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Showing results for tags 'compliance'.
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I am currently waiting for the Jobcentre to get back to me with a home visit appointment for a customer benefits review(ESA). I was placed into the support group around June 2014, I know this is just a standard review that is happening to everyone as I have contacted them on the phone querying why I was given this letter to attend an interview. The thing that's bugging me is that I live with my grandfather and sometimes I have bills that are due to be paid before my benefit money goes into my bank account, so that I don't get into financial difficulty my grandfather puts the money I need into my account so I can pay my bill that are outstanding then retakes the money back when my benefit payment is paid to me. Is there anything wrong with doing this? Will it be seen as extra income?
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Ofgem Investigation into npower and its compliance with Standards of Conduct (Standard Licence Condition 25C), Standard Licence Condition 27 (provision of final bills), and the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Complaints Handling Standards) Regulations 2008 Publication Date: 19th June 2014 Company being Investigated: npower Ofgem are investigating whether RWE npower is complying with the Standards of Conduct (SOC) (SLC 25C) of its gas and electricity supply licence and with the Gas and Electricity (Consumer Complaints Handling Standards) Regulations 2008 (‘Complaints Handling Regulations’). On 4 July 2014 the scope of the investigation was widened to include SLC 27.17 and 27.18, in relation to final bills. More info: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publ...complaints-handling-standards-regulations-2008 New Standards of Conduct: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publ...clearer-fairer-energy-market -
Hi all, this is my first post. I had a compliance officer visit today to look into my claim to see if I am living as part of a couple. I would like some advice on a few things. I claim ESA (transferred from longterm IB last January) income based and get DLA middle care and lower rate mobility with that being reviewed as I have gotten worse over the last year (it was awarded for 5 years in May last year). I do not live alone, I live with my carer and this has been since 2011. My carer gets income support for looking after me and obviously carers allowance. We both get separate housing benefit and council tax reduction. we are joint tennents. At no point in our time living in the same house have we mislead any agency by claiming to be living at other addresses etc. We started living together because I was unable to continue living alone (I suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and depression) as I was suicidal. My carer could no longer cope with her parents so she needed to move out. At the time there was talk of changing the housing rules to anyone under 35 only being entitled to a bedsit or shared house. We decided that better the devil you know and we moved in together (we had been friends for 7 years prior to the date we started living together. We had a similar check in September 2012, and were found to not be a couple. Bascially the compliance officer said it is up to a decision maker if we are a couple or not regardless of whether we are in fact a couple or not. He also said that we should have had a follow up check 13 weeks after the first and that if we are found to be a couple we would have had an over payment and the amount would be back dated to the date we should have been re assessed even though it is the DWP who did not arrange this. I want to know, would we be responsible for an overpayment where we have not mislead or given inaccurate or incomplete information and also if we were found to be a couple (which from what the compliance officer said is almost agiven) would that mean we would have to either move into separate houses or else move into a single bedroom property and share a room, which if we were a couple obviously wouldn't be a problem but as we are not it doesn't seem fair. I know all of this is what if at the moment but it has got me worried and as stated I suffer from depression and was hospitalised last January under section 4 of the mental health act due to being suicidal, its only just a year later and again the DWP is making me ill. Thank you for taking the time to read this and any help would be appreciated.
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Hi, Ireceived a very worrying letter from HMRC yesterday. They want to do a compliance check on my husband and I regarding child tax credits we have claimed. We had to do one a few years ago but it didn't ask anywhere near as much info as this one - anyone know why his may be? I am very, very stressed about it. It's the week before Christmas, I am having major building work done at home and they want all this info (one year's bank statement/all my self-employment info/letters from childcare providers)by 19th Jan. I have been trying to pull it together today and have been looking at some information on the internet at home. I am not sure whether I have to provide a breakdown of mileage as they want my expenses. But it is this which is worrying me. I am self employed. My company is registered at home. I do research and reading and some writing at home for my job but I predominantly work in two other locations on an ad-hoc basis. The info I have read says some things about bases of operation which has led me to question whether I should be claiming mileage as have indeed for the past six years. I am now very concerned about what could happen if they want to scrutinise my mileage and discover that I am not supposed to claim. I genuinely thought I was entitle. Please help.
