The Disabled Motorists Federation

Bonus For Carers   Parcel Delivery Scam  Hate Crime  Wirral Travel Team  Treatment of Disabled Fans Shameful Equipmewnt Hire in Spain Get More Miles  Parking Regulations  Techmobility Hoists  Survey  Abledrive   Vehicle VAT Exemption  Driving Dynamics  Terracotta Exhibition  Card Scam   Accessibility   Motability   Handbag Theft  What Could I Do?   Carers  Swimming Aids  Coach Tours & Excursions    Bewick Mobility    Common Sense    Diabetes    Buyer Beware    Happy Shopper    Wheelchairs      Elap Traveller 

£60 bonus also applies to Carer’s

The Chancellor announced  that pensioners would get a bonus of £60, however it has become clear that this also applies to carers in receipt of Carer's Allowance and some other benefits. Full details are on the Carers website

 DO NOT call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize. 
 
If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £15 for the phone call. 
 
If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 02072396655 or ICSTIS (the premium rate service regulator) at :

Website

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18 out of 20 Premiership football clubs are failing to provide enough spaces for disabled fans, while also increasing the prices of disabled season tickets, according to research by the Liberal Democrats.

The research shows that:-

Only two Premiership clubs out of 20 meet the government guidelines for the provision of disabled spaces in stadiums.

One third of Premiership clubs have less than half the recommended number of spaces

Premiership clubs have added only 19 new spaces this summer, despite a shortfall of almost 1,500

Season ticket prices for disabled fans have increased by over £25 on average compared with last season

Labour promised to deal with this issue 13 years ago, but minister has recently admitted that they don't even hold information on facilities for disabled supporters

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said:-

"It's shameful that so many Premiership clubs can't be bothered to provide enough spaces for disabled fans. Football clubs are taking disabled fans for granted.
I'm suggesting that, despite the huge demand for disabled spaces, many clubs aren't making any effort to encourage disabled fans into their grounds.
Even for those lucky enough to get a space, ticket prices are rocketing.
The Government prommissed to take action on this issue, but now ministers seem to be happy to ignore football clubs who are refusing to tow the line."

Don Foster

Since receiving this we have approached NADS (National Association of Football Supporters) who have been working on this for some time. They are now working with the Liberal Democrats on this. We hope to have some good news from them in the not to distant future.

John Killick
Secretary DMF

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One of our members has recently returned from holiday in Tenerife, a place she frequently visits as her older daughter lives there. She booked the holiday with Accessible Travel who have advertised with us in the past, and who did their usual excellent job, who she highly recomends. She decided, before leaving to book three disability scooters for herself, her husband, and her young disabled daughter. She explains:-

"We were advised by my son in law of a company called 'Street Surfers' based in Las Americas. I contacted them and agreed to pay 400 euros for two weeks and that we would pay on arrival.  Said scooters were delivered to our hotel as arranged. To shorten the tale, 1 scooter had no brakes, 1 had no reverse, and the third didn't want to go more than 100 yards from the door. After repeatedly asking for them to be replaced, I finally told them to remove them altogether and we went to a more reputable company, 'Orange Badge'.  I asked for a refund which they are refusing to pay (My daughter has this in hand). The chap I originally dealt with has left the company because he is sick of the way that they treated people.

Perhaps it would help others, who may be going there, to be aware of this company? There proud boast in thier leaflets states, "All our machines are brand new!" I can prove that this is not so. Hopefully this will act as a warning so that no one else falls into the trap we found ourselves in."

Joan Johnson

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As soaring fuel prices continue to hit the headlines, motorists cannot fail to be interested in ways to get the most miles out of every tank of petrol.

Regardless of your choice of vehicle, there are techniques you can use to save fuel and at the same time minimise your impact on the environment. These techniques are part of the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) course, which has delivered eco-benefits through fuel efficiency methods since the IAM was established in 1956.

Ask yourself: "Do I really need to drive?": Short journeys that are generally less than two miles cause the most pollution and are inefficient in terms of fuel consumption. A straining cold engine will produce 60 per cent more pollution than a warm one. Walk or cycle where possible instead.

Plan your route: Take the most direct route and go at off-peak times if possible to save fuel and time. Sitting in congestion means you are often doing zero miles per litre. Consider car sharing, Park and Ride schemes or public transport.

