lengthy Customer Compliance investigation...?

Hi there.
I had a visit from a DWP Customer Compliance officer Nov 1st 2011. The council, having nosied through my banking activity, had apparently claimed I'd received monies I should've declared. I was able to show statements, etc, to prove said money is in fact my father's savings and that I'm co-signatory on his account as he is in a care home and I have to oversee payment of his fees, etc. The CC officer was quite understanding but said the final decision wasn't hers. I'd expected to hear something back within a few weeks but so far I've heard nothing. Does it normally take this long to find out the upshot of these investigations?
Any advice appreciated.

Hi,

If you do not mind, may i ask how can the council go through your banking activities that not a breach of data protection act????

Regards.
Radhika

When you claim benefits, you usually sign a box that says that the paying agency (DWP, Local Authority etc.) can share your information with other agencies and can gather information from other agencies.

See Gordon's response below - I was wrong - the consent you give does not include banks. My apologies.

Hi Survivor,

Sorry if i sound a bit silly here,i can understand sharing info amongst DWP and Councils, but i cannot understand how these bodies can go through your bank accounts.

I was under the impression that these bodies needed your permission to go through your bank details or had proof that one may be commiting some kind of fraud.

Furthermore, i thought that was the reason why the Govt is using credit ref agency, because they just cannot go into your bank accounts, due to Data Protection.

Regards.
Radhika

Radhika - it looks like I was wrong - I thought the permission you gave them included bank accounts, but Gordon's given you the correct information, they have to show reasonable cause. My apologies.