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    • I used to post regularly in order to provide factual information (rather than advice) but got fed up with banging my head against a brick wall in so many cases when posters insisted black was white and I was writing rubbish. I have never posted anything which was untrue or indeed biased in any way.  I have never given 'advice' but have sought to correct erroneous statements which were unhelpful. The only username I have ever used is blf1uk. I have never gone under any other username and have no connection to 'bailiff advice'.  I am not a High Court Enforcement Officer but obtained my first 'bailiff' certificate in 1982. I'm not sure what records you have accessed but I was certainly not born in 1977 - at that time I was serving in the Armed Forces in Hereford, Germany (4th Division HQ) and my wife gave birth to our eldest.   Going back to the original point, the fact is that employees of an Approved Enforcement Agency contracted by the Ministry of Justice can and do execute warrants of arrest (with and without bail), warrants of detention and warrants of commitment. In many cases, the employee is also an enforcement agent [but not acting as one]. Here is a fact.  I recently submitted an FOI request to HMCTS and they advised me (for example) that in 2022/23 Jacobs (the AEA for Wales) was issued with 4,750 financial arrest warrants (without bail) and 473 'breach' warrants.  A breach warrant is a community penalty breach warrant (CPBW) whereby the defendant has breached the terms of either their release from prison or the terms of an order [such as community service].  While the defendant may pay the sum [fine] due to avoid arrest on a financial arrest warrant, a breach warrant always results in their transportation to either a police station [for holding] or directly to the magistrates' court to go before the bench as is the case on financial arrest warrants without bail when they don't pay.  Wales has the lowest number of arrest warrants issued of the seven regions with South East exceeding 50,000.  Overall, the figure for arrest warrants issued to the three AEAs exceeds 200,000.  Many of these were previously dealt with directly by HMCTS using their employed Civilian Enforcement Officers but they were subject to TUPE in 2019 and either left the service or transferred to the three AEAs. In England, a local authority may take committal proceedings against an individual who has not paid their council tax and the court will issue a committal summons.  If the person does not attend the committal hearing, the court will issue a warrant of arrest usually with bail but occasionally without bail (certainly without bail if when bailed on their own recognizance the defendant still fails to appear).   A warrant of arrest to bring the debtor before the court is issued under regulation 48(5) of The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 and can be executed by "any person to whom it is directed or by any constable....." (Reg 48(6).  These, although much [much] lower in number compared to HMCTS, are also dealt with by the enforcement agencies contracted by the local authorities. Feel free to do your own research using FOI enquiries!  
    • 3rd one seems the best option, let 'em default, don't pay a penny, nothing will happen, forget about all of this. As for Payplan don't touch them with a bargepole, nothing they can do that you can't, and they will pocket fees. A do it yourself DMP is pointless as it will just string out the statute barred date to infinity.
    • Because that’s what the email said. Anyway it’s done now. Posted and image emailed.    im doing some reading in preparation for defence but I will need my hand holding quite tightly by you good people.  I’m a little bit clueless
    • why do you need adobe...use a pdf online website. all for now...no get reading up and do not miss your defence filing date no matter what. post it up in good time no!!    
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Benefit fraud? Will I go to prison? Help me


AKG123
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Hi

 

I'm in a bit of a mess, I'm stupid I know and lazy and am so embarrassed about what I am going to say I can't describe!

 

Basically I was living with my parents and had a boyfriend and got pregnant. I filled in my forms completely true..

 

I was a young single mum as me and my boyfriend had separated. I lived with my parents and worked 28 hours a week after maternity. I had to pay for childcare too as both my parents worked.

 

My boyfriend bought a house all his own. We got back together around when the baby was 10 months old and I started spending time at his house with the baby so decided to move in.

 

Thing is I didn't tell the HMRC. Also when the baby was around 1 year 9 months I switched from a crèche to a child minder and again didn't advise the HMRC. There is not much difference in cost but that wasn't the reason for the switch it was I wanted my baby to get more attention a there was 4-1 to ye child minders and I didn't like it.

 

Anyway... I had a letter today telling me I am under investigation!! They want me to submit the contract and invoiced from my child minder.

