Reforms have worsened “minefield” of support claims
22 July 2014
New research from national charity, Citizens Advice, shows 1,600 people a month are seeking help with mandatory reconsideration for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The news comes as the Work and Pensions Select Committee releases a report today about ESA which shows it is not achieving its aims of getting people into employment.
Communication failures lead to surprise JSA sanctions
22 July 2014
Citizens Advice has called for further improvements to the sanctions system, as today, the Independent review of the operation of Jobseeker’s Allowance JSA sanctions validated by the Jobseekers Act 2013 is published which found that the DWP and Jobcentre Plus need to improve communication with claimants who have been sanctioned, particularly those who are vulnerable.
People with logbook loans are ‘overloaded’ with debt
21 July 2014
Pension guidance can “bridge gap” between working and retiring
20 July 2014
Citizens Advice has today said the Treasury has rightly recognised the need for independent and impartial advice as part of the pensions guidance guarantee.
Banks risk complacency over current accounts
18 July 2014
Payday lender ‘comes to its senses’ over puppets in ads
14 July 2014
Citizens Advice highlights the risk of using fictional characters to promote high cost loans as the new Chair of Wonga commits to cleaning up the firm’s advertising including dropping the use of puppets. In March this year, Citizens Advice reported seven payday loan adverts to the Advertising Standards Authority including two from Wonga.
Advice on financial and housing problems can help improve mental health
13 July 2014
Citizens Advice has called for people on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to be offered support and advice to address issues such as debt and housing worries which can exacerbate mental health problems, as well as ensuring they have access to talking therapy if they want it. The Government is piloting ways to get more people with mental health problems into work by combining earlier treatment with employment support.
Complaints about npower and Scottish Power double
09 July 2014
Almost twice as many complaints were made about npower and Scottish Power in January to March this year, compared to the last three months of 2013, reveals Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland.
‘Nowhere to turn’- Citizens Advice speaks out on impact of legal aid cuts
07 July 2014
Nine out of ten Citizens Advice Bureaux (92 per cent) are finding it difficult to refer people to the specialist legal advice they need since cuts to legal aid came into effect last year, the charity has found.
Citizens Advice Cymru warns that many people on benefits are struggling to cope due to welfare reforms
07 July 2014
A report, ‘One Day at a Time’ launched today by Citizens Advice Cymru highlights that many of the most vulnerable in Wales are being forced into hardship due to the biggest changes to the welfare system in over sixty years. Yn ôl adroddiad ‘Un Dydd ar y Tro’ sy’n cael ei lansio heddiw gan Cyngor ar Bopeth Cymru, mae llawer o’r bobl fwyaf agored i niwed yng Nghymru yn cael eu gorfodi i fyw mewn cyni yn sgil y newidiadau mwyaf i’r system les mewn mwy na chweugain mlynedd.
Copycat website “rip-offs” causing thousands of problems for people
07 July 2014
Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, has called websites that look like government sites but charge extra fees to fill in official forms online “completely unacceptable” and revealed that the Citizens Advice Consumer Service dealt with more than 2,000 problems with copycat websites from January to March this year. Citizens Advice is working together with Trading Standards to stamp out copycat websites that rip-off people who may be just trying to renew their passport.
Citizens Advice welcomes mis-selling compensation for British Gas customers
04 July 2014
Citizens Advice has welcomed Ofgem's announcement today after the regulator secured a £1 million package of compensation to British Gas customers after they mis-sold products.
Fake debt collection letters are "distressing and intimidating" says Citizens Advice
04 July 2014
National charity Citizens Advice has called on the Financial Conduct Authority to consider whether lenders found to have sent bogus debt collection letters should give customers compensation. Payday lender Wonga was last week forced to pay compensation after it emerged that the company had sent letters to its customers, disguised as being from a debt collection agency, chasing people for repayments.