Backstage
More Information
Want more information on a topic from the show? Heard a presenter say find out more on the website? You're in the right place.
Is your home at risk of flooding?
How do I check whether my home is at risk of flooding?
In England and Wales:
* Call Floodline on 0845 988 1188.
* Visit the Environment Agency's website. To sign up to the free flood warning service, click here. This will give you as much time as possible to prepare for any potential floods.
In Scotland:
* Call Floodline on 0845 988 1188.
* Visit the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's website.
In Northern Ireland:
* Call Northern Ireland's flood incident line on 0300 2000 100.
* Visit Northern Ireland's River Agency website.
Take the BBC Big Personality Test
On Monday 23rd November, Professor Robert Winston joined Adrian and Christine on The One Show.
He talked about the Big Personality Test which has launched on the BBC. It will help scientists find out how personality affects your life and give participants an insight into their own personality traits.
Buying prescription drugs on the internet?
Rav Wilding has been looking at the growing trend of buying prescription drugs on the internet.
How to avoid buying counterfeit medication?
An approved UK online pharmacy will be registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB), and can display an Internet Pharmacy Logo with a unique identifying number below the logo (although this is not compulsory to show the logo, all pharmacies will have a registered number). By clicking the logo, users are linked to the Royal Pharmaceutical Society website where they can check the legitimacy of the site. This system has been in place since 2007.
Other checks include:* Locating the name and 'bricks and mortar' address of the pharmacy operating the website.
* Avoiding websites that offer to supply prescription-only medicines without a prescription.
* Checking that you are asked questions before purchasing your medicine. Registered pharmacies are required to check that a medicine is suitable for a patient to use before selling it.
Link
Click: More info about this issue at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain website
Cavity Wall Insulation
Cavity Wall Insulation (CWI) has made a huge contribution towards keeping homes warmer and saving energy in recent years. It works by filling the gap between the inner and outer wall of your home, creating an extra layer to keep warmth in. But that extra layer can cause damp problems in some homes which are exposed to wind-driven rain or have unsuitable wall construction. Before having Cavity Wall Insulation you should have your home inspected for suitability and only use a registered installer to have it put in.
How do I know if my property is suitable for CWI?
Your local Energy Saving Trust is a source of useful advice. You can visit their website here or call them on 0800 512 012.
Dom points out that not all property is suitable for CWI. Common reasons for not insulating your home's wall cavities include:
* Your walls have porous bricks, bad pointing and rubble in the cavity can also be unsuitable.
* Your home was built before the 1930s - it may have cavity walls, but these may be too narrow to be filled.
* Your property is exposed to wind-driven rain (on high ground, by the coast).
Link: Part C of The Building Regulations 2000 contains a map that indicates the areas of the UK that are often exposed to driving rain. Click here to download the regulations (pdf format).
More links:
Energy Saving Trust: Search online for grants you may be entitled to receive for energy saving measures
Warmfront: Government funded scheme to improve insulation.
Find a registered CWI installer: Make sure they are a member of either The National Insulation Association (NIA), The Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency (CIGA) or The British Board of Agrément (BBA).
How to deter cold callers
Cold callers and door-to-door sales people can be an unwelcome distraction to many homes. Although cold calling is legal, there are ways to deter doorstep sales people.
Blog: No cold calling zones and other preventative measures.
Locking your front door
In the last year there have been more than 452,000 burglaries in England and Wales. If you were burgled you would probably expect your home contents insurance to cover any losses. But Lucy Siegle met One Show viewers James Else and Ivana Martins-Else who lost £13,000 worth of belongings when their home was burgled. There was more bad news to come when their insurance policy wouldn't pay out either.
The couple live in a flat so they have a communal front door that leads to the street and the inner door that leads to their flat. They assumed the communal door leading to their street was the front door. This was securely locked at the time of the burglary.
But, according to their insurer Fortis their 'front door' was actually the internal door which leads directly into their flat. And while this door also has two locks - a Yale lock and a key-operated deadlock - on the day of the break-in the deadlock wasn't in use. So the insurance company refused to pay out.
