General Chat

just thought id liven up tonight with a debate...would you report someone who was comitting benfit fraud?? yes or no and a reason please............. im not 100% sure what id do ,just was thinking of it as a friend of mine has reported someone we know thats all

ummmmmmmm not sure i think it all depends on how serten you are

I would report them although i don't have much faith in them following up the complaint, have heared that they don't always act !

yes i would. good luck to your friend. do not know anyone doing it, but i should imagine millions are, sue.

Yes, same as I would any other criminal activity. Len

I know someone who is and I haven't. I feel that one wouldn't do much, but I'm not happy about it. If everyone reported then something might get done. The system is too easy to defraud. I've never claimed any benefits and hope never to have to. Ros

Yes - bacause I pay tax and it's my money they are stealing Peter

Isuppose its a bit like seeing someone steal from a shop - its eadier to report them if we don't know them. But usually to be able to report benefit fraud you'd know the person - kind of puts you in a spot doesn't it? At the end of the day its all of us they're stealing from. Don't think I'd report someone making a small bit extra by doing ironing or something but habitual big benefit fraudsters deserve to be caught in my opinion.

Ros i have been on benefit myself as a single parent..i only used it as a stepping stone til i went back to work,so i guess ive been there. Im quite a shy person so have a close circle of friends..my conscience would get the better of me i think but the person who's claiming is blatantly doing so...and unfairly too as the partner earns good money from their job.thats the reason i get so mad when my hubby works 70 hours a week,working away from home some nights..and we struggle to live. This person claims income support,housing and council tax (they are also married)..both drive cars a bmw and a skylight,live in a house thats beyond their needs(2 many rooms)with so much land. I dont want to be driven by jealousy but i think i am..and so was the friend who's told me in confidence theyve reported it.x

Benefit fraud is rife.....so many single mums claiming yet many have partners also supporting them.

Not only the single Mums either. A neighbour of a friend of mine was jailed for 6 months last year for benefit fraud. He had been claiming disability benefit whilst working full time in his own business. He had been claiming for so long, his mortgage was being paid (not just the interest). I don't know who reported him, but the officials were watching him and he was caught. He must have pocketted thousands of pounds over the years, but didn't have to repay anything because he was jailed instead. Sue xx

I was advised to put a claim in for Carers allowance when i was caring for a sick relative for up to 40 hours a week, yet because i had a job that paid me more than £75 a week i wasn't eligable, this was the first and lst time i will ever have dealings with this unfair system

How about, for the sake of argument only, the influx of immigrants that have not put a penny into this countrys coffers,and then quite happily receive a handout from the local benefit office, and then continue to do so. Not all I will admit, but I see red when I see them at the local post office, taking MY money, that I`ve worked hard for all my life,and then I`m told,or led to believe, that my pension will be less than expected,or I may have to work longer. I wonder why ? Benefit fraud, I don`t think I would report them.

I exspect there are sevral people on this site that like me HAVE to live on benefits, We strugle to servive on what the goverment give us, and I for one think the blatent frudsters (the ones who have full time jobs ect ) should be reported. If it was not for them I and the thousends like me who Have to live on them ,whould have a desent amount to do just that.

Hi Linda, I did say `not all`,and I agree that some come over here through no fault of their own,and do need help of some kind. Where I live,you can go down the post office,benefit office, and watch them drawing their benefits, and then going to work,washing cars,mini cab driving,takeaway deliveries etc. My feelings are, that if they can get away with it, then why shouldn`t someone who has worked all his/her life,and through no fault of their own,been forced to claim benefits. I don`t know where the justice is in that,but an eye for an eye springs to mind.

Linda, Would I ? love Baz xx

thanks for your views..my conscience couldnt withstand me reporting it but in a way im glad my friend did now..i understand some people need to but this person is blatantly doing so...partner earns in excess of £400 week,both have cars, more than one child..not paying rent or council tax,splashing out on hols and cars..only wear designer gear. i know what you mean baz about pensions..my poor nanna gets £42 as she only paid half stamp yet an old lady in the country by a yr possibly two who's never contributed to the system gets FULL pension..its just wrong.Ive been on benefit and can see the need some people may have to scam the system..but as i stress this person is blatantly doing so..when there is no real need to do so.my hubby works his bones off and we have to struggle through with our 3 children(who need clothes as they are constantly growing,and feeding loads)pay rent,council tax,maintain our car,school stuff and dinner monies..and this persons partner earns far more then my hubby does! is it right??!

cherie , report them . if you are wrong, it will not matter. if you are right- good ! lol, sue. [ that is pure greed !]

Hiya Cherie, I think that in that situation, then action needs to be taken as it`s so blatant, and uneccassary,and don`t blame your friend at all. But when a person,as the elderly lady,is given a pitence for all the hard work she has done in her lifetime, then that`s a disgrace. Like your husband, I work about 65/70 hours per week, and have paid a small fortune in taxes and national insurance contributions. My wages are good, yes, but my pension when I retire will be approx. £95.50 per week, probably not as much as some benefits being paid to some immigrants at present. I feel as though I`m being mugged.

Anyway,now the world has been put to rights,it`s time for bed,and work tomorrow. Got to help the government out again. lol Night all, Love Baz xx