I need to go to hospital to see a specialist, I have the right to choose which hospital I am referred to by my GP. This legal right lets me choose from any hospital offering a suitable treatment that meets NHS standards and costs. My GP has refered me for tests at a local hospital (before surgery for a cyst), and each time I have attended the local hospitals I have come home with an infection, and I am worried about going back to either hospital. Last time I was given a choie of 4 hospitals inc a private hospital with an excellent record (i chose the private hospital to have surgery and it was fantastic) I have booked the 1st appoitmnet at the local hospital (as that was the only choice on the letter) for a few weeks time. But now I do not want to go there for my surgery to the local hospital but want to go to Ramsay's network of hospitals which is nearby this privaye and I was referred here a few months ago - this is where I want to go. Shall contact the GP and ask him I don't want to have surgery at the local hospital and I want to go to Ramsay's network of hospitals because thats where I feel more confident with and there is a specialist there who I saw last time for surgery, I have a legal right to choose which hospital I want to go to and my right is to choose the hospital. Now I have to enter into an argument with my GP to insist on my rights. I am happy with the GP and dont want to have to do this but his reaction has forced me to do this. He is a new GP at the surgery and the letter he sent had only 1 choice and not 3 oor 4 choices I was given when I was sent for surgery a few months ago by another GP at the surgery, I've made a mistake and booked at the local hospital (which I regret it has a bad reputation and is not good, i'm not happy with it) Shall I go ahead and cancel it online and then get it touch with the GP and ask him the othet GP at the surgery referred me to a specialist at Ramsay's network of hospitals who removed my last cyst and this is who I want to see. I mean I was not even given a choice on the letter that came with the NHS online booking system. The GP is new to the surgery and looks like he choice the nearest hospital to my home which I do not want to go to. Shall I cancel the online appoitment and contact the surgery and make an appoitment with the GP and request that he send me to Ramsay's network of hospitals? The receptionists at the surgery will just try to fob me off if I ring them. I am having sleepless nights knowing I have booked at the wrong hospital (where I don't want surgery) I am going to cancel that appoitment and ask the GP to send me to Ramsay's network of hospitals where I had a previous cyst removed, what of the GP tries to fob me off?

The Department for Transport has issued a consultation document on council parking. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263815/parking-consultation.pdf The proposals include a ban on the use of CCTV for parking enforcement, whether there should be statutory 'grace' periods, whether adjudicators should be able to have discretionary powers and clearer guidance when adjudicators can allow costs. The DfT invites your views on current local authority parking strategies and on options they are considering to change the balance of how parking is enforced. The consultation ends on 14th February 2014. Q1. Do you consider local authority parking enforcement is being applied fairly and reasonably in your area? Q2.The Government intends to abolish the use of CCTV cameras for parking enforcement. Do you have any views or comments on this proposal? Q3. Do you think the traffic adjudicators should have wider powers to allow appeals? Q4. Do you agree that guidance should be updated to make clear in what circumstances adjudicators may award costs? If so, what should those circumstances be? Q5. Do you think motorists who lose an appeal at a parking tribunal should be offered a 25% discount for prompt payment? Q6.Do you think local residents and firms should be able to require councils to review yellow lines, parking provision, charges etc in their area? If so, what should the reviews cover and what should be the threshold for triggering a review? Q7.Do you think that authorities should be required by regulation to allow a grace period at the end of paid for parking? Q8. Do you think that a grace period should be offered more widely – for example a grace period for overstaying in free parking bays, at the start of pay and display parking and paid for parking bays, and in areas where there are parking restrictions (such as loading restrictions, or single yellow lines)? Q9. If allowed, how long do you think the grace period should be? Q10. Do you think the Government should be considering any further measures to tackle genuinely anti-social parking or driving? If so, what? You can respond on-line here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T8W8R2F

Hi, Daughter unfortunately works for the Worlds Local Bank, in collections, and they have been told today that Christmas is not an excuse not to collect and have been given extra incentives(cash bonus's) too double their collection ratio's during the festive period because, quote"people have money at Christmas". Fortunately i don't owe anything to these but those of you who do, be aware.

