Tag: warned
Caerphilly man, 96, warned about sight jailed for killing pedestrian
Customers warned not to eat M&S chocolate bar in urgent allergy recall
Brits warned over major passport change taking place next week – does it affect you?
BRITS are being warned over a major passport change taking place next week.
Travellers are being reminded they have just one more week before passport renewal fees rise by around nine per cent.
A warning has been issued to Brits over a major passport change coming next week[/caption]
The cost to renew an expired passport will climb on Thursday, February 2.
Holidaymakers who use an online form to update their passport will now need to pay £82.50.
The current price is £75.50.
Getting new passports for children will also increase from £49 to £53.50.
To get a new passport by applying via a form through the Post Office, princes will go from £85 now to £93 and £58.50 to £64 for children.
To get a new passport through the standard paper form which can be collected at the Post Office, the price will increase by nearly £10 going from next week.
For children, it will rise to £64 from £58.50.
Overseas standard paper applications will increase from £95.50 to £104.50 for adults and £65.50 to £71.50 for children
The Home Office says the new fees will help “move towards a system that meets its costs through those who use it”.
Since January last year, over 95 percent of standard applications have been processed within 10 weeks.
If you don’t have long on your passport and were due to renew it in the next few months, you may want to do it sooner rather than later.
Founder of Bounce Cody Candee said: “If you have less than six months validity, we recommend applying for a new passport immediately.
“Not only are processing times currently around ten weeks, but as travel is back on the cards for many following the pandemic, the Home Office is predicting another massive year for renewals.”
While it may seem obvious to go to the government website when renewing, there are some fake websites that can catch you out.
Cody warned: “These websites attempt to charge users £20 – £100 on top of the official passport fee, by offering additional ‘validation’ services.
When applying for a new passport, be cautious of these types of websites, and be sure only to use trusted sources.
“For example, the Post Office’s Check & Send Service offers in-depth passport application guidance, from specially trained Postmasters.”
Amazon shoppers warned of portable SSD drive scam
Boxing Day shoppers out for a bargain warned they will face traffic chaos as train strikes continue
Donny van de Beek warned he has six months to save Man Utd career
Drivers warned of car sharing mistake that could cost them £2,500 this Christmas
DRIVERS have been warned about a car sharing mistake that could land them with a hefty fine this Christmas.
With the party season underway and people looking for a designated driver as the cost of living continues to bite, using lift sharing as a side hustle to make a bit of money could land you in hot water.
Using your vehicle as a way to make a profit from car sharing could land you with a sizeable £2,500 fine[/caption]
Motorists could face a fine of up to £2,500 and be left uninsured.
It’s a common practice to offer a lift to friends and family and there are hundreds of local groups on social media sites that help arrange car sharing where people can offer a ride home to strangers in exchange for payment.
While it is perfectly fine to give a lift to others and ask them to contribute to the fuel costs, it could have serious repercussions if the driver does it to make a profit.
The boss of temporary car insurance firm Veygo, James Armstrong, said: “Under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, so-called ‘taxi touting’, where an unlicensed vehicle is used as a taxi in a public place to carry passengers in exchange for money, is illegal.
“If you’re caught by the police, it’s considered a Level 4 offence and you could be fined £2,500 if found guilty.
“This would apply to any driver who is essentially using their private vehicle as a taxi service, making a profit, and not having the required taxi licences.”
Although ‘Taxi touting’ covers soliciting for fares in public, anyone pre-arranging lifts also has to be wary of staying within the law.
Armstrong said: “In the case of offering the occasional lift to help people you know to get home, you need to be aware of the Public Passenger Vehicle Act.
“For the lift to be legal, it must be organised in advance and the money you take from passengers should never be more than the running costs, such as fuel.”
He added: “If you’re found guilty of making a profit from lifts in an unlicensed car or van, you could also invalidate your insurance and be liable for the costs of repair and legal fees if you are involved in an accident.
“According to the Association of British Insurers, your insurance cover will not be affected if your passengers contribute towards your journey costs (including fuel, vehicle depreciation and associated vehicle running costs), as long as lifts are given in a vehicle seating eight passengers or less.
“It does, however, recommend that if you are part of a car or ride-sharing scheme you check the terms and conditions carefully and speak to your insurer to check you have the right level of cover.”
Armstrong also advised anyone thinking of using an unlicensed ride share to consider their own safety.
He said: “If you call or hail a licensed taxi, you can be confident that they have passed stringent checks and undergone criminal history checks.
“However, if you get put in touch with a friend of a friend over WhatsApp or reply to an offer for a lift in a Facebook group, you may be putting your safety at risk.
“So, always stop and think before you decide about a lift and if in doubt, organise a way of getting home with a licensed taxi driver or someone you know and trust.”
Drivers are allowed to ask passengers to contribute to the running costs, such as fuel, for the journey but cannot make a profit from it[/caption]
I’m Christian and have fallen for my Muslim colleague – but I was warned off her
DEAR DEIDRE: Something goes off in my head whenever my colleague walks in the room and I know she feels it too.
We both work in the same supermarket and all our co-workers have noticed it too – and not in a good way.
I’m 24 and she’s 23.
We have a lot in common and both love football and street dance but when I invited her to watch a local football match together I was warned off her.
She is Muslim and I’m Christian and although she said she wanted to go, but commented her friends wouldn’t approve.
Get in touch with the Dear Deidre team
Every problem gets a personal reply from one of our trained councillors.
Send an email to deardeidre@the-sun.co.uk
You can also send a private message on the DearDeidreOfficial Facebook page.
Whenever we are in the staff lounge together everything is fine until one of her friends enters.
Then the whole atmosphere changes and I can see she gets uncomfortable.
I’d like to ask her out again but don’t want to put her in a difficult situation.
What should I do?
MORE FROM DEAR DEIDRE
DEIDRE SAYS: It is so frustrating when other people put external obstacles in the way of a potential relationship. But really the important people here are you two.
So in a quiet moment ask this woman what she thinks. Would she like to go out with you or will it always be too difficult for her?
If she says she won’t ever be able to date you, you really need to do your best to move on.
If her family, friends and culture frowns upon marrying outside – that is a powerful force and one you may never break through.
Take her answer as final and do your best to look forward.
As you are both under 25 you can get support from The Mix (www.themix.org.uk).
Most read in Dear Deidre