Citizens Advice in the news
Citizens Advice has been in the news recently; here are some examples from the last available month:
Some recent examples of us in the press
March 2012
- You're not alone: Easing the pain of debt problems – The Independent (11.02.2012) p.62 - … Debt is one of the top two problem areas at Citizens Advice (along with benefits advice), and its debt policy officer, Peter Tutton, believes that changes due to come through in the Welfare Reform Bill could also have an effect in restricting state help and benefits….Links: Citizens Advice www.citizensadvice.org.uk and via local advice centres
- Life on the breadline: welcome to the world of Britain's working poor – The Observer p28 (17.03.12) - From next month, "doing the right thing" could become even more difficult for more than 200,000 of the poorest working families. Changes to working tax credit mean that the Rowleys could be facing the most difficult two years of their lives until universal credit – a single, simplified benefit system – comes into force. "A lot of people don't realise that in three weeks' time they could be losing up to £75 a week from an already low income," says Sue Royston of Citizens Advice. "They want to stay in work in the hope that, should the economy improve, they are in a better position to increase their hours. These people have already taken quite a drop. Now they will be hit again. How much further can they fall?"
- Hills report: 8.5 million people will live in fuel poverty by 2016 –My Finances (16.03.12) - Gillian Guy, Chief Executive at Citizens Advice said: "Energy companies must do all they can to push prices down so that having a warm home does not become a luxury only the well-off can afford."
- Third of incapacity claimants 'fit to work' under new benefit tests – The Guardian p21 (16.03.12) - Citizens Advice disability benefits policy officer Vicky Pearlman said: "The test people have to go through has been changed and made much tougher, so it's not surprising that so many people who were on incapacity benefit are now being found fit for work by this measure. "We are also seeing worryingly high levels of inaccuracy in the official medical reports used to decide who is eligible for benefit, with people wrongly refused benefit as a result. The real question is whether … the people being declared fit for work really are able to work."
- Citizens Advice welcomes MPs' call for action on payday loan firms – Stock Market Wire (08.03.12) - Citizens Advice has welcomed a parliamentary committee's call to take action on payday loan companies… The charity's chief executive, Gillian Guy, said: … "Citizens Advice helps over two million people every year with their problems - many of which concern money and debt. And our advice remains free."
- Banks offer 12m refunds – The Daily Mirror (07.03.12) p.40 - Gillian Guy, from Citizens Advice, said: “The mis-selling of PPI was a national rip-off with many people paying for something they didn’t need or weren’t even eligible to use...
February 2012
- Payday loan firms to Face 'Extensive Review' By Office of Fair Trading – Huffington Postt (24.02.12) - Citizens Advice chief executive Gillian Guy has warned on payday loans, saying there was been a four-fold increase in the number of Brits seeking advice on them in the first quarter of 2011, and the industry was “inadequately regulated”. "People in long-term financial difficulty with other debts are much more likely to take out a payday loan to try and deal with these problems," she said.
- Citizens Advice welcomes OFT review into Payday Lending – Stock Market (24.02.12) - Gillian Guy, Chief Executive at national charity Citizens Advice said: "Four times more people are coming to us with payday loan problems compared to a couple of years ago. Worryingly, more and more people are being treated unfairly, being offered loans they can't afford to repay and put onto rollover loans with huge interest rates and charges. "People in long-term financial difficulty with other debts are much more likely to take out a payday loan to try and deal with these problems.
- Is it all over for Thatcher’s home-owning revolution – The Independent on Sunday p10 (19.02.12) - Peter Tutton, a Citizens Advice debt and credit policy officer and author of Set up to Fail, the charities 2007 report on sub-prime lending said the key issue in the housing debate was not “whether homeownership is a good or bad thing per se…the real questions whether your looking at home ownership or the rented sector, are around affordability and what there is by way of a safety net”.
- New proposals put forward to regulate bailiffs – The Independent (17.02.12) - Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, warned that the consultation "falls far short of protecting people in financial difficulty from the excessive and unfair practices carried out by bailiffs". "While the re-coding of the law on bailiffs is welcome, without an independent regulatory body to oversee the bailiff industry, these reforms are unlikely to deal with the serious problems that we continue to see," she said. "We're also disappointed at proposals which will lead to a massive increase in bailiff fees for enforcing council tax debts. "Almost 70% of inquiries Citizens Advice Bureaux receive about bailiffs relate to council tax debt.
