Citizens Advice Harrow are pleased to announce that water issues have been resolved and we have resumed to normal Face to Face service. Thank you for your patience and co-operation. Once again apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused.
Office Closure for Face to Face appointments
We are currently experiencing a water supply issue and are working with Harrow Council to resolve the issue. The office for face to face appointments will be closed until further notice. The telephone Advice line will operate as normal, the staff & Volunteers will work from home. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Volunteer’s Week! (1-7 June 2023)
Citizens Advice Harrow thanks its volunteers for their vital support during cost-of-living crisis
As the cost-of-living crisis bites, Citizens Advice Harrow has seen a huge number of enquiries from local people struggling to stay on top of household bills.
Thanks to the tireless dedication of its volunteers and staff, Citizens Advice Harrow has continued to give essential advice and crisis support to help people find a way forward.
As part of Volunteers’ Week, which runs from 1 to 7 June 2023, Citizens Advice Harrow wants to thank its volunteers for their exceptional contribution to the charity and local community.
This year for Volunteers’ Week, we are organising free lunch EVERY DAY of Volunteer’s Week, as a small token of our appreciation.
29 volunteers at Citizens Advice Harrow contribute 161 hours each week.
In the last year Citizens Advice Harrow have dealt with 14,375 issues, mainly in debt, housing, benefit and employment. In the past year, we have made 23,435 activities and have generated an income gain of £988,013.
Veena, one of the volunteer Receptionists at Citizens Advice Harrow has volunteered for 9 years. They said:
Helping others is the best way to help myself with positive energy and greater understanding of the current socioeconomic situation in Harrow. I meet people from all walks of the community and understand their day-to-day difficulties.
Volunteering helps me with better physical and mental health. I feel helping others keeps me socially connected and energises me to face the challenges, I encounter in my personal life as a mother and a grandmother.
Tajinder Nijjar, Chief Executive Officer/Chair at Citizens Advice Harrow said:
We have an incredible team of volunteers who freely give their time and skills to ensure people in Harrow can get support in their time of need.
I’m particularly proud of the immense dedication they’ve shown during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, when demand for our service is so high. Their dedication and commitment to the local community knows no bounds.
We dealt with over 14,000 issues in the past year, and this wouldn’t have been possible without our fantastic team of volunteers.
Thank you for everything you do.
If you’re interested in finding out more about volunteering with Citizens Advice Harrow, visit our website www.citizensadviceharrow.org.uk/volunteering to download an application pack. No experience is required, full training and support is provided for volunteer roles.
Scam Awareness Week 22-28 May 2023
Scams Awareness is an annual campaign aiming to:
- Give people skills to identify scams
- Encourage people to share their experiences
- Help people gain the confidence to report scams
Recognising a scam
It might be a scam if:
- it seems too good to be true – for example, a holiday that’s much cheaper than you’d expect
- someone you don’t know contacts you unexpectedly
- you suspect you’re not dealing with a real company – for example, if there’s no postal address
- you’ve been asked to transfer money quickly
- you’ve been asked to pay in an unusual way – for example, by iTunes vouchers or through a transfer service like MoneyGram or Western Union
- you’ve been asked to give away personal information like passwords or PINs
- you haven’t had written confirmation of what’s been agreed
If you think you’ve paid too much for something
Paying more for something than you think it’s worth isn’t the same as being scammed. Usually, a scam will involve theft or fraud.
You have other rights if you think you’ve overpaid.
If you think you’ve spotted a scam
If you’ve given away money or information because of a scam, there are things you should do. Check what to do if you’ve been scammed.
If you haven’t been scammed but you’ve seen something you think is a scam, you should report it. Find out how to report a scam.
If you think someone is calling to trick you into giving them money or your personal details, hang up and call 159. This is a secure service that connects you directly with your bank.
Calls to 159 are usually charged at the national rate – it depends on your provider.
Check if your bank uses 159 on the Stop Scams UK website.
Protecting yourself online
There are things you can do to protect yourself from being scammed online.
Check the signs of fake online shops
You can search for a company’s details on GOV.UK. This will tell you if they’re a registered company or not.
If you’re buying something on a site you haven’t used before, spend a few minutes checking it – start by finding its terms and conditions. The company’s address should have a street name, not just a post office box.
Check to see what people have said about the company. It’s worth looking for reviews on different websites – don’t rely on reviews the company has put on its own website.