 

Thing is up until September the invoices will be in my parents address (registered on HMRC) but from moving the address was changed to the current address.

 

I guess what they are asking for is just prof that I am paying a child minder but If I send them what I have/can get it will show my new address???? One I haven't told em about!!

 

I'm in a right mess!!!! It's only been for a year! I am not a criminal I have competed the forms correctly with correct wage etc but just didn't tell them what was incorrect due to being completely lazy and thinking I'll do it tomorrow!

 

So sum up my issue is...

 

According to HMRC I live at my parents address

I am a lone parent

I pay childcare to a 'crèche'

 

I actually am

 

Living at my boyfriends house ( not named on mortgage)

Not single boyfriend father of my daughter

Switched to child minder

 

What will happen, what do I need to do? What will happen I I tell them what's happend?

 

Please help me!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Hello again.

 

I'll move this thread to the HMRC forum and send you a link. Hopefully the guys will be able to help you, but one avenue you could try is the CAB.

 

I would also say I don't think it's worth lying because they may well find out anyway. I'd be surprised if prison is an option, but you need to come clean now. CAB can help you with this, but the guys have knowledge too.

 

HB

Illegitimi non carborundum

 

 

 

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I replied above. :)

 

Have you been able to contact the CAB at all? They've helped other people here and made a call for a lady the other day.

 

You need to tell HMRC and get this over with so that you can move on. It probably won't be as bad as you think, have a read of a few threads here.

 

HB x

Illegitimi non carborundum

 

 

 

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Hi,

 

I know it's easily said, but try and get some rest from worry.

 

 

I think if there isn't much difference in the prices between creche and childminder - then the overpayment won't be a huge amount. It they were going to prosecute, they would take into account how much money is involved. If you've only been wrongly claiming for under a year, I doubt it would be very much money. Also, your claim was failure to report a change in circumstance, rather than a false claim from the start (the latter is considered worse) - so that's in your favour. You've probably read the threads on here already - but I can't think I've ever read one where the person was being prosecuted...(although possibly some people don't come back and tell us).

 

Sometimes they can do a notional offset of the overpayment. This means they will take into account what you would have been entitled to if you'd done a joint claim - and only pay the amount above this back.

 

They usually just tend to take the money off future awards, or if you are no longer entitled ask for it straight back.

 

There are lots of people going through this on net mums.

The outcome is usually that they ask you to pay it back and that's the end of it. They have had a payment plans worked out, and anything they don't pay back after 10 years is written off. I've not heard court mentioned so far. They tend to prefer civil investigations (such as yours) to criminal investigations. It's always best to be honest with them as a civil investigation can turn into a criminal investigation, if you give false statements during civil investigation and get found out.

 

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/things-go-wrong/complaints-appeals/fraud.htm#b This explains things well. It sounds to me as though you've just been a bit negligent rather than fraudulent though. But in there own words, even in cases of fraud they give the claimant a chance to co operate.

 

Hope you feel better soon.

Edited by lis79
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Ok if I own up who do I call? Should I just ring HMRC and tell them? I'm a nervous reck I am only calm when I in work and have other things to focus on but I feel the longer I hold off the worse it's going to get!!

 

Shal I just ring them first or CAB?

 

Thank you everyone so much!!

 

Xx

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Hi AKG

 

I would contact CAB, they have a lot of experience in dealing with these matters, they can help manage the declaration. Sometimes things seem a lot worse then they actually are.

 

Ok if I own up who do I call? Should I just ring HMRC and tell them? I'm a nervous reck I am only calm when I in work and have other things to focus on but I feel the longer I hold off the worse it's going to get!!

 

Shal I just ring them first or CAB?

 

Thank you everyone so much!!

 

Xx

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There are lots of us on the same boat, I bet thousands throughout the UK. What I have read since scouring the internet is that it is very unlikely that HMRC will go through the courts initially. When I realised this it made me feel much better too although I am still worried about how to pay them back. I think HRMC would rather just get the money back and don't think there would be any point paying solicitors, barristers and court fees which would be too costly and defeat the object of clawing back as much money as possible. Go to see the CAB, ask them to help you with speaking to the HMRC, I have a meeting on Tuesday and feel a little better knowing that I won't go to prison. I'll keep you's updated.

