Social Policy current issues

Tenancy Deposit Protection.

Safe Deposits: After years of campaigning, the law changed on 6th April 2007 to help both tenants and landlords protect deposits for rented property. Landlords kept up to 50% of their tenants deposits and the only option was expensiveand time consuming County Court action.
 
The landlord taking the deposit must now explain which of the three security schemes they are placing the deposit in. When the tenant is moves out, both apply to the scheme to refund the money. There is an independent case examiner for disputes. The aim is to return deposits quickly and settle disputes fairly. If tenants find the landlord is not using the new schemes, the bureau will help you take action for yourself and to benefit others in making sure these schemes work. There are penalty payments for landlords.
 
See our tenancy deposits leaflet and the government website and the deposit scheme website

Payment Protection Insurance.

This insurance is offered to people who take out mortgages and loans. If they are made redundant or in some cases they lose their job through illness, the insurance pays the monthly payment s for a year; £5.5 billion is collected every year.

Citizens Advice put in a super complaint, our second on this issue, to the Office of Fair Trading. People are being overcharged by £55 – £90 million. People are being pressed to take this insurance when there is no chance they will ever be able to claim.
For example:

They have no job in the first place: - students, pensioners, carers.

They have been ill for a long time and are barred from making a claim.

Check if you have this insurance.

Check if you would be able to claim.

If not, consider cancelling it and asking for the premiums back. We are taking cases to the financial ombudsman.

Identity fraud.

The bureau is seeing more and more people who are being asked to transfer money thorough their accounts and losing substantial sums when cheques bounce and banker’s drafts prove fraudulent; receiving mobile phone bills for numbers they never contracted for; finding credit cards and loans taken out in their name.

See the Office of Fair trading website www.oft.gov.uk and search under identity theft for advice.

Report your losses to the Police and get a crime number, and to the company immediately and record the date and time. Ensure you do all you can to keep your personal details safe.