Speaking to a mum at rhyme time this morning. I've known her for a couple of years. Our eldest children went to nursery together.
Anyway..... she started asking me about tax credits and childcare. She wanted to know how likely it would be for tax credits to phone her old cm. I said 'I don't really know but they do make spot checks. Why?'
She's not told them she's stopped using the childminder so is still getting the benefit. I told her that when they do find out, which they definitely will, she will have to repay all she's had since leaving the cm.
She said yeh but I've been using it as a loan to buy a new car. I've been putting that money away each month and soon I'll have enough. When they do find out and want it back it'll just be like repaying a loan on the car but without any interest!!!!