Anyone who now has a mobility scooter through their scheme is no longer given the option to purchase it at the end of the 3 year contract. Not very happy to find this out yesterday, when I had my scooter I was told I would be able to purchase it for a nominal sum at the end of the contract. Had I known at the time, I probably would never have had one with them in the first place as you can buy them new of dealers for less than Motability charge. Those who have cars with them may need to look into this also as it is possible they could be affected.

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.

Hi CAG I am writing on behalf of my sister. She is in her late 50's, lives alone, has worked hard all of her life and now finds - after a couple of years of being bullied at her place of work (seriously !) - that her hours have been cut drastically and she can no longer afford her cost of living expenses. Also the hotel where she works is closing down in July. For the first time in her life she has gone sick with stress and I am worried about her too. She also looks after my elderly Mum & stepdad. We have just applied successfully for DLA for Mum as she is now housebound. My mum has been helping my sister with money towards her rent. None of them claim Carers Allowance despite my telling them that either my sister or my Mum's elderly partner would certainly be eligible. My sister has a car on finance. I have talked to her today about the possibility of getting a car through the Motability Scheme so that she can take Mum out in her wheelchair (she has a wheelchair but hasn't actually left her flat since she came and spent Christmas with us - we live 180 miles apart). If my Sis did this what would she do about her current car ? She is worried that questions will be asked about the money that Mum gives her to help her with rent & food. I'm sorry to have so many questions but can anyone help at all or suggest some next steps that I can pass on to her ? Thank you

Although this doesnt affect me, I am taking an interest - I didnt realise that it only affected those living in 4 council areas until September. I wonder why those 4 areas have been chosen for the Pilot scheme ? Hopefully by then, it will be proved to be another disaster and it will be stopped. Read more : http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/why-you-ll-be-more-broke-next-month--151600586.html

Hi everyone, I'm looking for a little advice on the PVG scheme in Scotland. After a good few months out of work I have just been offered a job working as a home carer. Not everyone's dream job, but it is something I have been wanting to do for a long time and I am over the moon to get back into work as well. I have a conditional offer on the basis that my PVG clearance comes back ok. I was asked during the interview process if I had any criminal convictions which I honestly declared as not having any, as I haven't. My only worry is that upon reading what is checked during the PVG clearance process I noticed they also gather information from police records that may not have led to a charge or conviction, I believe this is called local information. I am 25 years old now, and when I was 18 (around 7 years) ago I tried to break-up a fairly violent fight between two people in a pub on night. The police turned up at the same time and thought I was involved, I explained what happened but they were having none of it and I subsequently got charged with "A breach of the peace". The case was referred to the procurator fiscal, who eventually decided I was an innocent party in the whole situation and dropped the charge against me. My real worry is although the charge was dropped, would this information show on my PVG and if so would it affect me getting the job? This was the only time in my life where I have ever had any dealings with the police and I'm worrying beyond belief its now going to affect the career I want to pursue. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi I'm doing some research on this topic and was wondering if there was definitive list of retailers who had signed up to this scheme? Additionally does anyone have any examples of the types of letters that are sent that they could scan up? Any help would be much appreciated Thank you

I have been on jsa for 9 months, before that I have either worked or been in full time education. I have been sent for 2 interviews to enquire about optional courses at entry level 3, I have a degree and a postgraduate qualification so felt these courses would not help. After seeing my advisor at the job centre I am told I am due to go onto the work program in April so I must gain some work experience to fill a gap on my cv, by going on the MWA scheme, if I don't I beleive I get sanctioned. This would be my first "offence". I was told by the advisor she has to get me a job before the 12 month deadline, because of her targets. I have already received a letter from the placement provider so am expecting a call to go and see them. They are going to send me on an unpaid work placement for 30 hours a week. The 30 hours is just work no time to do jobsearch, so I'd be doing that in the evenings (if the placement is not working nights) I feel like I have been sentenced for a criminal offence and am very depressed about the whole thing. I am attending inverviews so will they let me go to the job interviews whilst I'm working for free? Anyone else been in sentenced to do MWA? If they sanction you for not going can they keep sanctioning until you do go? I beleive I would be eligible to apply for hardship payments? Is there any point in appealing? I'm hoping that the employment agancies will find me work but I have just applied for a new crb so that could take some time.

