Thanks for that Scotgal, what they say in their letter is that they've recalculated based on the submitted figures and are reducing my award accordingly (fair enough) and that, until April 2014, they're going to pay x amount weekly coming out as a total award of xx. This amount will include an overpayment of z amount. That's the bit I don't understand, why not reduce the remaining payments by the amount that will represent the overpayment instead of giving of too much now then taking it away in the future? Sorry if I sound dense about this!! Feebee_71

Have now received my renewal notification through and the amount I'm receiving this year has gone down (obviously because I had a lot more income in 2012-13 than the previous tax year having gone from benefits to employment) but, what I don't understand is that they have said how much they're going to pay me from now until April (fair enough) but then tell me it will include an overpayment which will be recovered from future awards. Surely, with most of the tax year remaining they could have worked it out so I'm not overpaid?? They're already cutting my WTC by more than 50%!! Feebee_71

Nystagmite, Sorry to hear about your family members and their diagnoses, it is one of those occasions where it doesn't rain but it pours. My heart goes out to you. I can understand your granddad's sister in law's decision as sometimes the treatment regime can be horrific with only a marginal benefit. I hope that, as an extended family, you are able to access local support groups as well as services offered by McMillan and Marie Curie I would also recommend contacting the local hospice as they can guide you towards local services/charities who might be able to offer practical assistance as well as emotional support. Feebee_71

Coalmonkey, It may simply be that the information about the conviction has not been uploaded onto the relevant database in time to show up on your eCRB/eDBS. Feebee_71

I read it that the OP was visited by the bailiffs then went online and paid the amount owed minus the visit fees and charges for paying by card (something I don't think they are allowed to charge), then Rossers paid the council minus their fees leaving a balance of £42.50 owing for the year. Then this year's bill arrives showing a balance due to the council of £42.50 for the previous LO, the OP pays this amount to the council direct along with a few quid extra towards this year's CT bill. Wind forward and the bailiffs are turning up for this £42.50 which they believe still to be owing despite the council confirming that they have received this amount and the LO is settled. Sounds as if [EDIT] are just trying to bump up the total with the intention of claiming more fees from the OP. Interesting that they didn't take their card charge fee from the amount paid before passing it on to the council!! Feebee_71

If it's to do with a council parking fine then Marston's are probably working in their capacity of bailiff's and not debt collectors. I'm going to flag your post to admin as it might be better off in the bailiff's forum rather than here. Feebee_71

Reading the OP's other thread about their planning permission I think the issue is that they asked late April/early May and were told that they needed PP for a conservatory extending more than 3m from house but, when they submitted at end of May it had changed to distance extending more than 4m from house. From what they posted, they change was in force from the day before the OP submitted their plans. http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?394930-Planning-Permission-issue&p=4267504#post4267504 Feebee_71

I would have thought that, in the absence of a new JSAg being put into place when you changed signing job centre, you should follow the one from your old job centre. If what you have done fulfils the requirement of the previous JSAg then I'd appeal the sanction. Feebee_71

Snooch, How did you get on with this on Thursday?? Feebee_71

As you say, amazing. I have the 'pleasure' of having my water 'supplied' by Veolia who then bill me for charges to/from Thames Water for sewerage, then they add on the standing charges. Recently I queried why the standing charges make up approximately 75% of my bill and why I'm charged more for the sewerage component of my bill than I am for the actual water used - their answer was its only fair that I pay the same as everyone else in my area for maintenance of said system even if I use less of the product!! On the matter of the sewerage charge being higher than the 'clean' water portion of my bill, that is not their fault but is down to Thames Water as they dictate the charges and there is no ability for Veolia to contest the level of these charges!! The CS operative then tried to insist that my monthly DD payment wasn't nearly enough and they would need to at least quadruple it (this has been a recurring theme across the 8 years I've lived in this flat, I pay only for what I use, they want me to build up a massive credit on my account), when I asked what information they were using to guesstimate this I was told that it was based on it being a 2 bed property with 4 adult occupants (what used to be here more than 10 years ago) and not based on the meter reading taken by them which was on the bill and which, on the bill date, left me with a credit amount on the account!! Again no answer and, strangely, the call got cut off at that moment!! Good luck in getting any sort of sensible dialogue going with them!! Feebee_71

It sounds as though the notifications and all letters regarding the OP's tribunal were sent to the people who assisted them with filling in the forms rather than to the OP the self. Feebee_71

Thanks Scotgal, I've certainly continued to receive payments up until now!! Feebee_71

Thought I'd update, got my renewal pack through this week. Filled it in using the figure from my P60 from work and put back in the post the same day. Can't believe how quick and easy it was!! Feebee_71

Surely if the last payment/activity on the account was in February 2006 then the clock for statute barring would start ticking in March 2006 when the next payment was due but not paid rather than the December when the default was issued? Feebee_71

When you fill the form in it only asks about the person applying and you only have to provide proof of your own identity. Nothing referring to a third party will show up when your enhanced check comes back - at least nothing has ever come back about other people related to, or living with me. Feebee_71

