Hi, I wonder if any of you IT buffs might know what the remedy to this is? I opened the PC - a Dell Optiplex 745 to change the little round battery. I noticed these capacitors (I think) which appear to have leaked. Can anyone tell me if these are replaceable/repairable or is the likely end of my motherboard? Thanks

Hi, Last month I moved house. The person who was moving into my old house had already started changing their address over via their phone provider. When I rang BT I was told that because there was someone already taking over the line they would then treat me as a new customer with a new account. So I carried on with BT and signed up with a new contract etc with BT TV as well. All went fine with the move and the broadband worked straight away. The house doesn't have an external aerial so the BT TV wouldn't be much good to me. Just had my final bill and I am fuming. They are trying to charge me £10 because I finished my previous contract early, £13.50 for BT sport (for June to July) and another £3.50 for the HD package. I have been a loyal BT customer for years. This morning I have been on to their call centre to complain and they are looking into it. When I was talking to customer service he also told me there was a £35 activation charge for the BT TV again this wasn't told to me when I signed up. I am not going to accept any of these charges and only pay for the services I have used. JJ

This is a potential problem we are having with our household insurance. We have an antique skeleton clock, approximately 150 years old, and made by my partner's great grandfather, a watch and clock maker. This is covered by an oval glass dome of a similar age and the clock is set on a wooden base, the dome resting in a shallow groove around the base. This is a named item on our insurance. During a recent house move the dome was completely shattered and the insurance company have accepted our claim. We have sourced a Victorian dome which would fit the clock very well. Such old glass domes are hard to find as their fragility means that many do not survive. Because the one we have sourced has a slightly different measurement from the old one, we also need a new base, as obviously the dome has to fit in the groove securely. The dome we have eventually been able to source will cost £599 + VAT. Having the base made will cost around £150. The total cost comes to £904. I know this sounds astronomical but, having scoured the internet and taken advice from a clock restorer, we know this is about what one has to pay for a large dome of that age. A company called Tadley Services, with whom our insurer works to assess the value of such items, has told the insurance company that they could find a replacement dome + base for £150 - £160 and at the moment the insurers are saying that this is all they will pay. I am sure that at that price the dome will not be an old dome, but a modern glass dome. Tadley Services say they can source it from "a warehouse in Newcastle" but have not stated what company this is , and I can find no trace of such a warehouse anywhere online. At the moment we have paid ourselves for the £900 dome and base but are pursuing our claim. I am convinced that they would not be able to replace like for like for £150. I could believe they might just find one somewhere in the country for £600 or £700, but the £150 is just ridiculous, in both our view and that of the restorer. My question is how do we go about proving that the dome Tadley Services say they can get would not be a like for like replacement? Frankly I also feel that Tadley Services are not really the correct company to be assessing the replacement of an antique skeleton clock dome - it is rather a specialist area. Is there any way I could persuade the insurer to find such a specialist? Many thanks for any advice.

I was tempted to use 'discriminate against' in the thread title but thought that may have been a bit too strong. Ok, so my mum is currently on a trip to Dubai with my dad (He's already over there for work) and so we went to take out a travel insurance policy. She's done this trip (alone and with me) several times in the past few years so we've got a good bit of experience with buying Travel Insurance online, usually from the Post Office, and just printing out documentation at home within minutes. All nice and simple. So this year we sat down (She's not at all IT-savvy, so it's down to good old Son who works in IT to do something so 'complicated' for her ) and went to go through the process as usual, but this year there was something a bit different about the questions to answer/fill in, with more details on the medical side being requested. In the past there's never been any medical questions when buying travel insurance beyond the "pre-existing conditions wont be covered" type stuff. Now, unfortunately my mum was diagnosed with Breast Cancer nearly 6 years ago. Fortunately it was caught very early and through a combination of minor radiotherapy and drug treatments, she made a complete recovery and was given her all clear last December. Previously this has never been applicable to the questions that we've been asked when buying Travel Insurance online, but the new questions, or at least the new wording of the questions, meant that it did seem to fall into the 'relevant' bracket now, so when the following question came up, Along with. We had to click Yes, wanting to give an honest declaration that she had been for treatment, but that she was now all clear and no longer undergoing any treatment. On clicking Yes we were asked what the condition was, and Breast Cancer was an option. We were then given the following questions, Available answers were, "No", "Yes - spread to lymph nodes in armpit only" and "Yes - spread to other parts of the body". Fortunately, our answer was "No". "Under 2 years" "2-3 Years" "3-5 years" "5-8 years" "8-10 years" "More than 10 years" Our answer was "5-8 years" "Yes" "No" "Still waiting for surgery to remove the cancer" Now on this one, we selected "No", as there was never any surgery. However I'm assuming here that Chemotherapy and medication don't classify as 'surgery' as there wasn't what I could consider a surgical procedure involved. For this one we selected the option of 1 to 2 visits in the last 12 months, the last one being her final check last year before getting her all clear. Well, no she's not. Treatment is complete, but there was no option for that at all. There were only options for Chemotherapy, Surger, Radiotherapy, Tablet treatment, Other Treatment or No. So we had to pick no. So as you can see, there were absolutely no options to say "I did have cancer, but it was treated completely successfully without the need for surgical removal". So we put in those details, and then got prompted that there were no policies available based on the information. Hm, odd. So next we tried a comparison site, thinking that might be a bit better. We ended up on Moneysupermarket after prompting that there was a previous cancer case involved were directed to their "Pre-existing condition" quote site. Sounded good, something a bit more specialist. Went through that only to be prompted with word for word the same questions and answers. Obviously we put in the same information....and got the same results. No policies available. In the end, she had to phone up her bank and managed to get a quote over the phone since she could actually explain the cancer was now gone and she'd received her all clear. But why not have an option for people who have been successfully treated for Cancer? Why did we have to go through all that? Are insurance companies just of the opinion that once you've had cancer, you always have cancer?

