Finance

Stay gas-safe this winter

16 December 2021 0 Comments

Ashford Borough Council is urging the borough’s 130,000 residents to take steps to stay gas-safe in the home this winter, with a focus on the regular servicing of gas appliances.

Their advice, which is backed by the Kent Fire & Rescue Service, is not to take chances and to keep your family safe by following the following guidance.

“Don’t be the 1 in 4!” warns the experts

Seven million homes in the UK – that’s one in four households – have dangerous gas appliances, according to the latest figures from gas safety experts Gas Safe Register.

During the recent Gas Safety Week, the national body unveiled shocking statistics that lift the lid on bad habits that could threaten the safety of householders. It shows one in three people (31%) have used excuses to get out of having their gas appliances safety checked.

Gas Safe Register said nearly seven million homes in the UK have potentially dangerous gas appliances, including boilers, cookers and gas fires. If left unchecked, these faults can pose a threat to life from gas leaks, fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and explosions.

It says many homeowners have a ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ mentality as an excuse for skipping annual gas safety checks, even though this could be masking lethal faults.

Gas Safe Register is the official list of gas businesses registered to work legally on boilers, cookers and fires. By law, anyone working with gas must be listed on the Register. Visit https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/find-an-engineer/ to find a registered business in your area.

Top tips for home safety

  • Learn the six main symptoms of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning – headaches, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness and teach them to others.
  • Check gas appliances for warning signs that they are not working properly – lazy yellow flames instead of crisp blue ones, black sooty marks or stains on or around the appliance and high levels of condensation in the room.
  • Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm to alert you if there is carbon monoxide present.
  • Don’t block air vents. They provide a flow of air for the safe operation of boilers and fires.
  • Have all your gas appliances safety checked every year by a Gas Safe registered expert.
  • If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, get some fresh air and leave the house quickly. See a doctor and if you are very unwell call 999 for an ambulance. The National Gas Emergency Helpline is available 24/7 on 0800 111 999.
  • When using electrical items at home, including fairy lights this Christmas, keep the number of plugs in an adaptor to a minimum. Overloaded sockets can cause a fire.
  • If you use an additional heater in the chillier months, remember to keep it well away from clothes, curtains and other materials that could catch fire.
  • Plan an escape route so that you can get out of your home in the event of a fire.
  • Check you have working smoke alarms on each level of your home and test weekly.
  • In an emergency call 999.

Council housing inspections

For gas appliances the council own the Council arranges for a Gas Safe engineer to service the fire and boiler and undertake a safety check each year.

Tenants are responsible for safety checks on any gas appliances they own.

Tenancy agreements do not allow the use of portable gas heaters in council homes, due to concerns about the maintenance, safety and storage of combustible gas heaters. Used efficiently, gas central heating is the best and safest way to keep your home warm. Using alternative forms of portable heating, like electrical operated storage or convector heaters, can be more costly. See links below to find out more about grants to keep your home warm.

If you are in a rented home and feel improvements are needed to insulate and draught-proof the property contact your landlord. You can also contact us by email at privatesectorhousing@ashford.gov.uk to address issues relating to cold homes.

For details of private sector grants available to improve your property visit https://www.ashford.gov.uk/housing/grants/private-sector-grants/

Getting help with your home energy bills

Warm Home Discount: £140 annually off electricity bills for those eligible. Visit www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme

Winter fuel allowance: payments for pensioners and vulnerable £100-£300 annually. Visit www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment

Cold weather payments is a scheme run by the government from 1 Nov to 31 March every year, those eligible could receive £25/wk. Visit www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment

KSAS, a KCC service for vulnerable or low income households who need help.
www.kent.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/care-and-support/benefits/home-essentials-in-a-crisis

Green Doctors: A charity which offers free advice on saving money on your energy bills. The charity provides help in understanding how to use energy and heating systems and understanding bills and accessing help for energy debt. Visit https://south.greendoctors.org.uk/

Debt assistance: If you’re struggling with debt find advice and help through Citizen
Advice www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/help-with-debt/

Grants to help pay off you energy debts.
Visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/

Finance, News, Safety

15M lost to online shopping scams last Christmas

24 November 2021 0 Comments

Action Fraud Alert Logo

New data from Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, reveals that 28,049 shoppers were conned out of their money when shopping online over the Christmas period last year – an increase of almost two thirds (61 per cent) when compared to the same period in the previous year.

Ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Action Fraud is warning the public to take extra care when shopping online as reports of online shopping fraud have continued to surge. Here are some simple tips to help you and your family enjoy a secure online shopping experience this festive season.