Also, don’t rely on seeing a padlock in the address bar of your browser – this doesn’t guarantee you’re buying from a real company.
Don’t click on or download anything you don’t trust
Don’t click on or download anything you don’t trust – for example, if you get an email from a company with a strange email address. Doing this could infect your computer with a virus.
Make sure your antivirus software is up to date to give you more protection.
Be careful about giving personal information away
Some scammers try to get your personal information – for example, the name of your primary school or your National Insurance number. They can use this information to hack your accounts. If you come across sites that ask for this type of information without an obvious reason, check they’re legitimate.
Check if your details have been shared online
Sometimes your log-in details can be made publicly available when a website is hacked. This means that someone could use your details in a scam. Check whether your accounts have been put at risk on Have I Been Pwned.
Make your online accounts secure
Make sure you have a strong password for your email accounts that you don’t use anywhere else. If you’re worried about remembering lots of different passwords, you can use a password manager.
Some websites let you add a second step when you log in to your account – this is known as ‘two-factor authentication’. This makes it harder for scammers to access your accounts.
Find out how to set up two-factor authentication across services like Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Outlook and iTunes on the on the National Cyber Security Centre website.
Pay by debit or credit card
Pay by card to get extra protection if things go wrong. Read our advice on getting your money back after you’ve been scammed.
Know how your bank operates
Check your bank’s website to see how your bank will and won’t communicate with you. For example, find out what type of security questions they’ll ask if they phone you.
Find out about recent scams
To find out about scams across the country, you can sign up to the Trading Standards email alert on their website. Trading Standards can investigate and take court action against scammers.
If you want to know about scams in your local area, sign up for email alerts on Action Fraud’s website.
You can also find out about common financial scams on the Financial Conduct Authority’s website.
What can people do?
- Stop and get advice. Contact Citizens Advice online at citizensadvice.org.uk/scamsadvice or on 0808 223 1133 (0808 223 1144 for Welsh language).
- Report scams to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or @actionfrauduk on Twitter.
- Talk with friends, family and neighbours about scams they’ve experienced.
Useful Links
Campaign page for stakeholders/campaigners
Financial Conduct Authority scams pages
Citizens Advice Harrow will be CLOSED WEDNESDAY 24 MAY 2023
Citizens Advice Harrow will be CLOSED on WEDNESDAY 24 MAY 2023, due to staff training.
Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
Cost of Living Crisis Prevention Project
Cost of Living Crisis Prevention Project – funded by the Greater London Authority
Citizens Advice have a new project to assist people who are struggling with bills, during the cost-of-living crisis. The aim is to give advice to people to prevent financial difficulties becoming a crisis.
Our Crisis Prevention Adviser can help to MAXIMISE INCOME:
- Help to apply for benefits where eligible
- Look at options for dealing with debt
- Apply for grants to help with essential items or high energy bills, if suitable
- Check clients have received the correct cost of living payments help from the government
- Apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment if struggling to pay rent or have rent arrears and in receipt of help with housing costs currently.
- Advise on ways of reducing outgoings, where possible
- We can refer to a caseworker for further help with benefits or debt issues or Harrow Law Centre for further specialist benefits advice.
To refer a client, make a direct referral to us:
https://www.citizensadviceharrow.org.uk/email/make-a-referral/
Training for you and your colleagues: ADVICE FIRST AID training
To teach you how to spot urgent issues and emergencies and where they could signpost or refer people to. The Advice First Aid training would be over 2 full days from February – dates can be arranged – and is free of charge.
For more information please email an enquiry to: adminsupport@citizensadviceharrow.org.uk
SUPPORTED BY
Winter Homelessness Prevention Grant
Last year Harrow Council ran a scheme during the winter months to prevent homelessness, by supporting residents in rent arrears in the private rented sector and those trying to secure accommodation in the private rented sector. This winter Harrow Council have again received extra government funding, as a top up to the Homeless Prevention Grant. Councils have the flexibility to target the additional financial support at those who need it most – this may include helping households at risk of eviction pay off their rent arrears or supporting families struggling to secure a home with their deposits.
Harrow Council will be assisting residents who either self-refer or are referred by a local partner organisation, based on their individual circumstances. Applications should be made using the dedicated webform. The scheme ends in March 2023.