Hi all, From my previous job I had subscribed to my employer Life and Assurance Pension Scheme (normally I can withdraw the money only at 60 years old). I started being sick when still working with this employer. However, until today (6 years later) due to my remaining sickness I cannot work and I would like to know if I can cancel this scheme in goal to use it money for my present need (health and social). I may have around £5000 in this scheme. Thanks in advance for your help,

I have been a customer of Littlewoods for about 18 years and had accrued commission through purchases made over this time which totalled about £371. I had been saving for a flat and finally logged in to my account to spend this money on goods for my flat and noticed my total had gone to £00.00. I contacted them and they told me that since I hadn't ordered from their last season, I lose any rewards earned. As stated, I have been with them for 18 years and this had never been the case before and I never received any notification from them to say that this was changing. I have emailed them and all I get in reply is that I should read their terms and conditions, however I don't know when these terms and conditions changed. Can they do this without informing you?

hi guys having a bit difficulty interpreting the date when my deposit should have been paid into a TDS i paid my deposit in dec 2010. also what should a scottish landlord do with my deposit prior to the scheme being enforced. thanks in advance

Hi all, i have an issue with my deposit on the property i am currently renting, ill start at the beginning. We rented the property on the 25th of may, we payed the deposit and first months rent to a letting agent, we were then informed that the LL would be managing the property. A few months passed and in the December we were notified that the house was being repossessed and would be auctioned. The house was sold and we got a new tenancy with a new LL. I am currently chasing the original LL for the deposit of £625, we received no proof of the deposit being payed into a scheme and we have been told by the original letting agent that they passed the deposit over to the original LL but again we have no proof of this. I am urgently seeking some advice as to what steps to take in claiming the deposit back from the original LL and where i would stand legally as he is proofing to be extremely uncooperative. any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hopefully somebody will be able to help with my query about tenancy deposit schemes. To cut to the short of the story - having checked the three tenancy deposit schemes available I couldn't find a record of the deposit paid for tenancy back in April. I have since been in dispute with my landlord who hasn't provided me with any details of where my deposit was secured (I understand now that this should have been done within 14 days of receiving my money in writing). I last checked the databases for the deposit last week and couldn't find it. Last night I received a text message saying that my deposit was secured with one of the three databases and sure enough I found it. It says the money was deposited in April - but I cannot understand why I have never been able to find it. I am wondering is it possible for deposits to be made to these schemes and backdated. I am really suspicious that the money has only just recently been deposited and somehow backdated - or even if there is something more untoward going on. My landlord works in the letting/estate agency business. I have still not been provided with an original letter stating my deposit is secure but have received a rather poor image of the letter by text. Has anybody been in a similar situation as this - or give me any advice please.

Just a quick question about the debt arrangement scheme with regards to credit history. Does the 6 year clock for it to drop off your credit file start from the default date or last reduced payment ? Thanks for any help

My mother is a council tennant (Scotland) and reprted a damp problem 12 weeks ago. No one from the council knew where the damp was coming from and was guess work as to where the damp was coming from. I called out a builder (friend) who lifted the floor and was able to tell us exactly what the problem was, so we spoke to the council and weeks later they sent out a worker to break up a screed and install a damp proof membrane and re-screed. .........But the council worker basically broke up the screed and put a new one down without a membrane. An inspector came out to the house and agreed that the repair was not done properly and that it would be re-done. They were supposed to start on friday but never turned up, no-one on monday either and no one today so we got the builder to rip it all up again and do it properly this afternoon. We took pictures of the whole process and plan to claim to the council as this is now on the 12th week since reporting it plus the fire had to be removed as well so been without a fire also ( although she does also have central heating) With a quick search on the web it states that a repair can be done using a contractor on the councils list, but the worker they sent in the first place was a sub contractor. Our builder has stated that he would price the job at £260. Main thing is that its fixed but I know the council will not budge. Does anyone know how else to handle this. I also plan to complain to the ombudsman (for local authority councils) Thanks

Dear All I am in need of your advice/suggestion. I rented a property last year during April (2011) through a letting agent. It was a just an introductory type of letting i.e. all the initial paper work was done by the letting agents and than I was told that all the dealings are going to be direct with the landlord. Everything was fine until this year when he asked me to vacate the property as he wanted to sell the house. I was given 2 months notice. We found a house and left the property in a good condition. There were some marks on the kitchen wall which I said was my mistake and I am willing to pay for it and also there was a snag on a carpet due to carpet cleaning machine which I am sure can be fixed but I said I wont mind paying. I waited for more than one month to hear any thing back from him, during which I did txt him several time to let me know. And than after a month I send him a letter that if he is not going to reply, I am taking the matter to court. it worked and he replied the very next day. He said my money was not paid into the deposit protection scheme by the letting agent due to some administration error and the money is locked in the deposit scheme now (i.e. more than a month after I left the property). It was landlords responsibility to deposit the money into DPS scheme, but he never got the money from the letting agents. He also thinks that I owe him 750 pounds ( I paid 600 pounds deposit). He found some dust on the floor, there are few stains on the carpet ( I got proof that those stains were before I started my tenancy). Also, there was an old mattress in the house which was never used (it is more like 5 year old mattress) and he found a stain on it and wants to charge 260 pounds for it! I have replied him back saying what I agree with and what I dont agree with. He is not replying to me any more. Could any one please tell me where I stand in this case? Initially I dint wanted to take the matter to court, but now I am going to fight for my money and not going to let him any extra penny. Sorry for a wordy email, but I really need your valuable advice. Thank you