Dave Stokes of the Master Locksmiths Association has helped many confused customers over the last 30 years. He advises viewers to read the small print of their home contents insurance policies, as the requirements can vary. Dave Stokes says if in doubt, ask the insurance policy to clarify what locks they require and double check with a reputable locksmith to make sure you've got the right locks in place. Find a locksmith at www.locksmiths.co.uk.
James and Ivana were lucky - after we contacted their insurer Fortis the company agreed to pay out as it agreed that it hadn't been clear enough on its policy as to which was the 'front door'. The company is now reviewing the wording of its policies.
Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Michael Mosley has been looking at Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) which causes some people with sight problems to experience complex visual hallucinations.
Link: RNIB Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Little is known about the causes of Charles Bonnet Syndrome, but it affects people with serious sight loss and usually only people who have lost their sight later in life.
There are two types of hallucinations that people see. Sometimes people experience patterns and lines, such as brickwork or netting. Other sufferers experience whole scenes, such as landscapes or people, and many begin to see the recurring themes in the visions.
If you are concerned that you or a relative might be suffering from CBS, then it's important to speak to your GP. People who have CBS often don't talk about their problem from fear of being thought of as mentally ill.
Although there is no known cure for the condition, many sufferers find that after speaking to their GP, they are able to cope with the condition better.
Uninsured drivers
Dom Littlewood has been looking at the consequences of driving whilst uninsured. You can check whether your insurance details are up to date at the Motor Insurers' Database.
Link: Motor Insurers' Database
Dom's advice if you're hit by an uninsured driver:
* Gather up as much evidence as possible. Use your camera phone to capture not just the damage, but also the general location and signage. Don't forget to talk to people who saw what happened; they could prove to be crucial witnesses.
* Write as much detail down immediately after the accident before the memory fades. Any small details from the number of passengers in the car to any identifying marks can be important.
* If you're hit by an uninsured driver and it's their fault, you would normally claim from your own insurer for damage to your car - and you wouldn't lose your no claims bonus. If you are injured or can't work, the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) would usually step in.
The MIB is a central fund that provides compensation to the victims of road accidents by negligent, uninsured and untraced drivers.
Link: Motor Insurers' Bureau.
Gym membership advice
The Office of Fair Trading issued a warning about gym memberships in January this year. Before signing up for gym membership consumers are advised to:
Shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal.
Ask specific questions such as 'what happens if I'm ill or injured and unable to use the facilities?
If the salesperson makes verbal promises such as 'you can cancel your membership at any time', ask them where this is set out in their terms and conditions or, if they are not, to confirm the point in writing
If a contract says "cancellation is at the company's discretion" - beware this is not clear. Ask for clarification.
For further advice - The Office of Fair Trading
Bank account takeovers
Fraud advice
The only way to protect your money is to check your bank statements regularly and flag up anything suspicious.
Contact your bank straight away because if you have been the victim of fraud, according to section 12 of the Banking Code, it is your bank that must refund your money.
Providing you haven't acted fraudulently or without 'reasonable care' (i.e. leaving your pin number with your card) you should be covered by your bank:
* If someone else uses your card details without your permission.
* If someone else uses your card details without your permission to buy something over the internet.
* If your card is used before you have received it.
For further help go to:
Consumer Direct - www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Office of Fair Trading - www.oft.gov.uk
Get Safe Online - www.getsafeonline.org
Mortgage repayment advice
Mortgage help
As part of the big banking bail-out mortgage lenders have promised to be sympathetic to people who are struggling to pay their mortgages during the recession.
But if your mortgage lender is reluctant to help you manage your money, the first thing to do is follow their complaints procedure.
If that fails you can then take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. They can rule on whether you've been treated unfairly by your lender and if necessary, force them to be more lenient.
Useful links:
Financial ombudsman - www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk
Citizen's Advice Bureau - www.citizensadvice.org.uk
National Debt Line - www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
Claudia Lawrence investigation
Can you help?
It has been six months since Claudia Lawrence disappeared from her home in Heworth, North Yorkshire.
The North Yorkshire Police, alongside Crimestoppers, are appealing to anyone who may have information about Claudia's whereabouts.
Crimestoppers are also offering a reward of £10,000 for any information that may lead to helping find Claudia.
If you have any information that can help, please contact:
North Yorkshire Police: 0845 60 60 247
Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111
Visit: Crimestoppers.
Please note: Charges may vary when calling 0845 numbers.