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Investigation into Scottish Power’s compliance with Standards of Conduct (SLC 25C), SLC 27 (provision of final bills), and the Gas and Electricity (CCHS) Regulations 2008. Read More Here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/investigation-scottish-power%E2%80%99s-compliance-standards-conduct-slc-25c-slc-27-provision-final-bills-and-gas-and-electricity-cchs-regulations-2008 -
Notice of intention to impose a financial penalty following an investigation into compliance by InterGen with Article 14(1) of the Electricity and Gas (Community Energy Saving Programme) Order 2009 Read More Here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/notice-intention-impose-financial-penalty-following-investigation-compliance-intergen-article-141-electricity-and-gas-community-energy-saving-programme-order-2009
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Notice of intention to impose a financial penalty following an investigation into compliance by Drax with Article 14(1) of the Electricity and Gas (Community Energy Saving Programme) Order 2009 Read More Here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/notice-intention-impose-financial-penalty-following-investigation-compliance-drax-article-141-electricity-and-gas-community-energy-saving-programme-order-2009
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Ofgem Notice of intention to impose a financial penalty following an investigation into compliance by British Gas with Article 9(1) and Article 9(1A) of the Electricity and Gas (Carbon Emissions Reduction) Order 2008 (as amended) Read More Here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/notice-intention-impose-financial-penalty-following-investigation-compliance-british-gas-article-91-and-article-91a-electricity-and-gas-carbon-emissions-reduction-order-2008-amended
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Ofgem has been investigating whether British Gas complied with its obligations under Article 14(1) of the Electricity and Gas (Community Energy Saving Programme) Order 2009. Read More Here: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/notice-intention-impose-financial-penalty-following-investigation-compliance-british-gas-article-141-electricity-and-gas-community-energy-saving-programme-order-2009
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Hi can a non compliance order that was struck-out be rescinded ? thanks.
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Hi all, I wrote a book last year and it was picked up by a publisher and was published in February of this year 2014 and has been doing pretty well, it is available worldwide. I run a Facebook page which went crazy popular and it has now got over 100,000 likes. I was approached by a publisher to write a book on the subject of Wicca which I did. I have been on benefits since being made redundant last March 2013. When my book was published I had a case worker who I saw regularly to help me get back into work and I asked her about the book and what I need to do and she said I shouldn't worry it is more a case of paying tax on it at the end of the year as long as my savings or earnings don't go past £6000. Well the book hasn't made £6000 yet I get a monthly payment from the publishers for royalties of the sales and e-book sales, it started out as about £600 but has now whittled down to about £250 a month. I am also on a work program called A4E which everyone knows about the book I even took a signed copy in for one of the advisers as she was interested in Wicca. I have always been totally open about the book with both the dole and A4E. I often told the person signing me on I had a book and they would say 'Oh good for you I will look it up' and nothing more said. Now I have been sent a Customer Compliance Interview letter and it has got me a bit worried. Also I have lived with a guy for about 20 years, just a joint tenant he is one of my oldest friends and neither can afford a place of our own, so we share. It has been brought up time and time again if we are living together as partners and after house visits they have been satisfied we are not partners. I am gay and he is straight. But he does not have a bank account so gets his wages or benefits or whatever money put into my account as it makes it easier because the rent and most house hold bills are paid direct debit from my account. I am worried as the Customer Compliance wants to see my bank statements that it will bring up the old are you living together as partners and especially with him using my bank account they may not believe we are not partners. I am very worried over this whole thing and don't know where I stand legally. Can I just not go to the interview and sign off if I can find a job quickly?
