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    • the Town and Country [advertisments ] Regulations 2007 are not easy to understand. Most Council planing officials don't so it's good that you found one who knows. Although he may not have been right if the rogues have not been "controlling" in the car park for that long. The time only starts when the ANPR signs go up, not how long the area has been used as a car park.   Sadly I have checked Highview out and they have been there since at least 2014 . I have looked at the BPA Code of Practice version 8 which covers 2023 and that states Re Consideration and Grace Periods 13.3 Where a parking location is one where a limited period of parking is permitted, or where drivers contract to park for a defined period and pay for that service in advance (Pay & Display), this would be considered as a parking event and a Grace Period of at least 10 minutes must be added to the end of a parking event before you issue a PCN. It then goes on to explain a bit more further down 13.5 You must tell us the specific consideration/grace period at a site if our compliance team or our agents ask what it is. 13.6 Neither a consideration period or a grace period are periods of free parking and there is no requirement for you to offer an additional allowance on top of a consideration or grace period. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________So you have  now only overstayed 5 minutes maximum since BPA quote a minimum of 10 minutes. And it may be that the Riverside does have a longer period perhaps because of the size of the car park? So it becomes even more incumbent on you to remember where the extra 5 minutes could be.  Were you travelling as a family with children or a disabled person where getting them in and out of the car would take longer. Was there difficulty finding a space, or having to queue to get out of the car park . Or anything else that could account for another 5 minutes  without having to claim the difference between the ANPR times and the actual times.
    • Regarding a driver, that HAS paid for parking but input an incorrect Vehicle Registration Number.   This is an easy mistake to make, especially if a driver has access to more than one vehicle. First of all, upon receiving an NTK/PCN it is important to check that the Notice fully complies with PoFA 2012 Schedule 4 before deciding how to respond of course. The general advice is NOT to appeal to the Private Parking Company as, for example, you may identify yourself as driver and in certain circumstances that could harm your defence at a later stage. However, after following a recent thread on this subject, I have come to the conclusion that, in the case of inputting an incorrect Vehicle Registration Number, which is covered by “de minimis” it may actually HARM your defence at a later stage if you have not appealed to the PPC at the first appeal stage and explained that you DID pay for parking and CAN provide proof of parking, it was just that an incorrect VRN was input in error. Now, we all know that the BPA Code of Practice are guidelines from one bunch of charlatans for another bunch of charlatans to follow, but my thoughts are that there could be problems in court if a judge decides that a motorist has not followed these guidelines and has not made an appeal at the first appeal stage, therefore attempting to resolve the situation before it reaches court. From BPA Code of Practice: Section 17:  Keying Errors B) Major Keying Errors Examples of a major keying error could include: • Motorist entered their spouse’s car registration • Motorist entered something completely unrelated to their registration • Motorist made multiple keying errors (beyond one character being entered incorrectly) • Motorist has only entered a small part of their VRM, for example the first three digits In these instances we would expect that such errors are dealt with appropriately at the first appeal stage, especially if it can be proven that the motorist has paid for the parking event or that the motorist attempted to enter their VRM or were a legitimate user of the car park (eg a hospital patient or a patron of a restaurant). It is appreciated that in issuing a PCN in these instances, the operator will have incurred charges including but not limited to the DVLA fee and other processing costs therefore we believe that it is reasonable to seek to recover some of these costs by making a modest charge to the motorist of no more than £20 for a 14-day period from when the keying error was identified before reverting to the charge amount at the point of appeal. Now, we know that the "modest charge" is unenforceable in law, however, it would be up to the individual if they wanted to pay and make the problem go away or in fact if they wanted to contest the issue in court. If the motorist DOES appeal to the PPC explaining the error and the PPC rejects the appeal and the appeal fails, the motorist can use that in his favour at court.   Defence: "I entered the wrong VRN by mistake Judge, I explained this and I also submitted proof of payment for the relevant parking period in my appeal but the PPC wouldn't accept that"   If the motorist DOES NOT appeal to the PPC in the first instance the judge may well use that as a reason to dismiss the case in the claimant's favour because they may decide that they had the opportunity to resolve the matter at a much earlier stage in the proceedings. It is my humble opinion that a motorist, having paid and having proof of payment but entering the wrong VRN, should make an appeal at the first appeal stage in order to prevent problems at a later stage. In this instance, I think there is nothing to be gained by concealing the identity of the driver, especially if at a later stage, perhaps in court, it is said: “I (the driver) entered the wrong VRN.” Whether you agree or not, it is up to the individual to decide …. but worth thinking about. Any feedback, especially if you can prove to the contrary, gratefully received.
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    • deed?  you mean consent order you and her signed? concluding the case as long as you nor she break it's conditions signed upto? dx  
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Bit of advice needed please! :S


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Hi,

Please bear with me, I'll try to explain this as best I can!

