Are loyalty cards about to bite back?

[Hedders]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cred...

It would seem the government is about to start using the credit agenices to investigate our spending habits, This only applies to people in receipt of benefits, for now.

How long before they roll it out across society to look for tax fraudsters or anyone else who might have been clever and have some extra cash. Will we all then refuse to use credit cards and store cards and loyalty cards because we don't want the government quizzing us about our spending habits and raising tax levels based on what we spend on our Satellite TV subscriptions, etc?

I also wonder how much the credit agencies will be charging for this service, as guess where that money will need to come from too...

[Dunclane]

I for one say good! I'm sick of hearing about impoverished families who have PS3's, Sky HD, LCD TV's etc etc. If your income depends on benefits it should be to live exist i.e. feed your family and put a roof over your head not smoking 20 a day, getting drunk and playing computer games!

[MacW]

Dunclane said:

I for one say good! I'm sick of hearing about impoverished families who have PS3's, Sky HD, LCD TV's etc etc. If your income depends on benefits it should be to live exist i.e. feed your family and put a roof over your head not smoking 20 a day, getting drunk and playing computer games!

Seconded

[TheCarpetCleaner]

Dunclane said:

I for one say good! I'm sick of hearing about impoverished families who have PS3's, Sky HD, LCD TV's etc etc. If your income depends on benefits it should be to live exist i.e. feed your family and put a roof over your head not smoking 20 a day, getting drunk and playing computer games!

If I were in receipt of benefits in the short term and had no savings or other source of income, I would hope that it would pay the bare essentials of food, certainly no cigs, alcohol or anything else.

[Hedders]

I assume lots of folk here are in receipt of child benefit, even though they might not ask for it.

Would it be reasonable to go through all their shopping receipts too?

[TheCarpetCleaner]

Hedders said:

I assume lots of folk here are in receipt of child benefit, even though they might not ask for it.

Would it be reasonable to go through all their shopping receipts too?

If they don't need it, why not? You can always not accept child benefit.

I personally think it should be stopped completely. I don't want to pay for other peoples lifestyle choices enforced by tax, but that is another thread entirely.

[bigandclever]

Hedders said:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cred...

It would seem the government is about to start using the credit agenices to investigate our spending habits, This only applies to people in receipt of benefits, for now.

How long before they roll it out across society to look for tax fraudsters or anyone else who might have been clever and have some extra cash. Will we all then refuse to use credit cards and store cards and loyalty cards because we don't want the government quizzing us about our spending habits and raising tax levels based on what we spend on our Satellite TV subscriptions, etc?

Never going to happen - all financial, governmental and business institutions (plus the rest) will have to make their individual and transaction level data freely available.

This specific kind of approach can never work with any kind of accuracy because it's credit only, so no cash visibility; there is no 'black market' visibility; and there is no clarity of detail. All the MOSAIC approach will do is say 'here's a million people who fit a profile' - it will, by design, miss out anyone not on that radar. In effect it will capture those on benefits up to their arses in debt with Brighthouse (or whoever), and not those who are really milking the system.

[JagLover]

I wonder if it might occur to a future government to abolish paper/metal currency altogether.

It would virtually eliminate the black economy in one move.

[Hedders]

JagLover said:

I wonder if it might occur to a future government to abolish paper/metal currency altogether.

It would virtually eliminate the black economy in one move.

If they get rid of cash, they get rid of secret back handers...

[ShadownINja]

I'm disappointed that the current government are not implementing workhouses, tbh.

[off_again]

MacW said:

Dunclane said:

I for one say good! I'm sick of hearing about impoverished families who have PS3's, Sky HD, LCD TV's etc etc. If your income depends on benefits it should be to live exist i.e. feed your family and put a roof over your head not smoking 20 a day, getting drunk and playing computer games!

Seconded

Thirded - mainly because they have bigger TV's than me.....

[hornetrider]

Hedders said:

I assume lots of folk here are in receipt of child benefit, even though they might not ask for it.

Would it be reasonable to go through all their shopping receipts too?

No as CB is not means tested (it should be imo)

[mel]

Hedders said:

JagLover said:

I wonder if it might occur to a future government to abolish paper/metal currency altogether.

It would virtually eliminate the black economy in one move.

If they get rid of cash, they get rid of secret back handers...

To do that we would have to have state owned and controlled banks!...................Ooooooooo hold on

[Dunclane]

I can't believe bus passes & winter fuel payment aren't means tested!

[Hedders]

Dunclane said:

I can't believe bus passes & winter fuel payment aren't means tested!

But what do they actually cost the government? The busses are running anyway, whether they have passengers are not, and the government get loads of tax money back when we pay for our fuel bills so that cost is negated too!

Still, atleast since the expenses scandal, we now know that you won't go to prison, or even lose your benefits when it is shown that you are scamming the tax payer..

[oyster]

hornetrider said:

Hedders said:

I assume lots of folk here are in receipt of child benefit, even though they might not ask for it.

Would it be reasonable to go through all their shopping receipts too?

No as CB is not means tested (it should be imo)

So you think average paid parents who contribute regularly to the tax system should be denied some return of that tax to help pay for clothes, shoes, bus fares etc for their kids, whilst instead giving it to those who will more likely spend it on fags, booze and paddy power?

[hornetrider]

oyster said:

hornetrider said:

Hedders said:

I assume lots of folk here are in receipt of child benefit, even though they might not ask for it.

Would it be reasonable to go through all their shopping receipts too?

No as CB is not means tested (it should be imo)

So you think average paid parents who contribute regularly to the tax system should be denied some return of that tax to help pay for clothes, shoes, bus fares etc for their kids, whilst instead giving it to those who will more likely spend it on fags, booze and paddy power?

Eloquently put. However broadly speaking, yes. CB imo should be for the needy, not for those who don't need it. I speak as a higher rate taxpayer (or would be if I wasn't a contractor ) who is shortly about to be trying for a child.

[mrmr96]

Hedders said:

I assume lots of folk here are in receipt of child benefit, even though they might not ask for it.

Would it be reasonable to go through all their shopping receipts too?

No, because child benefit isn't means tested.

[Dunclane]

Hedders said:

Dunclane said:

I can't believe bus passes & winter fuel payment aren't means tested!

But what do they actually cost the government? The busses are running anyway, whether they have passengers are not, and the government get loads of tax money back when we pay for our fuel bills so that cost is negated too!

Still, atleast since the expenses scandal, we now know that you won't go to prison, or even lose your benefits when it is shown that you are scamming the tax payer..

Cost even less if it doesn't get given out to people who don't need it! My mum & Dad get it and they live in Greece!!

[Dunclane]

oyster said:

hornetrider said:

Hedders said:

I assume lots of folk here are in receipt of child benefit, even though they might not ask for it.

Would it be reasonable to go through all their shopping receipts too?

No as CB is not means tested (it should be imo)

So you think average paid parents who contribute regularly to the tax system should be denied some return of that tax to help pay for clothes, shoes, bus fares etc for their kids, whilst instead giving it to those who will more likely spend it on fags, booze and paddy power?

If you can't afford kids don't have them! We haven't, I don't expect everyone else to pay for our offspring, it's our choice and our responsibility. But I agree don't give it to people who spend it on fags, booze & Paddy Power either.