I was on the bus when ticket inspectors got on clicked my oyster card and asked for my ID card as I a discount card due to being unemployed. I did not have my card he asked for my address and name which I gave him he checked with his operator and asked if I had any other ID which I did not I normally carry all my cards but on this occasion had left them indoors. He issues me with a penalty of 80 reduced to 40 if paid before 21 days. My card is rgistered and they had my name and address but still issued the fine is this fair? Mashmallow

Hi there, my husband received a letter today which looks like a payslip and is from 2F Wescot Credit Agency. The matter it says it refers to just gives a number and no kind of description, the number means nothing to us. There is no information at all as to why they are contacting us and we have no idea what it could be about as as far as we're concerned we have no debts owed which we aren't already paying correctly. Is there any way of finding out what they could want without actually calling them as it seems that making contact is not the best idea with this agency? Or do we just ignore it until (if) we get something more concrete? Thanks in advance!

issue resolved

Summary. Ordered a new tablet PC from seller on Ebay. 24/12/2014 Despatched from London Showed as being accepted at Derby town DO on 30/12/2014 Estimated last delivery date 5/01/2015 6/01/2015 still shows as being help at Derby town DO Contacted seller (US based) who asks ME to chase it up with RM...Erm NO. I am not the customer so my contract is with the seller. They have to do the chasing. Checked Track and Trace today and it shows as being delivered from the Hayes DO, about 100 miles from me! I suspect that once the date for resolution has passed and I contact Ebay, they will say that as it has been delivered, there is nothing they can do. We will see.

Happy New Year to you all, and thank you for the invaluable help that you have given both of us and everyone else on this site... You really are lifesavers, give yourselves a big giant pat on the back :D

Recieved this letter last week from Leeds Losers. Bit naughty making it to look like a council tax letter.. [ATTACH=CONFIG]55136[/ATTACH]

I'll try and make this as simple as possible. In May 2013 I started work in a school as a lunchtime assistant at 5 hours a week £6.25phr. This went up in November 2013 to 6 hours and 15 minutes a week, same pay. Then in March 2014 I was offered a role in the pre-school for 3 hours a week at £7.19phr. My lunchtime assistant role also went up to £7.19phr in September 2014. I have informed tax credits every time with my change of circumstances and when I did in May 2013 (at the start) they said they would inform Income support, which I know now they didn't. I received a letter from Income support in September saying that they found out my circumstances changed and my earnings had gone up so would now be paying me £2.38 a week. They said I didn't need to get in touch. Last week I received another letter to say that I needed to call them because of my change in circumstances in September which I did and also sent them some recent wageslips. Stupidly (please don't judge as I feel so bad and stupid and I'm a nervous emotional wreck right now) I also forgot to inform my housing and council tax which I've spoken to and they said that as I'm on a low wage and claiming income support that's fine and to just wait for Income support to write to me and then to call them. Today it dawned on me (I'm also a carer to my Autistic son) that I had forgot to inform carer's allowance. I again (stupidly!) thought that because I am earning under £102 a week I didn't need to call them. I filled in the change of circumstances online and sent off a wage slip, I would have sent a few more but I've sent the most recent ones to Income support. I'm so worried that I'll be in trouble and feel sick with worry. Can anyone please advise? Many thanks.

