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Knowsley Council Housing Department, Are they acting legally?
Looking at the picture
Above I would say the behavior of the Council has been
questionable when it comes to maintaining certain accommodation. No live in caretakers.
Fire doors Missing, and a state of disrepair which defies belief.
There are also some other important matters which will be
raised here concerning the amount of time that it takes for the Council to respond to repairs,
and also how they investigate fraud, possibly how they commit it.
First an explanation of what I mean by fraud, in my case I was summoned by a letter
to attend Kirkby One Stop Shop( The Civic Buildings) for an interview. I was actually glad as
a previous attempt to meet a Housing Officer, was not forthcoming despite me arranging to wait in
all day at my Flat. However, when I attended this interview, I was asked to go into one of the
intimidating little locked rooms they have, where two Housing officers were waiting, pens and
notepads in hand.
They alleged that someone was using my ID to obtain benefits etc in London, maybe they are,
but they then alleged that someone from the DSS in London had actually knocked at my flat and were
told by a woman that "I had left six months previously"
Kirkby Housing Departments officers could give me sparse details about this investigation
which they were quite prepared to accept as Gospel. Either the Officers were not given this info
by their superiors, or they were violating my rights in denying me knowledge which they had access
to. I was also told that the statement I had to sign could not be given to me in copy form. This was
a legal document and as such I believe I was entitled to have a copy.
This is the Letter I Have written to the Housing Benefit Manager and copies have been
passed onto the Fraud Investigator management at Knowsley Council, plus my MP George Howarth.
To: (various Parties)
I attended an interview at Kirkby One Stop Shop on Thursday 13th June at 11.30am,
the matter which I was there for related to fraudulent claims using my identity in London.
During the Course of the Interview I was told by XXXXXXXXX (the senior interviewer)
that there was a visit to my flat sometime in April by Benefit Agency Staff from or dealing
on behalf of the London Department concerned with the issue relating to my ID being used.
I was told that two officers had visited my premises in XXXXXXXXXXXXX, knocked at my door,
only to allegedly have it answered by a woman who then stated I had moved 6 months previous.
This allegation is preposterous and I will gladly sign an affidavit to state that this could
not have happened.
I take this matter very seriously; in fact I am absolutely disgusted at
what seems to me to be utter incompetence by the officer's alleged to have visited
my flat. However, as your department put these allegations to me, I must tell you
I am very unhappy with the lack of information regarding the details and wish to
complain strongly at the fact that I was not, after requesting, given a copy of the
statement I had just signed after the interview. I believe it is my right to have
a copy of such an important document and I would like a copy sent to me ASAP or
an explanation of why the officers were unable to supply me with a copy.
If representatives from a DSS department from London has been visiting your tenants
and there are investigations into fraud, I feel it is your duty to supply information
which would make it easier for me deal with any complaints in the matter.
I have today spoken with a XXXXXXXXX of the fraud investigation section at
Webster House (0151 549 5000) and she has no knowledge of any officers from London
being involved here, and I am now asking you to supply me with all the details
pertaining to this case as I wish to complain to the highest authorities about
this matter.
I am going to be taking this matter further. I will not be treated like a
criminal and I feel apologies are in order
Yours sincerely
Whilst in the One Stop shop I was listening to some old age pensioner who stated she had
been waiting 6 months! For her Kitchen and bathroom to be painted. I commented that I would at
least mention her plight on this web site, and a member of staff said that I "should not just
believe things people tell me", now I don't know about you but if an old age pensioner tells
me she's been waiting 6 months, I generally believe them until I know otherwise. I don't
care if the old woman had been waiting 6 days, she hobbled down to the damn One stop
Shop to get repairs then her need was genuine. Council Workers, (and most do) have
got to give 100% to our old folk. We should sack the beaurocrats and FAT CAT management
and nodding dogs. There's too many hangers on in Kirkby, people who oknow nothing about
the area yet control our destinies. Let them live in the Tower Blocks and in the crime
ridden areas. Of Course they won't, because the only time they like to see Kirkby is
in the rear view mirror of their cars as they drive home
to somewhere nicer.
I also had to report on the fact that a fire door was missing
(possibly others) in my block of flats. The door was taken off maybe
a month or more ago, likely vandalised. However, the door was not replaced
immediately. In fact, given the incidents of fire in that and other blocks,
it is dangerous in the extreme. The door missing was on the top floor so if any
fires were set in the stairwell then the smoke would rush upwards.(now fixed, luckily before a major fire which took place Sep 2002) Only last year
I had to escape by lift as someone has set fire to a coach or something on the stairs.
Luckily the fire door prevented smoke from escaping to where we live. Had the lift been
out ( A common occurrence), it would mean waiting in a flat till the fire was out.
A light has been broken on the landing outside flats, just a small problem but its been
left for a week which is a disgrace. A few weeks ago I had to phone about a lift being in
total darkness, the electrician got out the next day but the lift was in darkness for the
night. All I all I think its best to post complaints up here until I get an online forum
set up(coming soon!) I would also like to ask people to forward any complaints and inform
me of any pensioners and vulnerable people who are waiting for repairs. Kirkby Times will
be glad to be used as a platform to attack the Local Council; we aren't against the ordinary
workers, just the Chiefs at the top who draw up petty rules and plan mad cap schemes and sell
off every scrap of land they can.
As of Nov 2002 (updated July 2003 - still no answer or apology) i have received no reply from the Council relating to the matter of fraud.
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