Hi folks, A spot of advice needed, if anyone can help. I parked my motorcycle on the pavement outside my girlfriend's flat in Lambeth (wide pavement, right up against the railings and between the dustbins) and covered it over with the usual waterproof cover. I left it for 4 days, and uncovered it at the weekend to find two parking tickets, one dated 18/11 at 14.55, and the second dated 19/11 at 09.36. Both were for the same offence, 622 - one of more wheels over the footpath etc etc. Both tickets were issued by the same warden, no. LH1273. I can't really argue that I was parked on the pavement, but it's an old bike, almost 40 years old, and parking is scarce in the road concerned, and the bike had already been knocked over once, so I was reluctant to leave it on the roadway. However, I have a couple of issues that I would like advice on. The bike was securely covered with a vinyl Oxford cover, covering the whole bike. The warden would have had to unclip the cover to read the number plate, and then to affix the PCN to the fuel tank. He then replaced the cover without securing it. It was flapping about a lot. He then returned the following morning to issue another PCN, sticking it on top of the existing one and covering the bike up again. So; 1) Is it legal or permissible for a warden to disturb the bike in this manner, by removing and replacing the cover? 2) The bike was covered, and I did not see the PCN's until I uncovered the bike 4 days after the issue of the first PCN. If I had seen the first PCN I would have moved the bike immediately, seeing as the bike was directly outside the flat. Hiding the PCN under the cover meant I had no chance to act upon it, hence the second PCN. 3) Is it permissible to issue two PCN's for the same offence? In theory he could have returned every day (or few hours? Is there a time period?) until I lifted the cover up. 4) He stuck the PCN's on the fuel tank. The bike is fairly old and unrestored, and the fuel tank is patchy and a bit rusty - I like it that way, it gives it character. But when I pulled the PCN's off it took some of the paint off the tank, damaging it further. Do I have grounds to make a claim for damage? Also, I looked up the council's site to have a look at the picture of the offences, and neither were available, despite them supposed to be. I was hoping to see if the warden had removed the cover to take the photo. Any advice would be gratefully received - as a skint full-time student, two fines of £55 would make a big dent in my finances, made all the more galling because I only left the bike there as I was too sick to ride it to Uni in the cold weather we were having at the time, and I took the train instead. Many thanks in advance. Ian

Just came home from a meeting, which is a community group that is like a Residents Association, but for the whole borough, In my area its called STRF, Which is the Southend Tenants and Residents Forum. Someone dropped a clanger and stated that Moorcroft have been retained to collect rent arrears, I asked do you know how bad this company are? or the aggressive tactics they use? The person was quite shocked that I knew of the company, lol. Are any other council areas being serviced by this company? if so what are the results if any that have come to light with a Dca such as Moorcroft collecting rent arrears? MM

Not at all sure where to post this. The brief gist of it is in the title. I won't go into much detail until a mediator tells me which sub-forum is most appropriate to post this. Council damaged my house, they withheld all of the evidence from the court and made false statements in Court. My claim couldn't continue. and as a result, council were awarded costs against me. I now have the evidence, which the council withheld, I have referred it to the Court. Court don't want to know. Council agree that they withheld evidence, but they won't return my money. Dispute has been going on for up to six years.

Hi Folks Can anyone help? Parked my car on what I thought was a local ordinary road at the junction of a red route. As a local I thought I was parked on a local road with free parking but very close to the end of the road. I was parked just behind but not on the pedestrian access crossing of the road. There was more than adequate room for cars to turn into the road. All cars exit the road turning left. On returning to the car I found a PCN on the windscreen and a van behind me had also received one. Just behind us was a RED ROUTE sign - in some way indicating that the local side road off the red route was a red route too! Cars parked behind the van and behind the red route sign did not have parking tickets. There are no road markings by the kerb nor are there any kerb markings, or red lines whatsoever. Neither are there red lines or signs on the actual red route!!!! - however it is the A4 which is a major route into and out of London. Can anyone advise if this PCN is legal? Do I have a case to get this cancelled? Ticket says vehicle was "stopped where prohibited (on a red route or clearway)" when clearly the road is a local road. It looks like Transport for London have stolen some of a local side road as a red route/clearway!

Hello! Im new on the forum! I have read a few of the threads, and read info on many other sites regarding not paying a PCN, and have gotten somewhat confused by the different answers i have recieved so hopefully someone can shed some light on the current situation. Someone i know has been slapped with a £100 fine, cut down to £60 if payed within 14 days, for over staying in a car park (completely accidental). Someone Who Isnt Me recieved a note from the post office several days ago saying they had a letter that was addressed to them, that was missing a stamp so it needed £1.50 paying for the letter to be released. SWIM payed the charge for the stamp and they recieved the letter on the 6/9/13. The letter turned out to be from VCS, and it was a fine dated 2/9/13. The fine has been made out to the registered keeper, who was not the driver, as they are currently working abroad. The fine was opened by accident by the driver. The situation now is that the driver does not want to pay the fine, due to it being an absolute [problem] for a start. Now, the person in question is not a liar, but seen as though the PPC's seem to be [bleep], ive seen it just to refuse to let the driver pay for this fine. Where does the driver stand? All advice would be fully welcomed! Thankyou!