Hi can anyone help? I recently left a property approximately a month ago which I had rented along with some fellow students through a private landlord. Following leaving the property, I learnt from one of my former housemates that the landlord planned to withhold £40 of my deposit (originally £150) due to a stain on the underside of my mattress and that he was going to pass on the remaining £110 cash to my former housemate to return at a later date to myself. I am adamant that this stain was none of my doing. During the tenancy I did not flip the mattress at any point. So further to this I checked with the 3 government back deposit schemes to see if the landlord had registered with a scheme – it turns out he has not. So I then emailed the landlord expressing my concerns with the action he had taken in regards to not providing any invoice, and his method of return of the deposit, as well as that the stain on the mattress was none of my doing and that I felt it was unreasonable that I would have checked the underside of the mattress at the beginning of the tenancy. Adding to this I expressed that he had not protected my deposit as required by law and I therefore requested he paid returned my £150 within 2 weeks. He has replied to this with the following message: Dear XXXX, My response to your letter is as follows:- I will be sending your bond cheque for the full amount of £150.00. You now have a choice; I will buy a new mattress which will cost around £100.00. I have a signed inventory check letter which is dated 30th June 2011.This document will be produced, along with photographic evidence to show there was NO stain or damage to the bed in your room, prior to your tenancy. It is signed by the person who occupied the room. You can re-imburse me £100.00 and I will not go on to seek recourse for a whole bed. I will be sending the evidence to your parents, who are probably not aware of your current position. I dont think you or your parents would like the slur of a county court judgement on your record which will adverse effect on your future prospects. In the tenancy agreement that you were asked to read before signing it states that you are ALL jointly and severally responsible for any damage in the property, how would it look if I took all of you to court to pay for an item that just you have spoilt. I'm sure the other tenants parents won’t be happy about that. As you stated in your letter you would prefer to settle this amicably. I leave you to decide which way to go. Yours Sincerely I am now unsure of the action I should take. I reiterate I am adamant that the stain is none of my doing, and the signed inventory that he is referring to; had no mention of a mattress with any stains. He is now also threatening to seek recourse for the whole bed if this goes to a small claims court – there were a couple of broken slates underneath the bed which I declared with him before leaving and he agreed to there being no problem with this. I have not seen any of the other evidence he claims to possess as of yet. If he pays back my deposit does this not mean that he is accepting that there is no chargeable damage? Would any court judgement have an effect on any future prospects? Originally I just wanted to use the threat of no deposit protection as leverage to get my deposit back and would like to avoid the ‘slur’ of court. If he returns my deposit can I still take him to a small claims court for not originally protecting it? Ultimately I would just like to take no action against the landlord for not protecting my deposit and just receive my full deposit without any charges. Is there any way of going about this? Any other further advice would be much appreciated Please note that I am student, and I have notified my parents contrary to his belief – not that this should make any difference. Regards

I have been trying to get my deposit back from a letting agents since vacating the property on 19th October 2012. I was a sole tenant and had an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement. The contract states that the deposit would be protected by "the Deposit Protection Service" depositprotection.com, however I was never issued with a certificate or any reference number. I received a letter from the letting agency stating I would be deduced £30 for holes in the walls due to pictures etc. - to which I agreed. I have been trying to get the reminder of my deposit back ever since - the excuse given has been that they are waiting for the landlord to sign the cheque. Is my understanding correct that if it was in a proper scheme that it is all done on-line and therefore no need to issue a cheque? This leads me to believe that it is / was not ever in a proper scheme? If so could I make a claim at the County Court? Could I claim for a breach of the regulations (which I believe they can award between 1 and 3 times the original amount plus the deposit). The amount is £450 - £30 charge (also I was never given an inventory so could I now dispute the £30 charge and claim the full amount back) Any advice would be gratefully recieved as its now been 8 months!

