CCM12130 - Opening and Working Enquiries: Opening an enquiry

You must always open your enquiry by

• sending the notice of enquiry to the claimant. If the claim was made by a couple, you must send a notice to each member of the couple, and
• enclosing a copy of the WTC/FS1 on NTC Enquiries.

You should use the standard letter template, TCC1 at CCM21400 in every case.

You should always ask informally for the information you need, at every stage of the enquiry, before considering the use of formal information powers. A formal notice should not be issued unless the claimant has refused to co-operate with an informal request for information, or has failed to produce some or all of that information within the specified time. You can find guidance on the use of the formal information power at S19(2) at CCM12200- CCM12275.