Civil servants will be given “dangerous” powers to access the public’s bank accounts under Government plans branded a “snoopers’ charter”.
Privacy campaigners and peers have raised concerns about the legislation, which would give mid-ranking officials powers that are usually reserved for police investigators.
The new fraud Bill will allow civil servants to ask banks to provide personal information about a person’s account without a court order, and extract funds if they “reasonably believe” that money is owed to the taxpayer.
The crayon eaters can just take money from your bank account whenever?
Tower Hill for whoever thought that one up then. And their horse.
Aaaaaaand… Everyone has taken their money out of the bank, collapsing the system.
Well done government.
if they (civil servants ffs) believe that money is owed to the taxpayer.
Is this a misprint? I would have thought any such over-reach legislation would be designed to enable funds to be extracted from taxpayers (on the grounds that before too long they’ll be the only ones with anything worth taking).
This is an old chestnut that crops up from time to time.
In fact I assumed that HMRC could already do this, so accustomed to the clown world dystopia have I become.
Tomorrow: “Why does nobody want to invest in the UK? moans Labour”.
Moving assets abroad looks to have been a smart move so far.
Anybody here know how to make a nuclear device? Guy Fawkes had the right idea but gunpowder isn’t enough…
@Grist
The theory is relatively simple. Enrich some uranium. This is done by swinging it around very fast. So get a shopping bag with some Uranium in it, hold the handles and swing it around like a propeller. Aeroplane noises optional.
Once you’ve done that for a bit, take the bottom part and cut it in two.
Now take those two bits and bash them together really fast. Like throw it really hard. As hard as you can. You may even have to get a mate, get a chunk each and both of you throw your chunky as hard as you can.
That’s basically how the first ones worked. Modern ones are a bit more complicated, with electrolyzed water components added in.
Remember, Uranium is radioactive, so safety is paramount. Goggles are a must and i’d recommend some nitrile gloves.
I assumed that HMRC could already do this
I think HMRC bills you for whatever it likes, forces you to pay even if it is hopelessly wrong (by threatening fines, bankruptcy etc) and then takes its sweet time repaying you once it admits that it has fucked up.
I think HMRC bills you for whatever it likes, forces you to pay even if it is hopelessly wrong (by threatening fines, bankruptcy etc) and then takes its sweet time repaying you once it admits that it has fucked up.
I once overpaid HMRC from our company account by mistake and it was a considerable sum. (Fat finger problem). The interest they paid was better than we were getting from the bank.
BiND
I have often been told that. If you don’t miss the money, try to get the Revenue to owe it to you somehow.
They can torture me all they want. I’m not telling them where my shoe box is.
“Remember, Uranium is radioactive, so safety is paramount. Goggles are a must and i’d recommend some nitrile gloves.”
Don’t forget your hard hat and hi-viz jacket. Those can protect you from anything.
@Jim
It’s a well known fact that only hardhats worn at a spectacularly jaunty angle given adequate protection
As modelled by the leaderene designate
Thanks, Chernyy Drakon. Mrs Grist doesn’t read this blog so I’ve told her what to do and to get the fat bastard next door to give her a hand. But I am paying the fares to Westminster…
“The theory is relatively simple. Enrich some uranium. This is done by swinging it around very fast.”
Surely you can just tax all the uranium that’s already rich?
Will the DWP provide 24/7 police protection to all bank CEOs and direc tors? Some people might not take kindly to having no cash and their credit cards blocked because some DWP incompetent has mis-typed their NI number on a “fraud enquiry”
Why don’t they just kill every 10th citizen and take their stuff?
I’m glad I’ve got a relatively rare name.
Yes, if they’re going to take mine then at least I’ll know that they really are after me.
I suppose next it’s the “Holding People Upside Down and Shaking Them Act 2025”. They really are desperate for other people’s money.
I once had a problem when the person who moved into a rental place after me had the same name and he eventually absconded owing money, name and previous address match is enough that you will start receiving calls/letters and have to go out of your way to prove you aren’t who they think you are.
Under this fun law I’d be well and truly screwed. I can see the government thinking being we don’t know which one it is so just take it from all of them and sort it out afterwards
”
Gamecock
June 16, 2025 at 1:47 pm
Why don’t they just kill every 10th citizen and take their stuff?
Cos that is done by the NHS and the social care staffeln.
“
“Holding People Upside Down and Shaking Them Act 2025”
The spirit of Monty Python lives on!
BinC @ 5.13, I knew someone called Garrett who moved into a flat previously rented by a bloke called Barrett. Ditto with the owing money, unpaid bills etc. They had a hell of a job trying to convince the various agencies they weren’t the same person….
BniC, sorry.
As far as I can tell, it already works like that in Spain… they just take the money from your bank if they think you owe a fine. Guilty until proven innocent approach (proven at your own cost – and a cost higher than the fine – of course). Great source of revenue for corrupt bureaurcrats though.
…and they wonder why paying taxes here is considered something only idiots do.