I’m currently being investigated for selling on eBay my unwanted goods while claiming housing and ESA. I went for an interview under caution were I was asked what all these PayPal transactions on my bank statements are going back 6 years into my account to the amount on 9k? I explained I sell coins on EBay which I have been collecting for over 20 years and all personal belonging since I moved into a small flat. Also told them a couple of friends sold on my account and they are willing to give a statement to this effect. The reason why I had sell all my personal belonging is that there is a shortfall every month of over £100. I have now received a letter wanting me to list:- 1 A list of all cash credits where have each of these come from? 2 Miscellaneous credits where have each of these come from? 3 credit transfers from PayPal and PayPal statement 4 PayPal purchases detail of items and sellers I would like to know if I have broken the law by selling my personal belongings and my friend’s items on eBay and where can I get the best legal advice on this matter . I am scared they will stop my housing and will have to go homeless

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-34172701 I think that this tells you lot about the private private parking industry, its culture and the culture of many of the people who are involved in it. Apart from anything else, how can UKPC have such slack systems that it is possible for someone to interfere with recorded video in this way. It is shabby and clearly the directors of the company have fallen well short of proper standards. Of course what else do you expect from people who might equally be involved in night-club door security or fitting car sound systems or burglar alarms had they not become involved in the bounty-hunting industry. I wonder if their families know what they do for living? Remember Parking Eye? Follow this link to see what the Court of Appeal had to say about them. Of course, where is the BPA? It is the BPA which apparently imposes standards on their members. Clearly they don't do a very good job either if they allow such vulnerable systems to be in place.

Bit of a strange one , but I will try and keep it as brief as possible....... Received a letter requesting my attendance at a benefit fraud investigation, and that it would be under caution (and taped). Went today, and not sure what to make of it to be honest. They claim I did not report a change in circumstances 4 weeks after making the claim in 2009. In 2009 I lost a business, was left jobless, and instead of claiming dole, went self employed to make a fresh start. I informed the local council I had no income, and as such, received full council tax benefit (now called council tax reduction ). As with many businesses, I started off making a loss, and continued to do so for 3 years (albeit improving over the three years). Approximately 6 weeks after starting self employment, I did start to make regular DRAWINGS out of the business, even though there was no profit to support it. I was simply taking money to pay bills, out of the business. I was able to do so, and keep trading, due to a combination of the overdraft facility, favourable credit terms from suppliers, and eventually a full factoring facility. I had also declared Child & Working Tax Credit. The local council claim that these DRAWINGS were to be classed as income, and as I had not informed them, they believe fraud has taken place. I argued that my INCOME was classed as my share of the PROFITS, and if i had drawn more than the profits supported, then in effect this was a loan that was repayable on demand, and therefore no income. They argued I was wrong, but every time I stated that if I have made a loss, then I have had NO income, they replied, your income is your DRAWINGS. I then suggested, in theory, if my share of the profit was £100k, but I chose only to draw £20 per week, would I receive CTR, as I was drawing only £20 per week, and therefore that was my income? They declined to answer.... After 45 minutes, the interview was ended as we both agreed that the conversation was going around in circles, and it all hinged on what is classed as income. They are sending the evidence to some assessor, and along with the councils solicitors, they will decide whether to prosecute. I have since spoken to my accountant, who categorically states that incomes is defined by your share of the profits, and drawings are immaterial, whatever the amount. If I overdraw, then the excess is classed as a loan, as it is payable on demand! I genuinely believe I have done nothing wrong, but felt I could not get my point across, and that they did not understand. One of the interviewers claimed that she had a degree in accountancy practices, and that she knew what she was talking about, but when asked, she would or could not define the difference between drawing and profit. The question is does anyone know where I stand in all of this? I will be seeking the advice of a solicitor later next week, but based on my accountants point of view, he believes I am right Any advice would be grateful Cheers

