What to do if you’re inundated with junk mail or receiving someone else’s correspondence
Q: I keep receiving someone else’s mail at my address. I have lived in my property for 25 years and in the last three months I have received around 20 letters for another person.
I have also started receiving numerous junk mail items, which is becoming a nuisance.
A: If you’ve received mail which has your address, but not your name, you can put a cross through the address and write “not known at this address” or “no longer lives here” and put it back in a letterbox.
You can tell Royal Mail to stop delivering leaflets and brochures to your address.
You need to download a form from the Royal Mail website, fill it in and send it to the address on the form.
Royal Mail will send you a copy of the form if you can’t print it yourself. You can phone 03457 740 740 or email optout@ royalmail.com
You’ll stop getting unaddressed junk mail within six weeks of Royal Mail receiving your form. They’ll stop delivering unaddressed mail to you for two years –then you’ll need to fill in another form.
You can also register with the Mailing Preference Service (MPS). This will stop advertising material that’s addressed to you personally.
Phone 020 7291 3310 for more details.
Q: I have worked for the same company for 16 years, my wife works 15 hours a week. I have type 2 diabetes and had a mini stroke in November, I have been off work sick for three months on full pay as the numbing down the left side of my body means at the moment I can’t drive.
I have heard that my company are making mass redundancies soon, what can I do if made redundant?
A: Your redundancy money would be taken into consideration as would your wife’s pay for any benefit claim.
You may be able to claim New Style JSA if you have enough National Insurance contributions. You could also possibly apply for Personal Independence Payment, if your condition worsens.
Q: I have heard conflicting information – I am currently furloughed from work, but was looking to get a part-time job to help with money worries, but I have been told by some people I can do this and by others that I can’t. Are you able to clarify this for me?
A: Yes you can do this in theory. Getting a new job won’t affect your furlough pay. Before you do this you should check your contract with your current employer, to see what it says there.
If you get a new job, you should make sure:
You can go back to work for the employer who furloughed you when they decide to bring you back. Your new employer gives you the starter checklist form - you’ll need to complete
Statement C.
It is best to check with your employer before making a decision like this though.
Q: I have tried to get a bank account at a few banks and they have refused me, what can I do?
A: You can apply for a basic account if you were refused a current account because of your poor credit rating.
A basic account will let you manage your money without adding to your debts (if any). To get a basic account, you need to: Be unable to get a standard current account. Not have another basic account already. Be at least 16 years-old. The bank has the right to refuse if they suspect the account could be used for fraud.
Most banks will do a credit check as part of the application, but you shouldn’t be refused a basic account because of a bad credit score.
Having a credit check could affect your credit score in the future, especially if you have multiple checks in a short space of time.
You should only apply to one bank at a time to avoid harming your score.
It’s best to apply for the account in person at a local bank branch. You can discuss your needs with the bank, and won’t have to send off any important ID documents in the post.
If you can’t get to a local bank, you might be able to open a basic account online, over the phone or by post – it depends on the bank.
If you think the bank was wrong to refuse the application, you can ask the bank to change the decision. You should send a letter to the person you spoke to at the branch, explaining that you want to challenge the decision and giving reasons why.
If you challenge a bank decision and the issue isn’t resolved or the bank does not respond within eight weeks, you can try complaining to the Financial Ombudsman service on 0800 023 4567.
If you can’t get a basic account you might be able to get a prepaid debit card or a Post Office card account. But these depend on your needs so you would need to enquire what you can and can’t do before applying for one.
Q: I am currently receiving a state pension plus pension credit. I have no savings and currently live in council rented accommodation.
I would like assistance in applying for a Scottish Welfare Grant, as my cooker has stopped working and I do not have any spare funds to pay for a new one.
A: We can help clients apply online for the Scottish Welfare Fund.
If clients wish to do this by themselves then details can be found on their local council website under the heading, Scottish Welfare Fund.
The application normally takes about 10 minutes to complete.
There is criteria that clients must meet and the eligibility can be found on the council website.
Your local Q&A may also be able to assist you in making an application.
Visit www.southlanarkshire.gov. uk/info/200260/scottish_welfare_ fund/1064/scottish _welfare_fund for more details.
You can tell Royal Mail to stop delivering leaflets and brochures to your address