I am note sure of your location, but THIS group operates in essex and will be able to put you in contact with one in your area. stone xx

SSE, I have heard numerous horror stories similar to this, in several instances the child has been taken into care, although this was 10/20 years ago when I was heavily involved with a charitable society in the Channel Islands. I had first hand dealings with social workers, local authorities and "childrens homes". I am not trying to put any more worries on your plate as you have more than enough already, but just trying to help you when dealing with social workers. Be very careful what you say to them, they may appear to be your friend and trying to help, but everything you say is remembered and can be taken out of context and used against you. it has happened to me personally. A social worker was talking to me after one of my sons was involved in a similar incident, I had said, in regard to a totally different thing that had happened, "I could have killed him!". now we all say this about our kids at time and not meaning it, after all it is just a figure of speech, but this was in a report as a threat to do violence to him. I have never laid a finger on my kids, and never would. but social workers are working to a different agenda to normal people. Many do not have kids of their own and have no idea what real life is about. after your interview, write to the social worker with your understanding of what passed, state "this is my undersanding of what was said/agreed, is this correct or have I mis-understood?. make notes at the time, record the conversation if you can, ask lots of questions, like "why are you here?", "who sent you?", why did they send you?", "what allegations have been made?" "who made them?" "are there witnesses/statements?" "can I see them?" check with your local CAB if there is a society like "Families in Care" that deal with the parents and families of children in local authority care. Gingerbread may be able to help you with this. Do not be aggresive or unhelpful or lose your temper, as all these will go against you just keep calm and polite and friendly and THINK before you speak. I am not trying to alarm you, just painting a worst case scenario, it will prob just all blow over, a storm in a tea cup, but forewarned is forearmed. I once saw a sign outside Southampton Social Services office giving the wonderful advice "Save a child........................... shoot a social worker. Keep smiling and please try not worry. you can PM me if you need more info. Stone XXX:D

I now realise that my earlier comment " do not get involved" may seem heartless but the comment was refering to the DCA not your daughter. By all means advise and help her in any way you can except financialy, as she has to learn to control her own finances. I helped my son a few years back when he got into problems with a broken relationship and got into severe rent arrears and council tax arrears. helped him with a large "loan" to clear these debts , and now have little prospect of ever seeing my money back, I could barely afford it at the time and can still not afford to have this money outstanding. I would just like not to see others in this situation. Stone

Hi SSE, Hope you are feeling better today, I just popped in to see how you are getting on. that looks like some very helpful advice from Help48, I am learning new stuff all the time following this thread. Keep your chin up and TRY not too get yourself all stressed out, even though it is not easy for you. Stone XX

Do you really think that bookie would be a mod if this was the case? she has looked at your post in a cool detached manner and offered good advice, appreciated or not, because that is what we try to do here.

I am sure that I can mange that all by myself MTM :D:D I must have posted enough of them !!

Home - ABTA Holiday Complaints | The ABTA Code of Conduct | HolidayTravelWatch Both of the above links may be of some help Jux, Good luck with it, but be prepared for a fight, tour operators are notorious for there reticance in dealing with complaints. You could try contacting some of the tv holiday shows, they appear to be pretty good at dealing with tour ops. Good luck, stone

I think I prefer the second suggestion part 2 MTM I am sure I could appear a bit thick if required :o:o

