But the monies were paid into her bank account John. For ten years. In her name. Even if the husband intercepted bank statements and payment for ten years and stopped her having any access in branch or online I fail to see how a tribal can decide that a “person unknown” is liable for the debt without very compelling evidence. A Tribunal could try to invite the husband I guess but if he merely states “I have not been prosecuted; we shared everything for many years. I know nothing about a HB claim”. A Tribunal cannot make up the facts or direct the Council to write off a huge debt. As said, the Council may themselves decide to write off the debt but the “I know nothing about this” defence very rarely has worked where family is involved let alone husband and wife…unless there has been a successful prosecution and not even then very often.
