Sunday, November 07, 2010

BT不合理收费如何投诉

去年12月店里的电话突然不能用了。报修BT公司以后第二天他们派维修员上门服务。整个修理过程不超过一个半小时,事后他也没说什么就走了。然而到了今年二月份BT公司突然来了一张账单要求我们支付电话修理费400镑左右。多番交涉无果后,BT今天在没有预先通知的情况下突然对我们停机。无奈我们电话里支付了400镑的修理费。请问:他们这样做合法吗?修理之前为什么不告知要收费。修理完后为什么不让我们签字确认。他们说修理了3个小时每个小时修理费一百多镑有证据吗?

BT的网站说如果维修员到你的物业检查过并发现故障是属于用户自己可以维护的范围(例如插头没有弄好等)的话,他们就要收费。否则应该是免费。如果你的电话是属于商业户口,那可能有另外的收费,而且很多保护消费者的法律都不包括商业之间的交易。无论如何,你需要找出400镑收费的原因。我们日常也遇到很多关于BT的投诉,你应该写一封很简单的信件(不是Email)到Customer Service Manager, BT Customer Correspondence Centre, Durham, DH98 1BT。信中要说明,你要投诉(complain):

1. 你不同意400镑的修理费,你基于无奈才缴纳,而且没有预先收到警告。如果你的电话是商业账户的话,你可以说保留追究赔偿营业损失的权利。
你也可以提出要求BT退回所缴的400镑。

2. 要求BT提供400英镑的明细(itemised breakdown

3. 要求BT提供当天维修员的维修报告。(报告应该会告诉你究竟电话线哪里出错了,他那天究竟干了什么,干了多久。是不是做了一些BT会收费的项目,如果的话,你就可以用没有预先告示来申辩)。

这封信你要存底,而且通过挂号信形式邮寄出。如果你对于BT的回复不满意的话,你可以要求他们的高级经理启动投诉检讨机制(Complaints Review Service)。这个时候BT会给你一份最后决定(deadlock letter),你这个时候就有6个月时间去决定是否将你的投诉通过Otelo(电信业申诉专员)来处理。

其实你也不需要等BT的最后答复,也可以直接向申诉专员投诉。有关的时间限制是,必须是第一次投诉的8个星期之后,而且时间没有超出9个月的期限。

期间你可以联系当地的市民咨询局(Citizens Advice Bureau),他们有特别电话可以联系BT的调解部门来看看有没有什么能马上解决的。现在很多BT的客服通讯都是录音的,如果你能提供相关的日期和时间,他们可以调出相关的对话。

很多时候大家有在消费的时候又遇到不公平待遇的时候,一定要看看对方有没有投诉机制。如果有的话就要好好利用。没有的话也不要放弃,因为一封投诉信的效力可大可小。有关消费者权益的问题,可以联系当地政府的交易标准部门(trading standard)或者全国性的求助热线 Consumer Direct 08454 04 05 06

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

银行资料被盗

最近我收到银行给我的追债信,但是我从来都没有使用那间银行的服务。我想我身份资料
被盗用了,我该怎么办?
身份资料被盗用(Identify theft)是指别人通过不同的途径得到你的个人资料,然后在
你不知情的情况下用那些资料以你的名义来申请信用户口(例如信用卡,个人贷款等)。
如果你是身份资料被盗用的受害者,你通常不需要对相关的交易负责。除非你特意欺骗银
行,或者没有对你的个人资料有合理的保护,例如将银行密码告诉被人等。
只要你察觉你的身份资料被盗用,你必须马上行动:
l
立即通知银行。所有和银行的通话写下作为记录,例如什么时候和谁通过话,说过什
么。通常银行的电话系统都会录音,所以一旦出现争执,你就可以让银行提取相关的
通话记录。还有银行给你寄来的信件都最好留下来直到事情解决为止。
l
向警局报案。这个不必要拨打999,你可以通过警局的非紧急热线来处理。他们通常
会记下相关的资料,然后会给你一个案件代码(Crime reference number)。现在
越来越多的银行和保险公司都需用这个来启动他们的内部调查机制。
l
向信用报告公司(credit referenceagencies)申请一份最新的信用报告,看看和
上面有没有一些不寻常的记录。如果有的话,你可以要求他们清除相关纪录,或者
你要求在记录中提出书面声明(declaration)。这些资料是以人做单位,所以没
有“黑地址”的说法。很多银行在拒绝信用申请的时候,都会提到信用评分(credit
scoring),你信用报告中的某一条信息可能在A银行的信用评分中有5分,但是可能
在B银行就只有1分。信用报告公司只是保存信用资料,他们不会做出决定,所以要
定期检查信用报告,以防不测。英国有三大信用报告公司(Experian,Equifax
Callcredit),法定报告只需2英镑,他们也提供不同程度的增值服务,需要与否就见
仁见智了。
l
申请成为CIFAS的成员。CIFAS(www.cifas.org.uk)是反身份资料盗用的机构,
基本上所有的信用报告公司和金融服务机构都是他们的成员。大概付出15英镑一年的
费用,你的资料将会被保护,所有有关你的信用申请都不会被电脑自动审批,而通过
人工详细审核。

