Archives for October 2009

Cold callers and door-to-door sales people can be an unwelcome distraction to many homes. For many older residents cold callers can be intimidating, especially after dark. Although cold calling is legal, there are ways to deter doorstep sellers from showing up at your home.

Lucy Siegle visited one neighbourhood in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, that has set up a cold calling free zone.

With the help of the police and trading standards, signs have been erected and stickers are in evidence in windows warning door to door sellers that they're not wanted.

Other neighbourhoods are able set up their own no cold calling zones, although every council differs slightly in their approach.

• Click here to download our guide to setting up a no cold calling zone.

More tips on dealing with cold callers

• If you are pestered by cold callers you can contact Consumer Direct or Trading Standards for advice, as well as the police.

• Always ask for an identity card and check it carefully.

• Keep front and back doors locked and only deal with callers by appointment.

• Fit a door bar/chain and use it.

• To ensure personal security, you can ask to use passwords with companies you trust. You simply choose a personal password which will only be given to the representative who needs to visit you.

What's your top - polite and legal - tip to prevent cold callers from pestering you? Let us know below.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Newsvine |
• NowPublic |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

It's been a year since the banks started to collapse on both sides of the Atlantic. But now it's being reported that big bonuses are back for bank staff.

"Rescued bank's traders scoop £1.8bn bonuses" is the Guardian's recent headline about the Royal Bank of Scotland.

In The Times: "Analysts estimate that, barring a major setback, the average London worker at Goldman will receive about $748,000 (£467,000) in salary and bonuses - 13 per cent higher than 2007 and more than double the 2008 average."

The One Show's Adam Shaw (pictured) has been looking at the reports that it's boom-time for bankers once again.

Former stockbroker Geraint Anderson told Adam: "The banks are making profits from the crisis they created. It's outrageous that the banks that were bailed out last year are being allowed bonuses."

But Mickey Clark from the Evening Standard said to him: "... capitalism is based on banking - and if the banks don't work then capitalism collapses... so in effect banks can't be allowed to fail, but we, us lot, have to pay the money back".

Banking's big bonuses: Are they justified? Have your say.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Newsvine |
• NowPublic |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

Dom Littlewood has been looking at staying safe while using auction websites.

Useful links

Dom mentioned PayPal, an online payments company.

• PayPal's Buyer and Seller Protection

See also:

• Get Safe Online

Other scams to be aware of when using online auction sites

• Shill Bidding. This is bidding done to artificially increase the item's value, for example getting friends, family or colleagues to bid on your item. This is illegal and has led to prosecutions.

• Postage Inflation. Goods are sold cheaply but the cost of postage is extortionate. By changing the settings on your eBay page you can see a postage cost column. It's worth avoiding sellers who don't advertise the cost of postage.

• Fakes / Counterfeits. It's worth remembering that sellers' perceptions of legitimacy vary from country to country. There is a market for fake goods because some people are willing to buy them.

• Second Chance Offer. This happens when the person who comes second in an auction is contacted by email from the 'seller' who informs them that the first placed bidder has pulled out, and offers the product to the victim. Experienced sellers often state on their page that 'no second offers are made' and that bidders should report any offers received to eBay.

• Lost in the Post. If your item doesn't arrive, don't necessarily believe the sellers claim that it must be lost in the post as this is increasingly rare. One option is to insist goods be sent by recorded delivery. Watch out for the same item appearing on the site again soon after.

• Chargebacks. Fraudulent buyers request a refund from their card company claiming the goods never arrived, were not what they ordered, or that they didn't authorise the transaction. The payment made into your PayPal account is then reversed - leaving you out of pocket and without your goods if you've already posted them. Insist on sending goods by recorded delivery to protect yourself as a seller.

• Feedback Scams. There are programs available to give yourself amazing feedback on your selling. A little homework into this can prove how accurate the sellers feedback truly is.

More advice on internet shopping:

Safety advice from eBay

Consumer Direct Government website

FSA staying safe from scams advice

How do you stay safe online? Share your hints and tips here.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Newsvine |
• NowPublic |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

Dom Littlewood has been looking at the changes to the assessment rules for care home funding, which could mean that patients can apply for a refund on their fees. Watch Dom's report by clicking play above.

Previously, in England, each health authority used a different set of criteria to assess the funding a patient was eligible for.

Since October 2007 however, the rules for assessment changed and one system was implemented for the whole of England.

Wales follows similar rules to England, with Local Health Boards being required to follow Welsh Assembly Guidance from 2004.

Northern Ireland also follows rules that all care is paid for if the main need is a health need. A single assessment tool was launched in February and is currently being rolled out. But you cannot claim retrospectively here.

Scotland follows a completely different system, where all NHS care costs are always paid for. But individuals may have to pay for their room and board costs, on a means tested basis.

Who may be eligible for a refund?

Those with serious health needs who have been admitted to a nursing home in recent years could be eligible to claim their fees back.

How do I apply for a refund?

If you believe a relative was wrongly assessed, before October 2007 or since this date, then speak to your social worker, health practitioner or local Primary Care Trust for a continuing care review or ask for a retrospective assessment from when they first entered the nursing home.

If it's decided your relative was wrongly assessed, then you could get your money back.

You are able to claim back fees retrospectively for care even if the relative is no longer at the nursing home. How far back you can claim depends on where you live.

• In England you can claim back fees from April 2004 onwards.
• In Wales you can claim back fees from April 1996 onwards, but from 4th December 2009, you can only claim back fees from April 2003 onwards,
• In Northern Ireland, you are unable to claim back fees retrospectively.
• For info about the system in Scotland, see the link below.

Sources of advice

Alzheimer's Society

Help The Aged website - Help with nursing care costs, England, Wales, Northern Ireland (and personal care in Scotland).