Hi guys, this is a long story, but it seems to be sorted (sort of) but just want advice on where I stand with monies paid to me. As those of you who know me I work at a seasonal job and then claim guaranteed pension credits at other times. I started working on 11 April this year, 2 weeks before I started working I informed pension service of this, expecting the credit pension to be cancelled (as had been done previously) and opened a claim for working tax credit. In mid may these started at the rate of £203 per week. Hello thinks me something wrong here as I was only expecting around £100 (including over 50`s allowance) phone DWP to query this amount, "wait until you get notification in post" they told me. This arrived 2 weeks later, I was surprised to find that I and wife were get disabled allowance, as neither of us are. Phoned them again to point out error, "thank you" they said "we will rectify this error". " weeks later I was amazed to find that payment into bank was now £235 per week, another phone call, and I was asked to wait for letter of notification again. This duly arrived 2 weeks later and I was staggered to find out that I am now severely disabled. to be honest I had not noticed the rapid decline in my "condition". another phone call to point out this error and i was told " yes, you are severely disabled. we have it all on the computer". I said can you send me a copy of this information so that I can visit my Dr. to verify this this, then I will walk into your office with his report and prove to you that I am not severely or even bloody disabled. (starting to get a bit miffed by now as bank account is growing by alarming proportions, and I dare not touch it, as somebody, sometime is going to want this money back) anyway back to story. numpty at dwp say he cannot send me this information they have about my "severe disability" because of Data Protection Act. but it is MY information I tell him. "still cant do it cos it might be wrong" he says "might not be your information" That`s what I am trying to tell you, I tell him in words to that effect. He ends conversation. In the meantime I had visited the council offices to stop claim for council tax and housing benefit. taking all new info about earnings, tax credits etc. This is done with no problem. But I do point out that tax credits are for wrong ammount, and pension credit is still being paid albeit at a reduced rate. ( will get to this part of story later). Lady at council office is very helpful and says that she will contact someone she knows at DWP and see if she can sort it, please wait 2 weeks then get back to her. 2 weeks have now passed and a couple of days ago, I recieved another new tax credit award and guess what, that`s right, they have got it correct this time and are making a deduction from weekly payments to collect overpayment, this will leave a shortfall of £59 which they will collect from next years award.well thats good enough for me, it could be better and I could repay more to clear overpayment earlier, but seeing as how long it has taken to get this far I have no wish to start down that route. Thank you lady at council offices. In the mean time my pension credits have still been going into my bank. I managed to get the amount lowered after 4 weeks, but pension agency wanted 4 payslips before they could stop payment. These were sent, but apparently never arrived. prob my fault, did not send them recorded delivery, (I know, stupid fool, forgot the first rule, ALWAYS GET PROOF OF|DELIVERY ) anyway got my employer to write letter on headed notepaper detailing earnings since started working, posted a copy (not original, learned from mistake) to them recorded delivery. 12 days later I recieved a checque for £200 underpayment of pension and new award of £68 per week, this taking into account correct Working Tax Credits but not my earnings. Phoned them up to be told that this award will now stop as the had just recieved details of earnings. "So what do I do with Cheque and money sitting in bank? cos you are going to want it back" says me. "cash cheque, cos if you do not they might still want the money back, even if it has not been cashed. All other money is yours as you were entitled to it." "What, even though I was working, is not that fraud?" I asked. "I doubt that we would see it like that, you have done all in your power to stop payments, It is our fault that has taken so long" So do I keep and spend money that is sat in bank (over £1000) as advised or just leave it there for when/if they ask for it back?

Couldn`t have put it better myself Grumpy !! Lisdav, not your debt, not your problem. end of. I realise it is your daughter, and family is family, but just do not get involved, it will only cause you heart-ache and grief take it from me.

I am in agreement with Ja-de Tills. It looks like really good, well thought out advice. take your time and make sure you fully understand what is being said, I have read it several times now and I THINK I understand it

Hi MacBoy, Just catching up, see you are still chipping away at them LOL

try this one.click here!! it should work. I have tested this one LOL :D

you have a good one too SSE

So once again give and take on both sides wins out. Just how all good well adjusted families work and " alls well that ends well " or if I may be cynical.... so what was all the bloody fuss about in the first place. :p

Well that`s a bit personal MTM ! :o:o

Atta girl, stick to you guns and timetable. keep chipping away at them. You are showing yourself in good favour by being reasonable (this is the view a court would take, should it get to that stage).. we are all rooting for you, Stone

real coffee tils, none of your instant cr*p. cinnamon air fresheners work as well. :D

I know Kia, she will do anything for the price of a drink.

I am overwhelmed. I can only thank you all from the heart of my bottom for you birthday wishes. (it was supposed to be a secret, Tilly!! )

He might have a claim against that under UTCCR`s tell me about that one. My son has feet like kipper boxes, size 12 :o:o

The jury is still out on that. decision is due when he becomes the next Walt Disney. Bookie, it would prob be less hassle just to get the trainers he wants.:-|:-|

I did the same, then it was 2years college and now 3/4 years uni. you could end up paying out forever, just like me !!!

Do you really want your stepdaughter to play with knives,scissors or razor blades? She is probably safer paying the 50 notes :rolleyes:

Hi Boppy and welcome to CAG :D You can find everything you need about almost anything here