I live on my own with my child. I work 3days p.w (16 hours) and claim housing benefit (privately rented), child and working tax credit. I am due to marry later on this year but nothing about my current living circumstances will change. (my partner is in the army and only returns home for a max of 2 days per 6-8 weeks- lucky me!) I pay my own way as best I can and I don't rely on him for anything.

Will my current benefits stop because I am marrying him/ changing my surname? I don't know what to do next.

Please excuse me if this seems a bit higgledy piggledy!

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It's mostly about being in a committed relationship, not how many nights someone stays over.

When you get married you will be classed as a couple, they could even class you as a couple well before that, as planning a marriage will show you're in a committed relationship.

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Your husbands income will be included, and then benefits worked out.

 

I would take advise as they can look aback and class you as a couple well before the actual marriage, if that happens you risk overpayments and possible benefit fraud depending on the amount.

 

There are people on this forum that are in trouble because of being classed as a couple and not declaring it.

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Don't panic too much, everything is in your name at the moment? You don't have joint bank accounts, bills in future hubbys name, his letters coming to yours? If that's the case it'll be fine. But once you're married your husbands wages will be part of the families money won't it. So your benefits will be worked out based on that. Depending on what you both have coming in, you may still qualify for some housing benefit etc.

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Don't panic too much, everything is in your name at the moment? You don't have joint bank accounts, bills in future hubbys name, his letters coming to yours? If that's the case it'll be fine.

 

Even if they're in a relationship? But surely if you're engaged to be married, then you are in a relationship.

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You need to have a good hard think about what you're actually doing here.

 

You may be committing benefit fraud, whether you realise it or not, and would certainly be committing benefit fraud if you attempted to effectively conceal a husband.

 

The fact that your hubby-to-be is in the army is merely incidental, when it comes to benefit claims. Spouses of armed forces employees - or any employee who works away from home - are not entitled to claim as 'single', just because of the working away factor. Think about this question honestly, where would your hubby live if he wasn't in the army, and had a regular local job? If the answer is 'with you', then as aforementioned, you may be committing fraud.

 

Us normal people understand that being in a relationship - or even being married - doesn't necessarily mean that you rely upon one another for financial support. But, unfortunately, benefit rules and regulations are somewhat old fashioned in that if you have a partner with whom you're living as though you are husband and wife/civil partners (including when one or both partners work away), then that partner should me made known to the relevant authorities.

 

I don't mean to get personal here, but if you're going to make the significant commitment of marriage to this man, perhaps you and hubby need to come to a fairer arrangement with the financial side of things, whereby he contributes more. Because, unfortunately, benefits authorities very rarely swallow stories that one partner is entirely financially independent, and even then, it’s often only accepted in extreme cases as a means of mitigation after an offence has already been committed (i.e. in those awful cases where one spouse is abusive or deprives his/her family of the means to survive).

 

Your tax credits may well continue – at what rate, it’s impossible to say without delving into your finances – but your housing benefit would probably be very heavily reduced. Unless you live in a very affluent area where private rental prices are extremely high, there’d probably be no entitlement to HB for a (full-time?) serviceman and his part-time working wife.

 

In some cases, it can actually make more financial sense for one spouse to not work (since tax credits for the sole working partner could increase), but that’s something to discuss in more detail with a qualified benefits adviser.

 

Don’t forget about the ‘perks’ of being married to a member of the armed forces, including council tax relief for him, and possible relocation to subsidised accommodation, if appropriate.

 

Whatever you do, don’t try to conceal your marriage, definitely not after it occurs.

 

Sorry to put the wind up you, but a quick search of this forum should highlight just how scary and distressing being accused of benefit fraud can be.

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You need to have a good hard think about what you're actually doing here.

 

You may be committing benefit fraud, whether you realise it or not, and would certainly be committing benefit fraud if you attempted to effectively conceal a husband.

 

The fact that your hubby-to-be is in the army is merely incidental, when it comes to benefit claims. Spouses of armed forces employees - or any employee who works away from home - are not entitled to claim as 'single', just because of the working away factor. Think about this question honestly, where would your hubby live if he wasn't in the army, and had a regular local job? If the answer is 'with you', then as aforementioned, you may be committing fraud.