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Hi all, My sister attended her interview today with he DWP compliance officer. They wanted to see her because she negligently failed to inform them of her savings when she claimed benefits. I honestly think she's losing her mind because she keeps forgetting things and lands herself in trouble. She has zero understanding of the benefit rules (I'm no expert) and never knew how much savings or capital one is allowed to have before qualifying for benefits. She has worked her whole life apart from this 16 months. Anyway, the DWP want full bank statements during the period she was on benefits, theres's definitely been an overpayment. She claimed for around 16 months. She's now told me she will refuse to bring bank statements and will voluntarily offer to repay all the benefits she's received. Is this even possible ? She is now working and just wants to get on with life. She's worried they will take her to court so she just want to repay everything rather than stress. What do you guys think? Can she just offer to repay everything to make the DWP go away? She doesn't know the full amount but given her high rent , income support etc, I'm assuming it's around £17K. The whole family is stressing about this as we are worried about her wellbeing. Many thanks for any imput.
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Thought i would post up my experience with the DWP this morning as a lot of threads on this subject never seem to finish with a solution. Last week i received one of those compliance invite meetings which i had this morning. like most people you spend the week worrying about it as their invite is sort of in your face compliance. It seems someone had taken a comment off my face book profile page and sent it to the DWP fraud hotline web page link. The allegation was that i was claming housing, council tax benefit, and ESA when fully fit This was totally bogus and malicious. The advisor at the benefit office said even the fraud team took it as malicious but as a report had been made they had to go through the motions and investigate. The result was no further action and that this happens all the time This investigation officer was polite and courteous and totally different from my previous experience with a JSA advisor. She even said i need to apply for another benefit to top up my allowance. All i am going to say is if you ever get one of these compliance letters, do not panic. Be honest and be yourself as they have seen it all before. She said if they suspected me of being naughty they would already have the information needed and that it would be a tapped interview.
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Hi all, hope you can help. My sister has been invited to attend an interview with a compliance officer at the Jobcentre. I rang them on her behalf and was advised this was due to undeclared capital but they would not give me the full details. When she claimed Income Support, she forgot to mention some money in her account, over £6k and I can imagine this is the reason for the interview. She is really worried and is feeling suicidal. She has never broken the law and this was definitely not intentional given her mental state. This is the worst thing that could ever happen to her as she has suffered from years of depression and anxiety ( she is still taking anti depressants ) and has just gone back to work and signed off benefits. She also has children with special educational needs and is worried if they will be taken away and so on. My question is, if she offers immediate repayment of any overpayment, will they still take her to court ?. She is in pieces and is even considering leaving her job. Also , how is this type of interview conducted, is it the same as an Interview under caution? . I am working and not able to go with her at the interview and am worried she will have a breakdown as she can't stop crying. Any advice would be really appreciated, many thanks. Liyanne
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I had a PCN from a council for £202 for a hire purchase car, bailiff sent me a letter on March 24, 2014 for £431 I filed an out of time declaration because I had never received an NTO on 11 April 2014, On June1 I got letter from the court TEC, saying that the council had refused the declaration.I did not recieve any letter for council or bailiffs (now called enforcement agents) Today 20th June 2014, I received a call from newlyn enforcement agent saying that they have clamped the car on my drive way. The agent said over the phone that the charge is now £666.11, which is £202 for PCN, £229.11 for compliance stage fee and £235 for enforcement stage fee. QUESTIONS: I thought i was supposed to receive a 7 days(11days including weekends) compliance letter charge....I never received this. I thought the whole idea of the 7days compliance was to give me the opportunity to pay the £202+£75 and save the trouble of a visit. I was not give this opportunity . I told the EA that the car is on hire purchase and does not belong to me , that he is not supposed to clamp it and threaten to recover it. is this correct ? I also wanted to find out if a car packed on my drive way can be clamped by an enforcement agent. Is my drive way not private property? Since i was not given the 7 days compliance letter and hence not given the opportunity to pay the £75, what can i do to get the EA to revert back to that stage as it seems obvious they failed to send the 7days letter ...so they can get more money if they visit. Any help would be appreciated -
Hi just looking for some advise. Cut a long story short I had a fine of £145.44 left to pay to Phoenix Commercial collections. This was originally a lot more due to 'first visit fees' etc which after querying because I was home all day, appeared they had been 'applied in error' and were then removed. A settlement plan of 4 x instalments was offered in letter form to which I made the first instalment 3 days later. the letter did not state a timescale in which to respond just please confirm by return, hence me making the payment. However 3 days after they dated their offer letter they then applied a Compliance Fee of £75 which they now claim is due to me not calling them to confirm acceptance of their offer (they gave me less than 3 days as it took 2 days to arrive, in which time I already made a payment) Surely making the required payment, early, is acceptance. I have since cleared the balance in full however they are still demanding the £75 even though I never missed a payment, paid the last two payments off two months early and had made the first payment within 3 days of their offer. Surely this is completely unfair and as I have met with their offer they cant enforce this? -
Have been on ESA in the WRAG for a few months now with depression/anxiety. Still not good at all but battling with it making sure I do the therapy, take the drugs and go to my WFIs. I've been really stressed for a week or so as I have my next WFI tomorrow and now to top it off I got a letter today telling me I have to go to a Compliance interview next week too. Does this mean someone's accused me of doing something wrong? This is all just getting too much.