Friday, October 29, 2010

房东可以就这样轻易地逐我出来么?

我刚租了一个房子,已经搬来好几个月了。自我搬进来以来,热水供应一直有问题。房东说他会搞定,但是现在已经过了4个多月了,问题还是没有解决。我不停给房东打电话,写信敦促他,最近他说如果我继续“骚扰”他,他就会赶我出来。房东可以就这样轻易地逐我出来么?

一 般来说,房东是不能在没有给你合法通知前赶你出去。但有一种情况例外,就是租客和房东共用房子里的公用设施(厨房,洗手间)或者是生活空间(在英国的华人 很多时候也是属于这种类别),法律通常称这类住客为受基本保障住客(Occupier with Basic Protection) 或者无保障住客(Excluded Occupier)。这种情况下,基本上只要房东下“逐客令”,你就要马上搬出。

另 外的就是房东与租客不再同一个物业里,签订了租房合同。 在1997年后签订的租房协议大多数是Assured Shorthold Tenancy(受保障短期租约). 如果房东要你搬走,他需要履行法定的步骤来结束合约。第一步是书面通知(Written Notice)。大多数的房东都不需要给你任何理由,但需要按不同情况给你法定的通知期(一般是2个月)让你搬出。即使两个月后你还不搬出来,房东还不能 通知警察或者武力赶你出来。他需要执行法定的收房程序(Possession proceedings)来达到目的。这个程序通常通过地区法院(County Court)来完成。

很多时候租房合同通常以有固定期合同(fixed term tenancy agreement)形式出现,等6个月完了后在订立新的长期合同。这里有几点大家要留意:

1. 签订固定期合同签前一定看清楚合同里有没有关于提前结束合约的规定。市场上绝大多数的有固定期合同都没有说明如何提前结束合约。所以一旦搬进去后出现问题,租客都只能通过和房东协商沟通来结束合约。要不然,即使不住在那里,房东也一样可以要你交租。


2. 根据Housing Act的规定当固定期合同结束后,如果没有订立新的合同,租房关系就会自动变成周期性合约(periodic agreement)。例如原合同是每个月交一次租,这个周期就是按月算,如此类推。双方都可以根据这个周期配合法定时间来通知对方解除租房合同。


3. 不论何种租房合约,一定要搞清楚押金(deposit)是否受政府许可的押金保证计划(Deposit Guarantee Scheme)保护。按照法律规定,房东一定要在租房合同起效的14天内向租客提供关于其押金受计划保证的相关资料。如果没有做到的话,租客可以通过小额 钱债索偿程序(money small claim)向所属的地区法院请求判处房东相当押金三倍金额的罚金。已经做到但仍存在关于押金的纠纷的话,可以通过保证计划的调解机制来处理。

Saturday, October 23, 2010

电费和煤气费省钱的招数

我去年的电费和煤气费都很高。现在冬天就快来了,我担心今年不知如何去应付这笔庞大的开支。有什么省钱的招数?