Edited by nosoclever
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Hi everyone,

 

I called CAB and they advised that I need to go to the offices so I'm going Monday morning!! Literally by just talking about this with someone over the phone made me feel better!

 

I'm still rediculously nervous and haven't eaten for 3 days because I get so sick when i worry! I need something to be sorted soon..

 

Thank you for yor advise everyone, and nosoclever let me know how u get on!

 

I'll update everyone after my meeting Monday and tell u how it went!!

 

Thanks again!!

 

Xxx

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Sooo scared for tomorrow... But tell u what iv list 1/2 a stone in a week! Don't recommend the stress diet tho I feel awful!

 

I hope it all goes ok!?

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You will be fine, go there tomorrow tell them exactly what has happened, they will stop your child tax credits and working tax credit straight away, they will look at your claim and do a reassesment, you could have been claiming as a couple, so there is an over payment and underpayment, work out the difference and arrange a payment plan.

It may go back into payment or stop for a while...

 

You are a young mum with a lot on you plate, these things can happen, you gave you new address to new child care provider, you forgot to tell HMRC, be honest be upfront and it will be over this time tomorrow, except for the overpyament but you can cope with this.

Good Luck, get it sorted and then you can put it all behind you.......

Dont worry about it no more, you will make yourself ill for no reason.. Whats done is done, you will nail it tomorrow.

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Hi everyone!

 

Just to update you all, I went to CAB spoke to a nice lady who told me that I haven't got anything to worry about, wasn't much help to be honest but again it was nice to speak to someone. She told me to ring HMRC today so I did.

 

I cant believe I got myself into such a state! When I called them I was shaking, stuttering the lot! She stopped asking me questions and said stop worrying and said there's nothing to worry about!!

 

She took my new address and changed everything over, got me to confirm all the dates and did a new estimate review taking both our earnings into account and looks as though we still qualify for some payment!!

 

She said that my payments will now stop and a new form will be sent to me, I have to complete that and once they receive that back try will calculate my overpayment and will deduct it off the money we will then get!

 

No mention of interview under caution or investigations anything!? I asked if I would be getting anything else and she said no depends on the overpayment but she said that she deals with these kind of calls at least 5x a day!!

 

I am so relieved, not done yet I need to know how much I owe first and won't be completely relaxed until everything is sorted!!

 

All your advise has been very helpful and as it is so embarassing that I never spoke to anyone about it so it has been very nice to let it off my chest!!

 

Nosovlever I hope everything sorted for you too!!

 

I will update this thread as soon as I have more info!

 

Xxxxxx :)

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Thank you for letting us know AKG123, I feel a little better after reading your post. I am off this morning at 11:00 to CAB office, shaking though and have lost over a stone in weight in just over a week. Still haven't had a full nights sleep since receiving the letter. I haven't mentioned this to my partner yet, I am too worried. Better face the music and I hope to have news this afternoon to post here, looking forward to this problem being solved. Thanks again, back soon.

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No magic wand from the CAB advisor unfortunately.

Didn't seem to have dealt with a case like this before and did exactly what I had done, researched the rules on a database and advised me to call HMRC and let them know. I left there feeling more deflated than when I went in.

 

Really hate the thoughts of making the call, don't know how the compliance officer will respond to my deliberations, wonder if a letter would be better? I know, the Cowards way, what do you think?, call or letter, or both?

 

Still freaking :-(

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Hi nos

 

I think the important thing is just to do it, if you've got a lot of information for them, then writing might be better. It's not going to be as bad as you think.

 

No magic wand from the CAB advisor unfortunately.

Didn't seem to have dealt with a case like this before and did exactly what I had done, researched the rules on a database and advised me to call HMRC and let them know. I left there feeling more deflated than when I went in.

 

Really hate the thoughts of making the call, don't know how the compliance officer will respond to my deliberations, wonder if a letter would be better? I know, the Cowards way, what do you think?, call or letter, or both?

