Apart from Darth Vader, the Daleks and the Abominable Snowman, there are few things in life more scary than HMRC. The people who work there are notoriously humourless and, as well as being focused on collecting your money, they possess wide and draconian statutory powers. Accordingly, complaining to HMRC can feel incredibly daunting – but, importantly, […]
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Although the Bible suggests that it is not a good idea to be a borrower (or indeed a lender!) the reality of modern life means that you would be very hard-pressed to live without borrowing money. Almost all house purchasers need a mortgage to borrow enough money to buy a home. Aside from property, most
What is an Unfair Relationship between a Borrower and a Lender? Read More »
Fraud is not new – it has been with us for thousands of years. From 300 BC when a Greek sea merchant, Hegestratos, was caught trying to sink his own ship and pocket the insurance payout, to Charles Ponzi’s schemes of the 1920s, history bears witness to the fact that there will always be someone
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Have you ever been refused a loan, a mortgage or a credit card for no apparent reason? Beyond being extremely frustrating, this problem can feel impossible to figure out, let alone resolve. However, I’m here to tell you that, if this happens, it is most likely that a Credit Reference Agency (CRA) is behind it.
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There has been much talk in the media about a new era of collective redress in this country. What is the discussion all about and what does it mean for you and other ordinary consumers? Historically, it has been very difficult in the United Kingdom for large numbers of individuals to bring a claim in
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Complaints about the Royal Mail can be somewhat different to more general consumer complaints. For starters, the Royal Mail has statutory protection against some kinds of complaints. Moreover, it does not necessarily respond to grievances in the same way as other commercial enterprises. With this in mind I have some guidance and top tips
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When you complain, you can be rude, funny, outrageous or sarcastic. However you choose express yourself, it is very important not to libel either an individual or a company. This can be surprisingly easy to do and could potentially land you in hot water. In the age of social media, there are countless examples
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Many care homes do a wonderful job but there are few situations more distressing than a finding a friend or relative in a care home whose treatment is substandard. The sorts of issues that typically give rise to problems in care homes are health and safety issues, access to facilities, access to education and employment,
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There has already been huge news coverage of the UK’s pothole epidemic. The budgets of local authorities are under huge pressure and the problem is getting worse. Potholes can shred your tyres or worse, cause a traffic accident. While the dangers are obvious the question remains: what can you do? When it comes to reporting
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If you are feeling badly aggrieved about a consumer issue my general advice is that you should always express your complaint in writing, even if you only do so as a follow-up to a complaint in person or on the phone. A seemingly obvious question that then arises is this: who should you address your
Who should you address your complaint to? Read More »
