South Liverpool Citizens Advice Bureau

South Liverpool Citizens Advice Bureau and Health Energy Advice team (HEAT) invite you to their BIG ENERGY DAY on Thursday, January 19th 2012 at the Toxteth Town Hall from 11.00 am until 3.00 pm.

• Are you paying too much for your gas and electricity?
• Can you save money on your utilities?
• Need help switching suppliers?

Bring along your gas and electricity bill and we can assist you to see if you can get a better deal or give you advice on grants for heating your home including Warm Front, Cavity Wall and Loft Insulation.

If you cannot attend on the day you can always attend one of our drop-in advice session by checking our opening hours on our Contact page or have a look on the Citizens Advice Website for more info.

The Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service (LDAS) is a partnership approach to tackling domestic violence in Liverpool. The overall aim of the service is to provide a seamless service to empower ALL women experiencing domestic abuse. LDAS offer a free, confidential, specialist service and our trained IDVA's (Independent Domestic Violence Advocates) provide advice, support, practical assistance and legal information.

For more information and help, contact the Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service on 0151 263 7474.

From 1 October 2011, your employer can no longer force you to retire at 65. In most jobs, you can choose when you want to retire from work.

For more information about age discrimination, read the Citizens Advice Leaflet in PDF format.

Residents are being warned to be wary of mobile phone text messages or emails that claim to help people become debt free by 'buying' or 'selling on' their debts, or to help them claim for accidents.

Trading Standards have seen a significant increase in the number of texts, emails and adverts from debt and claims management companies that misleadingly state they can take over liability for debts write off debts or get compensation for accidents.

The texts are general messages sent randomly - so many of the mobile phone users that receive them may not be in debt or may not have had an accident.

The messages are usually along the lines of: "struggling due to current economic conditions? Reply debt to book a free appointment" or "Our records indicate you may be entitled to 3750 pounds for the accident you had. To claim for free reply YES to this message. To opt out text STOP."

These texts and adverts are usually scams to gain your security information and bank details.

By replying to the text you are likely to receive further emails or texts asking for personal information which is likely to be misused.

Even responding "STOP" to opt out of the messages will confirm to the scammers that your mobile number is live and can result in you receiving more scam text messages. And like most scams, when something looks too good to be true, then it usually is.

New rules now make it easier to manage your credit card account. They aim to help you avoid paying high interest charges and ensure that you are always paying enough each month to reduce your balance, if you can't pay off what you owe in full.

Key changes include:

• making sure your most expensive debt is paid off first, so that the amount of interest you pay is reduced if you don't clear your balance
• setting the minimum payment to ensure that at least 1 per cent of your balance is paid off on top of interest charges and fees
• giving you clear warning of interest charge hikes and 60 days to decide whether to accept the increase or close the account
• allowing you to choose how much of your balance above the minimum payment you want to pay off each month
• stop sending you credit card cheques to pay for goods and services, unless you ask for them. One of the reasons for this is because interest is charged on them from the date you use them
• not automatically increasing credit limits without asking you first.

Credit card companies have also pledged to contact you to recommend free debt advice if you regularly only make minimum repayments.

From From early 2012, you should also get an annual credit card statement that gives you a snapshot of how much you have spent and paid off over the year.

Citizens Advice and the UK Cards Association have produced a useful leaflet which explains the changes in more detail. Download a free copy of Good News For Credit Card Users - A Consumer Guide