Hi everyone! I have read all the most recent threads regarding HB overpayments recovery and fraud investigations, but have to say I haven't found all the answers as my situation is a bit confusing. Will try my best to lay the facts. I have attended an Interview under Caution, carried by LA Fraud investigation manager. I was sure it was regarding two cases of overpayments, for which I have already arranged repayment plan and started making repayments. I have contacted a solicitor, emailed him copies of LA letters and my letters sent to them. The solicitor said, it is nothing serious and I can easily go without legal representative. Two occasions of overpayment go back in 2012 when I delayed with reporting change in income and in 2013 when they didn't process my report of moving out of the property in time and kept paying about 130 a month for another 3 months. Now they are recovering both overpayments despite it is unaffordable (£140 a month) and also despite they have admitted the official error but decided that this amount is recoverable as I could have reasonable known I have been overpaid. I have been to CAB, they said they couldn't do anything etc... Stupidly I have not appealed against either of overpayment decisions, naively thinking "the authority is always right, I have to give back if I was not entitled to it". Besides, I have been very cooperative and responded promptly to recovery person and started discussing the repayment plan. I assume all this has played against me as they suspected that I have committed fraud. They did a credit check on me a during Interview under caution the main point of interest was were have I got the money to raise a deposit for the property I have purchased with mortgage ( to which I have moved out from the rented property). I have answered that my brother gifted me the money, transferring funds to my account abroad (my brother lives abroad) , from which I have transferred them to my account in the UK. I was asked to provide foreign bank statement for two years when HB has been claimed to prove my words. At this point I sought another legal advice and was told not to send any statements. The interview took place almost a month ago, I haven't neither heard anything from the Fraud Investigator nor have I contacted them myself. My questions to the forum experts are: 1. Would solicitors advice not to provide bank statements not make things worse? 2. What will be the following action from LA part? 3.Should I still appeal against 2013 overpayment decision ( the amount is around £700, which I have not even received, but they said it included something recovered towards first overpayment). The LA letter is saying there are only 30 days for appeal, I have missed that time by sending them a letter asking to explain how the overpayment has occurred and having had their answer two months later. During the interview, which was awful, I was made feeling like a biggest criminal ever, concealing multiple bank accounts and so on. I was asked about money transfers from abroad as if I was laundering millions. I am in serious stress since January when recovery thing has started, to add to this job change and constant shortfall of money due to repayments. Being single mother I find myself panicking that they will take me to court, I will end up with criminal conviction and shame for the rest of my life. Can anyone advise anything, please ?

My benefits have been suspended for 11 weeks so far while the DWP investigate me for benefit fraud. I am innocent but they havnt proved me innocent or guilty. I know if they find me innocent they will repay it all but if they find me guilty my question is this, Do they a) repay the money theyv taken so far and then tell me to pay back in installments? b) say i owe them so much and keep what theyv taken so far and then i pay back in installments? c) say i owe them so much so keep what theyv taken so far and not pay me anything till its all reclaimed? I have had to borrow of friends and family to get thru and if the dwp pay me back i can clear my debts but if they dont then im screwed... nobody (def not the CAB) can tell me how they proceed. Can anyone advise please? Thank you

I received a letter today 9/1/14 dated 6/12/13. saying I need to attend an interview regarding benefit fraud on 16/1/14. I don't even know what I'm supposed to have done. The only benefit I claim is Carers Allowance for my dad. I telephoned the number and asked to speak to someone regarding the letter and the man I need to speak to isn't in the office until Monday. I am very worried and scared as I have read some awful things on the internet. I have a 7 year old daughter and a husband that's about to go into hospital. I haven't eaten all day and have given myself a headache. My parents both ill health picked up straight away that something was wrong and I had to tell them. My mother has been in bed most of the day ill due to his letter. I'm worried about the interview. Am I allowed to take my mother or husband in with me? Do I need legal representation? Please Hel

hi everyone i got a letter the other day saying i need to attend a interview under caution and im being investigated i been worried since not being able to sleep im married i got married in 04 but when i was pregnant with our third child in november 08 he left me at the time we was living in his home town i was all alone so moved back near my family and friends and i was on and off with him till 2012 but we not lived together he had his own house near me then gave it up and moved back to him mums in so since he left in 08 i been claiming as a single parent we are not together now but he spends alot of time here with the kids and looks after them when i go out or sometime stays over in sofa to take kids to school next morning as he lives a fair way away and doesnt have a car and he works local he comes to see the kids everyday and now we not together we get on great and are close friends so we sometime will take kids out together for tea of something he uses my spare bank account as he cant get one as he in bad credit and pays me maintance for the kids each week it doesnt sound good that he stay over on sofa but he a full on dad and when we split our oldest didnt take it well so he trys to see them as much as he can this is the only thing i can think of why i being called in im really worried i need advice please x ps sometimes his post comes here as they cant find him ans as we married they sind them here i have rang and told them he not here but they still send them x