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Hi, I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this and just put me a bit more at ease! I received a letter as I see many people have the last few years asking for proof of all childcare payments from April 2013 - April 2014. I have got all this information but there will be some overpayment as my daughter changed nurseries April 2nd 2014 and my son got his free 15 hours as of April 28th 2014. I called many times to update but as with tax credits I was on hold 20-30 minutes at a time. I think my overpayment is around £1000. My question really is how soon after sending information off were claims changed? My only concern is they want this information by the end of this week and my next payment is due a week later. On my payment date I'm due to move house and am just worrying over not knowing exactly what money will be paid in on that day. Do they adjust your claim and immediately take repayments or write to you so you can arrange the repayment amount yourself? My children's father has just been made redundant as well so I am currently not getting any payments from him and cannot afford my income being cut down much in this current situation. Any advise or knowledge from experiences very welcome! Thank you
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Hi, can someone help with this please/ I got a letter today from DWP asking for me to go to a interview because my circumstances may have changed and to ensure my payments are correct. It goes on to say I agreed to tell them immediately if the circumstances relating to my benefit entitlement changed, IT HAS NOT! It then goes on to say an unreported change in circumstances any over payment will have to be paid back and further I may be liable for financial penalties . Anyone advise please TIA
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Hi everyone, I have received a letter with an appointment for an Customer Compliance interview to take place next week. From what I have read there's nothing to worry about if I have nothing to hide, so I'm not worried and haven't even bothered with legal advice. I have collected/printed my bank statements and all the documentation they want to see already, all arranged in a folder ready for their perusal. My situation is quite straighforward, unlike some I've seen in other posts with partners and children involved, so I can't see there being any potential for complications in my case. I do have a concern, however: 1) I find it intrusive to my privacy for someone to comb through all my transactions and be able to see what I bought from where. I'd imagine they're more interested in seeing what goes in and how much money I have in total. No problem, it's all there black on white. I don't even have a problem with them seeing how much I spend, but I'm sure anyone who has nothing to hide still has normal card transactions that are intimate and personal. Am I being unreasonable in feeling which underwear shop I use and what subscriptions I have should really be private? Ultimately the answer I'm looking for is very specific, and nobody at the DWP seems to know the answer: Can I redact my statements so that they still show the balance and how much has gone in and been spent, but not necessarily the transaction details? I'm talking small amounts, nothing over a few dozen quid. Thanks in advance!