Did you provide your new employer with a P45 from your previous job? If not that might be why you're being taxed on BR. Feebee_71

Go to the 'entitled to' website and put all the information into the benefit calculator. It will tell you whether or not you would be entitled to any WTC. Sorry I can't post a link but I'm on my iPad and find it too difficult. Feebee_71

Is it easy for you to access your water meter to take readings? Did you take a reading when you moved into the flat? Is the bill they have sent you based on an accurate reading or an estimated reading? Was there a property on the plot where your block of flats is now with an identical address prior to your block being built? Sorry for all the questions but I'll explain why the answers could be enlightening...... When I moved into my flat almost 8 years ago it was a new build by the local housing association on the site of some old, larger, flats with the same addresses. When I moved in I took a meter reading including a dated photograph as proof of start reading (I did the same for the other utilities too) and contacted the water company to set up an account and give them the start reading. After a few months I received my first bill from the water company and it was ridiculous - despite me giving them a start reading from the day I moved in they had decided that the meter was on 0; they had also based the bill on an estimated reading of 77 - the starting reading was actually 10 and, when checked, the accurate reading was 18!! I spoke to the water company about their bill and how they had arrived at it and what information they held on their database about the property. According to them (and despite being told otherwise when I set up the account) the flat was a 2 bed property (it's a 1 bed) with 4 adult occupants in residence (there is only me living here!). Then they backtracked and said the usage was estimated on my addresses previous usage - from before the old block was knocked down and new flats were built on the site. Oh, and it was unmetered in those days - so they were ignoring the information they were given by me when I set up the account and had simply transplanted across some of the information about the previous building, had made up some more information and couldn't get their story straight either way!! For best part of a year they were insisting their initial (estimated) reading was correct and I really had used 77 units of water not the 8 shown by my meter reading. While they were refusing to accept my readings and wouldn't come out and read the meter I refused to pay them but I was putting away a run of money each month based on the cost per unit in their bills and the sewerage charges for the same. Standing charges were also allowed for. Eventually they sent someone out to read the meter more than 18 months after the first bill arrived and I showed him the opening reading photograph along with all the correspondence about their discrepancy of insisting estimated readings based on 4 adults in a 2 bed flat compared to one low usage adult in a 1 bed flat. And, about 2 weeks later a new bill popped through the door with the first ever accurate current reading and the correct start reading. And it was far less than they had been demanding. I paid the bill in full and had some left over from what I had been putting by each month!!! Don't allow them to bully you into paying more than you do genuinely owe and, if they won't listen to you, insist on someone from the company coming out to see for themselves what the situation is. Feebee_71

Surely, if the OP has a copy of the letter they received from DVLA stating an agreement that they were on longer the registered keeper of the vehicle from 30th September, and the contravention occurred after that date then producing a copy of that letter with an appeal would be fatal to the claim against the OP and would send TFL and their enforcement team on their way with a flea in their ear?? Feebee_71

I wonder if the carers parking permit is registration specific and if the enforcement officer has given the pcn on the grounds that it was displayed on the wrong vehicle? Feebee_71

If, when you asked about the water supply being metered, you were told 'I think so' that isn't confirming it, it's making a guess - if it's that important to you then you should have asked the LA to get confirmation. The same with the EPC certificate, if you wanted to see it you should have said you weren't prepared to put down a deposit without seeing it beforehand as the energy costs are of paramount importance. As we are now in summer time (though, in the UK that doesn't mean a lot) you will not need heating on all the time just because your wife is expecting. Once the baby is born there are potential implications if the property is too cold but, again, this isn't likely to be a factor at this time of year. It does sound like you're clutching at straws to try and withdraw from the agreement while keeping the holding deposit.

Could this have come about because the HA/council usually only pay housing benefit for one property at a time therefore she's being charged for being resident in two places at the same time - that they don't want to pay out for both the permanent accommodation and the crisis housing for the same period of time. Alternatively, the reason for the high rate could be that they're trying to claim back the cost of the emergency accommodation which might be charged at a 'per night' rate? Just musings on my part sorry I can't be of any more assistance. Feebee_71

I'm by no means am expert in the matter but I'm sure that my local council date stamp all received mail and claim forms when they arrive and use that date for when they allow claims to start. Are her council saying they have a backlog and therefore claims are delayed in being processed and are only being paid out from the date of being processed? If so I would challenge them as to why they aren't backdating the claims. Feebee_71

I think there is also a case that, if you can show you'd be worse off by taking the job - for instance if you're earning nmw and paying out a significant amount for travel costs (whether by public transport or car) then you are less likely to be sanctioned for not taking the job if offered. Others who are more knowledgeable will be along soon enough. Feebee_71

For assistance with travelling to and from the hospital why not contact the local council's volunteering section. Many areas have voluntary groups that provide drivers who take relatives who don't have access to transport to and from hospital. Hopefully there is a voluntary group/charity in your local area the fulfil this role!! Feebee_71