Good morning everyone, im new so please be patient (iv never used a message board before) Me and the father of my daughter split up in August 2012, we were still living under the same roof but led totally seperate lives, anyway i started claiming single parent allowance (i had a seperate bank account etc) but the bills and mortagage were coming out of our joint account, a long story short i recieved a letter saying they suspected my Ex was living at the same address as me (he was) so i rang and explained this to them and they said it was fine as long as i could prove i was contributing towards the bills etc, anyway i sent all evidence off of us putting the house on the market, and bank statements of our joint account with me transferring money in from my seperate account to cover half the bills every month. I recieved a letter back just before new years basically saying Thankyou no further action will be taken. Since then my Ex has moved out but last Saturday we were both out with our friends and saw each other and got talking and as you can imagine after a few drinks one thing led to another. He is still at a different address now but we are meeting up and contacting each other alot. How would i go about stopping my claim without it looking suspicious If we decide to give things another go? I dont want to lie in any way and recieve money that shouldnt be given to me but at the same time i dont want to call and say "i was investigated a few months ago, sent evidence but now i want to stop my claim as im back with the guy i was investigated for being in a relationship with" as it sounds very fishy. Thankyou for reading and your help. Emma x

Hi I hope someone can help. I was interviewed under caution by DWP last month. A little background. I have been in receipt of DLA for over 10 years, I have it for life and Incapacity Benefit for the same time. I have a degenerative condition that affects by my knees, hips and legs. I was reported for working over a year ago, I was working 2-3 hours a week, under permitted work rules as recommended by my Therapist, to help with my Mental Health. My therapist also refered me to a pain clinic. During a discussion with the pain specialist he asked what I missed most, I said walking. He advised that I should try to increase the amount I walk to strengthen my muscles and help with my all round mobility and well being. I spoke to a friend and she agreed to walk with me so if i got in difficulty I wasn't alone. I started walking my son to school with my friend. To a normal person this is a 10 min walk, to me this takes 20+ mins and about 2 hours to recover (I also get up at 6am so my pain killers have taken before I leave). My well being/depression improved, I lost a little weight and generally felt a sense of achievement every time i did this. My son also benefited from a healthier start to the day. I would lean on my daughters pram or use elbow crutches for support. Occasionally I wouldn't use any walking aids. During my interview the investigator showed me images of myself and my friend walking to school, sometimes with my pram, crutch or nothing. they state that even though I have a crutch I just carry it and that I cant use the pram for support as sometimes i'm pushing it with 1 hand while laughing on the phone! They have photos of me doing jet-washing on the front drive and taking my friends (who had just had a disk replaced in her neck) shopping. Everything they have says I'm a fraud and do not have any problems. In the summer I attended the Pain Management Program In The Walton Center which is all about help you improve your life if you live in chronic pain. I take Tramadol and Codeine every 4 hours as well as other medication. I am also now on Liquid Morphine for pain relief. I have just spent 2 nights in Hospital for bed rest and pain relief. Last night one of my neighbour told me that 20 investigators had come into the road on mass and visited all of my neighbours asking them to make statements about me, what they'd seen me doing, walking etc They had told all my neighbour what I was being investigated for and everything. As you can imagine I am currently devastated and want to move. I am a private person and when I'm bad I don't go out, I always wear sunglasses to hide my eyes because I hate anyone seeing me in pain. Out of about 15 neigbours maybe only 4 of them have ever seen me bad because I don't show my pain, its a defense thing. My question really is are the investigators allowed to tell all my neighbours my business and as I have a feeling this will go to court does anyone know any solicitors who specialize in this?

Just wondering - probably because i am being paranoid! I made silly mistake and ended up with an overpayment of £1050 in HB, which I am just asking the council to send me a breakdown of the new income figure they have so I can check it's correct. I know they have already written to my boss asking for income figures, but how far can they go? I am a member of a MMA gym and some official looking type people came in at 7pm and took the manager into the office - I am just totally panicking that they were investigators who are looking to see if 'I live beyond my means'.... I am being stupid or can this happen? any comments appreciated but please don't slate me as I'm worries sick