Thank you for your reply. I just dont understand why they think they have a case against me. I didnt purposly miss lead them in any way. I'll end up paying the fine I know just to make it go away and I certainly dont want my name in the paper. I have got a new job now but is quite low paid! better than nothing though and they do say its easier to get another job when you already have one. Not happy with the way the whole things been handled though so will be looking into complaining. Thanks again I just posted a new thread if you'd care to read it.. Thanks

Hi. My 2nd thread on here so i'll just do a quick update on my story. I was invited in January to attend a IUC, got a letter completly out the blue from my local council saying they suspected me of benefit fraud! I claimed council tax benefit in April 2010 after loosing my job. In Nov I received a renewal form from the council asking for details and for my husbands wage slips etc so they could make sure our claim was correct. In June 2010 our working tax credits had gone up but it never dawned on me that I should let the council know. I filled in the renewal forms with all the correct information on it and sent it off never thinking for a second that anything was wrong. Didnt hear anything else until the lovely letter dropped on the door mat in January. I totally freaked out and was a nervous wreck! i could'nt think why they thought i was a benefit cheat i was totally at a loss. I contacted a solicitor and asked the council to move my interview forward, the thought of waiting a month with this over my head was too much. During a meeting with my solicitor she noticed that our tax credits had increased in June and she said that will be what it is. She was right! the ouncil had picked up on the increase in tax credits on the Nov renewal form, because it had the increased working tax credit on it. Why the council couldnt just ring or send a letter asking me about the changes! but no they start some benefit fraud investigation! My IUC was actually fine, the woman was very nice and made me feel completly at ease. She didnt treat me like a criminal even though i felt like one after getting that awful letter. My solicitor had told me what to expect and said they would lead by asking me to tell them what changes I needed to tell the council about. The solicitor said to say that after seeking legal advise I had now been made aware that i should have informed the council about the increase in tax credits. I said I was very sorry for this genuine error and I was more than happy to pay back anything that I wasnt entittled to. At the end of the interview she told me I would hear something in 4 weeks. My letter arrived today!!! so much for 4 weeks! Anyway another horrible letter from the council, basically saying that I had been overpaid by £210 which would need to be paid back, also i need to attend yet another interview (not under caution) because the council see it fit to issue me with a administrative penalty notice!!!!!!!!!!!! The penalty is £61.00. The letter is horrible it basically is saying that I dont have to agree to pay this penalty but if i dont they will start legal action against me! It says that the counicl are offering me the choice to pay this penalty as an alternative to a prosecution! Ive been hopping mad all day about it. Ive contacted my solicitor again and shes ringing me back. Does anybody out there have any advice? Anybody been through any similar things. Thanks

Hi. Just read your story and I've had a similar issue myself. I was invited to a IUC in January. Out of the blue got a lovely letter saying they suspected me of commiting benefit fraud!!! I had no clue why, we'd only claimed it from April 2010 to Nov 2010 after i lost my job. Anyway my interview was fine, the woman was lovely and really put me at ease. Before the interview I'd spoken to a solicitor who'd looked over my paper work and he said it would be with regard to an increase in tax credits! Silly I know but it never occured to me to let the council know that our working tax credit incresed in June. Like I said my interview was fine and I said what the solicitor had advised about, that after seaking legal advice I was now aware that I should have reported a change in tax credits. Anyway I was told 4 weeks and I would hear something, I got a letter today! and what a nasty piece of a letter it is too. It basically says that we where overpaid by £212.00 and they have offered me an administrartive penalty of £61.00. I have to attend yet another interview in April so they can explain all about this penalty and if I am going to agree to pay it. But basically the letters saying if i dont pay it they'll take me to court! Really upset about this again, I never purposly mislead them about anything but yet they make it sound on the letter that they have a real case against me if i dont cough up the £61.00!!!!!! I'm going to post another thread shortly and see if anyone elses had a similar thing, finding it hard to find any others with my problem. hope all goes well for you, keep us posted. x

And we don't have savings! Only about £300 so savings can't be an issue. Thanks again

Thankyou for your reply. I assure you everything I said is 100% true which is why I'm so baffled by this. I do not see where there reason is to feel the need to interview me. Nor can I see anybody reporting me! I've not done anything to be reported for!!!!!!!! No point in trying not to worry because I'm just beside myself!!! The letter is just awful, I feel like a criminal and I've done nothing wrong. Thank you for taking the time to reply.

Hi Guys new here and would appreciate any advice anyone can give. This morning I received an horrible letter from my local council asking me to attend an interview under caution. It says they suspect they have grounds for criminal prosecution because I have failed to tell them about changes in my income!!!! Im really upset and very scared by this letter. I left my job last Feb due to childcare being a complete nightmare and my quest continues for a job that is around school hours. I am not claiming job seekers and my husband works full time but still classed as a low income, he earns £12,000 per year. we get working tax credit and child tax credit then last March I decided to see if we could get help with council tax. I applied giving all bank statements, my husbands pay slips and all other info they wanted. They eventually wrote back and said we where entitled and the we have been getting help with council tax since last April. About November last year I got a form from the council tax department asking me to fill it in, they where just checking everybodys information was correct. I again gave the correct details, my husbands wage, benefits we get and money we have including all the proof they wanted. Not heard anything until today when this lovely letter dropped on the door mat. I just dont understand whats happening. My husbands income as not changed during the year nor as anything. Why are they interviewing me, im really scared!!! got to wait 3 weeks now until the interview, dont know what to do. I HONESTLY have done nothing wrong and all the info ive ever given them is correct. Anybody got any ideas??????? Thanks in advance.