Have your vehicle serviced regularly: Inefficient, under-serviced engines can reduce fuel economy by 10 per cent or more. Catalytic converters are environmentally friendly - but only if they are properly maintained.

Check your tyres: Correct tyre pressures reduce wear and helps fuel economy. Under-inflated tyres need replacing more often (itself an environmental problem) as well as being dangerous. Make a point of checking them at least once a week.

Obey the speed limits: Try to 'feather' the throttle when you reach your cruising speed. Doing 56mph uses 25 per cent less fuel than 70mph and a smoother driving style can bring significant fuel saving.

Reduce the drag factor: Remove roof racks and carriers when they're not in use as well as unnecessary boot luggage and heavy accessories.  Driving with the window open and using air conditioning increases drag and lowers fuel economy, so use the vent settings instead.

Buy green fuel: And use less of it. If you get stuck in traffic, switch off the engine. Find out if you can buy low sulphur diesel (city diesel) or cleaner petrol (low phur/aromatics) locally.

Use "accelerator" sense: Save fuel by planning ahead and reading the traffic in advance to gently join a queue rather than braking suddenly as you hit traffic.  Reverse when you park: The engine will be cold and at its most fuel inefficient when you start it. If you can drive away without having toreverse when the engine is cold, you will save fuel and have better visibility.

Watch your levels: If you fill your fuel tank up to the brim, you may be carrying around additional fuel which in turn means that you have more weight on board than is necessary and this will itself reduce fuel efficiency.

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Parking and Traffic Regulations outside London

Traffic Management Act 2004

The government have set up a website www.patrol-uk.info/ This website has been set up by 200 local councils to explain the following:-

1)                  The list of parking contraventions and the two new penalty charge rates, varying according to the parking contravention.

2)                  Information about what the new Traffic Management Act 2004 will mean for motorists.

3)                  Tips to avoid getting a parking ticket.

4)                  Details of the grounds for challenging a parking ticket and how to go about doing it.

5)                  Links to the parking page of each local council outside London in the Civil Enforcement Scheme.

6)                  Information on the procedure for parking tickets issued before 31^st March 2008, processed under the Road traffic Act 1991.

7)                  Bus Lane Regulations, penalty charges for bus lane contraventions and how to appeal.

8)                  What’s involved if your vehicle is clamped and towed away and the grounds for claiming a refund.

We would add that since each council still insists on their own rules, that you pay unless it definitely states that ‘Blue Badge Users Park Free.’ That you use a little common sense when parking away from a marked bay. For instance, how would you feel if you couldn’t cross the road because somebody has parked across the dropped kerb, if you could not receive a delivery to your business because somebody is parked in your loading bay, if you couldn’t proceed along the pavement in your wheelchair because somebody is parked on it. Need I go on, it is not rocket science, just common sense.  

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 One of our members has reported a fault in older Techmobility Hoists. It seems that he was lifting his power wheelchair out of the back of his car when the nut that holds the hoist cable between the chair and the hoist arm came adrift. This resulted in the chair dropping back into the boot. Fortunately he had not yet swung it out or the results could have caused a very nasty accident. Although Techmobility came out and did the necessary repairs, he wondered if other members had had similar experiences.

I contacted a local Techmobility dealer for advice. Bewick Mobility informed me that this is a potential problem with the older hoists. They safeguard against it by riveting over the end of the bolt once the hoist has been installed and any necessary adjustments made. They did also advise that this should be done by the installer rather than the customer, and that the hoist should be returned to the installer annually for a service and safety checks.

This would appear to be sound advice to us. The hoist, according to Bewick Mobility, is one of the best available; they install a lot of them, but, just as your car needs a service, so must the hoist. 

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This is an Invitation to take part in the GSCC’s survey of people who use domiciliary care services

All ‘domiciliary care workers’ – those paid to come into people’s homes to help with things like washing or dressing - will soon need to register with a government body, the General Social Care Council (GSCC).

To help make sure that registration works as well as possible for people who have care services in their home, the GSCC wants to find out their views about what aspects of registration are important and valuable to them.

If you are:

·        a person who uses domiciliary care services; or

·        a family member or friend who represents someone who uses domiciliary care services…

… we would like to invite you to take part in the GSCC’s survey.

What will the survey involve?

