Finding out your neighbour is committing Council tax fraud, Friend opened neighbours post by mistake |
Finding out your neighbour is committing Council tax fraud, Friend opened neighbours post by mistake |
Wed, 15 Jul 2020 - 18:49
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 1,571 Joined: 13 May 2010 Member No.: 37,524 |
A friend of mine has recently by accident opened her neighbours post and found that he was paying the single persons rate on his council tax when he in fact has a family living there.
If he is reported to the Council, is my friend likely to get into trouble? Her neighbour is a nasty piece of work. |
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Wed, 15 Jul 2020 - 18:49
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Wed, 15 Jul 2020 - 19:15
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 23,582 Joined: 12 Feb 2013 From: London Member No.: 59,924 |
Reports can be made anonymously. Check the website of the authority.
Obviously don't pass the opened mail to the person concerned - return to sender opened in error. |
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Thu, 16 Jul 2020 - 06:16
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 3,285 Joined: 5 Jan 2012 Member No.: 52,178 |
While not doubting that this person is possibly doing wrong, simply living in a property with a family does not necessarily mean having to pay full council tax. There are certain conditions which exempt an adult from counting when it comes to single/multiple occupancy. And children don't count either. So, it could be legitimate (albeit unlikely).
As stated, an anonymous tip-off is the way to go. Then the council can at least investigate. |
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Thu, 16 Jul 2020 - 07:37
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 56,265 Joined: 9 Sep 2003 From: Warwickshire Member No.: 317 |
With the above, anonymous tip off and return the letter as mis-delivered.
-------------------- There is no such thing as a law abiding motorist, just those who have been scammed and those yet to be scammed!
S172's Rookies 1-0 Kent Council PCN's Rookies 1-0 Warwick Rookies 1-0 Birmingham PPC PCN's Rookies 10-0 PPC's |
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Thu, 16 Jul 2020 - 09:06
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#5
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Member Group: Members Posts: 38,007 Joined: 3 Dec 2010 Member No.: 42,618 |
...is my friend likely to get into trouble? As long as the council doesn't know who the friend is, I don't see how. That being said, even if the council did know your friend's identity, it would make no difference: the council will not use your friend's testimony, it will conduct an independent investigation. There is no way the suspect would ever found out. The reason for this is simple: most reports of council tax fraud come from people known to the suspect (it's not like sending in a dashcam video of someone jumping a red light, where the person making the report almost certainly doesn't know the suspect and will likely never cross paths with them again). If councils didn't provide assurances and guarantees of confidentiality, nobody would ever report anyone, for the exact reason that has prompted you to ask this question in the first place. -------------------- If you would like assistance with a penalty charge notice, please post a thread on https://www.ftla.uk/index.php
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Thu, 16 Jul 2020 - 09:56
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#6
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Member Group: Members Posts: 23,582 Joined: 12 Feb 2013 From: London Member No.: 59,924 |
What can be concerning though is that as a neighbour you are likely to be suspected, especially if there have been run ins about other things. But in this case a bad neighbour wouldn't know about the mis-opened post.
This post has been edited by stamfordman: Thu, 16 Jul 2020 - 09:58 |
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Thu, 16 Jul 2020 - 10:44
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#7
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Member Group: Members Posts: 7,244 Joined: 5 Jan 2007 From: England Member No.: 9,919 |
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Thu, 16 Jul 2020 - 11:38
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#8
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Member Group: Members Posts: 38,007 Joined: 3 Dec 2010 Member No.: 42,618 |
What can be concerning though is that as a neighbour you are likely to be suspected, especially if there have been run ins about other things. But in this case a bad neighbour wouldn't know about the mis-opened post. I don't see that as being an issue. By this logic, even if the council picks up on this by some other means (cross checking DWP records or whatnot) and investigates him, you're going to be "suspected" even though you didn't actually report him. -------------------- If you would like assistance with a penalty charge notice, please post a thread on https://www.ftla.uk/index.php
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Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: Wednesday, 17th April 2024 - 18:22 |