Bizzarre call from DWP

May I ask why they accessed your bank statements without asking first when you moved? Surely If they want any info they only have to request it?

Is this all because you're claiming IS then? It seems any means tested benefit opens the floodgates to their snooping.

It's becoming a very 'big brother' society isn't it. Orwell had it right all along.

lulu wrote:

Hi Gordon
I do know they can get copies of your Bank Statements without your authorisation because they done this with previously when I moved home. I know this because they interviewed me about it.

I dont think they have copies of your bank statements but its very easy to find out how many bank accounts you have ... they use the same credit search system the tax credits people used for security checks the reason they are able to tell your bank accounts would be I suspect you have overdrafts on them ?

if they are coming up with more accounts than you have is one joint ? as they would (credit agency) hold double search against the account when checking it for renewal of over draft

It could be from one of those debt collection agencies.

I have had calls for the last 2 years even though I am not in debt. You have all different accents on the phone from arab/pakistan and recently scottish accents. They are trying to find out if you have ever had a loan and if you can get any money back from the government for the insurance part of the loan which you paid. They try to make out that they are a government department.

I think that they got my telephone number off the internet but I don't know where from. They are a nuisance.

Checks on bank accounts and other financial matters can be initiated by the DWP, through the generalised matching service.

This can detect through data sharing with HMRC how many bank accounts are held by an individual, as all interest by law has to be declared by banks to HMRC. If for example a person claims means-tested benefits, and fails to declare a bank account or the correct amount of capital contained in a bank account, it can be detected through the GMS. If as a result fraud is suspected, authorised fraud officers can access individual bank accounts without the need to seek prior permission.

Gordon wrote:

Sounds like Big Brother is a lot closer than I thought.

Gordon

forget GCHQ look here, big brother been here for years

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it is capable of hoovering up millions of phone calls, faxes and emails a minute