 

Still freaking :-(

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Well I don't know your case but I was thinking about writing a letter too because the thought of telling them freaked me out!

 

CAB didn't give much info either they just read a few information off HMRC website which I had already read and told me that I will def get a interview under caution and that I will have to consult a public defender and then set up a Meeting with a case worker who will review all the letters and help me, but I dont need any of that! I spoke to HMRC and asked her straight what will happen and she said as we are still able to receive benifits the overpayment will be calculated and deducted of the payment we will get or a payment schedule will be arranged.

 

I just bit my lip and rang them and I was so shocked that it was so easy and the woman on the phone was really nice!

 

Like she said she deals with these queries so often so told me not to worry and relax!

 

I hope your ok, I know why your going through (I think) I was in a state too but get it off your chest whatever happens at least there are no more secrets or lies or STRESS!

 

I hope you feel better soon and let us know how u got on!

 

I will keep updating once I have more news

 

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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Thank you Rebel11, I appreciate your positive comments, I am going to bite the bullet and call them tomorrow when my partner is out at work.

 

Thanks again AKG123, you are a great help and so happy that you are on this forum and have come back to let us know of the outcome as many many people disappear once their problem has been solved, not nice I must say.

 

Thanks for being here :-)

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Well I don't know your case but I was thinking about writing a letter too because the thought of telling them freaked me out!

 

CAB didn't give much info either they just read a few information off HMRC website which I had already read and told me that I will def get a interview under caution and that I will have to consult a public defender and then set up a Meeting with a case worker who will review all the letters and help me, but I dont need any of that! I spoke to HMRC and asked her straight what will happen and she said as we are still able to receive benifits the overpayment will be calculated and deducted of the payment we will get or a payment schedule will be arranged.

 

I just bit my lip and rang them and I was so shocked that it was so easy and the woman on the phone was really nice!

 

Like she said she deals with these queries so often so told me not to worry and relax!

 

I hope your ok, I know why your going through (I think) I was in a state too but get it off your chest whatever happens at least there are no more secrets or lies or STRESS!

 

I hope you feel better soon and let us know how u got on!

 

I will keep updating once I have more news

 

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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Sorry I didn't see this post! And i didnt mean to post last comment twice??!

 

Well I Kind of wish I wasn't in this boat to begin with therefore wouldn't have to come on this website but Im glad I can be of help!

 

The same to everyone else who has posted in this thread thank you for taking the time! 😊 it has been very helpful!

 

 

Thank you Rebel11, I appreciate your positive comments, I am going to bite the bullet and call them tomorrow when my partner is out at work.

 

Thanks again AKG123, you are a great help and so happy that you are on this forum and have come back to let us know of the outcome as many many people disappear once their problem has been solved, not nice I must say.

 

Thanks for being here :-)

Edited by AKG123
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Thank you, this is exactly what happend!'

 

 

You will be fine, go there tomorrow tell them exactly what has happened, they will stop your child tax credits and working tax credit straight away, they will look at your claim and do a reassesment, you could have been claiming as a couple, so there is an over payment and underpayment, work out the difference and arrange a payment plan.

It may go back into payment or stop for a while...

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi AKG123, Sorry I haven't got back to you however there is nothing else to tell from this end. I ended up sending a letter and I am expecting a call anytime now. In the meantime I worked out my income and outgoings so that I know how much I can afford to pay back each month. Have you heard anything since? have they started to take the money back yet? Is that the end of the story now?

 

Many Thanks

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I couldn't call them either and still haven't heard anything but I suppose my deadline was only yesterday. I sent a letter because I was totally freaked out and have been feeling ill now for almost nearly 4 weeks. Lost loads of weight, can't function and I am no fun to be around at the moment. Worst thing is, my partner knows nothing either :-( worried sick!! I am hoping that someone will come on here and tell us exactly what happened to them, in similar circumstances. Can't go down the lines of courts, i'd rather die, the embarrassment to my family would be too huge, i'd rather jump into the river.

 

Hope to hear from AKG123 soon.

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