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Original poster

anyone reported anyone for benefit fraud?

140 replies

ogri · 20/06/2005 16:19

hi all
like to say this is not a shoot me down in flames thread and dont want it to be.
i am just very interested.
i know a couple with a young baby, who are claiming every benefit they can, and they both work for cash in hand.
they have the latest mobile phones and the guys trainers cost more than my whole outfit.
it is really starting to p**s me off. my hubby works really hard and every month we are scraping the bucket at the end of the month.
why should we be the honest ones who are skint and they get everything.
so has anyone reported someone. did you feel guilty.
thanks for any replies

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 20/06/2005 16:22

I have. I don't feel guilty. The person I shopped was not eligible to be claiming benefit in the UK at all, had loads of money in savings abroad, and bragged about it constantly in writing.

Why feel badly? It's against the law! Would you feel badly about telling the police someone stole your purse? B/c that's what benefits cheats do - steal from the public purse.

Next time you feel badly, pull out your husband's last pay slip and look at how much went to PAYE. That should fix it.

HappyHuggy · 20/06/2005 16:33

I can totally identify with you ogri.

It really pisses me off and i'd love to report people but for some reason i never do!

If i was gonna report anyone it'd be my dad and his scrounger wife

sparklymieow · 20/06/2005 16:36

I know someone who is claiming benifits, IS, Housing benifit, council tax rebate, CTC, and her dh works cash in hand. I have told her time and time again, that what she is doing is illegal, but she keeps saying that she will stop claiming wen they get rid of the debts. I haven't reported her because she has a sereve disabled child, but its annoys me..........

sorry · 20/06/2005 16:45

I commit benefit fraund.

I do it so I can stay at home with my dd until I feel she is old enough to be left.

I don't feel good about it but its the only way I can see my dd grow up.

The government wouldn't help me so I had to help myself.

I paid tax for years now I'm getting a little something back.

I won't post again, just wanted to say this.

Nightynight · 20/06/2005 16:49

if I'd done that, I'd have had to do our whole street when we lived in Plymouth!
most of them weren't getting rich on it though. Living on benefits is very hard, as anyone who has done it knows.

If you think these people are genuine cheats, why don't you tell them so?

misdee · 20/06/2005 16:50

sorry, and how long will that be?

sparklymieow · 20/06/2005 16:51

I am on benifits, but because I have two disabled kids I can breathe a bit easier because I do get extra money for them, DLA and CTC top up our money. I have never had to live on basic Benifits and know it can be very hard.

sorry · 20/06/2005 16:52

Until shes dry and can go to the play group by where I live. Probaby another 7 months.

Been doing it for about a year.

sparklymieow · 20/06/2005 16:53

aren't you worried about getting caught, Sorry?

sparklymieow · 20/06/2005 16:54

I take it that you are working then, sorry?

Nightynight · 20/06/2005 16:54

sparklymieuw, benefit fraud is really widespread and I dont personally know anyone who's ever been caught, which probably answers your question.

sorry · 20/06/2005 16:55

Yes, but only me and my dp know about it.

My mom doesn't even know.

misdee · 20/06/2005 16:55

but if you get caught, doesnt that mean u lose your benefits forever.

sparklymieow · 20/06/2005 16:56

My aunt got caught, she had to report to the police everyday for a year.......

sorry · 20/06/2005 16:56

I don't work.

Dp works and hes not meant to live here.

Got to go now.

Fio2 · 20/06/2005 16:57

I dont think you should feel guilty about reporting them if they both work 'cash in hand". But then again it is very hard for some people to survive nowadays so I can see why the temptation is there. I just hate the attitude if you do claim for genuine reasons you are classed as a scrounger anyway

HappyHuggy · 20/06/2005 16:57

its hardly fair on all us taxpayers who have to work to get by though is it?

Nightynight · 20/06/2005 16:57

was she shopped?

HappyHuggy · 20/06/2005 16:57

that wasnt aimed at you Fio.

Just at the people who commit benifit fraud

Fio2 · 20/06/2005 16:58

sorry, are you getting benefits for being a single parent then? whilst your dp is actually with you?

sparklymieow · 20/06/2005 16:58

have you worked it out, sorry? because I know when DH was working we were better off, even with paying rent and council tax.
I can understand why people commit benifit fraud, but is it worth it?

oooggs · 20/06/2005 16:59

Yes I have reported our neighbours and I am glad I did it. We both work very hard to have what little we have.

sparklymieow · 20/06/2005 17:00

My aunt was working while claiming benifits, she was shopped and was put before the court, it was only because she has a disabled dd that se got away with it, she had to pay back the money and had to report to the police daily.......

Nightynight · 20/06/2005 17:01

can I ask the grassers again, did it actually occur to you to tell the fraudsters straight out what you thought of what they were doing, and why didn't you?

good citizenship vs English facade of politeness?

edam · 20/06/2005 17:02

I know someone who was prosecuted for benefit fraud even though it was unintentional (and actually down to her landlord not filling in the form correctly and not declaring something he should have done - but he wasn't prosecuted, she was). Horrible and humiliating experience. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, even an enemy.
Ogri, I can see why you resent them but wouldn't you be acting out of anger rather than because you are genuinely concerned about people getting something to which they aren't entitled? I'm not having a go, but are you certain of your facts?