- Bailiff regulations 'could cost debtors more' – The Guardian (17.02.12) - Peter Tutton, social policy officer from Citizens Advice, said: "We are concerned this is a massive, massive increase in the call out fees bailiffs will be allowed to charge those behind with their council tax. "People struggling with council tax are often low-income families who are especially financially vulnerable." The proposals also include amendments to end the practice of baillifs using force to re-enter a property to seize goods once they have been granted initial entry, and restricting the times they can knock o a debtor's door to between 6am and 9pm.
- Aggressive bailiffs could be locked up – The Times(17.02.12) - Peter Tutton, a social policy officer with Citizens Advice, said that the package was simply “tweaking” at the industry’s problem. “The fundamental question about how to control the practices of bailiffs and bailiffs companies is not being adequately addressed,” he said. “It needs some kind of independent regulation.”
- Netmums Survey Reveals 'Shocking' Picture Of Squeezed Families Using Payday Loans And Loan Sharks – Huffington Post (16.02.12) - Alex MacDermott, Debt Policy Officer at Citizens Advice, told The Huffington Post UK that the news was "of real concern" for families. He said: "Many people are struggling but this research reminds us that families are particularly vulnerable…
- 'Unhelpful restaurant staff refused to take my unregistered gift card' – The Independent on Sunday, (12.02.12) p.96, Liz Barclay - …Maggie Delauncey, who runs the money advice programme at Camden Citizens Advice Bureau, says: "It's important for people to understand the gravity of applying for a DRO or applying to be made bankrupt. Both options can provide a really positive solution in some debt situations but they can also have a lifelong effect." If you're worried you'll have problems dealing with your creditors make an appointment to see an adviser at your nearest CAB or other advice agency or call National Debtline on 0800 808 4000.
- You're not alone: Easing the pain of debt problems – The Independent (11.02.2012) p.62 - …Debt is one of the top two problem areas at Citizens Advice (along with benefits advice), and its debt policy officer, Peter Tutton, believes that changes due to come through in the Welfare Reform Bill could also have an effect in restricting state help and benefits….Link to Citizens Advice www.citizensadvice.org.uk or via local advice centres
Recent broadcast appearances
Broadcat Coverage for 2011
March 2012
- Sky News – Sky News – 16.34pm - 21.02.12 – Comments – Susan Marks - Speaking about the rules on clamping and what to do if you are clamped. And also discussing the new law which will be introduced soon in regards to clamping and towing.
- BBC Radio 4 – Money Box – 18/03/2012 – 21.22pm – Comment – Susan Marks - Liability of parking ticket if it is addressed to a previous tenant. And Susan was also speaking about bailiff letters/bailiff visits.
- BBC News – Breakfast - 14/03/2012 - 06:50am – Comment – Teresa Perchard - CCCS statistic that the average debt for a young person is £1267 mentioned. Teresa Perchard, Director of Policy and Advocacy, interviewed on young people’s use of payday loans. Said young people may find these appealing as they may be the only way they can get a loan, they are often online and very quick. Warns viewers that they can be very costly due to high charges and not to let loans roll over month after month. Highlights evidence from bureaux clients that shows that if people cannot pay back, costs can spiral and some debt collection methods used by companies can be very aggressive. Said that more and more people are turning to payday loans is a sign of growing stress and debt in the economy as a whole.
- BBC Radio 4 – Money Box – 10/03/2012 - 21.21pm – Comment – Peter Tutton – Speaking about revoking business licenses from companies who are trading unfairly.
- BBC Radio 4 – Money Box – 10/03/2012 - 12.25pm – Comment – Peter Tutton – Speaking about revoking the licenses of businesses to stop firms who are trading unfairly.
- BBC Radio 4 – You and Yours – 09/03/2012 - 12.53pm – Comment – Peter Tutton – Speaking about revoking the licenses of businesses to stop firms who are trading unfairly.
February 2012
- ITV 1 - Daybreak - 16/02/2012 - 06:23am - Comment - Teresa Perchard - Teresa Perchard, Director of Policy and Advocacy, interviewed on the back of a survey from Netmums on families struggling with finances. Said Citizens Advice not surprised by findings, Citizens Advice research showed that ½ people surveyed worry about their next energy bill. Says people are increasingly under pressure and that Citizens Advice can help people struggling with finances with free debt advice and help identifying entitlement to benefits. Asked if people missing meals is comparable to the situation of people living in Mozambique. Says the situation is very different, because the standard of living and cost of living is higher in this country. Says it’s not wrong that people are feeling under pressure and worried. Warns viewers not to borrow from pay day lenders and illegal money lenders/loan sharks.
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