I received a final written warning due to an incident that happened while I was working away. I was told to be on my best behaviour which I have been. At the weekend I was late to work twice due to me unplugging my phone. Where my phone is on charge it rests on my bed and I must of had 2 restless nights and pulled it off charge meaning my phone didn't wake me up in the morning. One day I was 1/2 hour late and the other day an 1hour late. This isn't an usual thing and was so unlucky to manage to do it 2 days in a row. I am now facing another disciplinary which i have been told there is a good chance I will get sacked. Being punctual had nothing to do with my final written warning. It was a genuine mistake that I have said is now corrected as I charge my phone on the other side of my room but it doesn't look good! What are peoples opinion? Thanks in advance

I know its a bit late i joined a while back. My names is Jules, and i have just received a claim form from Bryan Carter solicitors on behalf of lowell. I hope to do as much work as possible in this on my own but i would appreciate all your guidance when i get stuck. I am new to this so any help and encouragement would be most appreciated. However in being a member of the forum i may be to help as i am a Gas Safe Registered heating engineer. Whilst i cannot give advice on how to remedy problems gas related i can advise on certain aspects of legislation involving domestic Gas. thanks Julian

Hi, New to this forum after reading a few posts relating to this company "cash4phones.co.uk". I sent my phone to them last week, recorded delivery and have used royal mail track and trace which shows the phone was received and signed for. Its still early days but the site shows the status as "pack sent to customer" i assume it should by now say "received" or similar. After my paranoid level soared i did a quick google only to find hundreds of complaints in reviews of this company, so, this appears to be the first step in the process of being ripped of by this company so i thought i'd make an official note of the situation here. I've used their contact form online and asked if someone can take a look into the status of my request, as i hear back i'll update on here. phone is a galaxy s3 in spotless condition which they quoted as being worth £185.51

I love Windows 8, it is much faster and reliable than Vista and 7, but with Microsoft trying to force people to use the tiles has put a lot of people off it. Fear not, as soon as I installed Windows 8 I changed it into a Windows 7 clone with its look and feel Simply search and install: Classis Shell 8Gadgetpack Instantly you now boot to the Desktop, your Start button has returned, and your gadgets are back

:attention: I work on my laptop wirelessly in the lounge situated near to the router and usually save work to my USB and then run (hardly) upstairs plug USB into my old desk computer (does not have internet access) to print off or scan documents. What would I need to do or buy to set up my own network so that I can print an email from my laptop, albeit, the printer will still be upstairs. Also, as my printer is also a fax, what do I need to connect to it, in order to be able to fax a document? Presumably, the telephone cable will need to be plugged in to the back of the printer? but the telephone is downstairs! I am not a novice with PC but I am not a geek either. Any help would be appreciated folks. Shelley

My father ordered and paid for some goods from Easylife who are based in Kent in December 2012. On arrival the goods were found to be faulty and he returned them within 7 days. First time was on 4th January 2013. They were replaced and the replacement was faulty and sent back and replaced once again with another faulty unit. On each occasion my father had to pay to send back the faulty goods. At end of February he requested a refund of his money, but all they did was send another replacement which again was faulty. He has been chasing them for a refund ever since and every time he phones there is always an excuse. My father is 87 and on Pension Credit and the refund of the goods plus postage costs would be welcome. The item in question originally cost only a few pounds, but with postage csots he is due a refund of at least £27.68. I have written a "Letter before Action" to the company, but fully expect it to go via small claims court. I am wondering if Trading Standards would prosecute due to their flagrant disregard for Distance selling Regulations and Sale of Goods Act? According to this website my father is not alone with delaying tactics by this company. See here.

Well .... have you? ... would you?

Then please send them to his mother Mrs Celia Kay(Martin's mother) For Martin Kay (deceased) c/o St Mary's Lowe House North Road St.Helens Merseyside WA10 2BE She is very elderly and has been very badly affected by this event.

Hi all I dont know if I have posted this in the right place, or if anyone will be able to help me. Im posting this on behalf of friend, who is quite upset with some glasses that she recently purchased to the value of £500. She felt that she was pressured into buying a rimless framed pair of glasses. She was invited into the shop for a free consultation with a representitve from Shilhouette. They then showed my friend frameless glasses who was very apprehensive about that sort of styles as she usually buys framed glasses. She decided to go for a pair of the glasses but had to wait over a month for the as she was unsure about having the frameless so they put a tint around the edge of the glasses. When she finally recieved them, she feels that the lens is too low and also too big and she really doesnt like them. Is there anything she could do? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

http://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/final-report-commission-living-standards/ A report on the low to middle income families. I think there may be alot of people similar to this sample case study: http://www.resolutionfoundation.org/portraits/sara-and-mark/