·        An interviewer will arrange to meet you in your home or other suitable place

·        They will ask you about your views of registration of those working in homecare

·        It will last about 15-20 minutes

·        You will be able to have a friend or family member with you, if you would like to do so

·        You will receive a £10 gift voucher to thank you for your contribution

All participation will be strictly confidential. Your name will not be linked with any of the information you give, and your details will not be passed on to anyone else.

If you would like to take part in this survey, please let Stephen Hodgkins at the GSCC know on

Email: stephen.hodgkins@gscc.org.uk  Tel: 07951050153

The GSCC will place your details on a list and participants will be selected at random and called by a researcher working for the GSCC to find a suitable time for you to take part in the survey.

The GSCC would hope to speak to everybody who agrees to take part but due to the timescales it may not be possible to interview everybody.

Thank you in advance for taking part in this research.

Yours sincerely

Lisa Watch

Head of External Affairs

General Social Care Council

Goldings House

2 Hay's Lane

London SE1 2HB

www.gscc.org.uk

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 Abledrive

The concept, aims and objectives of Abledrive were first considered by Vice-president, Peter Lyne over four years ago. www.abledrive.co.uk has now been launched and provides access to a fully comprehensive range of motoring services for not only disabled members of the DMF but also for their carers, families and friends.

       During the last three years Peter has entered into discussions with representatives from numerous national and regional charities as well as with personnel from some central and regional government funded bodies.  It is intended that website links will soon be established with such organisations enabling many more people to make use of the services and facilities currently available or being developed for the future.  Abledrive is open for all to use and what must not be forgotten is that the DMF takes into account the needs of people with not only physical disabilities, but also those with learning difficulties and sensory impairments.

 WHAT IS AVAILABLE?

 A full range of motoring support services including access to thousands of used cars, (as well as considering certain deals on new car purchase) sub-prime and prime financial services (catering for the needs of most people irrespective of their credit history), roadside assistance schemes, vehicle warranty (mechanical breakdown insurance), guaranteed asset protection and the services of over 1,000 independently owned service and repair centres. Accident management and a full range of legal services will also be available, as too will be a range of general insurance schemes with the needs of disabled people very much being addressed. Peter is soon hoping to add independent mortgage advice and personal loans facilities, secured and unsecured.

 Although primarily focussing on the needs of the motorist Abledrive will be adding a further range of services (some of which will be for DMF members only). We already have some attractive offers available from certain hotel groups, this will be further enhanced and it is hoped eventually to include information on travel and tourism.

SPREAD THE WORD.

 To enable Abledrive to succeed it needs the support of all DMF members. We need to protect the future security and financial status of the DMF and if Abledrive receives sufficient support from federation members and their appropriate contacts, then this will certainly help. We need to gain interest from commercial companies who may be interested in advertising and promoting their services on the website, so if you know of any such organisations, please ask them to contact us.

 SOCIAL INCLUSION, EQUALITY and DIVERSITY.

As mentioned earlier in this editorial certain central government organisations have already made contact. Within the last three weeks, Peter has been approached by senior personnel from three Northwestern Primary Care Trusts representing a total population in excess of 1,000,000.  Meetings are scheduled to take place with senior managers from these organisations within the next two weeks in order to promote Abledrive as well as the DMF. In addition to this a Sunderland City Council funded community organisation with 95 community groups and registered charities in membership is already waiting to link with www.abledrive.co.uk

            Peter has been pledged editorial support in a leading Merseyside disability organisation's newsletter due for circulation to 700 charities and certain central and regional government bodies. This publicity was due before the end of February so we believe that it would  help create even more interest in Abledrive and the DMF.

                    Please support Abledrive when you can and inform your friends, families, carers and any organisations (other than the DMF), to which you may belong.     

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In February's edition of Mobilise we noticed a question on VAT exemption on new adapted vehicles. It seems that somebody had been told by his dealership, that it is no problem supplying a modified vehicle with VAT exemption, but that they could not organise the finance. It seems that HM Customs and Excise are very keen on this at present. Basically what both Mobilise and the dealer were saying is that if they sell the vehicle to a hire purchase company then they are not selling it to the qualified person. Sounds daft, but we agree; it is all legal speak to make life difficult for all.
  
  We then had a word with Derek Hanneh of Southern Finance tel. 01427 875820. He tells us that his company are already up to speed with this, and that if you give him a bell he will explain all. 

