Disgusted diner: How do I report ropey restaurant?
Client 1
Q: I was recently in a local restaurant and I noticed that their staff were being very unhygienic and the place was not being cleaned properly. Who do I report this to? A: If you notice significant hygiene and cleanliness problems at a shop or eating place, you should be aware that it may not be safe to eat there.
If you suspect that the food has not been prepared in a hygienic environment you could argue it is not of satisfactory quality and ask for a refund.
You should gather some evidence before complaining.
If you have concerns about the cleanliness of a shop selling food or a restaurant, you should report them to your local environmental health department.
You can find your local department’s details at www. foodstandards.gov.scot
You can check food hygiene ratings here too.
Information about the food hygiene of a premises could be available from:
The Food Hygiene Information Scheme
Eat Safe Award The scheme covers restaurants, pubs, cafés, takeaways and hotels, as well as supermarkets and other food shops.
It is run by local authorities in partnership with the Food Standards Agency.
A food safety officer inspects a business to check that it meets the requirements of food hygiene law. The check covers:
how the food prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored
the condition of the building, cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities
how the business manages and records what it does to make sure food is safe
The results are either a ‘Pass’ or ‘Improvement Required’.
The business is encouraged to display its result.
A business that does not get a Pass will usually look for an early re-inspection once it has met the requirements.
Client 2
Q: I split up with my ex one year ago and he was giving me maintenance for our child.
A month ago he said that he wasn’t giving me any more money.
How do I apply to the child maintenance scheme?
A: Firstly, you need to call child maintenance options to discuss your choices.
They will give you a reference number and explain how to apply. You can call 0800 953 0191 (Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm, Saturday from 9am to 4pm),
Only one parent can apply to the Child Maintenance Service, usually the parent who will pay.
It costs £20 to apply for the CMS to manage your maintenance.
When you apply, you’ll need to provide detailed information about yourself and your family. This will include:
your National Insurance number and bank account details
information about your children, including the full names of both parents.
If you are the parent who should be receiving maintenance, you will need to give enough information for the CMS to identify and find the other parent.
The more information you give, the more quickly the maintenance will be arranged.
If you’re applying because your private agreement has broken down, make sure you give full details of what happened when you apply. This is because the Child Maintenance Service usually expects you to arrange payments with the other parent using the Direct Pay scheme.
If there is a good reason to think Direct Pay won’t work, the CMS can collect and pass on payments.
Client 3
Q: I am on Universal Credit and work 12 hours.
I have been offered more hours, will this affect my current level of UC?
A: You will get less Universal Credit if you get money from work or other sources, or if you have more than £6000 in savings.
UC payments decrease gradually as you earn more – it won’t suddenly stop if your pay or hours reach a certain level.
Each full £1 you or your partner earns reduces your UC by 63p.
You can receive some income without reducing your Universal Credit payment if you’re responsible for a child or have limited capability for work.
This is called having a work allowance.
The size of your work allowance depends on whether you also get the Universal Credit housing element:
If, you get the housing element, £292 a month; if not, £512 a month.
Earnings from work means all pay you take home, including wages and overtime; tips and commission; bonuses; holiday pay; sick pay; maternity, paternity, adoption or shared parental pay and any income tax or national insurance refunds.
The DWP work out your earnings for each monthly Universal Credit payment, even if your job doesn’t pay you monthly.
Client 4
Q: My partner passed away five months ago, leaving no estate or savings.
I have had calls and letters regarding their debts. Am I liable?
A: A client is not usually liable for the debts of the person who has died, unless the debt was taken on jointly or they acted as a guarantor.
The exceptions to this are certain debts, for example, council tax and water charges, for which the client may be liable if they were the partner of the deceased person or shared accommodation with them.
If the client was a joint tenant of owner-occupied property with the person who has died, the property may be affected if the creditor presents a bankruptcy petition.
In all other cases, the debt reduces the estate of the person who has died.
If the person who has died had a credit agreement, you should check if it is covered by insurance for death.
If there is not enough money in the estate to pay the debt, the creditor cannot recover the debt from anyone else.
If the client pays the debt in the mistaken belief that they were responsible, they should write to the creditor and ask for a refund.
All creditors of the person who has died should be informed of the death as soon as possible.
If the client is jointly responsible for the debt, they should negotiate with the creditor as to how they can continue to make payments or end the agreement.
If you’re dealing with the debts of someone who has died, it’s important to follow the right process.
If you don’t, you could be held liable for their debts.
You’re not automatically liable for the debts of someone who has died even if you were their husband, wife or civil partner, or living with them.
You could be liable for debts linked to the property you shared, for example council tax or a utility bill with both names on the account.
If you had joint debts, you’ll be liable for the full amount.
PLEASE NOTE: Rutherglen & Cambuslang Citizens Advice Bureau currently is open for telephone /e-mail advice Monday to Friday from 9.30am until 3pm.
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