UK GOV. TAKING STEPS IN SPAIN.......
Sep 25, 2008 · ROBI · 6 replies · 3024 views
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Benefits Fraud Hotline To Open In Alicante
British Embassy
Madrid
PRESS NOTICE 23 SEPTEMBER 2008
UK Minister James Plaskitt MP to launch benefit fraud 'whistleblowers hotline' in Alicante
The vast majority of British nationals who live abroad are law abiding but some are claiming UK benefits they are not entitled to. 'Abroad fraud' is costing UK taxpayers an estimated ?93 million a year.
James Plaskitt MP is the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Work and Pensions responsible for benefit fraud amongst other areas. He will be launching a benefit fraud "whistleblowers hotline" in the Alicante area.
Briefing details:
Date: Thursday 25 September 2008
Time: 12.40 (starting time)
Place: Hotel Hospes Am?rigo
Rafael Altamira 7
Alicante
For more information please contact:
Louise Ansari, Director of Communications, British Embassy Madrid, Tel: 91 700 82 55, Mobile: 659 453 761, Email: louise.ansari@fco.gov.uk
James Birkett, Press Officer, British Embassy Madrid, Tel.: 91 700 82 91; Email: james.birkett@fco.gov.uk
Sep 25, 2008 · SpainExpat member
Hi Rob
What is exactly 'fraud benefit' ? I think there is nothing similar in Spain
Sep 25, 2008 · ROBI
It is the claiming of government paid monies (benefits) for non existent or non compliant of the terms
ie claiming payments for children, or disabilities when you have neither or you are not entitled because you are not resident in the UK.
Sep 25, 2008 · SpainExpat member
Ahh. Is that ? Yes we have something similar in Spain, of course we have but we don't have any 'whistleblowers hotline?
So UK government provides a hotline to denounce people who are committing fraud ? Must be for good citizens
Sep 26, 2008 · ROBI
I think you are raising an interesting social point -
Do you report your neighbours who are breaking the rules because the taxes you pay they are `robbing?
or do you ignore it and say good luck to them -
A matter of ones own conscious?
What would the Spanish do? Denounce at the town hall?
Sep 26, 2008 · Fate_06
> I think you are raising an interesting social point -
Do you report your neighbours who are breaking the rules because the taxes you pay they are `robbing?
or do you ignore it and say good luck to them -
A matter of ones own conscious?
What would the Spanish do? Denounce at the town hall?
Until now I believe they would have done nothing at all. With the current, and for them "unexpected", crisis ... and especially after Mariano Rajoy's speech a couple of weeks ago ... they might report it to the Guardia Civil or even Hacienda