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CAB Client Profile Report: Issue 2Publication date:April 2016
Using data from the 2014 Client Profile survey, this second publication in the 'Who Are You? series looks at initial findings from an analysis of CAB clients by the type of advice provided to them.
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Publication date:April 2016
This report provides a snapshot of the key issues that are affecting consumers in Scotland, examining both national and local trends in consumer issues. This is based on data provided by Citizens Advice Bureaux in Scotland and data from the Citizens Advice consumer service and covers the period from April 2014 to May 2015.
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Publication date:April 2016
The Consumer Futures Unit of Citizens Advice Scotland and Citizens Advice (England and Wales) have responsibilities to represent energy consumers in Great Britain in accordance with the 2007 Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act.
This paper is their joint response to the provisional decision on remedies in the Competition and Market Authority (CMA)’s energy market investigation.
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A Guide to Deemed ContractsPublication date:April 2016
The Consumer Futures Unit and the Water Industry Commission for Scotland have developed and published a leaflet aimed at small businesses who may be unaware they need to pay for water and sewerage services, and are allocated a supplier. The leaflet explains what a Deemed Contract is and what they need to do next.
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An analysis of employment advice provided by Scotland’s CAB networkPublication date:April 2016
The Citizens Advice Service is the most common external source of advice for employees who experience problems at work. In Scotland last year, clients brought over 50,625 new employment issues to their local CAB.
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The Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland work plan for 2016/17Publication date:March 2016
Following our earlier consultation, we are pleased to launch our Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland work plan for 2016/17, covering our work in energy, post and water.
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Working for a Fairer ScotlandPublication date:March 2016
Overall, 2014/15 has been another impressive year for CAS. We have faced many challenges, but have responded by being more active, delivering more funding and infrastructure support to bureaux and raising our campaigning and media profile. Together with our member bureaux, we believe we make the vital difference as the last line of support for many thousands of people across Scotland in these immensely difficult times.
In 2014/15 the Citizens advice Service helped over 323,000 clients living in Scotland.
Clients gained over £124 million with support from the service.
After taking on the Consumer Futures team in April 2014 CAS has now strengthened its voice in supporting and assisting consumers across Scotland.
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CAS responsePublication date:March 2016
CAS has responded to the Social Security Advisory Committee's consultation on Decision Making and Mandatory Reconsideration.
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Consumer issues with subscription trapsPublication date:March 2016
Online shopping in the UK is on the rise and with this comes a different set of consumer problems. One such problem is subscription traps. These are situations where a consumer is tricked into agreeing to a subscription through the advertising of a “free trial” or reduced price offer. If the consumer doesn’t cancel the trial within a set amount of time they automatically get transferred onto a costly subscription payment plan.
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Social Security Advisory Committee consultationPublication date:February 2016
Citizens Advice Scotland responded to a consultation on the UK Government's proposed changes to the length of time a person can be absent from Great Britain without losing entitlement to Housing Benefit and Pension Credit.
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Publication date:February 2016
Citizens Advice Scotland respond to DECCs review of the Hydro Benefit Replacement Scheme and Common Tariff Obligation
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Commons consideration of Lords amendmentsPublication date:February 2016
Citizens Advice Scotland is extremely concerned regarding the proposals to reduce the value of the Work Related Activity (WRAG) component of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The principle underlying the WRAG is to take people who, while unable to work at present, could do so in the future, and provide them with financial support, advice and training to return to the workforce. The changes proposed in the Bill run counter to this principle and risk serious detriment to the often vulnerable claimants in this group.
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A review for Scottish GovernmentPublication date:February 2016
This report gives wide reaching recommendations on how to tackle funeral poverty in Scotland.
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Publication date:February 2016
CAS has recently responded to a consultation by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) on aids and appliances and the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
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MCCP 190, 191, 193Publication date:January 2016
CAS response on notification of the latest change proposals to the Market and Operational Code:
MCCP190 - Performance Standard Amendments
MCCP191 – Vacancy Definition
MCCP193 - Change to the Gap Site Letter Process
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Second ReadingPublication date:January 2016
The Benefit Sanctions Regime (Entitlement to Hardship Payments) Bill is a Private Members' Bill introduced by Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh MP. It would ensure that hardship payments are available to claimants who have had their benefit sanctioned from day one of a sanction period, and that such payments would be made automatically.
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Response to UK Parliament Work and Pensions Committee InquiryPublication date:January 2016
In-work progression support provided should be appropriate to an individual claimant’s circumstances. Support should aim to help claimants find a job that is better suited to their skills, experience, ambitions and individual requirements. It should not merely consist of setting targets to apply for a particular number of jobs each week, without regard to suitability or quality. If mandatory requirements are set, caution should be taken that they are reasonable and appropriate.
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Ensuring the water and sewerage non-household retail market works well for customersPublication date:December 2015
CAS supports the Commission’s view that the time is right to undertake a review of the regulatory framework of the non-domestic water and sewerage market in Scotland.
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CAS Consultation ResponsePublication date:December 2015
CAS is concerned that the increase in the number of complaints about public sector services received by SPSO, coupled with limited resources available to SPSO to respond to these complaints could detrimentally impact consumers receiving adequate and timely access to redress.
CAS would support a move by the Scottish Government to review the issues SPSO has raised within its Draft Strategic Workplan to identify ways of protecting the quality of administrative justice available to the general public and allowing SPSO to continue to drive complaints handling best practice and ownership of improving services within public bodies.
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Research into the extent of community involvement in flood prevention schemesPublication date:December 2015
Invitation to Tender
Citizens Advice Scotland invites you to tender for research into Flooding and Capital Investment: the extent of community involvement in flood prevention schemes.
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Stressed About Debt? High costs of energy, food and fuel mean that many people are finding it impossible to keep up, worrying about debt or falling behind on bills. The Citizens Advice network in Scotland is here for you, with free, confidential and impartial advice in a variety of ways.