On the plus side, in relatively recent times they have introduced the free licence for those over 75.

When I was a student in the 1980s, that was the case but only for a portable TV powered solely by it's own, internal battery. Of course, nobody complied with that. Nobody had a TV licence when they lived in a hall of residence. We did not receive letters/threats from NTVLRO about it. AFAIK the TV licence currently allows use of any TV etc in your caravan, mobile home, boat, whatever provided none is in use at home at the same time.

A solicitor called "Spratt Endicott" has issued a claim against me on behalf of my former employer, Royal Mail PLC, in respect of an alleged overpayment of allowances in mid-2005. Following a bogus conduct case in May 2005 I was moved to a different duty within the same delivery office. Some 2 months later the HR department reduced my allowances. I complained; when they refused to reinstate the allowances I told them to resolve the matter by discussion with my union. They failed to do this. This cycle was repeated. Royal Mail claim that I was overpaid for the two months. My view is that I was entitled to the existing level of allowances until my employment with Royal Mail ended on 31st January 2006 due to no financial penalty being awarded or allowed in conjunction with a "Serious Warning". The money was received in good faith and I had no reason to doubt the matter would be favourably resolved through the usual IR procedures. Whenever Royal Mail has contacted me since I have referred them back to the union. When Spratt Endicott contacted me prior to issuing their claim I referred them back to Royal Mail for correct resolution of an industrial relations matter through discussion with the communication workers union. The relevant Conduct Code is HERE and discipline penalties are described about halfway through the document at section 14. The conduct penalty awarded was "A Serious Warning to stay on record for a period of two years with the associated penalty of a transfer to delivery duties". I rely on the fact that (in contrast to some of the penalties available for a "Major Offence") the description of "Serious Warning" accompanied by "Disciplinary transfer to another job within the manager's area of authority" includes neither the possibility of loss of earnings and pension entitlement nor the duty to take full account of personal hardship before its imposition. Royal Mail's claim is for £351.78 plus interest, court fees and solicitor's costs - a total claim of £468.84. My counterclaim would be for £1204.84 plus the relevant interest, fees and costs. I would also point out that since being harassed out of Royal Mail I have been in lower paid employment and could not afford to give them £468.84.

Hi. I'm new to this forum, although I have looked at similar sites before as I am thinking of trying to reclaim some bank charges. I have several accounts with Halifax, some of which have incurred substantial charges over the years, indeed a total of £468 since November 2006. Some are sole accounts, some joint and my wife has some of her own. I also have a secured personal loan with Halifax on which payments bounce from time to time (and penalties levied) as the bank charges mean insufficient funds in my current account to cover the payments. In addition I have a Bank of Scotland credit card that makes some penalty charges for late payments and for going overlimit. This has a balance exceeding £9k. 4 questions for now 1. Do the joint accounts have to be treated separately from the sole accounts? 2. Is it inadvisable to include the secured personal loan? 3. Would the BOS credit card need its own claim, or would one against HBOS cover it? 4. Given the risks of account closure and necessity for possible immediate repayment, is it worth leaving the credit card for now? Thanks