-
Citizens Advice Scotland responsePublication date:September 2014
CAS responds to the CMA's consultation on whether the personal current account market should be investigated.
Spotlight: -
CAS submissionPublication date:September 2014
CAS has responded to the Independent Review of Personal Independence Payment.
The response, based on case evidence and a survey of advisers in bureaux across Scotland, highlights the severe impact huge delays in PIP assessments are having on claimants.
Spotlight: -
Citizens Advice Scotland responsePublication date:August 2014
CAS have responded to the The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) consultation on plans to introduce a price-cap on high cost short term credit products.
Spotlight: -
Publication date:August 2014
The rise in payday lending in the UK has led to a concurrent rise in the number of credit brokers who offer to search for loans for consumers for a fee. Evidence from the citizens advice service indicates that consumers can experience significant detriment and hardship caused by the (often unintentional) use of a credit broker. While brokers can offer a legitimate service, many of the industry practices, including providing misleading information, sharing personal details with other brokers, offering customer applications for the highest commission, and refusing to offer refunds, are in urgent need of change.
Spotlight: -
Publication date:August 2014
CAS respond to the Scottish Government consultation on the Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Offshore Renewables
Spotlight: -
"Litchfield Review"Publication date:August 2014
CAS responds to the final independent review of the Work Capability Assessment for Employment and Support Allowance benefit.
Spotlight: -
A discussion paperPublication date:August 2014
A discussion paper by Angus Citizens Advice Bureau looking at the Department for Work and Pension's "Digital by Default" strategy. In particular, the paper considers how this works for CAB clients in Angus, many of whom have difficulties with technology.
The report concludes that if the Government is to meet its target of moving 80% of all benefits claimants online, then it must take a multi-dimensional approach that takes into account the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalised members of our society to ensure that they are not offline and left behind.
Spotlight: -
Written evidence to the Scottish Parliament Infrastructure and Capital Investment CommitteePublication date:August 2014
CAS submitted written evidence to the Committee's inquiry on how local authorities are meeting their duties to people who may be homeless or threatened with homelessness since the abolition of the priority need test at the end of 2012.
Spotlight: -
Publication date:August 2014
Citizens Advice Scotland generally welcomes the approach set out within this consultation and believes it will provide SEPA with a clear policy and service delivery framework. We also believe that it could promote opportunities for SEPA to engage with communities as a Community Planning Partner to improve local outcomes.
Spotlight: -
Publication date:July 2014
This briefing focusses on a concerning aspect of the rise of the zero hours contract – the insecurity of working hours and income caused by workers being guaranteed no set amount of work, or even any hours at all in any given week. The human impact of the insecurity of income can be seen through the stories of CAB clients who have been forced to borrow from payday lenders and even resort to food banks because of significant variances in their pay from week to week. In this situation, budgeting can be impossible and the safety net of the benefits system inaccessible because of the unpredictable nature of their working hours. We make a number of recommendations including a call for workers on a zero hours contract to be given a statutory ‘right to request’ a contract that guarantees hours, without fear of dismissal.
Spotlight: -
Consultation on the Consolidation of Public Drinking Water RegulationsPublication date:July 2014
Citizens Advice Scotland welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Scottish Government’s consultation on changes to the Scottish Public drinking water quality regulations. It is anticipated that these changes will align the current legislative framework more closely with the EU’s Drinking Water Directive.
Spotlight: -
Publication date:July 2014
This report is one of the most detailed examinations of the impact of sanctions in Scotland so far. It provides an analysis of the current system, its impact on clients , real case evidence and the findings of a survey of Scottish CAB advisers. We also provide 16 recommendations that are needed to the current system and why they are needed.
Spotlight: -
Response to the Strategic Review of Charges 2015-21 – Draft DeterminationPublication date:June 2014
Citizens Advice Scotland welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Strategic Review of Charges 2015-21 Draft Determination. Citizens Advice Scotland supports increased customer engagement in the regulatory process to bring about better outcomes for customers.
We believe that the process laid out within the Draft Determination will strengthen the link between customer feedback and the service they receive.
Spotlight: -
Publication date:June 2014
New research from Citizens Advice Scotland has found that many bereaved Scots are finding it hard to pay the growing costs of burying their loved ones.
Spotlight: -
Publication date:June 2014
In October 2013 the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) made it a requirement that all claimants for benefits who wanted to take a case to appeal would have to get a DWP decision maker to reconsider the decision first. This is known as a mandatory reconsideration. Whilst claimants must ask for mandatory reconsideration within four weeks from the notice of a decision; there are no timescales within which the DWP have to respond though the aim is within 16 working days.
Spotlight: -
Publication date:May 2014
The number of Scots falling victim to financial rip-offs is increasing dramatically. A special helpline set up by CAS to deal solely with consumer issues saw a 14% increase last year in calls about scams.
Spotlight: -
Evidence to Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities CommitteePublication date:May 2014
CAS submitted written evidence to the Equal Opportunities Committee's follow-up inquiry to their 'Having and Keeping a Home' report in 2012 which examined the causes of homelessness amongst young people and steps that could be taken to prevent it.
Spotlight: -
Conference reportPublication date:May 2014
Leading charities gathered in the Glasgow City Chambers for The Working Together to Tackle Poverty Conference in March 2014.
Spotlight: -
Publication date:May 2014
Advice in Scotland 2012/13 is Citizens Advice Scotland’s state of the nation report on the problems that people are experiencing across the country.
Spotlight: -
Scottish Water regulatory period 2015-21Publication date:May 2014
Citizens Advice Scotland welcomes the opportunity to submit evidence to the Infrastructure and Investment Committee on the Strategic Review of Charges 2015-21.
Spotlight:
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.