Hi, It's not about "playing" the employer not is it about "planning Sickness". This is me trying to push though and work as long as I can do before i have to stop. It's not about taking health risks either. I'm aware they can force me to start maternity sooner... from what I read it's if I'm sick with a pregnancy related illness 4 weeks before due date. Thanks

Hi, This is a question that I'm hoping to get an answer on and is probably similar across many businesses. As I have just over 1 year employment in the civil service I can have 1 month full pay sick and then it reverts to SSP. After 2 years Service it's 2 months full pay. How does this work though? Is that 1 month per year? Basically I'm having a torrid pregnancy and had 1 month off in June/July for hyperemisis. I'm now on crutches and the physio and consultant have said they can't see me lasting at work until 04/12/2017 when I plan to start my maternity leave. They have said they would have no problems providing a sick note for as long as I want. Now if I was to go off sick in November does my sick entitlement start again and I'll get full pay for a month or will I be straight to SSP because I had sick full pay a few months previous? Thanks

I guess what I'm saying is should my employment with civil service be taken as a whole giving me my maternity entitlement or is it right for me to more or less have to start again?

Hi, I'd like to get advice so I am armed with the best level of knowledge. Civil Service Maternity Allowance. - if employed for 1 year by the date of ordinary maternity leave starts - 6 months full pay. - if employed for 26+ weeks (prior to the 15th week before due date) - 6 weeks at 90% of full salary then SMP Afterwards. - otherwise SMP In line with normal guidelines. Worked for OFSTED since June 2016. On 30/01/2017 I will be working for DWP. It's not been done as an internal transfer though for some strange reason so on the Friday my ofsted employment ends. On the Monday my DWP employment commences. However, had I stayed with OFSTED I Would be entitled to the full 6 months full pay maternity entitlement. Had this been done as a transfer then I should be as it's all Civil Service (that's my understanding of the rules anyway). However I think that as it's been done in the way it's been done then I start from scratch again in building my entitlement. I'd be interested in advice as I feel it's pretty unfair.

Hi all, I'd love some advice please. Initially looked at a company called 'a shade greener' who will install the system/maintain for free and I get energy produced by the panels. 25 year contract on the roof space being rented. The cost was I don't benefit from energy generated to the feed in tariff. Mortgage company were happy with the contract by the way. Decided against it as I quite like the idea of all benefit being mine including feed in. I've heard of places which will install for free and you get to keep the feed in benefit too. Some sort of government grant. 1. Is this correct? 2. What's the catch? 3. Who is reputable? 4. Be interested in people's experiences.... Thanks

No work nope.... The Peckham spring, that'd be a nice find.... I'll get digging.... He who dares

There is historic subsidence on the estate though. However there's been no house movement in the last 30 years to be fair

Nothing at all on the front to be fair

House is very slightly higher not by much though

That's a point yeah. I've got a mate who's a builder and he's gonna pop over in the next few days and see what he thinks.... What a nightmare

That's possible. I've just swept all the surface water away but within 5 minutes it's back exactly how it was prior to sweeping it. Not growing scarily fast though.

I've just had the drain manhole up but the pipe runs in a totally different direction. Had the taps on running down the sink and flushed all the toilets and it's running through that really well.

Not metered to be fair. Maybe it's another pipe Only way to tell will be digging the block paved drive up I guess

There's been no loss of pressure to be fair. It's just a water patch forming into what's now surface water rather than a damp/wet patch. It's about 3 metres from the pavement where the main stopcock and about 3 metres from the house/internal stopcock.

I don't think it's a stopcock issue personally. It's in the middle of the drive suggesting that that pipe has burst midway. It's annoying as I know people who have claimed successfully.

Thanks folks. I think it's very misleading to be honest. The only reason she didn't take the home serve policy was because it reads as though it's covered.

Looking at the Legal and General EXTRA policy which it is it states cover for Trace and access (up to £5000) Escape of water And And even Accidental damage to pipes.... Feel a bit mislead really. Argued the case with them but got nowhere.

