Coronavirus has had an impact on many key areas for consumers. Job losses through redundancy and loss of income through reduced hours and closure of workplaces, has become an all-too familiar reality for many. It means that already-tight budgets are being stretched further and household expenditure is being pushed to breaking-point. In September, the Financial …
Deadline Looming for Mortgage Repayment Holidays Read More »
There are considerations for consumers when making purchases online at any time, but care should be taken during online events to ensure your purchases are safe and provide value-for-money. The impulse to purchase something straight away when we see a bargain is all too familiar for most of us. To ensure that our expectations are …
Throughout the public health crisis and resulting lockdown restrictions, consumeradvice.scot has received a significant increase in the number of cases relating to faulty goods and safety concerns. Between April and July this year, we have seen faulty goods cases increase by nearly 110%. Since March, Scottish consumers have witnessed a seismic change in how they interact with, and …
Changes to travel insurance policies during the pandemic have already proven problematic for many consumers, with some insurance providers refusing to payout in the event of cancelled holidays. Consumers purchasing travel insurance policies after March, following the announcement of lockdown, found themselves faced with clauses indicating that they would not be able to claim for …
Travel Insurance: Ensuring You Have Adequate Cover During COVID-19 Read More »
Throughout the entirety of the coronavirus pandemic, there have been individuals exploiting fear and uncertainty in order to make profit. This has been evident through advertisements of counterfeit personal protective equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 testing kits online. Just last week, a British man was sentenced for pocketing approximately £12,000 selling bogus coronavirus treatment kits online …
The illegal trading of puppies is a practice which not only proves incredibly damaging to the animals involved, but can also severely impact consumers, carrying a significant financial and emotional toll. Scottish Government figures estimate that almost half (45%) of people who bought a puppy in 2019 purchased the animal online, an increase of 25% …
According to the latest data from Experian, UK fraud rates have jumped 33% during the since the implementation of lockdown measures in the UK as a result of COVID-19. Action Fraud, the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, has reported that over 16,000 UK consumers have been affected by online shopping and auction fraud, with nearly one …
consumeradvice.scot is working in collaboration with partners at Trading Standards Scotland, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Neighbourhood Watch Scotland, to raise awareness of doorstep scams and the impacts that they have on Scottish consumers. The #ShutOutScammers campaign launches today (Monday 15th June 2020) and highlights the impacts that doorstep scams have on consumers in …
consumeradvice.scot Join Partnership to #ShutOutScammers Read More »
Hotel and travel company Specialist Leisure Group has entered administration, leading to the cancellation of 64,000 bookings across the UK. The firm included Caledonian Travel, as well as coach holiday brands Shearings and National Holidays, hotel businesses such as Bay Hotels, Coast and Country Hotels and Country Living Hotels. All Wallace Arnold Travel shops are …
Caledonian Travel / Shearings Holidays Administration Read More »
David Urquhart Travel have announced that they will be winding up their coach tour and hotel operations due to the current uncertainty of when operations will return to normal after the coronavirus outbreak. The company advised that all operations will be stopped in an orderly manner over the coming months. The company had lodged an …