Where to shop

Buying from an online store you haven’t used before? Carry out some research first, or ask a friend or family member if they’ve used the site and about their experiences before completing the purchase.

Your information

Only create an account if necessary or to save you effort if you’re going to use that site a lot in the future. Be cautious if the website asks you for details that are not required for your purchase, such as your mother’s maiden name or the name of your primary school.

Payment method

When it’s time to pay for your items, check there’s a ‘closed padlock’ icon in the browser’s address bar. Use a credit card when shopping online, if you have one. Most major credit card providers protect online purchases.

Phishing

Some of the messages you receive about amazing offers may contain links to fake websites. If you’re unsure about a link, don’t use the it – go separately to the website. Report suspicious emails you receive by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk. Report suspicious text messages by forwarding them to: 7726.

Email accounts:

Make sure that your really important accounts (such as your email account or online shopping accounts) are protected by strong passwords that you don’t use anywhere else.

Need help changing your email account password? You can use these links to find step by step instructions: Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Outlook, BT, AOL Mail. 

If things go wrong

If you’ve lost money to an online shopping scam, tell your bank and report it as a crime to Action Fraud (for England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland (for Scotland). By doing this, you’ll be helping to prevent others becoming victims of cyber crime.

For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware

Consumer, Crime, Finance, News

Council Tax refund scam

11 February 2021 0 Comments

Ashford borough Council have notified us of a phone scam around council tax which is currently in circulation.

This particular scam involves calls from a company called Greystone Recovery. The caller claims to have information relating to incorrect council tax banding and saying that the recipient is entitled to refunds.

These calls are not coming from the council, and are unrelated to genuine text messages that get sent out from the council about council tax arrears.

If you are in any doubt about the legitimacy of a call, whether they claim to be calling from the council, or another organisation, it is important to hang up and not give any information to the caller.

If you have a query about your council tax band you can visit the Ashford Borough Council website at www.ashford.gov.uk/council-tax/valuation-and-band-charges/ to find out more.

You can find out how to identify and avoid this kind of scam at
www.gov.uk/guidance/council-tax-and-business-rates-scams.

If you think your house may be in the wrong Council Tax Band read Martin Lewis’s advice on Money Saving Expert on how to check and and request re-assessment. Do read the whole of the article as, although there is no charge for re-assessment, it includes warnings about what could happen if the current banding is correct or too low.

There are a number of legitimate companies named Greystone or Grey Stone. We are not aware of any which provide Council Tax recovery services.

Ashford Borough Council, Finance, Housing, News, Security

Covid vaccine scam

12 January 2021 0 Comments

Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, has received a number of reports in relation to the COVID-19 vaccine.

Pauline Smith, Head of Action Fraud, said:
“The vaccine is a crucial tool in fighting the coronavirus and keeping people safe. Thankfully, the number of reports into Action Fraud are relatively low but we have seen an increase in the last two months, particularly around scam text messages. 

If you receive an email, text message or phone call purporting to be from the NHS and you are asked to provide financial details, this is a scam.”

Action Fraud has received reports from members of the public who have been sent text messages claiming to be from the NHS, offering them the opportunity to sign up for the vaccine. The texts ask the recipient to click on a link which takes them to an online form where they are prompted to input personal and financial details. In some cases the online form has looked very similar to the real NHS website.

How to protect yourself:

In the UK, coronavirus vaccines will only be available via the National Health Services of England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. You can be contacted by the NHS, your employer, a GP surgery or pharmacy local to you, to receive your vaccine. Remember, the vaccine is free of charge. At no point will you be asked to pay.

  • The NHS will never ask you for your bank account or card details.
  • The NHS will never ask you for your PIN or banking password.
  • The NHS will never arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine.
  • The NHS will never ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips.  

Booking a Coronavirus vaccination

If you have received a letter inviting you to book a coronavirus vaccination, book it directly from the NHS website:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/

Do not use links in emails or texts.

Do not try to book a vaccination if you have not received a letter.

Covid-19 scams

Watch out for other Covid-19 related scams. Visit our Covid-19 scam post

Report Fraud

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726 which is free of charge.

If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.

Finance, Health, News, Security

Clairvoyant and Psychic Scams

15 December 2020 0 Comments

Stop the Scammers

Our second post for Friends Against Scams’ Scamnesty Month, raising awareness of scams, focusses on Clairvoyant/Psychic scams.

Have you received post out of the blue telling you that you need to purchase a ‘lucky’ charm for protection?

Have you received post saying wonderful things have been seen in your future – all you need to make it come true is to send money or purchase an item?