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How far back are you actually required to show statements ( I've read both 4 months & 6 ) or does it vary on the person ? thanks, mike
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Hello People Got a compliance interview at the Job center tomorrow. Requesting ID and Bank statements. Now this is worrying me. Nothing i am aware of i have done wrong. I have claimed JSA for over 2 years now and in that time i have not been paid a penny, on any benefits. They tell me i am signing for my stamp. However i get letters from the DWP in Newcastle saying i owe them for stamps not paid (in the period i have signed.!!) I am married with two chilren 15 and 17 of which my wife works and this counteracts any payment i would get from DWP. So i sign every 2 weeks just for a stamp.!!? Now i am led to believe a compliance interview is a 1st step to confirm information before a interview under caution. Now I don't have a passport and don't have a driving license. Bank statement ok. If i am requested to get these do they pay the fee or does it come out of my pocket? If they have something to investigate surely i have nothing to pay back... ? I had also been on the work program which was useless and have only just come off that. Very confused and very stressed at this i can see why a lot of people get upset. Any advice please help. Thank you
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I had a situation with Southeastern a while back. One of their Revenue Protection Inspectors issued me with a Penalty Fare somewhere in the region of £68, so I was legally required to provide them with my name and address. I appealed on the basis that the ticket I presented to the inspector was valid for the journey I was undertaking, only he wasn't sufficiently trained on how to determine the validity of tickets. The favoured approach is issuing a Penalty Fare or calling the British Transport Police over verifying the validity of the ticket. The appeal was upheld because I was right about the ticket. Because I presented a valid ticket for inspection, there was no way I was giving Southeastern any of my money towards that Penalty Fare, so I made a part payment with a £50 Rail Travel Voucher. I later lodged a Subject Access Request to Southeastern for all information they held on me. In the response, I found out that a member of staff from the Independent Penalty Fares Appeals Service (IPFAS, part of Southeastern) decided to email out my details to various entities, not all of which were Train Operating Companies. The IPFAS were trying to find out the origin of the voucher I had paid with. I reported this suspected breach to the Information Commissioner's Office. This was the ICO's response. -
Hi the physically and mentally disabled lady i care for has been called in for a customer compliance interview again. The last was 6 months ago. Received a text 2 weeks ago saying shes to attend the local jcp despite them being aware of her disabilities. We managed to postpone that one and emailed the area manager for jcp explaining the above and that also the interview fell the day after our 5yo was having heart surgery in Bristol. We also called the local number and the woman said a home visit or telephone interview will be arranged instead. However yesterday we receive another text telling the lady to attend an interview on Monday 14th April. So again we phone up and speak to the actual officer who was so rude and dismissive of her disabilities i couldnt believe a human could stoop so low. She was told she can bring someone with her but if she doesnt attend on monday her income support will be stopped. Can anyone please advise? I have searched the forum and seen of people having telephone interviews - indeed we've had a home visit in May 2011 - but this particular CC officer is refusing to do either. She said Income Support had asked them to call her in - however we called IS right away only to be told they had no issue whatsoever with the claim and nor had they asked CC to call her in. Is there guidlines or anything at all as the thought of leaving the house is literally terrifying to her one of her mental conditions is Agorphobia, and physically she would have to take so much of her morphene and diazepam to do the trip she'd be a virtual zombie. Any help very very much appreciated
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Hey so today i got a letter from DWP titledcustomer compliance interview...I have no idea what this is about. My circumstancs have not changed however the letter indicates this. I had an appt on my last signing date...regular interview where i needed to bring in my passport,birth certificate, driving licence, bank statments and proof of bills if i pay any which i don't. I have seen several threads regarding his....are DWP doing random spot checks? Asi said nothing has changed in regards to my claim, though on that last appt on my bank statement he noticed a payment from Bedford Hospital however this was paid training/induction ready for when I begin employment with them however this is going to be some time away. When i explained this he seemed OK with the answer I gave and didn't question further. Secondly I have an ISA which again he notice on my statement when I was making transactions between my current and isa. I don't think at time of my claim I didn't mention the ISA, so could this be another reason? They know of it now as I gave proof of that ISA and that was that...no more questions asked of it, plus that ISA doesn't have much in it. Those are the only two things i can think of, however not many questions were asked. So it leads me to think its a random spot check cause i also got a call three weeks ago making sure my circumstances were the , following the call i got a letter to say I received the call and my claim has been updated. So...do I worry? Because I am!!!
