Comments on: Rip-Off Britain Coming To BBC One

By: Cadell Rowe

Cadell Rowe — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:18:34 +0000

Dear Gloria and Team,

Just over 2 years ago my father had a viral infection that attacked his heart. The result of this meant my father now has an enlarged heart. The consultant said the only option was a heart transplant but due to my father’s age (65+) this option is not available. The heart specialist confirmed the life expectancy of this condition is 5 years. Due to this attack my father is unable to work or drive as he is prone to his heart stopping causing black-outs.

My father has a life/critical illness policy with Phoenix Insurance Company. He contacted Phoenix Insurance, completed the paperwork to claim on his critical illness policy only to be told that his condition wasn’t covered by his policy. My father has since tried to claim on the disability side of the policy, again to be told that this was not covered either. My father has paid a rising premium for this policy and this year the premium has risen again by nearly £60 a month. Due to the whole situation my father is suffering great hardship and can not stop his payments due to the life policy. The financial hardship has been impounded due to my Mother’s lack of income as she is now caring for my Father full time.

When questioning the increase, he was told the policy had been changed to cover other conditions of which he has none. My father has contacted the financial Omnis man only to be told there is nothing they can do about the situation. He has also informed them of the significant increase of the policy cost and is waiting a response. I would really appreciate any assistance you can provide to my father as the stress of the situation is impeding his heart condition even further.

I look forward to an early response as we need all the help we can get. Thanks, Cadell Rowe

By: James Orr

James Orr — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:54:02 +0000

Hi Gloria, I saw you on Saturday Kitchen recently and I was delighted to hear you announce that you, Angela Rippon and Jennie Bond have teamed up to help expose to the nation the various ways in which the public are being ripped off and being given absolutely no choice but to pay up or else. It is indeed a battle against Rip-Off Britain. Some of the biggest offenders are the large institutions. I am now referring to Blackpool international Airport and its ADF scheme (Airport Development Fund). This is where the airport makes every departing passenger over the age of 16yrs purchase an ADF ticket which costs £10. The passenger receives nothing in return and is forced to make the purchase there is no choice. This is a not voluntary action by the departing passenger
I have put my views on the matter to Susan Kendrick, Customer Relations & Communications Manager, Blackpool Airport. She finally admitted in one of her emails NO ADF TICKET – NO ONWARD FLIGHT. I have listed below all the correspondence numbered in sequence of events 1 to 13 on the matter. Emails 1 to 9 refer to correspondence by email between Susan Kendrick and myself. Emails 10 to 13 refer to correspondence between Trading Standards and myself.

Email Correspondence:
1st Follow up request to Trading Standards to their response on the 19-07-2009 (12)
1st Response from Trading Standards 19-05-2009 (11)
2nd Response from Trading Standards 10-10-2009 (13)
ADF Fee final message to Blackpool Airport 07-05-2009 (8)
Complaint re ADF fee to Trading Standards 15-05-2009 (10)
Copies of ADF Tickets
Enquiry re ADF Fee 30-3-2009 (1)
Out of Office Auto Reply ADF Fee 07-05-2009 (9)
Out of Office Auto Reply Third enquiry re ADF fee 04-05-2009 (6)
Re Third enquiry re Blackpool Airport ADF fee 04-05-2009 (5)
Reply from Blackpool International re ADF 15-04-2009 (2)
Response from Blackpool International 07-05-2009 (7)
2nd Enquiry re Blackpool ADF fee 04-05-2009 (3)
3rd enquiry re Blackpool Airport ADF fee 04-05-2009 (4)

I did at the time stand close to the machine where departing passengers had to purchase the ADF tickets. I heard nothing but complaints about this compulsory purchase in order to get the onward flight which the passenger had already paid for. I did contact the Trading Standards Office in Belfast and they confirmed that they were aware of the problem, but recommended that I contact the Trading Standard Office that covered Blackpool Airport.

I still have the original ADF tickets. I believe this is one, that I think you three ladies might enjoy looking at and at least give it some consideration. I would be happy to forward to you all the correspondence and copies of the ADF tickets that we had to purchase they do make interesting reading. If you decide it is at least worth looking at, let me have an address where I can forward all the correspondence to you at the BBC.

I look forward to watching Rip Off Britain
Many Thanks
James Orr

By: Pam Perry

Pam Perry — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:10:10 +0000

Is there anything that can be done to reduce the interest rates on credit cards. Mine has recently gone up to 34.9% with the option to opt out, which I have done of course. This is apparently to get rid of any customers that the credit card companies no longer want to deal with. What I didn’t realise is that I am already paying 27.9% which is obviously too high and I will never be able to pay this debt off.