Is it worth my while to put a complaint in to my local PALS service due to the miss handling of me by my local hospital? From misdiagnosis to repeatedly cancelled out patient appointments to losing the notes that was supposed to request me being admitted for more surgery to yet again this month me being lost in the system and not getting the 6 month follow up that I was supposed to have....with the oh you are not in the system and we dont know anything about it as the usual response?

I have worked for Local Government since 2003. Last year I changed from one authority to another and continuous service has been recognised in respect of an extra 5 days paid annual leave. However, we've just been told that employees who started work with the authority after 2011 (I started with them in 2012) will have to use 2 days of their annual leave over the Christmas period, those who were in post prior to 2011 will be 'given' these 2 days. My manager has suggested that I will have to use the 2 days as I started work with them after the cut off date. But...my thoughts are that as I've got extra annual leave due to continuous service, was I not already 'in post' from 2003? Any thoughts gratefully received (together with any evidence etc if possible).

I can't seem to find anything similar to out situation on here so I'm hoping some of you will be able to advise. Myself, Husband and two small children live on an estate which to be honest, isn't the best and we are working hard to try and sell our house. The problem is that most of the other houses are owned by the Council and some (not all) of the tennants aren't that considerate to others or the area. This is the main situation and I want to know if I can charge the Council. Our back gate (our main entrance) leads out to a footpath and then onto the access road. Each week the wheelie bins from around twenty properties are left just outside of our gate which is fine until the people who leave rubbish bags out there upto three days before the collection allow them to be ripped open by cats. This results in my Husband and I have to pick up nappies, food tins/containers, women's sanitary products and much more. If we do not pick it up the bin men just leave it as it's not in a wheelie bin. We have complained and after a few weeks the Coucil sent out a letter to every property in our row to tell them that no one should put rubbish out before the collection time. This has just been ignored. I'm so annoyed as we pay Council Tax and the estate should be kept clean. We also have old tyres that have been discarded on the embankments. The Coucil strimmed the bank a few weeks ago and the tyres are still there. As well as the bins outside of our back gate and litter everywhere we also have piles upon piles of old rotting leaves from the oak trees on the side of the access road. I've been told that it is an offence to sweep the leaves into the access road. The Council do not clear them up. They are slippy and piling up against our fence slowly rotting and keeping the fence damp also. My last problem is that when you drive up to our back gate you of course see the for sale sign, but you also see graffiti all over the garage doors, again owned by the Council. I just feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. We keep our house and garden well, but the drive up to the place just shows litter, leaves, graffiti and an unkept, old estate. What else can I do? I've thought about keeping weekly photos and then charging the coucil for cleaning it all up each week. Could I do this? I've worked very hard to drag myself out of a bit of a depression and I'm trying so hard to make this year a much better one by getting out of this hell hole. We have a neighbout next door who's been raided twice and put into prison a couple of times. It just all adds up! I really hope I've explained my situation well as I'm not the best at putting things across. I hope I'll receive some feedback and help. I'm not someone who moans about things, however I need to do whatever is required to sell our house and move somewhere better.

LOCAL authorities are being suspended, and in some cases permanently barred, from accessing the information held on vehicles and drivers at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), because of constant abuses of the system and flagrant mis-use of data, in complete contradiction to DVLA’s own rules and those of the Data Protection Act. ON 14th May at the Local Authority Civil Enforcement Forum (LACEF)annual conference in Leicester Mr Mike Butler; DVLA Data Sharing Manager gave a speech about the local authorities and their request to DVLA for keeper records. Mr Butler stated the following: “More than 150 councils have been barred at some stage because they have breached motorists’ privacy.We have been warning councils over unlawful spying using anti-terror legislation.” He reiterated the basic rules for local authorities: They can only access DVLA data if it is linked to the offence (usually parking). There must be hard evidence – not a suspicion of wrong-doing. Local authorities must already have the registration number of the vehicle – they cannot ‘fish’ the DVLA records. Local authorities must have a proper audit trail in place. Correct storage and retention of data is important. Mr Butler explained: “With enquiries from local authorities, we experience some serious and some more commonly occurring issues.” These include: Unable to evidence validity of enquiry Incomplete or no audit trail Gathering information for intelligence purposes Personal data retained from erroneous enquiries Altering date of event to obtain keeper details Unauthorised enquiries made through intermediary Absence of a data retention policy Making enquiries without reasonable cause to information Files containing personal data not adequately secured.

