Last week the services on my local line (C2C) were disrupted by a fatality (allegedly someone stealing overhead lines). All trains were stopped for approx 4 hours and a bus replacement service was laid on but most people (including me) opted to use the nearby Greater Anglia line intsead going to London Liverpool Street instead of C2C's London Fenchurch Street. Annoiucements were made at stations and on the C2C website that tickets would be valid. Now I kept an eye on the C2C website during the day and in the afternnon it siad if you had used the Greater Anglia line in the morning you could travel back on that line on your return journey (this is because many people may have left their cars, bikes at a different station). So I travelled back on the Greater Anglia line. Two ticket inspectors got on and asked for tickets, I showed them my weekly C2C Season Ticket, they said it was not valid, I told them it was and informed them of what C2C had said and that a quick phonecall would clarify this. They refused to call C2C, wouldnt listen to my reasoning and even called a Policeman (not sure where he suddenly came from, he was out of uniform and maybe just happened to be there). At his time I was trying to phone C2C and was uanble to get through, the inspectors issued me with a penalty notice for £30.20 (I didnt pay anything there nor did they ask me to), also bizzarely they then informed me that I had four outstanding penalty charge notices. By now I got through to C2C, told them the situation and they informed me I was correct, my ticket was valid, I tried handing the phone to the inspectors but they got off the train to give out penalty notices to others, eventually (!) they finished with the others (they appeared to take pleasure in making me wait !), and one of them took the call and spoke to C2C, his attitde was rather rude and appeared to be arguing with C2C, but the gist of what I overheard was that I was indeed correct, that GA hadnt been informed of the ticket situation and that a penalty charge couldnt be cancelled now. So arriving hime, I phoned GA who also informed me I was correct and that Ticket inspectors should of been informed and that I should send my Penalty Charge off to them and it would be cancelled. Its now been sent off, along with a strong complaint. Any of the experts views on this ?. In situations like this, what laws/byelaws are effective ?. I assume I would be travelling with 'authority having been given by C2C', however this is hard to check and hard to prove, the C2C website when checked had no mention of using GA, it had been changed to a general apology for the days disruption. Can somone refuse to accept a penalty charge (thus leaving the TOC (and me) with the option of pursuing it in court) ? I also checked with Ircas about the four outstanding penalty charge notices, they said there were none, but after further digging came back and said there were 3 from 2005 but thay had all been cancelled/succesfully appealed (I cant recall these but perhaps there were occasions when I forgot my annual season ticket, got a Penalty charge abnd then appealed, but I'm pretty crtain it didnt happen on 3 occasion in 2005). Im waiting the response to my complaint from GA (and C2C, as copied them in on my complaint). Andy

Trading Standards Bridgend Trading standards aims to ensure that fair-trading is carried out in Bridgend County Borough so that consumers can purchase goods and services with confidence in the knowledge that they are safe, correctly priced and accurately described Bridgend Trading Standards Service offers a comprehensive consumer advice service that has been awarded the Community Legal Services (CLS) Quality Mark. The service is provided free to any person who is resident in the county borough or person who has purchased goods or services from a business in the county borough and will give advice on a wide range of issues relating to the purchase of goods or services. The service is available: Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm. Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm. The service can be contacted by telephone (01656) 643278, in person at the council offices, in writing or by e-mail: [email protected] Initially, anyone contacting the service will be advised of their rights and the trader's responsibility to attempt to resolve the problem. If this initial attempt fails, the adviser will intervene to try and mediate/conciliate between the parties. Should this fail to achieve a successful result and it is thought appropriate, advice and assistance will be given to seek redress in the County Court. The service also provides a supply of leaflets to assist consumers with their problems and explain their civil rights.

The short story is that the head of recovery for council tax for my LA agreed verbally face to face with me at their office that the monthly payments we have been making to cover our arrears could carry on at the agreed rate until the arrears were paid off while paying on top for this years tax. We missed a payment from this years tax through my wife's student loan being late, and as such we have been taken to court for both this years tax adding £100 for the privilege, but also took me to court for the outstanding debt, although I hadn't missed any payments on that, and yes you've guessed it, added another £100 for my troubles,although the debt had been to court already, and they added £100 then. I have since spoke to my LA, and they deny that any deal was made,I have been paying off my arrears for 3 years, and there is nothing can be done. Is it worth asking for a SAR to help my case by proving a deal had been made RE; original arrears ? Any advice most welcome Thank You.

The Tenant Services Authority, which was the regulatory body for social housing providers, closed at the end of March. Its regulatory functions have been transferred to the Homes and Communities Agency. http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/

The Tenant Services Authority, which was the regulatory body for social housing providers, closed at the end of March. Its regulatory functions have been transferred to the Homes and Communities Agency. http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/