The webform is now live at www.harrow.gov.uk/winterfund.
Consumer Advice Press Release
Shop wisely this sale season and avoid getting less than you bargained for with top tips from Citizens Advice Harrow.
With Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the holiday season fast approaching, Citizens Advice Harrow has released top tips to remind bargain-hunters how to shop safely online.
Citizens Advice Harrow’s top tips for shopping wisely:
1. Do your research: Before buying from a site you haven’t used before, spend a few minutes checking it out. See what people have said about the person or company you’re buying from by looking at reviews on different websites – don’t rely on reviews the company has put on its own website. If you’re worried that something you’ve seen online might be a scam, you can get help from the Citizens Advice consumer helpline.
2. Be wise to scams in disguise: If a bargain seems too good to be true, it probably is. If it’s branded but a lot cheaper than it appears on the brand’s website, it could be fake. It could be a legitimate ‘look-a-like’ product. Either way, it might not be the quality you were hoping for
3. Ways to pay: Beware of a seller who asks you to pay by direct bank transfer. Bank transfers have limited protection if things go wrong, so avoid using them. You should only send and receive money through the online marketplace app or website using a debit or credit card, or via trusted methods of payment such as PayPal
4. Know your rights: If you’ve bought from a retailer you might be entitled to a replacement product or a repair of your faulty goods. You can even claim a full refund if you can prove the goods are faulty. If you’ve bought from an individual, perhaps via an online marketplace, you have far fewer rights. In fact, you have no right to return, so long as the goods are ‘as described’. Always be sure to take a screenshot of the description, and be sure to check and double check before you buy
5. When things go wrong: Sometimes things just don’t go to plan. If you’ve bought something that is broken, damaged, unsafe or not what you expected then contact the seller and give them a chance to put it right. If that doesn’t work – reach out to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline.
Tajinder Nijjar, Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Advice Harrow, said: “Across Harrow purse strings are tightening and financial pressures are increasing every day. With sales season fast approaching, it’s vital we recognise the red flags when trying to bag a bargain in the run up to the holidays.”
“Anyone can be a victim of a scam, and even the savviest of shoppers can be left getting less than they bargained for. You shouldn’t feel embarrassed if you’re caught out. By knowing how to shop wisely, and what to do if something goes wrong, we can better protect ourselves and each other.”
For information and advice, contact Citizens Advice Harrow on 0808 250 5705.
Christmas Closure 2022
Notice to our clients
Citizens Advice Harrow will be closed from Monday 26th December 2022 until Monday 2 January 2023 (Inclusive)
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY PLEASE CALL:
Harrow Council’s Social Services:
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm 020 8901 2680
Out of Hours 020 8424 0999
Domestic Violence
Free phone 24/7 0808 2000 247
Reporting homelessness 020 8424 1093
Email: housing.advice@harrow.gov.uk
Homeless Enquiry Form: www.harrow.gov.uk
Rough sleepers – Streetlink (24/7) 0300 5000 914
Served eviction notice www.harrow.gov.uk
Harrow Food Bank 020 8416 7344
Holy Trinity Church Wealdstone HA3 5QX: Normal Day (Tues/Fri)
South Harrow Baptist Church HA2 8EB: Normal Day (Mon)
Rayners Lane Baptist Church HA2 7HW: Normal Day (Sat)
Kenton Methodist Church HA3 0XF: Normal Day (Wed)
Harrow Warm Hubs https://harrowgiving.org.uk/warmhubs/
Help to Claim National number 0800 328 5644
Citizens Advice Help to Claim 0800 144 8444
Volunteer Recruitment Day
Tuesday, 22nd November 2022
10.00am-12.00pm
Civic 6, Civic Centre, Station Road, Harrow
Do you have a few extra days to spare and a desire to help others? Citizens Advice Harrow is looking for individuals who would like to make a difference to their community through volunteering.
Do you have:
- Good communication skills?
- Good computer skills?
- Basic maths skills?
- Respect for the views and values of other cultures?
- Interested in meeting interesting people from a wide range of backgrounds?
- Do you want to learn about a wide range of areas, such as welfare benefits, housing and employment law, and debt management, to name a few?
If so then come along and find out more about our organisation, the volunteering roles available and the training programme.
Please confirm your attendance, via email volunteer@citizensadviceharrow.org.uk.
Thank you, we look forward to meeting you.