其实除了少用电/煤气或使用节能电器以外,也有不少办法来节省能源开支。

1. 首先最简单的方法就是给你的能源供应商打个电话,看看有没有一些特别的优惠,还要定期给他们读表数。一般来说如果你转用银行直接转帐(Direct Debit)很多供应商都会提供5%左右的折扣,如果你的煤气和电力服务都是属同一个供应商,他们也会给你额外的折扣。

2. 如果收入真的很低(最好是正在领取一些特定的低收入福利),或者是属于弱势群体(例如老年人,有长期病患者等),可使用全英最大的六家能源公司所提供的不同形式的“低保”套餐(social tariff)以控制你的开支。

3. 现在的能源供应商把他们的服务套餐越搞越复杂,如果想节省开支就需要“货比三家”。现在网上有很多的能源价钱比较网站都能根据你的实际需要找出适合你的 套餐。有的时候平均起来可每年节省100-200英镑。值得一提的是只要你告诉你的供应商你想专用别的公司,他们的态度就会立马转变,提供各式各样的优惠 让利来留住你。

4. 如果你已经年过60岁并够资格申请福利,你可以申领冬天能源补助(Winter Fuel Payment)。根据你的实际情况,可以得到介乎125镑到400镑的资助。这笔资助不但是免税的,而且还不会影响你其他福利。当然这笔资助不会自动发 放到你的账户,一定要通过申请才可以得到。申请电话是:0845 9 15 15 15

5. 如果你还没有到60岁,也可以申请寒冷天气补助(Cold Weather Payment)。这个补助不需要申请,只要你符合资格(正在领取特定的社会福利),钱就会自动给你发放。每当你居住的地区在11月1日到3月31日期 间,有连续7天平均温度在零度或以下的情况发生,你就会收到25英镑。

另外无论你的年龄是多少,根据你的收入状况可以申请政府的资助(Warm Front Grant)来给你的住所添加“保温层”,这项资助并非现金而是体现为一种“间接福利”,最高可以资助达3500镑。

Monday, October 18, 2010

在英国出生的小孩来可以享受什么福利

听别人说,在英国小孩生下来之后就可以享受福利的。我小孩子出生后, 医院让我填写了一大堆的表格。请问我可以申请福利吗?如果可以的话,都有什么样的福利我可以申请。

在英国要申请福利,最基本的条件是申请人要有英国国籍,英国的永久居留身份或已经取得居留权利(right to reside)的欧盟公民。

小孩生下来后,首先你可以申请儿童福利(Child Benefit), 儿童税务补助(Child Tax Credit),如果你工作并且符合工作税务补助(Working Tax Credit)的申请条件,你可以申请最高托儿费用80%的托儿津贴。

你 还可以申请儿童信托基金(Child Trust Fund)。如果小孩是2010年8月2日前出生的话,将会有£250的津贴。2010年8月2日后出生的就只有£50的津贴。这笔钱是以孩子的名义开立 的,到孩子18岁的时候他们就可以自由决定如何使用。每年可以向基金户口存入£1200,基金户口的收益是得到免缴税的优惠的。2010年12月以后出生 的小孩就不能开立基金户口了,因为政府正计划取消这个计划。


有 小孩的基本福利是儿童福利(Child Benefit)。这个福利是基于你是孩子合法监护人,例如父或母亲,或取得监护权利的单亲。在福利法例里,这个福利属于无需收入审查的福利(non mean-tested benefits)。只要你有孩子,你就可以申请这个福利。当然你还要满足以下几个规定:

1. 申请人和小童都身在英国。

2. 申请人要以英国作为常住地。

3. 申请人要有居留身份。基本是如果你有英国永久居留权或者是英国国籍,这个不成太大问题。

4. 申请人是与其居住一起的小童的监护人。


关于条件1和4,其中有一个例外,如果你是来自欧盟的其他成员国,你的小孩不一定要在英国。这就是报纸上经常看到的关于东欧来的新欧盟移民,向英国政府申请儿童福利,而他们的小孩还留在原住地。

小童福利是每周£20.30 ,如果你有多过一个小孩从第二个开始每个每周是 £13.40。如此来推。申请人可以一直收取这个福利一直到小童到16岁为止,如果孩子在16岁之后继续在接受政府认可的教育,这个福利会延伸到他们的20周岁为止。

Saturday, October 09, 2010

Retail Loss Prevention 诬告偷窃

1我曾经被一个商店的保安诬告偷窃,并被带到警察局。警察经过调查后,确认偷窃罪根本不成立。但控告方来信说要收 80镑的管理费。我没有理睬他们。但最近我收到一封信,说价格已经涨到了 130镑,如果在几日内不交的话,就会派追债公司来。我该怎么办?

