to BIL as he is more involved and knows what is going on on a daily basis. Looking forward to posting to say that this has been resolved in some way!