LOCAL authorities are being suspended, and in some cases permanently barred, from accessing the information held on vehicles and drivers at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), because of constant abuses of the system and flagrant mis-use of data, in complete contradiction to DVLA’s own rules and those of the Data Protection Act. ON 14th May at the Local Authority Civil Enforcement Forum (LACEF)annual conference in Leicester Mr Mike Butler; DVLA Data Sharing Manager gave a speech about the local authorities and their request to DVLA for keeper records. Mr Butler stated the following: “More than 150 councils have been barred at some stage because they have breached motorists’ privacy.We have been warning councils over unlawful spying using anti-terror legislation.” He reiterated the basic rules for local authorities: They can only access DVLA data if it is linked to the offence (usually parking). There must be hard evidence – not a suspicion of wrong-doing. Local authorities must already have the registration number of the vehicle – they cannot ‘fish’ the DVLA records. Local authorities must have a proper audit trail in place. Correct storage and retention of data is important. Mr Butler explained: “With enquiries from local authorities, we experience some serious and some more commonly occurring issues.” These include: Unable to evidence validity of enquiry Incomplete or no audit trail Gathering information for intelligence purposes Personal data retained from erroneous enquiries Altering date of event to obtain keeper details Unauthorised enquiries made through intermediary Absence of a data retention policy Making enquiries without reasonable cause to information Files containing personal data not adequately secured.

I wonder if any of you can help me, I have substantial council tax arrears, they were incurred when I had periods of unemployment. I now have a permanent contract albeit part time and low income. I applied for council tax reduction and have had an email saying that I don't qualify, does nyone know how to appeal, its all very new. I have one dependent child and a son who is an apprentice, it clearly says on the local authority website that apprentices qualify for council tax reduction of 25%. Is there a template and does anyone know how to apply for a discretionary payment? as I am now expected to pay the full amount I have no hope of catching up on this years payments, let alone pay the regular monthly payments. Are there any template letters? I would appreciate any advice, I have had bailiffs at the door due to the arrears, they have been placed on hold for the moment.

I recently went to a garage near to where I live as a friend recomended them to me, and said that they have always been fair and honest. To cut a long story short, my eletcric window had stopped working, the said garage told me it was the window regulator, (without checking it) and said it would cost me £120, I agreed for the work to be done, when I collected my I car, the first thing I noticed was my door speaker had not been connected, then when I put my window down, it wouldnt go back up again, (same as before). I took my car back the same day, and was told that it had been a B******d of a job to do, and so I would need to book it back in, which I did for the following wednesday, anyway, when I retuned, I was told that it now need a window switch, which would cost £158.00+ VAT+ fitting (EH), I said ok i'll have to think about it, as it seemed a lot, and I had already paid for the fault that the garage said it was to be repaired. So I took my car to another garage for a second opinion, as I felt I was being royaly ripped off, the second garage stripped my door, and the result was, that no new window regulator has been fitted, just a load of cable ties and a coupe of bolts, to botch up the broken regulator, (so no window switch needed) a also broken door panel & courtesy light, the cost to me was £264.34, so all in all its cost me £384.34, for a window regulator. Can anyone give me any advice/help as to how I can get back some of the MASSIVE amount of MONEY im out of pocket!!!! Thanks in advance, as I know your all brilliant x

I would like to issue a complaint to the OFT regarding a debt collector who is listed on their register. I have no experience in this field and intend to use the template letter and address that is posted in the sticky thread. I notice that the template was posted back in 2009-I hope the details are still the same? With regards my complaint,I wish to complain on the grounds of the collectors dishonesty in communications which could be deemed contrary to Section 2 of the Fraud Act,they changed a £600 debt into a £1000 debt on the back of two letters which appears to breach OFT guidelines & they do not appear to be registered with the ICO. Are these considered reasonable grounds for complaint? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Mark

Hi Guys, A friend of ours got a local aughority ticket today for not being parked in her bay correctly. From what I've seen of the pics, the white lines that make the bay don't appear to be fully visible. The offence description is "Parking in a place other than a marked parking bay" Does anyone have any advice please Kind regards. EOS-5D :0)