Will cam now return the donation as it was funded by a "morally wrong" source? http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/jun/24/tory-donor-tax-avoidance?CMP=twt_gu

Hi, our property was repossessed due to the landlady not paying her mortgage despite us paying our rent. I applied for a stay on the eviction and they gave us 2 months (as per legal guidelines). Well in advance of this our tenancy agreement had expired. She didn't give us one despite us asking as I believe she knew about the reposession. Now we've moved out the landlady has rented the house to another person (how I don't know!!) and has promised to pay our deposit back but all we've had so far is a bounced cheque. I believe it wasn't lodged in any scheme as we have no documents to support this. Can I simply go to the county court and issue a Money Claim or is there a better way of doing it? I want to be a diligent as possible so she cannot slip the net. She has a slimy 'financial advisor' who handles all her dealings and I know if there's a way out he'll take it. Furthermore, I believe I can claim the original deposit (£500) and 3 times the amount in addition (£2k altogether) or can I just claim for the 3 x deposit?. I don't want to waste time and need a quick resolution to this as it's already been delayed. Any help would be great

Hello, Last Tuesday I moved out of my flat, my tenancy ended on Thursday. I have paid a deposit of £250. When I first moved in on Saturday 24th September the heavy glass shower door was not attached to the shower, so in order to wash it had to be lifted across. This resulted in someone dropping the door and cracking the floor of the shower (I don't know who did this- could have been anyone). This happened on the Thursday after I moved in. I remember one of my housemates telling me that she believed the land lady was going to charge us all for it but this was never said to me so I thought they must be mistaken. The shower wasn't fixed for about 3 weeks and we also didn't have a cooker since I moved in for about a month. After moving out, I called to ask about my deposit. She told me she hadn't checked the flat but was charging me £120 for damages to the shower. I said I didn't think this was fair as she should have fixed the shower door and she told me that my housemates said it was my boyfriend who had broken it and she was doing me a favour by not fining me £600. Since speaking to her I have found out that my deposit isn't under a protection scheme but now that I have moved out I don't know if this is relevant. I checked my tenancy agreement and it's one from 2007- the year I believed the law was introduced. I would really appreciate if somebody could tell me where I stand legally and what I can claim. I heard that if she hasn't entered my deposit into a scheme she has to pay me my deposit back but now I've moved out this might not be the case. The thing is she hasn't checked the flat yet and as I took no photos she could charge me for anything. I left my room in pristine condition- when my mum came up to help clear it we discovered the hoover had broken and the land lady wouldn't lend us one from her shop (which was downstairs) so we had to buy a new one. I'm fine with her taking up to fifty pounds for anything damaged in the communal area/ cleaning, but I don't think it's fair that she charges me or any of my housemates for the shower. I'm also concerned that she mentioned my boyfriend breaking the shower. He wasn't actually back at university when it happened but he has stayed over before- although nothing in my contract says that I'm not allowed to have guests stay over. I would really appreciate any advice you could give me!

Hello all, I am currently in the process of claiming against my landlord for lack of securing deposit in a scheme, as well as unfairly witholding it from me. I have filled in my claim form but am having difficulty with the interest - if someone would be able to advise me it would be very much appreciated. I moved into the property on the 10th December 2008 and a deposit of £1000 was paid to the landlord on the 15th December 2008. I moved out of the property on the 8th January 2012. 1) Do I claim interest for the deposit alone or interest on the deposit plus the £3000 compensation? (Totalling £4000) 2) Is it claimed from 14 days after the deposit was paid to the landlord and up until the date the claim is put into the court? I have an understanding that interest claimed can be calculated to a lower amount by the judge but not increased. Many thanks in advance

Hi, I am having a bit of a nightmare. in July 2010 we moved into a property and paid the lettings agency (who were acting on behalf of the landlord) £600.00 deposit. Upon moving out we discovered that the letting agency (EDIT) had gone into liquidation. I have contacted the liquidators (Cooper Williamson) who say that they will add me as a creditor but are having difficulty in finding out which scheme the deposits were paid in to. This makes me believe that (EDIT) were not paying the deposits collected into a scheme. Through a little digging I have found that director/owner of (EDIT) was (EDIT), who is still trading under the names: (Edit) LIMITED (Edit) (WNJ) LIMITED It seems to me that either she was not paying into the deposit protection schemes, which would appear to be fraudulent , or she did not know to pay in to deposit protection schemes, which means that she should not be in the business, or she is not willing to cooperate with the liquidators and should therefore not be in any business. I called (Edit) LIMITED and was told that she is on holiday until next week... I hope she's having a good time. Considering the now liquidated company was 'Limited' Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions on how I can proceed with this to get my deposit back? Many thanks