Update

BT FACING £600 MILLION CLAIM IN OVERCHARGING SCANDAL THAT RIPPED OFF 2.3 MILLION CUSTOMERS

A claim worth almost £600 million has been filed against BT at the Competition Appeal Tribunal by Mishcon de Reya, a leading London law firm. In 2017, Ofcom found that BT had been overcharging landline customers for years. Since 2009, wholesale costs of providing landlines had been falling, but the prices BT chose to charge its customers just kept on increasing every year. This affected customers who purchased a BT landline but did not also take BT broadband. These customers were, according to Ofcom, more likely to be old, on low incomes and vulnerable. After Ofcom's ruling, BT agreed to reduce its landline prices by £84 per year but the telephone giant did not make efforts to repay customers for the previous eight years of overcharging. Justin Le Patourel, the Claimant Representative, and founder of CALL (Collective Action on Land Lines) is determined to put right this injustice and is filing a claim against BT for the return of these overcharges from 2015 onwards. Mr Le Patourel is seeking compensation for customers who took both a broadband service and a BT landline, but not together as a package (or 'bundle'). These people were excluded from BT's 2017 price cut, and so continue to be overcharged to this day. Unfortunately, under current legal rules, it is not possible to extend the claim all the way back to the year the overcharging started in 2009. But CALL can seek damages from 2015. Justin Le Patourel and CALL are seeking authorisation by the Tribunal to act for all the BT customers who were overcharged. If they are successful, then relevant UK based customers will automatically be represented and will not need to do anything further to join the action. Anyone who had an unbundled landline from 2015 and wants to find out more information should visit the CALL website at www. callclaim.co.uk. Equally, if anyone does not want to be included in the claim, they can opt out on the same site. No fees are payable either way.

BUNGALOW PROVIDER CROWNS ITS COMMUNITY HEROES

Residents of a leading national bungalow provider have voted for those who have gone the extra mile for their community and deserve to be crowned as a ‘Neighbourhood Hero’. In a time where the meaning of community has never been more important, the RoyaleLife Neighbourhood Hero initiative saw over 50 nominations from kind-hearted neighbours from developments across the country. Winners received an engraved trophy, luxury hamper and personalised ‘thank you’ from RoyaleLife, which offers luxury, fully-furnished bungalows for the over 45s in some of the country’s most sought-after locations. Robert Bull, CEO at RoyaleLife said: “As a nation, it once seemed that we had lost the sense of what being a good neighbour was, with many of us not even knowing the names of those who live next door to us. However, since the pandemic, there has been a huge outpouring of support between households which we felt needed to be recognised – and celebrated – during these difficult times.” Many of those who were nominated were praised by grateful residents, a number of whom are still shielding, after receiving much needed help with shopping, housework, and emotional support over the last few months. Robert added: “The response we had for Neighbourhood Hero was overwhelming and truly advocates our core message of building positive, like-minded communities in fantastic locations. Our residents have truly gone above and beyond as neighbours and we couldn’t be prouder of them.” RoyaleLife’s 64 developments can be found in locations across England and Wales, in locations that offer the very best of coast and country. www. royalelife.com

Move to ‘the happiest places’ in the UK and rent in retirement in 2021

Property portal Rightmove.co.uk recently published their happiest places to live index which highlighted several happy hot spots in the South West, including St Ives, which topped the list, along with Falmouth, Weymouth, Plymouth and Poole which made it into the top 20. Rightmove uses ten factors ranging from how friendly the neighbours are and how good the local services are, to the sense of belonging and the quality of nature and green spaces in the area to come up with their happiest places to live index. Commenting on the index Jamie Turnbull, Business Director at Girlings Retirement Rentals says the South West continues to a popular place for people to retire to especially coastal towns in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. Jamie says, “The South West is a beautiful part of the country and somewhere people often dream about retiring to. As well as being friendly with lots of nature and green space around, it’s also one of the sunniest places in the UK. However, this can make it expensive in some areas which can put off some retirees. “More retired people are choosing to rent as a lifestyle choice, as it enables them to free up capital if they own a home to enjoy spending on their retirement as well as no longer having to worry about maintaining a property, which can become harder as people get older. For more information about Girlings Retirement Rentals visit www.girlings.co.uk.