By: John R

John R — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:48:57 +0000

Hi Gloria and Team. More power to your elbow ladies !!
All this shock about bankers and financiers payouts and bonuses. I have sat in front of several solicitors a few times recently.They brieze into the room saying “I am charged out at £230 perhour” I dread to think what a barrister is charged out at?? We all pay for this when our insurance quote asks for legal protection click here !!
My partner involved in a road traffic accident ( the other party admitted full responcibility at the scene) her solicitor is £230 ph, my partner is a nurse at £7.00 per hour. SOMETHINGS WRONG HERE ?? the legal profession need exposing just like the bankers. Thats why we have these “no win no fee” clowns they are not daft, the big money is IN THE COSTS !!!

By: Megan

Megan — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:34:01 +0000

Good afternoon Gloria

I saw you at the weekend on saturday kitchen, Please please please can you mention on the show about the shocking cost of a TV licience. I know this is a BBC show so its unlikley to be mentioned, but i just carnt understand how in this day and age its still justified to have to have to pay!!

I have been reading through a lot of the comments above and I see this matter has been mentioned a couple of times. I understand a lot of people have a constant strugge with holiday and utility companies, but I realy feel this topic should be brought up if only to justify as to why we have to pay a compulsary charge that we cart even opt out of the service

I look forward to hearing about it on the show

Megan

By: leigh osbon

leigh osbon — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:18:22 +0000

i am interested in advice on how i can sort my messy financial situation as I feel I am not in control on how my bank, credit cards are chagrging. I have worked all my life and take ful responsibility in usage of credit cards as weith lots of people. But I know tht the credit they gave me was temptation but not exactly fair. Now my situation has changed and have seperated and am a lone parent. I am trying to pay off my credit cards and have gone through gov debt management and followed advice and written to them explaining my situation and offereing a an affordable payment but they are not responding still adding interest, still charging me ppi which i have numerously asked them to cancel and have given me bad credit, although i my pay is taken up with bills, this situation is sinking me further and further into debt and the same goes for my previous bank that i was with for over 30 years. will not help but were quite forward in supplying loans to me in the past. please help and give me advice the problem i have is time, i hae to commit myself to work, i cant affor a land line, my mobile cost is high, as left holding on with these awful automated services you know get where you cant even speak to a human being.regards a very hard working british citizen.

By: betty

betty — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:59:09 +0000

hi i wonder if anyone has noticed the standing charges on their water bills,on my bill i have a charge of £112.70p forwater standing charge and £106.10 on the sewerage.i do not have a meter and don,t want one as they will be able to charge what ever they like once they have everyone on one,but we have to find the money for anything that goe,s wrong on our property.so why am i being asked to pay this obscene charge,it seems that these utility people can charge what ever they like and are never challenged about it,something should be done about it.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:19:49 +0000

Help, can you please advise me. I have been having my water supplied vis water meter for some 10 years so i am very very careful on the amount of water i use and my bills are around £50 to £60 max, so you can see my shock when i just got a bill for £1,835.62. they say i must pay it i have had my property checked for leaks ( nothing) Please help me i have NOT used that water i could understand it if i had a family but its just me.

By: Shaun McGeehan

Shaun McGeehan — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:55:44 +0000

Gloria,
Just seen you with Jmaes Martin on Saturday Kitchen and am glad to bring to your attention the charges incurred when you book a Ryanair flight.
Charges for putting a bag in the hold is all well and good but charging you to check in online using your own facilities (Computer and printer) is outrageous.
I go back to Northern Ireland, regularly to see my parents and family and fly with Ryanair into City of Derry airport as it is very convienent but the charges incurred as now ridiculous, not only to check in online, ther eis no other option but to pay for the flight…you use your own bank ebit card and they charge you £10 per passenger per leg of the journey…

We need an upfront fare advertised when you book the flight and get away from all these hidden charges which are illegal elsewhere in the EU!!!

By: Michel Hutchinson

Michel Hutchinson — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 18:51:35 +0000

I need to have a root filling to one of my teeth (Molar) but my NHS dentist send he could not do for mr I ask why “I do not get paid enough” you will have to private this will cost me £610 I am going to Hungary as it will cost me about £150.

We pay much more for things here than in Europe eg council tax here £1200 per year France 600 euros.

I could go on and on about rip off britain, but one is that fact that none of the party leaders have had to live and budget for life as they have always had every thing handed to them so what they do does not effect them.