See also: Crimewatch reconstruction.
International Child Abduction
Where to find help?
It depends on the country the child has been taken to. If it is a non-Hague Convention country then the Foreign Office can help, while Hague Convention cases go through the Ministry of Justice in England and Wales, and the Scottish and Northern Irish court services.
If your child has been abducted and taken abroad you should contact the following:
* Police
* Ministry of Justice/ Foreign Office
* Reunite
* Specialist Lawyer (recommended by Ministry of Justice or Reunite)
Visit: Reunite - child abduction charity
Visit: PACT - helps the police trace missing children
Hague Convention? More info.
Toxic sofas
If you have bought a leather sofa over the past three to four years, and believe you are suffering from similar symptoms to those shown on today's programme, there is a freephone number you can call to check whether your sofa is known to be one of the products affected. It has been set up by the lead solicitors acting for many of those already taking legal action against the companies involved.
As with any medical condition, please make sure you go to your GP for advice.
Call: 0800 884 0324
Email: enquiries@rjw.co.uk
Visit: www.rjw.co.uk/sofarash
See also: BBC Watchdog - Sofas
E. coli information
For more advice on food safety, E. coli symptoms and what to do if you become ill, follow the links below:
* Information on E. coli from the BBC News
The Elizabeth Cross
This new award has been created to provide national recognition for the families of Armed Forces personnel who have died on operations or as a result of an act of terrorism. Find out more about the award on the Ministry of Defence website:
* The Elizabeth Cross - Died On Operations Recognition Award
Face Transformer
We aged Justin Lee Collins' face on the show using software developed by the University of St Andrews' Computer Science Department.
Visit: www.faceofthefuture.org.uk to transform your face!
Adult Learning
Jewellery theft
Last Thursday (6th August 09) jewellery worth up to £40 million was stolen from Graff Diamonds in New Bond Street. After shots were fired, a woman was taken hostage and the thieves made a dramatic getaway through London.
Read the full story - BBC NEWS
If you have any information please contact:
Barnes Flying Squad on 020 8247 4804
Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111
Asperger's syndrome
For useful links to websites on Asperger's syndrome, click below:
Countryside visits
Useful information about beautiful places for countryside visits. Follow the links below:
Countryside Access - maps of Open Access land in England
Domestic violence
Useful information for victims of domestic violence. Follow the links below:
Swine flu
For more information on swine flu, follow the links below:
Fire safety
For more advice on how to protect yourself and your home from fire, follow the links below:
House husbands
For more information about the support networks available for stay-at-home dads, follow the links below:
Family Information Services - for help with what is going on in your local area and how to get involved.
Family Information Services - a list of all the services across the UK.
The Fatherhood institute - help and information for dads.
Wild plants survey
The charity Plantlife are looking for volunteers to take part in their wild plants survey.
Follow the links below for the survey sheet and tips on how to identify your plants:
Plantlife - wild plants survey page
Downloads:
Stalking - advice and information
For advice on how to protect yourself against stalking, click the links below:
Holiday compensation advice
Holiday compensation advice can be found from:
Your local Trading Standards office.
Dom's checklist - before you leave
When planning a trip abroad, always ask your tour operator at the time of booking whether there is any planned building working at your resort/hotel.
Travel agents who are members of ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) should always follow their code of conduct. However if they don't i.e. they haven't told you about building works taking place at your hotel then you have a right to complain.
Also, check online for reviews of the hotel you're staying at.
If you're not satisfied when you get to your destination - always complain straight away.
If your complaint is not resolved while you are away, then you can still complain when you're back in the UK:
1. When you get back from your holiday, you should write to the company as soon as possible. The company should send you a full response within 28 days.
2. If you aren't satisfied with their reply, or if they don't reply within 28 days, then you should contact the ABTA using their online form.
3. ABTA will then work with both parties to resolve the dispute. If they can't help you to settle the dispute, they can offer an independent arbitration scheme. This has to be done within nine months of the date that you returned from holiday.
If you agreed compensation whilst on holiday, the company has the right to say the case is closed when you return.
Bringing food into the UK from abroad
For a searchable online database of foods you can and can't bring into the country, click the link below:
For an extensive list of all the bans and restrictions for bringing fruit, vegetables and plants into the country follow the below link:
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