I was just wondering how long it will be before the ConDem' s begin a new propaganda campaign of 'welfare hate' following their losses at the local elections. You usually see 'welfare hate propaganda' in the headlines following a government hammering, just to appease the small minded, oh and course, the Tory voter. I think said stories act as some kind of analgesia for wounded pride

I have received a local authority parking ticket, I had purchased the correct ticket and put it on my dash (there is no adhesive on the tickets in my area) but it had blown off when I shut the door. I appealed and sent a letter with the paid ticket as evidence, their response was a ten page letter with pictures of my car, quoting bylaw blah and blah - basically they said because it was not displayed the fine stood. I responded with a letter of dispute but paid the £25 fine as I knew they would find a way of further penalizing me! Guess what, I received my cheque back today saying that they had received it after the 14 days(I don't have proof of postage) and now it is £50!! I am really aggrieved, what is likely to happen if I tell them I am not paying and they can take me to court?

im just wondering has anyone applied for one of these yet? i know they offer food voucher for living expenses but what about furniture cookers fridges ect ect? especially if there replacing community care grants

Hi all I am in the North Herts District Council region and have just had my council tax bill. The total sum is £1140.97. They have calculated it in ten instalments with the first being £114.97 and the balance being another 9 at £114.00. So far so good. According to the new rules issued by the government I have the right to ask for this to be paid in 12 instalments. I therefore e-mailed the council as follows: Please re-issue my council tax bill to show repayments in twelve equal instalments and adjust your billing system to expect payments in twelve rather than ten payments. Today I received the following: Thank you for your email requesting 12 monthly instalments for your council tax. Once we have received your April instalment, I will amend your instalments from May - March and a revised bill will be issued. So on the face of it they are requiring one tenth of the figure to be paid first and I only want to pay one twelfth. Now it is only a small thing but if the government says I can pay equally over the year then I want to pay equally over the year. In short I want to pay £95 in April, not £115. I don’t want to give them £20 until I have to. I wrote this back to them: That is all very well but what am I supposed to pay in April? You seem to be wanting one tenth of the annual amount before spreading the other nine tenths over the remaining eleven months. Is that correct? As I understand it the new regulations allow for equal monthly payments over twelve months. Please clarify your position. Anybody else getting this sort of thing? Anybody got any comments?

HI Just wandering if anyone can give some advice. My Mum has received a parking fine. A few weeks ago , she took My Grandad and his friend shopping at a local retail park near where I live, MY Grandad and his friend are both in their 90s and very slow on their feet, and my mum is in her 60's and has a displayed badge as she has difficulty walking far due to an accident some years ago. My Mum does not live in this area.... On the day in question I had met them for a coffee and then left them browsing the shops. It would appear that in the last month or so the retail park has introduced a 3 hour limit on parking for the shops, and my mum was there for a little over 4. As they had met me for tea, browsed the shops, had some lunch went back and tried some clothing on , made purchases and then left. Even I was unaware there was a restriction although we have now been back to check and there are signs … although they are quite high on the lampposts . She was parked in a disabled spot with a valid badge displayed, but the carpark take a picture as you enter and exit so would not be able to see a disabled car, nor does it say there is any difference for disabled people on the signs ... Apart from the fact its now put her off ever visiting those shops again , and it was a fairly regular outing for them , as with taking such elderly people around, wanting food etc, it takes time, which they now wont be able to do unless they rush , and as I say they live out of town so its not often they get a good look round ... My question is simply is it worth appealing this fine ? Or is there anything that can be done ..? its currently £60 which I think is very high! but goes up to 100 if not paid soon , my mums panicking it will go up if she appeals but I said it would be held while they deal with it, please help any advice appreciated.

Ok, first I'm not really back, just doing Lex a favour as he's swamped (well, he said hammered, but I think he meant swamped, lol) so put the pitchforks away! Second, THIS is far too important not to spread around, but I have no idea where it should go, so "Rural communities" it is for now, mods feel free to move elsewhere if required. I cannot stress enough the importance of the Coastguards. As I read elsewhere, they are the 4th emergency service and this is so reckless it takes my breath away. If you live near the sea (and in the UK, none of us are very far from a coast!) then this concerns you too. Bookie

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/local/bailiffs-are-chasing-240-cases-every-year-1-5135440

Hi Is there any known legal regulation that states that once a debt has been passed on to a collection agency you no longer have a right to pay the creditor direct? I have seen many collection and enforcement agencies state you no longer hold the right to make payment direct but where is this legally set in stone and can the Local Authority/Creditor state any reasonable grounds for refusing to accept the payment if you make it direct to them? Thanks