现在很多商店都将偷窃指控交由专业的法律公司(通常是Retail Loss Prevention 或者 Drydens Lawyers)处理。即使你没有被确定有偷窃行为,这些公司都会想尽办法通过民事索偿的途径向你索 取赔偿(例如调查费,法律开支以及其他相关的费用)。通常这些信件是指你有责任赔偿商店的损失,

但这些责任在通过法律程序并且得到法庭确认的情况才会成为法定责任(actual legal liability)。

基于以上的原因,你有以下3个选择:

1.不采取任何行动。那些索偿公司会不停地给你发信,而且索取的费用会越来越高。他们会启动法律的

索偿程序,或者将你的案子交给追债公司。基于真正需要付费的责任来自法庭判决,说不定到法庭判决的时候就不是80镑而是130镑。

2. 否认有赔偿损失的责任,理由是特别你没有被确定有偷窃行为。最简单的方法就是给公司写一封信, 说你拒绝承担任何赔偿责任。这封信一定要简单,注意不要他们解释为什么管理费那么贵。否则,你 可能不经意承认了你确实欠他们的钱(acknowledgement of the debt)。那么他们就有6年的时间 去启动法律程序。

3.付钱了事。可以根据你的实际财政状况要求分期付款。

Friday, August 07, 2009

Income Support and ESA (Employment Support Allowance)

Since Oct 2008, the Government introduced ESA(Employment Support Allowance) to replace new income support claim on the ground of incapacity.

I met an client the other day, she claimed income support back to 2002 on the ground of she is a lone parent for her daughter. She has been also assigned a lone parent advisor from local Job Centre Plus.

She later developed serious heart problem, that Disability Living Allowance had been awarded as well.

She told her lone parent advisor about her disability ground, and the advisor said "everything will be fine".

Now, because her daughter had reached aged 14, that her Income support had been stopped. Job Centre Plus also asked her to claim ESA. However, ESA advisor told her that her income support will continued pay to her, (they must over look the ground of the IS).

Therefore, this lady had her Income Support stopped, and ESA refused to log her claim.

Why?

Monday, July 06, 2009

Housing Benefit

I have two single mum came in today both asked me the same questions, how can they claim housing benefit?

Actually, there is no such answer for "How to claim". I always advise people to claim for any benefits they think they might entitle for. And then just see if their application would be approved.

Having said that, housing benefit application form is very thick. Some councils even use the same form for applying the council tax benefit. It is a nightmare for many people if they are very bad on filling forms.

Here is some tips for applying housing benefit:

1. Many people thinks they can only get housing benefit if they only live in a council flat. NO, as far as you are a tenant, you can claim. However, if you are a private tenant, then Local Housing Allowance will be applied.

If you are living in a council flat or housing association property, your rent will likely 100% covered by the housing benefit.

2. If you have more than 16k in saving or capital, then save you time and council workers' time. Because you are not entitled to anything. The capital limit is 16k, but salary does not count. They are using a complex formula to assess your housing benefit amount.

If you are in low income with limited saving, starting phoning your council now to apply for the housing benefit, and council tax benefit.

Friday, July 03, 2009

Career Development Loan

Mr SJ wants to get out of the finance agreement that funded him to attend the training course. He is getting a bit difficulties in keeping his outgoing, therefore he wants to stop paying his course.



The finance agreement was with Career Development Loan ltd, which is the government back scheme for people getting more skills trained.



It is very clear that he was into a triangle contracts.

He entered a contract with the training provider. Its term and condition says very clear that it cannot be cancelled after 7 days. However, you might get part of your money back, it really up to their management discretion .

