There is a new contact, Natalie Ibbetson, NIbbetson@leedscitycreditunion.co.uk
The timetable for surgeries:
Every Monday 8:30am – 12:00pm at Ripon Town Hall
First Tuesday in the month 8:30am – 12:00pm at Starbeck Library
Fortnightly on Wednesdays at Knaresborough Library
Every Wednesday 1pm – 4pm at Harrogate Borough Council offices, Crescent Gardens, Harrogate www.leedscitycreditunion.co.uk
If you haven’t yet made a will, or you need to amend an existing simple will, now is the time to do it. In association with various charities, some solicitors are participating in a scheme for ‘free’ wills, this month. To find out more click here.
This is available to people aged 50 or over who have a defined contribution pension. This is a pension based on how much you and possibly your employer paid into your pot. It’s not a final salary pension. You’ll get personal guidance on what you can do with your pension pot. Pension Wise guidance specialists are impartial. They don’t recommend any products or companies and won’t tell you how to invest your money. Follow this link for further information. Face to face appointments are now available at Citizens Advice offices in both Harrogate and Ripon.
Warning: This is a free service. Check that ‘gov.uk’ is in the web address, to avoid incurring charges from look alike websites.
The White Rose Credit union is now for anyone who lives or works in Harrogate District, Craven, Leeds and Wakefield. The new Credit union for our district will bring improved financial wellbeing and resilience for residents and help with better budgeting.
For further details see ‘New Ventures & Special Events‘ section on the ‘Events’ page.
Some of you will be aware of the Money Saving Expert (MSE) website. If not, now is a good time to explore the site and see how you can save money. You will find several references to the MSE website on the Forum’s webpages. If you are keen to find out about the latest offers and discounts etc, as well as receive alerts about the latest scams, you can also sign up for the weekly newsletters, which have been highly recommended by various consumer groups.
Never underestimate the ingenuity of the criminal mind when it comes to scams. The art of deception comes in a myriad of forms. Offers which seem ‘to good to be true’ – usually are! Anyone approaching you (on the telephone, by post, on your doorstep or in the street) to offer you a ‘great opportunity’ whether it’s to make or save money (or anything else) should be viewed with suspicion. Every day someone becomes a victim of scammers, but it is possible to keep yourself safe – arm yourself with information. This article from the BBC provides a comprehensive overview of scams. There is also further information in relation to ‘pension scams’ on the ‘Topical News‘ page. Don’t let the scammers win – stay safe!
North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) has launched a new initiative called ‘PayingForCare’ to assist people in planning for long-term care. The system provides access to independent information about:
For further information telephone 0808 208 9994 or visit the ‘PayingForCare‘ website.
If you would like a free copy of the care services directory, which also includes details of the ‘PayingForCare’ scheme, please call 01609 780780
Good news for mobile phone users! Giff-Gaff and ‘3’ now both offer free calls to 0800 numbers. For further information about how to reduce the charges to 0800 numbers, via other networks please click here.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued a warning about a scam involving telephone calls and e-mails requesting a payment or offering a rebate. HMRC states that it would not use e-mail communications for payments or refunds.
For information about other scams click here.
It’s that time of year ….. nearly the end of the current tax year – Spring is in the air – and it’s time to get enthusiastic about holidays and new ventures, but these could involve financial expenditure. Make sure you’re making the most of your money by reading about money saving tips from the Money Saving Expert.