Experian will work with Gov to spot cheat's

the shadow · 10 Aug 2010 at 08:42

Data Protection concerns me but will it work?
this has to be a step in the right direction
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...unty-hunters-to-cut-benefit-fraud-by-1bn.html

Vonhelmet · 10 Aug 2010 at 08:48

Well, the article says its all compliant with the DPA, so it's all good in the hood as far as I'm concerned.

Andrew Moore · 10 Aug 2010 at 08:51

No issues with it here either. It's about time something was done. My fears are that tax will rise due to the ridiculous amount of convictions this will no doubt bring and with it the prison time associated with it.

Andy

Danthus · 10 Aug 2010 at 08:55

Although that article states that more money is "lost" through administration errors rather that fraud.

Fraud runs at about 1% according to this article.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10922261

I still think it is a good idea though to stamp it out.

Vonhelmet · 10 Aug 2010 at 09:05

OldCoals said:
Although that article states that more money is "lost" through administration errors rather that fraud.

Fraud runs at about 1% according to this article.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10922261

I still think it is a good idea though to stamp it out.

Huh?

Fraud - 5.2b/87b = 6%

Administrative error - 1.6b/87b = 2%

Danthus · 10 Aug 2010 at 09:08

vonhelmet said:
Huh?

Fraud - 5.2b/87b = 6%

Administrative error - 1.6b/87b = 2%

Critics also point out that the actual level of fraud is comparatively small. Only about 1% of all benefits are fraudulently claimed. Indeed more money is lost through administrative error than benefit fraud.

Don't shoot the messenger, maybe the BBC need to review there editorial process!

Cosimo · 10 Aug 2010 at 09:14

Sounds good to me. It’s high time we weeded more of these cheats out.

edscdk · 10 Aug 2010 at 09:15

they could offer a reward for people that dob others in.. I know 2 people claiming benefits who should not be... im about to do it anyway however a nice little reward would be nice... it would be a fair wack as these people are likley claiming 100's a month...

if they offered £1000 per proven case I bet a LOT of people would get done..

antijoke · 10 Aug 2010 at 09:19

while administrative errors wastes £1.6billion

I think they need to sort this problem out as well. £1.6 Billion! £1.6 Billion?

That's a joke.

This a step in the right direction to stop people claiming fraudulantly though and I welcome it.

The Mad Rapper · 10 Aug 2010 at 09:20

edscdk said:
they could offer a reward for people that dob others in.. I know 2 people claiming benefits who should not be... im about to do it anyway however a nice little reward would be nice... it would be a fair wack as these people are likley claiming 100's a month...

if they offered £1000 per proven case I bet a LOT of people would get done..

Why do you need a reward? You should report them on behalf of your fellow tax payers. It's precisely this sort of selfishness that has ruined this once mighty Nation

edscdk · 10 Aug 2010 at 09:44

The Mad Rapper said:
Why do you need a reward? You should report them on behalf of your fellow tax payers. It's precisely this sort of selfishness that has ruined this once mighty Nation

Im about to do it anyway... but it would be cheaper if a reward was offered rather than employing an external company..

It never used to bother me paying tax but with all these MP's fiddling expences and unemployed / imigrants getting all this stuff I really dislike anyone on benefits... and I hate paying tax knowing what they will do wit hit...

Orcish-Horde · 10 Aug 2010 at 09:50

Lets hope the checks start with the MPs and their familys.

Vonhelmet · 10 Aug 2010 at 10:02

Orcish-Horde said:
Lets hope the checks start with the MPs and their familys.

You think MPs are defrauding the benefit system? :confused:

Brian8bit · 10 Aug 2010 at 10:16

What's scary is how much information regarding your spending habits people have access to.

the shadow · 10 Aug 2010 at 10:25

Brian8bit said:
What's scary is how much information regarding your spending habits people have access to.

Tesco Clubcard too

Cash is King

Orcish-Horde · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:36

vonhelmet said:
You think MPs are defrauding the benefit system?

They and their family are not above question after all fraud was wide spread in Westminster. We still away convictions which I very much doubt we will see.

Vonhelmet · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:39

Double post of doom.

jamief · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:43

Orcish-Horde said:
They and their family are not above question after all fraud was wide spread in Westminster. We still away convictions which I very much doubt we will see.

I had to read your second sentence a few times before I could decipher what you meant. away = await.

I seriously doubt any politicians are claiming DLA or housing benefit.

Glaucus · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:44

Orcish-Horde said:
They and their family are not above question after all fraud was wide spread in Westminster. We still away convictions which I very much doubt we will see.

What fraud was that?

vonhelmet said:
Abusing an expenses system is very different to claiming disability living allowance illegally.

yep. pretty much none of this abuse was illegal in the slightest. A few were when they where claiming for non existent mortgages.
It was just people using a very generous claims system.

Anyway sounds good to me.

50million for a 1billion saving if it goes to plan. I don't see any problem with it being outsourced like many government stuff and it seems to comply with all DPA.

Vonhelmet · 10 Aug 2010 at 12:56

Orcish-Horde said:
They and their family are not above question after all fraud was wide spread in Westminster. We still away convictions which I very much doubt we will see.

Abusing an expenses system is very different to claiming disability living allowance illegally.