Seek advice from the regulator

Q. I am having ongoing issues with my church. I was a trustee between 2017 and 2018 when I resigned from the post due to what I considered could be irregularities in the way that the church was conducting some of its business. The church is a registered charity and should abide by Oscr’s Rules, which I did not consider was happening.

Since then I have tried to determine what has happened but I have been unsuccessful. There have been at least some financial irregularities and there may even have been fraud.

I have spoken to the police and have taken advice from a lawyer but this has been unsuccessful. I have voiced my concerns and asked questions, but I feel that some of the trustees are waging a war against me, badmouthing me even to my friends. I want to find out how I could sort things for myself and my family, but also report my concerns.

A. You could make a formal complaint in writing to the trustees. If you are not sure of the complaints procedure you could draft a letter voicing your concerns, please keep it factual. You would be advised to send a copy of the letter with a covering note to someone else that you trust who was also a member of the church.

Oscr is the independent regulator for charities within Scotland and you could seek advice from them to regarding your concerns.

Q. My eldest son has turned 16 and has left school. He was due to start a college course this week but has now been told by the college that he is on a waiting list as the course is full. It is a full time course.

I am in receipt of Child Tax Credits and have contacted HMRC when he turned 16. I am now unsure whether to contact them again as the start date of the course is now unclear.

A. Your Child Tax Credit entitlement would stop on August 31 after your child’s 16th birthday unless they are still in full time non-advanced education. You would be advised to notify the HMRC office if the course is classed as full time non-advanced education.

It would be better to notify HMRC of the change of circumstances as your son is now over 16 and may not be in full time non-advanced education or a training course as there is a one month deadline for a change of circumstances.

Q. I rent a property that has not been lived in since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. I have not paid Council Tax on the property since April 2021 and I owe approximately £1400.

The debt is being managed by a debt recovery team. This debt recovery team have informed me that the debt will need to be recovered by December 2021 and they are seeking a monthly repayment of £285.

I have also received notice from my local council that they have introduced an empty property surcharge and this will result in a 200 per cent council tax charge from April 2019 and a 100 per cent increase in the council tax charge will apply to properties that have been continuously unoccupied for more than 12 months, or two years where the property is being actively marketed for sale or rent.

I have contacted the council and was informed that I could reclaim a 10 per cent reduction in the council tax for the first six months from the Covid-19 pandemic starting but I will have to start paying the new surcharge.

I have contacted the bureau for confirmation the empty property surcharge was correct.

A. The empty property surcharge is correct and will need to be paid. We advise that you apply for the 10 per cent reduction in council tax. The council have introduced this in order to encourage home owners to put houses back on the market to increase supply for available housing.

The council have found that empty properties can increase anti-social behaviour, crime, can be an eyesore in neighbourhoods and also reduce the property in surrounding areas.

If you feel that the information that the council have based their decision on is incorrect then you can appeal the decision. You may have to provide evidence of this.

Q. I forgot about two credit accounts (catalogue) from eight or nine months ago that I had to repay and I missed these payments due to forgetting and ignoring letters as I assumed it was junk mail.

I should have opened the letters as it would not have resulted in this situation. I have changed my bank account. I discovered this was a problem as I recently passed my driving test and was refused finance for a car.

I checked my credit score on Clear Score and that is when I noticed the catalogue accounts on my credit file which were around £1000 each. I want to know what I could do and if I paid it all off what would happen?

A. This default will stay on your credit file for six years even if you pay the debt off. If you decide to pay off the debt, your credit file should be updated as satisfied. If this has not been updated then you can contact Registry Trust and credit reference agencies to amend your credit file as satisfied.

Providing proof that you have paid the debt such as a letter of satisfaction from the lender may be required.

Q. My mother passed away recently and was Power of Attorney for my grandmother. My grandmother now wants to transfer the POA to me. I know how to do this and have filled in all the relevant forms from the Office of Public Guardian Scotland and I have also sought advice from a solicitor and a doctor.

I sent the forms away all dated, signed and completed by the relevant people and a covering letter with my telephone number so that they can take the payment of £81 over the phone by card, however the form has been returned stating that it needs to be dated and could I provide a telephone number so they can contact me for payment! I do not know what to do.

A. At the bureau we can go through the form with you as outlined on the Office of Public Guardian website and check all the mentioned relevant signatures and dates that had to be filled in.

It might be worth phoning the Office of Public Guardian Power of Attorney enquiries line on 01324 678 398 to ask what was wrong with the original form as it sounds as though you have filled in this correctly, with the dates all matching up throughout the form.

PLEASE NOTE: Rutherglen & Cambuslang Citizens Advice Bureau currently is open for telephone / e-mail advice on Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 3pm.