Report A Benefits Cheat Or Not??

[scottishmist]

I have a “friend” who I know for sure is claiming benefits she is not entitled to because she has told me.
She is self-employed but only declares a certain amount she earns. She is also living with her partner and has been for at least 3/4 years, although she is claiming to be single.
She has just bought a car and booked a holiday abroad. For her 40th birthday four years ago she went on a Caribbean crusie - even though she was claiming working tax credit and housing benefit.
I feel what she is doing is morally wrong and as she has no children it’s not like she’s doing it for them. That being said am I just jealous because I can’t afford a car or foreign holiday? even though myself and my partner are working full time.
It's winding me up because she one minute she says how she's struggling to make ends meet and the next she's booked a holiday and buying bottles of champagne in Waitrose!!
Should I report her or not?

[tonzer55]

Yes. She is basically a thief.

[twix123]

Yes - you're working full time, paying tax and National Insurance, in order to pay for her holidays etc.

[whirlyhurly]

No,mind your own business.

[Cloverjo]

I can see why you are upset, but I wouldn't get involved with reporting her. If you did, might she figure out that it were you who shopped her?does anyone else know she is cheating?

[baza]

what are you waiting for, REPORT the tea leaf asap.

[scottishmist]

That is a worry that she will know it's me, although I think some of her family know she is claiming benefits, they wouldn't report her. I am trying to distance myself from her now because I realise she is really not a very nice person (other reasons, not just the benefits).

[Hypognosis]

Distancing yourself sounds like the right move. An outward appearance of losing interest stops you appearing jealous, as far as she can tell, so she'll end up blaming someone closer to home. (smirk)

Write down the facts now, before you forget details: When the holiday was, when the champagne was bought etc. Give it a couple of months then send your information in.

I can't see why benefit claimants aren't expected to hand their passports in. I mean, where are they going to be going on that little money?

[Mamyalynne]

Cut her out of your life and forget about it.

[saintpeter48]

Report it!! Its stealing from you and me, its just the same as you, instead of paying your taxes and NI contributions, just going round her place every Friday and giving her that money out of your wages, would you be peed off with that after a while, knowing that her and her partner are taking your money to fund a lavish lifestyle, sat drinking champers and sunning themselves while you are getting up early every morning to pay for it!!

[woofgang]

report her. She is stealing money from honest people who pay tax and giving people who really need benefits a bad name.

[Peaspeculiars]

Yes. She could be the most lovely person in the world, but what she is doing is not only wrong, it's illegal.
It is your moral duty to report them. If the tables were turned, what's the betting that she would get jealous and report you too?
Do the right thing and don't feel guilty about it.

[murraymints]

Folk like that tarnish decent folk who really need the help...don't hesitate ..you can do it anonymously ...who cares if she finds out ..if she's being smug about it it will wipe the smile from her face !

[mrs_overall]

You can report her anonymously by ringing the Benefits Fraud Hotline, tel. [phone]

[paul1763]

personally i'd report her and not bother to hide the fact it was me. also i think hypognosis is totally wrong about handing in the passports 15 years ago when dad died and the will was sorted mum offered to send partner and me to disney land.(we never took up the offer) if i her or we were on benefits are you saying we shouldn't we be allowed to take up the offer?

[cazzz1975]

given how angry the public gets about rag to a bull shows like benefits street, I would have thought you would have reported her without a second thought

[EDDIE51]

Report her by using the hotline link that Mrs O gave you. She will not know who reported her, even the benefit officers who do the investigation do not know that.

[kvalidir]

If you don't like he I'd distance yourself. Do you know for sure she's claiming as single? Her income might very well vary if she is self employed, and going abroad on holiday is often cheaper than holidaying here for Hypognosis' information.
You can get a £9.99 flight with easyjet or ryan air and dirt cheap accommodation abroad very often, and her birthday cruise might have been a present.
At the end of the day people can spend their benefits on whatever they like, you don't have to like it, only if your are 100% sure of your facts do I think you should report her, otherwise you might be plunging an innocent person into a horrible situation.
I'd leave well alone.

[ludwig]

I'd report her.

[sandyRoe]

Do we want Stasi tactics here in the UK? Impeaching our neighbours isn't the British way

[Fitzer]

So we don't report crimes Sandy?