Help The Aged also offer a SeniorLine on 0808 800 6565 for free advice on financial matters.

For more information on what funding is available in Scotland, visit the Scottish Government website.

Have you attempted to claim back care fees? Share your stories and experiences with other viewers, here.

You may also like

• Dom's downloadable Sale of Goods Act letter. 
• Dom's letter for online shoppers - download.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Newsvine |
• NowPublic |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

• Add your comment.

Lucy Siegle has been looking at the 'compassionate release' of prisoners with terminal illnesses.

Currently, releasing prisoners early on compassionate grounds is uncommon. In England and Wales, over the last five years, just 48 prisoners have successfully applied to go home early.

In her film, Lucy met Juliet Lyon. Juliet is one of the prison reform campaigners who say that too many people are dying in prison.

Juliet argued that "the way we treat people, who we have to lock up, says something about us as a society. Even if the crime they've committed is so vile that people might think they don't deserve anything further, I think we deserve to behave in a humane and decent way."

But Iain Dale, a leading right-wing blogger, feels less sympathy towards prisoners. He said to Lucy: "In any system of justice, the rights of the victim have to be superior to the rights of the person who has committed the crime. I take the view that if you've committed a violent crime [then the victim] has a right to have a say in whether you should be released.

"Somebody's who's committed a really serious crime, they've forfeited a lot of their rights - in some ways they have forfeited their right to compassion."

Should terminally ill criminals be released early from prison?
Continue the conversation here. Add your comment.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Newsvine |
• NowPublic |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

In the news on Monday 12th October: At the World Masters Games, Ruth Frith, 100, has won a gold medal for her winning shot put throw of 4.07m!

So, if you're approaching your 100th birthday, and you can still hack it on the sports field send in a picture.

• Update: This photo call-out is now closed. Thanks for all your emails. However, if you would still like to upload your photo to the website gallery, please click on the link below.

Click here to upload your photo to the website gallery.

Please see our terms and conditions about sending in pictures but remember that the copyright of your photo remains with you.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Newsvine |
• NowPublic |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

In tonight's programme, Matt Allwright looked at the the teaching of foreign languages in British schools, as less than half of all students take the subject at GCSE.

But we know that the children of UK are a well educated lot. If your child (under 12) has a favourite foreign word, or has just learnt a new foreign word, write it onto a large piece of paper, take a photo of them holding the sign and send it into us.

All being well, Adrian and Christine will show their favourites from the photos sent-in at the end of the show. 

We grabbed Vic, from The One Show office, to show you the sort of photo we're looking for. 'Hymyillä' means 'smile' in Finnish, says Vic.

• Click here to send in your photo and foreign word

Or email: theoneshowemailsA@bbc.co.uk

Please remember to add your genuine first name and location to your emails. Thank you.

Please note this email address is only used for photo call outs.
If you wish to contact us with a comment or story please get in touch here.

Also: If you'd like your photo to be considered for publishing on the website - please click the link below and upload it into our gallery system. 

• Click here to upload your photo to the website gallery.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Newsvine |
• NowPublic |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

Sylvia and Marc Day were in the news on Tuesday. They have been awarded compensation for the 'woefully inadequate' photographs that were taken, by a professional, of their wedding day.

In the photos, heads were cut off, pictures were too dark and red vans were featured where the bridegroom was not. We asked you to submit your wedding photos that are memorable for all the wrong reasons.

• Update: This call-out is now closed. Thanks for all your contributions.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Newsvine |
• NowPublic |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

Add your comment.

There were 6,000 crimes committed by children under ten, over the last three years in England and Scotland. No one could be held to account, because they're all under the age of criminal responsibility.

Justin Rowlatt has been exploring the issue.

Esther Rantzen told him that parents of child offenders should face criminal charges for neglect.

In Edinburgh, at a special police unit, he was told that "there's a misconception that we're about punishing children and that's really not the case. It's very much about identifying what the root cause is.

"Legislation dicates that we look at rehabilition, rather than punishing juvenile offenders".

Politician, First Minister, Alex Salmond said to Justin:

"We don't believe we should just lump in children with adults as criminals - we have to try and deal with the causes. We are determined not to see young people set into a cycle of crime and imprisonment.

"The approach we've taken is to intervene in the issue of parenting."

And finally, on the outskirts of Glasgow, Justin heard from two mothers that parents should be held responsible for the actions of their children - but that support should be available to families.

What is the answer to child crime? Is tackling the root causes enough? Share your views here.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Newsvine |
• NowPublic |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

• Add your comment.

Many people in the UK will have to deal with the prospect of a loved one requiring an organ transplant at some point in their lives.

Lucy Siegle has been looking into the debate for 'presumed consent' for organ donation as a way to increase participation. Currently, people wishing to donate their organs must first sign up to the organ donor register.

Under new proposals for 'presumed consent,' it would be assumed automatically that everyone has agreed to organ donation, unless they have previously opted out. It is hoped that this would reduce the massive shortfall in organs required for the 8,000 to 10,000 who currently require an organ transplant.

However, there are concerns that 'presumed consent' may not boost donation rates as previously thought. The UK Organ Donation Taskforce was set up to investigate and found that even if consent is presumed, families would still be able to refuse organ donation. This would lead to fewer new take ups that originally thought.

Regardless of whether the system is implemented or not, what's clear is that it's advisable for those wishing to sign up to the Organ Donation Register to speak to their close family members about their decision, so they're well informed of their request beforehand.

• More about organ donation - NHS.
• The Organ Donation Register - NHS.

Should consent for organ donation be presumed?
Share your stories and experiences here.
Add your comment.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Newsvine |
• NowPublic |
• Reddit
• - What's this?