STRAIGHT TO THE POINT
MY HUSBAND passed away in December. We claimed the married couple’s allowance as he was born in 1927, while I was born in 1931. Can I claim half?
S. K., London. Unfortunately not, as the allowance is not available to widows or widowers.
It applies only to married couples and civil partners living together where one was born before April 6, 1935.
If one of the couple dies or they divorce or separate, the allowance continues until the end of that tax year. WHEN travelling back from Cyprus to London, my flight was delayed for more than three hours, so I asked my airline for compensation. I have just
received a cheque for £278.32 — is this the going rate for one passenger?
R. D., by email. Yes, this is roughly what you should get. Your journey was medium-haul as it was between 1,500 km and 3,500 km. this means you are entitled to €400.
But the euro/pound exchange rate means the exact amount passengers receive will vary depending on when they claim. I HAVE a pension of £180 a month with Royal London. This month it wasn’t paid.
I called the company and was told it was because I had moved
house. But I have lived here for 14 years. Please can you help?
J. R., Kettering, Northants. A spokesman for Royal London says there was a problem with your details on its system. However, after money mail intervened this was resolved. You should soon receive your payment for the next month plus your missing payment for August. I KNOW you can claim compensation for flight delays, but am I entitled to anything for a 24-hour delay on Eurostar?
R. N., by email. Yes. For delays of more than five hours, you are entitled to a
free return journey and a refund of the delayed leg of your journey. You must claim within 12 months of your delay.
Call 01777 777 879 or email traveller.care@eurostar.com for more information. MEMBERS of my social club collect used stamps, which we sell on and give the returns to charity. Often we find stamps that have not been franked. Can these be used again?
S. G., London. A spokesman for Royal mail says that even if stamps have not been franked, if you use them you could be open to prosecution under the Fraud Act 2006.
He adds: ‘If an unfranked stamp is knowingly re-used, it may be an offence.’