 

Us normal people understand that being in a relationship - or even being married - doesn't necessarily mean that you rely upon one another for financial support. But, unfortunately, benefit rules and regulations are somewhat old fashioned in that if you have a partner with whom you're living as though you are husband and wife/civil partners (including when one or both partners work away), then that partner should me made known to the relevant authorities.

 

I don't mean to get personal here, but if you're going to make the significant commitment of marriage to this man, perhaps you and hubby need to come to a fairer arrangement with the financial side of things, whereby he contributes more. Because, unfortunately, benefits authorities very rarely swallow stories that one partner is entirely financially independent, and even then, it’s often only accepted in extreme cases as a means of mitigation after an offence has already been committed (i.e. in those awful cases where one spouse is abusive or deprives his/her family of the means to survive).

 

Your tax credits may well continue – at what rate, it’s impossible to say without delving into your finances – but your housing benefit would probably be very heavily reduced. Unless you live in a very affluent area where private rental prices are extremely high, there’d probably be no entitlement to HB for a (full-time?) serviceman and his part-time working wife.

 

In some cases, it can actually make more financial sense for one spouse to not work (since tax credits for the sole working partner could increase), but that’s something to discuss in more detail with a qualified benefits adviser.

 

Don’t forget about the ‘perks’ of being married to a member of the armed forces, including council tax relief for him, and possible relocation to subsidised accommodation, if appropriate.

 

Whatever you do, don’t try to conceal your marriage, definitely not after it occurs.

 

Sorry to put the wind up you, but a quick search of this forum should highlight just how scary and distressing being accused of benefit fraud can be.

 

I really appreciate your help. It has only been spoken about getting married. Not set in stone really. No dates have been set but it is making me rethink the marriage thing now. I will call the benefits and ask for advice there before any plans are made properly. thank you all again for your help.

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Even if they're in a relationship? But surely if you're engaged to be married, then you are in a relationship.

 

 

Most people are in a relationship if they are planning on getting married? lol The OP doesn't live with her fiance & they don't share finances though. Yet. There's no fraud been going on.That's how lots of people in relationships live, maybe sharing a bed one or 2 nights a week even. That's not commiting benefit fraud. They can't start stopping peoples benefits because they\re dating.

If he wasn't in the army then it would possibly be different. But they aren't a family unit yet in living arrangements or financial. Of course once they are married that will change.

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OP doesn't live with her fiance & they don't share finances though. Yet. There's no fraud been going on.That's how lots of people in relationships live, maybe sharing a bed one or 2 nights a week even. That's not commiting benefit fraud. They can't start stopping peoples benefits because they\re dating.

 

It's very much a grey area. The very fact that a person does not live with their partner (or even does not share finances) does not necessarily mean that there's been no wrongdoing.

 

The OP and her partner are doing more than 'dating', they are planning to make the biggest commitment that two people can make to each other, and apparently within the next 8 months or so? Unless they're both of very traditional / religious backgrounds of some sort, whereby planning a marriage does not indicate or constitute any kind of pre-existing 'relationship', then they are a bona fide couple, and may have been for some time.

 

The red herring in the OP's case is the fact that her OH works away. Just because he works away does not mean that they would not be lumped into the category of what the authorities term LTAHAWCP (living together as husband and wife/civil partners) for the purposes of benefit claims.

 

The fact that they don't share finances may be a saving grace now, but would not hold any weight once the marriage occurs, unless very extreme circumstances existed that effectively 'drove' one or more partners to benefit fraud.

 

Once married, they've formed a legal union, which the authorities would take a very dim view of either party attempting to 'hide'. That's not to say that everything before the marriage is hunky-dory in benefit land, because it may not be, and OP is running risks, whether she's actually doing wrong or not.

 

OP shouldn't be left under the impression that what she's doing/done/going to do is 'OK', because that's not for us to decide. It's not us who would haul her in for an IUC, or impose a sanction - even a criminal one - upon her.

 

OP...get some advice from a qualified benefits adviser before you contact any benefit authorities, as soon as you can, and ideally well in advance of your nuptials. I wouldn't contact any benefits agencies right at this second - just in case you risk putting your foot in it and creating uncessary trouble, if you see what I mean? :)

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When you partner is based in the UK where does he actually stay? If he stay at the barracks or in forces accomodation then there will not be any problem until you do actually commit to marriage but if he returns to the UK and then stays at your home on a reguakr basis then yes unfortunately you could find yourself potentially at risk of an allegation of LTAHAWCP as posted above.

When you do marry then youwill be entitled to take up married quarters and not wanting to be too personal but surely marriage is about your love and commitment together and shouldn't be based on if you will still be entitledto receive fiabcial assistance from the state, it will be your joint responsibility to support each other as a family unit.

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