Christmas can be a difficult time
Q. I am on a very low income and my employment has been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
I have cut back on many household necessities but I am still struggling financially.
I am embarrassed to ask this but I was wondering if there were any Christmas present amnesties in the local area that would be able to help me out.
A. We understand this is a very stressful time for you but please do not feel embarrassed, there are a lot of people who are in a similar situation to you and the added pressure of Christmas is an additional financial pressure for people who are struggling.
We can offer information on other agencies to you to some services who may be able to help. But please be aware you may need to be referred by us, a social worker or health visitor.
1) The Scottish Child Bridging Payment is a payment to support parents whose children get free school meals. Although all P1-4 pupils receive a free school meal, the payments will only be made if you get any of the following benefits and are therefore eligible for free school meals: Income Support, Universal Credit (and your earned income is less than £625 as assessed by the Department for Work and Pensions in the assessment period immediately preceding the application for free school meals), Job Seekers Allowance (income based), Employment and Support Allowance (income related), Child Tax Credit only (with a gross annual income less than £16,105 as assessed by HM Revenues and Customs on your Tax Credit Award Notice TC602), Working Tax Credit and Child Tax credit (with a gross annual income less than £7,500) as assessed by HM Revenues and Customs on your Tax Credit Award Notice (TC602) and Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
You do not have to apply. If you are eligible the payment will be made automatically to households where a child/young person is in receipt of Free
School Meals on the basis of low income. The payments can be used by families for any purpose as they see fit.
There is no expectation that these payments are to be used for any specific purpose. The payment will be made direct into your bank account using bank details we already have from making the footwear and clothing grant payments, along with the Covid-19 support payments earlier this year.
2) The Salvation Army may be able to help with presents but please be aware that you may have to be referred by your health visitor or social worker. More information can be found via www.salvationarmy.org. uk
3) Radio Clyde Cash for Kids do not except individual applications for grants but they help groups within the local community. They also provide individuals with cash grants, however the website advises that the scheme is not open at the moment as they are trying to fundraise more funds. More information can be found on www.planetradio.co.uk/clyde/ cashforkids/
Your local Citizens Advice Bureau can offer a financial health check as well as a benefit check to ensure you are receiving money that you are entitled too as well as looking at making your household bills cheaper.
Q. I have a problem with my Post Office card account. I have lost my card. I have been to a few Post Office branches and they could not help me.
A. The Post Office accounts will close on 30 November 2022 but you can continue to use your account until then.
The Post Office lost and stolen cards helpline number is 0800 389 2101 and it is a free phone number and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The staff at the branch will be unable to issue you with a new card due to data protection.
You will have to call the helpline number in order to confirm security details and be sent out a new card.
Q. I have evaluated that my gym membership of £48 per month, is no longer essential to me.
The gym that I am contracted with is in Glasgow and I have been with them since May 2020. I have made numerous attempts to cancel my membership due to financial difficulties. I have been advised by the manager of the gym that my membership is now cancelled.
However, my contract states that I will have to pay up until May of 2022 as I am cancelling the contract earlier despite me paying the membership on a month to month basis.
I have disputed this agreement and have informed the gym of my financial difficulties. I was then advised that I will need to supply supporting evidence for this before the membership can fully be cancelled.
I would like to know what could be done regarding this situation as I have no current evidence to support this as well as all the household bills are registered to my parents’ property and are not in my name.
I feel that the information being requested is too personal and I do not understand why the situation has to be so difficult. I am not able to pay the membership up until May 2022 as this will put me in more financial difficulty.
A. The gym should let you cancel your contract as you have had a change in circumstances that means you are unable to afford the monthly payments. The change in circumstances would have to be something significant, for example, you losing your job or suddenly finding yourself in a lot of debt. Ordinarily you would need evidence to provide this to the gym.
There is the option of writing a further email to the gym quoting the following: “The Competition and Markets Authority advises that a gym contract is unfair if it doesn’t let a member cancel because they’ve had a change in circumstances which means they can’t afford the membership.”
The contract terms may be unfair to you. Therefore, it would be best to request a copy of your contract and/or terms and conditions from the Gym in order to look into this further.
It is advised to speak with the manager of the gym once again if you think there’s an unfair term in the contract that’s preventing you from cancelling.
If they do not allow cancellation then mentioning your rights may be of use in this case.
As your contract begun after October 2015 then you could state the following: “The term in the contract that’s preventing me from cancelling is an ‘unfair term’ under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. It should be removed from the contract, allowing me to cancel my membership.”