Andover & District
Citizens Advice Bureau

Advice

This web site is not designed to give advice; the main AdviceGuide web site, published by Citizens Advice, provides a comprehensive source of information on your rights. (See link on the left)

On our site, you will find information about how we can help within our particular bureau. The main areas we deal with are:

• Consumer rights
• Employment
• Housing
• Managing Debts
• Benefits
• Relationships

Consumer Rights

Consumer issues can be complicated, and we have access to the Citizens Advice Bureau Consumer Rights Helpdesk.

If we cannot answer your query with our Information System, we can contact the Helpdesk for more detailed information. Therefore we may not be able to give you an immediate answer, but will certainly get back to you with more information.

Often consumer issues are based on the actual contract that has been agreed. If you do come and see us with such an issue, we can help you more if we can see all the paperwork connected with your purchase.

We may refer you to a specialist third party who can help you further, such as Consumer Direct.

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Employment

Both employers and employees can be provided with information and advice on a range of issues in the workplace. We have two advisers specialising in this complex area who have access to further specialist support.

Recent rules about the grievance and the disciplinary and dismissal procedures usually need to be followed before a claim is sent to the employment tribunal. Deadlines for using the tribunal system are tight (usually 3 months) so it is important to consider all relevant paperwork, including the contract of employment. Although we can advise on all stages of the process, if the case is complex we may refer you to a solicitor.

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Housing

Housing covers a range of issues, from homelessness to neighbour disputes, environmental problems to tenancies, etc.

As this can be a complicated area we have access to our own Shelter Helpline for further advice and options.

It helps us to help you if you can bring in any paperwork related to the issue you would like advice on. We will need to know what steps you have already taken to resolve the issue before we can advise you further.

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Managing Debts

• This is a free service available to all.
• We help you prepare a financial statement which provides full details of all income and expenditure. This in turn then shows what funds are available to be used in reduction of your debts.
• We help clarify what the difference between priority and non-priority debts are with precedence always given to priority debts as non-payment of these could have serious consequences.
• We work out an equitable distribution of the funds you have available to be used in repayment of non-priority creditors to ensure that all creditors are treated fairly.
• We negotiate with all your creditors which in turn helps alleviate the stress that being in debt brings.

What does it mean for you to join the programme?

• you are asked to sign a contract confirming that while on the programme you will not take on new credit;
• all your existing credit cards/store cards will be destroyed;
• you agree to make the repayments on the financial statement;
• you will keep the bureau aware of any changes in your circumstances.

IMPORTANT - DUE TO OUR CURRENT HIGH CASE LOAD, WE CANNOT GUARANTEE YOU A PLACE ON THE MONEY ADVICE PROGRAMME AND WE MAY REFER YOU TO AN ALTERNATIVE DEBT MANAGEMENT METHOD.
(see Useful Links)

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Benefits and Social Security Security Benefit Appeals

Here at Andover Bureau we can carry out benefit checks which will show what Welfare Benefits you are or could be entitled to.

After claiming any benefit you should be given a written decision. If the benefit is disallowed you maybe able to appeal the decision. You MUST do this within one month from the date on the disallowance notice.

We can often help produce an appeal if the decision is not then changed we can prepare a submission and represent at an Appeal Hearing.

Claiming Benefits People Under 60 years of age Jobcentre Plus Call Centre 0800 0 55 66 88 People Over 60 years of age Pension Service Call Centre 0845 60 60 265 Disabled People all ages Benefit Enquiry Line 0800 88 22 00

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Relationships and Family Matters

Our information system is extensive and we can offer advice in many areas including Separation (who to inform, what benefits you may be entitled to, what housing rights you may have, rights and responsibilities for children, etc.)

We can give advice on various injunctions BUT WE CANNOT OBTAIN AN INJUNCTION FOR YOU - you will need legal advice for this.

We can also give advice on:

• Divorce
• Maintenance
• Parents rights and responsibilities
• Change of name
• What to do when someone dies