This is completely true and to the point but I would just like an opinion on how it reads and whether or not its worth adding a few bits and pieces. I didn't know whether to back certain pieces up with OFT guidelines as they should know them anyways, such as 3.3 - k. "ignoring or disregarding debtors' reasonable requests in respect of when, where and how to contact them". And perhaps also quoting "In the OFT's view, creditors should consider reducing or stopping interest and charges where a borrower evidences that he is in financial difficulty and is unable to meet repayments as they fall due or when he can only make ‘token’ repayments such that his level of debt would continue to increase if interest and charges continue to be applied" Any help would be greatly appreciated.

We'd like to have a look at the stuff which the car park operators send out. It would be very helpful if people would be kind enough to post legible scans of tickets or letters from any of the parking companies. Most of them use the kind of getup - which we have always known but which has now been confirmed by the court in the Parking Eye case - which looks "police-like" or official in some way. Let's see what they are all sending out. Please plank out any personal details. Do leave the name of the car park in. instruction for uploading ................................... scan the required letters/agreements/sheets - as a picture[jpg] file don't forget you can use a mobile phone or a digital camera too!! or convert existing PC files to PDF [office has an installable print to PDF option] . ' BUT...... ENSURE: remove all pers info inc. barcodes etc using paint program but leave all figures and dates. {DO NOT USE A BIRO OR PEN] . goto one of the many free online pdf converter websites it would be better to upload a multipage pdf if you have many images too rather than many single pdfs . or if you have PDF as an installed printer drive use that or use word and save as pdf try and logically name your file so people know what it is. i'e Default notice dd-mm-yyyy . open a new msg box here hit go advanced below the msg box hit manage attachments below that box hit the add files button on the top right hit select files, navigate to your file on your pc hit upload files . . dx Thanks

Not my words - but the words of the Court of Appeal. Dishonest without intending to be, apparently. Sent "semi-literate" letters No intention to bring legal proceedings at all!!!!! See the judgment attached for the whole grisly story. Of course this Court of Appeal judgment is about Parking Eye but you may find similarities in the way of doing business used by other private parking companies. Apart from anything else this is more evidence of the slack attitude of the British Parking Association to the behaviour of their own members. The BPA must be aware of this. What action have they taken against Parking Eye for their breach of the Code of Practice?? If anyone knows, then please let us know. The BPA is the outfit which pretends to want to set an Independent Appeals Service. Has Parking Eye's access to the DVLA database been suspended? I don't think so. If you have paid money to Parking Eye then you have a basis for claiming it back. certainly, if you have paid the so-called "full rate" then you have clearly paid an unenforceable penalty and you should go and get you money back Please note that the trial judge held that the initial sum was an enforceable charge. The Court of Appeal referred to it but did not consider it and made no finding which approved it . In other words, don't let Parking Eye or any other parking company tell you that there is binding authority for saying that the initial charge is valid. That would be a porky. Thanks to user:Tomtubby for discovering this judgment. Important rider - the Court of Appeal decision was based upon the Parking Eye arrangement as agreed with Somerfields in 2005. If their agreements are different elsewhere then that could affect the situation. Now original High Court judgment also available below. Thanks to Tomtubby again.

So I had a call this morning from the job centre telling me that I got zero points on my medical and that I am likely to be refused ESA. I am devastated and don't know what to do. The man asked me if I had anything to say in my favour and I pointed to be honest I was probably so taken a back that I didn't make a good case for myself. I did point out that earlier this year I was placed in the Support Group under special circumstances and that my health was actually worse now. He said that it was now six months on from that time so things would have changed and that didn't apply any more. I again said that things had only changed for the worse. I did give him additional information about my medication, further appointments and tests I am awaiting but I don't know if it is likely to have any effect. He said he will look again at my claim and I will get a letter in the next week letting me know their desicion. From what I could gather it does appear like information I gave the doctor conducting my assesment was missing so it looked like he was typing it all up but in reality he was missing lots out. I will need to get my ESA85 to confirm this. I was so put on the spot to be honest I feel like I messed up my chance to put my position over to him properly. I was only on the phone to him a few minutes he started off by saying that we had plenty of time to talk but then it was like he couldn't get off the phone fast enough. I just don't think I can take it if I have to appeal and I'll end up going back to horrible problems and sanctions with the job centre who were the ones who pushed me to apply for esa in the first instance. I did tell him that if I was refused ESA I would have no option but to appeal. Is there anything else I can do or is it too late now?