Thank you... I cannot tell to be honest. Over the past 4/5 days there has been initial dampness on about 6inches square which Has Now grown to about 3 feet square. It looks to be under the path of the main supply pipe so I'm guessing it's that. As for the cause, who knows? There's a leak but no idea what's caused it.

Hi all, Wondering if anyone can help. My mom has a burst water pipe under the drive and I think it's probably the supply pipe. Severn Trent water don't want to know. Phoned her insurance (legal and general) and they say they don't cover it (Severn Trent say they're surprised at this) and state they only cover accidental damage to underground pipes.... Does anyone know any loopholes for getting the insurance company to help or can anyone give advice... Thanks

Hi folks, I'd like advice if possible please on behalf of my brother. In a moment of madness he's purchased some tools (2x makita Impact drivers) online. Here's the chain of events. - bought 2 drivers from them online (£110) - payment apparently failed - gets an email from the company within minutes - stating payment system is down and offering 10% off and the chance to pay by bacs - did this, never recd items Now there is an automated message in the site saying they've ceased trading etc etc. He's emailed and got no reply from them? is there anything he can do or is it a case of accept the cash is gone forever? He's normally switched on to this stuff but he's a sparky working his arse off on 15 hour days. Any advice would be appreciated. Helps me out a lot so if I can help him I'd be happy. Thanks

Hi Folks Posted on behalf of my brother. Here's the situation in brief. Been a customer for 12ish months. Moved house in August and agreed a deal with them to renew the contract on a brilliant deal which could be deferred until I moved in the house (was renovating it). So in November I called the installations manager (as advised) who said to me that he would do a better deal. And I agreed. Installed nov 23rd but no sky sports. Called to complain but the 'installations manager' started refusing to take my calls... Called so many customer services reps but they have never done anything to assist and promise to call back and never do. Spoke to someone last week (again) as bill was due 23/12/13 and said I'd pay when virgin sorted things out as agreed. The girl said that she totally agreed with this by the way. 2 days later I'm cut off. Today they found that it's already been passed to a debt collection company (credit solutions) Thiughts and advice please

It's a nightmare. Ill be happy to just get my deposit back and I'd still settle on this just for a quiet life but just trying to see how much leverage I have. No building regs on loft conversion, a hole in the floor in the corner, no mains powered smoke alarms and no fire door (no door at all to be fair) Together with the mould and damp etc. Problem is some of this is totally unquantifiable regarding putting a monetary value on it.

Hi Thanks for that. What does "get some rent back in SCC" mean lol. Do I have any grounds to do anything re the loft conversion without building regs, (marketed as a 3 bed house but really only 2)

They are being arsy about the deposit return so I'm wondering about action esp in regards to being let a 3 bed house which is really a 2 bed as the loft conversion/3rd bedroom is not safe.

Hi All I've finally moved out and bought a house. Since my last post I realised the "loft conversion" hadn't gone through building regs and there was a 4 inch diameter hole in the corner. I had to move my kids out of the room immediately. Given the lack of building regs and the fact it was let as a 3 bed property which was only 2 bed given the inadequate loft conversion is there anything I can do..... Is there anything I can do re the mould, damp, broken back gate and everything listed in earlier posts? The landlord and letting agent are being arsy over the deposit return now so I'm furious. Other issues are: the house is very damp. As a result there is reoccurring mold in the front room, living room, upstairs landing area. In the downstairs front room the plaster has started crumbling away as a result. The landlord on one occasion sent his Dad (yes his dad) who cleaned the mold off the wall in the front room and fillered and painted a little bit. The mold reappeared within about 2 weeks and the filler is still soft due to the damp. - the electrics have tripped out a few times. Landlords friend (an electrician) said its more down to the fuse box being old. States it's safe though. However he had to blank off one socket as there was damp in it....... - side gate, still not repaired after 12 months. - paint peeling off external walls in rear living room. Someone I know has looked and said its been replastered and not fully dryed before being painted... A mix of human error and damp. - cellar floor always quite wet Can I do anything ie take action due to the issues