He entered a contract with the finance agreement. The agreement is regulated by Consumer Credit Act. That means if he fails to keep up with the repayment, he will be in REAL trouble. However, he could ask for help from them. i.e. payment holiday, reduce repayment amount, or extend payment terms etc.

He All the docs says very clear, he is no right to cancel. He needs to pay the money back anyway.

New Start

I have some many blogs aross many different places nowadays. I am behind my own schedule to maintain all the blog.

However, I think it is the time to give it a spring clean.

This blog, "My life in the UK" will be mainly for my work in the third sector advice charity. I hope my case record will provide some interest read for anyone may need it in the future.

The blog, "My life in the UK" will also show my view in day-to-day UK life, political, economics, and other interesting things.

Friday, December 28, 2007

Broadband without landline or cable

Alternative broadband solution if you cant get a BT line or cable without any contract commitment

read more | digg story

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Barclaycard OnePluse ready to apply


This the new Barclaycard with oyster card facility, and also have NFC technology.

They are ready to apply in September, get here to be the first know about it.

Monday, July 30, 2007

China or Plastic Cups

I was fed up to see how many plastic cups had been used in the staff kitchen, why these people cant use mud? I think it would save the world.

However, the facility manager refused my recommadation to use more mud. He simply said, as there are better recycling opportunities for plastic, and also fluids used in dishwashers are more harmful to the environment..... Therefore, we are not going to change anything......

:-(

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Runner Beans salad

British runner beans

British-grown runner beans are at their best during July and Augest. They can be boiled or steamed - top and tail and remove stringy bits before slicing and cooking.

Runner bean salad

Whish together 3 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard. Season, add a crushed garlic clove, a finely chopped shallot and a tablespoon of roughtly chopped capers. Trim 450g runner beans and cut into 1cm pices. Cook in simmering water for 5-8 minutes. Drain in a colander, rised undercold tap for a few seconds. Toss in the dressing.

Marks Spencer won gold awards at cheese show

Recently, I have some cheese as part of my lunch, they are mainly from Marks and Spencer. Last year, they won few gold award of the biggest cheese show, the Natwich International Cheese Show.
This year, they also won some.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

24-July FTSE drops further


I could not beleive what happed today.

Monday, July 23, 2007

23-July


Please see,

Very doneldine, siend

Monday, May 28, 2007

Sainsbury does it again when it is not good

As I mentioned early, I don't like the idea of Salisbury's gives away free bags and nothing to follow up.

I found out I am not alone.

To my surprise, Sainsburys is doing is again! Oh my God!




Sunday, May 27, 2007

Sainsbury not doing enough for their bags

In the last few weeks, we had been seeing Sainsbury's on the news about their initiative to reduce customers using plastic bags.

Including introducing new designer reuse bags: " I am not a plastic bag", but bad enough this bag only earn them just few of the fame. Customers would not be able to buy the bags any more, because they become an fashion icon, and eBay begins to sell it.....

Also they gave away normal reuse bags just for one day, wish their customers would use them again.. However, it never happen in my office. People just forget about their responsibility and just like to be take the easy way.

I would like to highlight that M&S is doing very good in this way by launching "Plan A". Now they are doing a trial in Norther Ireland to encourage customers to use fewer carriers. Throughout June they will offer free newly-designed reuse bags for each food transaction. Then they would charge 5p for each standard food carrier bags in July.

I think it is a very good practices to encourage customer to use less bags.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

5月22日

今天市场重演昨天开市的情况,一开市就狂泻,但是这个是由于GSK的糖尿病药物Avandia的一些证件出了问题,由于GSK在FTSE中占很重的比例,它一动真的市就大动了。同时M&S的盈利没有达到市场预计的最高上限所以大家都很失望。
中午的是否A&L得到UBS和ABN Amro的提点到“买入“,所以带动股价上升,同时给大市注入上升的动力,同时BA是否参与Texas Pacific Group (TPG) 收购西班牙航空公司的不确定因素推动指数全面下跌。
6631 --- 6626 --- 6631 --- 6620 --- 6067