What are YOUR opinions on 'shopping' someone?

[worried33]

I say leave it up to DWP/LA with all their fancy data matching tools, hidden cameras and special powers etc to find the fraudsters!

 

You never really know the true circumstances of someone. Some people may not like to admit they are on benefits so might say they are working in passing conversation etc. I'm sure we've all came across this before and more.

 

False accusations ruin lives. I won my appeal for alleged fraud nearly a year ago now and I'm still not over it and never will be!

 

This is a very good post.

 

I remember when a friend of mine took me to a football match in a exec box as a treat (he owns a business). The exec box wasn't paid by him tho, it was paid by a business associate of his so was other people there, when everyone was socialising, I was asked what I do, and before I could speak my friend said he is a chef, works for me. The type of people we were with, obviously my friend knew the best way to portray me, luckily I wasn't asked specific questions about it, but that's an example of what you just said.

 

I was concerned me taking ages to get to his vehicle due to my walking abilities after the game would have people mocking me, but all the 1000s of people around everyone just ignored me instead. It took a lot of effort to try and appear normal in that exec box with his associates tho, but thankfully they didn't witness me struggle to get there and the room was small mostly sitting down.

 

He was a good friend, paid £80 to park near the ground to minimise my walking.

[SabreSheep]

As someone I know is finding out to his cost. (Someone from his past has begun causing him problems.)

 

By working cash in hand or otherwise whilst being on benefit and not declaring it puts the person you are working for in a position of extreme power over you. You give them the opportunity to blackmail you or be vindictive. It creates an unfair relationship.

[hightail]

I've shopped someone. It was many years ago. I was working abroad and he was my tenant. He nearly bankrupted me by not paying his rent (housing benefit) and was running a lucrative business of his own while also working for a relative and claiming unemployment benefit. I was still taxed in the UK so I was effectively paying this lowlife to rip me off. That said, it wasn't an easy decision to report him and I'd never consider someone doing a bit of gardening or cleaning in the same light.

[Lucky7even]

I've shopped someone and I wasn't sorry about it.

 

He has been doing up cars on the side of the road for over 24 years, taking cash in hand for it.

 

He also had a verbal agreement with the AA to take breakdown recvoery vehicles on their behalf; they should not have dealt with him as he was not a registered business, and I doubt he had insurance to work on peoples vehicles anyway!!

 

He was not registered running a business for his address.

 

He was also doing up log burners and selling them on ebay.

 

He also had a financial interest in a fishing boat.

 

My local councillor also reported him as well.

 

He was breaching the covenants on his title deeds as it clearly stated not to run a business from his house so I reported him the the local authority for it as well!!

[Lebleuet]

I used to live in a country in the last 10 years where it was a kind of civil courage to report benefit fraud. How can you ignore it if somebody uses your money/taxes, when they are not entitled?

[caro]

As someone I know is finding out to his cost. (Someone from his past has begun causing him problems.)

 

By working cash in hand or otherwise whilst being on benefit and not declaring it puts the person you are working for in a position of extreme power over you. You give them the opportunity to blackmail you or be vindictive. It creates an unfair relationship.

 

If someone is paying cash in hand they are almost certainly fiddling their own books so also at risk of investigation and/or prosecution by HMRC.

[LifeIsAMess]

I too believe that fraud reports should not be allowed to be made anonymously. Especially when the case turns out to be just an evil act of revenge on someone they should not be able to to just sit back and laugh about it.

 

This may be slightly off topic and apologies if so but I'm still extremely bitter...but what about people who are investigated who are actually innocent? I was treated horrifically at my IUC, both myself and my flatmate had every part of our lives trawled through, my neighbours were visited, nothing was left unturned. I nearly killed myself and 2 other people in a car crash the day after I got my overpayment letter through and I'm now on anti psychotic, anti depressant medication and barely leave the house. I purposely avoid driving past the building that creep of a man works in when I am out. I had to be forced into going to my appeal and thank god I did.

 

Where is the justice for people like me?? My life is ruined!

 

Seriously people, just get on with your own lives, shopping someone isn't going to change the governments plans, they will get what they deserve one way or another eventually. Do you really want to take the chance of reporting someone who may be doing nothing wrong?

 

Maybe it's just me...I was brought up not to be a snitch.

[fletch70]

If someone is paying cash in hand they are almost certainly fiddling their own books so also at risk of investigation and/or prosecution by HMRC.

 

That is a bit of an extreme over generalisation. So you are saying that if I or anyone else pays someone cash and doesn't ask for a receipt they fiddling their own books?

[Guest Alison82]

Maybe instead of paying you cash, they can pay for your food shopping for the week either online shop or vouchers?

[fletch70]

Maybe instead of paying you cash, they can pay for your food shopping for the week either online shop or vouchers?

 

Not quite sure why you think that is a good idea, there is of course a lot more to pay out of any benefit than just food shopping

Gas, Elec, Water, CT, maybe some rent the list goes on and on

[Mr.P]

Maybe instead of paying you cash, they can pay for your food shopping for the week either online shop or vouchers?

 

I don't think the DWP would want to pay for my online weekly shop.

[Nystagmite]

And how would it be decided how much someone can spend on food each week? Not everyone, for a variety of reasons, spends the same amount on food. Ditto other bills they have.

[antone]

Maybe instead of paying you cash, they can pay for your food shopping for the week either online shop or vouchers?

 

What problem would this solve?

[worried33]

Maybe instead of paying you cash, they can pay for your food shopping for the week either online shop or vouchers?

 

who are you talking to?

[sillygirl1]

Appears to be an old troll coming back - I'd ignore the crass stupidity of their comment.

[essexmat]

I never thought my thread would last so long - maybe time to shut it down now?

[antone]

OK, closed at OP request. I don't think it's going anywhere now in any case.