If you or loved ones receive letters, emails, phone calls like this or are told this face to face, be warned it is a scam.

Find out more about Scams

ARE YOU or someone you know, inundated with scam mail? Tempted to respond to it? Keen to help track down the criminals behind scams and help put a stop to their activities?

IF YES to any of the above then why not become a Scam Marshal for National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team.

To get advice or report a scam contact Citizens Advice consumer helpline or telephone 0808 223 1133
Report a Scam

Kent County Council Public Protection

Crime, Finance, News

Lottery/prize draw scams

11 December 2020 0 Comments

Friends Against Scams are running a Scamnesty Month to raise awareness of scams. This week they are focussing on Lotteries and prize Draws.

Lottery/prize draw scams say you’ve won a large amount of money. They may tell you to keep it a secret & pressure you to respond quickly.

If you or loved ones receive letters like this, be warned it is a scam.

Read how to protect yourself from Lottery/prize draw scams

Find out more about Scams

ARE YOU or someone you know, inundated with scam mail? Tempted to respond to it? Keen to help track down the criminals behind scams and help put a stop to their activities?

IF YES to any of the above then why not become a Scam Marshal for National Trading Standards (NTS) Scams Team.

To get advice or report a scam contact Citizens Advice consumer helpline or telephone 0808 223 1133
Report a Scam

Crime, Finance, News

Green Homes Grant

1 October 2020 0 Comments

If you’re a homeowner or residential landlord you can apply for a Green Homes Grant voucher towards the cost of installing energy efficient improvements to your home.

Improvements could include insulating your home to reduce your energy use or installing low-carbon heating to lower the amount of carbon dioxide your home produces.

You must redeem the voucher and ensure improvements are completed by 31 March 2021.

How much you can get

Vouchers will cover two-thirds of the cost of eligible improvements, up to a maximum government contribution of £5,000.

If you, or someone in your household, receive certain benefits you may be eligible for a voucher covering 100% of the cost of the improvements. The maximum value of the voucher is £10,000. Check if you’re eligible for the low income support scheme.

Landlords are not eligible for low income support.

Read more about the scheme on the Simple Energy Advice website

Check if you are eligible for a voucher and find home improvements that you can carry out on the Simple Energy Advice website

Then apply for a voucher via gov.uk

Find an Installer

The voucher can only be used for work carried out by an installer registered under the scheme, for the work that is being undertaken.

Find an installer on the Simple Energy Advice website

We recommend that you do not take advice from cold callers, whether by phone or door to door salesmen nor respond to social media adverts or emails. we have learnt of examples of potential scammers and rogue traders taking advantage of the announcement of this scheme.

#ScamAware

Environment, Finance, Home, News

Amazon Grant Scam

17 May 2020 0 Comments

Kent Police Cybercrime unit have received reports of a new phishing attempt purporting to be from Amazon, asking customers whether they would like to apply to the Amazon Grant relief fund, to receive a grant of up to £1,000. The recipient is asked to click on a link if they wish to be enlisted.

We have received reports of the same scam being attempted by telephone.

Don’t click on links in emails and messages

https://twitter.com/kentpolicecy…/status/1260143824585863169

Other Covid-19 scams

See our list of Covid-19 related scams

#TakeFive 

Stop – Challenge – Protect 

#scamaware #cyberprotect

Report Fraud

Crime, Finance, News

Don’t use Paypal ‘friends and family’

11 March 2020 0 Comments

PayPal customers encouraged by sellers to make payments via its ‘friends and family’ option instead of ‘goods and services’ are unnecessarily leaving themselves without payment protection – and some are even losing cash.

PayPal’s system allows users to select between making a payment for ‘goods or services’ – which comes with Buyer Protection should something go wrong – or ‘family and friends’ which is essentially a money transfer and does not offer protection.

In the last two weeks alone, we’ve spoken to several MoneySavers who have been encouraged by sellers to make payments using the ‘friends and family’ option – in some cases by online scammers.

We don’t know for certain why scammers do this, but we believe it’s because it’s harder for shoppers who’ve paid via ‘friends and family’ to get their money back. Legitimate traders can also benefit from being paid via ‘friends and family’ because those who are paid via it aren’t charged a fee, unlike with the ‘goods and services’ option.

However, the message on this is clear and simple: if someone selling you goods or a service asks you to send a friends and family payment, you should refuse. Otherwise you won’t be reimbursed if something goes wrong.

Callum Mason
MoneySavingExpert.com 10 March 2020
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/03/paypal-scam-victims-warn-against-fraudsters-who-ask-for–family-/

Finance, News