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Driving Dynamics

One of the main reasons for accidents during the icy and snowy weather is the lack of training on what to do in the event of a skid.  Driving Dynamics are offering training in their fully adapted vehicle.  The car is a specially adapted Renault Megane, equipped with the very latest computerised system.  At the flick of a switch the car transforms from a road vehicle into a state of the art skid car.  It has dual controls and can be used by disabled drivers by prior arrangement.

Venues

They have various venues from which they operate butb their biggest strength is the fact that they are mobile.  They could even bring the vehicle to you.  The car can be used on any tarmac or concrete surface, provided the area is large enough.  It causes no damage and leaves no signs of use; it has even been used on a drill square without any adverse effects to the area.  All they need is a empty car park, old airfield or similar smooth surface.

The Cost

As stated previously they are strongly committed to raising driving standards and thoroughly enjoy working with the I.A.M and Motorist Organisations.  They have various options as shown below:

You can travel to their premises at Heeley Mills, Horbury Bridge, Wakefield for a cost of £39 per head.  There is no minimum number required for this.
Alternatively, you could hire the venue, car and instructors for the full day, accommodating up to 21 people for a cost of £650 + VAT (approx £764).
They could also bring the car to you at a cost of £600 per day + VAT (approx £705).  You get the use of the car plus two instructors and as in option 1, they can accommodate up to 21 people, acost of £28.50 plus VAT per person (approx £34).  For more people they can include an extra instructor at a further cost.

Hartlepool IAM are taking them up on the offer and have obtained a free of charge local authority car park for use on the day.

Any bookings made for February would include family members (subject to them holding a valid driving licence), as well as IAM / Motorclub members on any of these days.

If you need to further information then contact:
Sue Proctor
Company Director
Tel:  01484 607851
Website

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By David Nathan

 Stella and I went on New Year's Day and found the exhibition very interesting and the staff at the museum extremely helpful. Obviously, as Stella has to use her electric mobility scooter as well as her car to get there, I made a few advance phone calls to discover what facilities would be available.

 We were told that, firstly, as a disabled visitor, her admission fee would be £10 instead of £12, with an accompanying carer (me) admitted free. We could park our car in the museum forecourt for a fee of £1, but would need to advise the gatekeepers in advance. This the booking office did for us. Stella was able to use the lift at the museum entrance (there are two, one at either end of the concrete steps) to access the main entrance to the building and also use the machine around the exhibition. Because the show is staged on an extra 'floor' above the bookshelves of the circular reading room, there is another lift inside the actual exhibition entrance. An audio commentary accessible via headphones can be obtained free of charge by the disabled person, although the carer would have to pay £4.50.

 Because the entrance times are staggered - every ten minutes - there was minimal crowding and we got round very easily. The organisers estimate that the average time for visitors is about 60-75 minutes. We did it in 70!

 There was only one problem - even for us Londoners - the myriad one-way streets guarding access to the museum in Great Russell Street. It was particularly galling for us as we both used to work in the area - OK, some 40 years ago! But overall, we found it very interesting and informative, more so, we were told by other visitors who had done it, than visiting the actual site in China.

 Tickets are timed and can be booked online via the Museum's own Website.
It runs until early April.

 Kind regards and best wishes for 2008 to you and yours from us and ours.

 David Nathan

This one is pretty slick since they provide Y O U with all the information, except the one piece they want.
Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday from "MasterCard".

The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank) did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £497.99 from a Marketing company based in London?" When you say "No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from £297 to £497, just under the £500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?"

You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 0800 number listed on the back of your card (0800-VISA) and ask for Security.

You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?"

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works the caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card." He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers." There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say, "No," the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of £497.99 was charged to our card.

Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or MasterCard directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening .

Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each other, we protect each other.

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 Additional EU Tax on Mobility Scooters

By John Killick (Hon. Sec. DMF)

 This is something that showed it’s head at a meeting of the Northeast DMC back in June. One of the members had picked up something in a newspaper and asked me for verification. I have looked into this and feel that it is something that could affect a lot of disabled people. Basically, the Harmonized System Committee of the World Customs Organization is afraid that disability scooters made in the Far East and in China in particular, are being made using cheap labour, thus allowing them to be sold on the world market at unfair prices. To put a stop to this abuse they have requested that the EU place an import tax on the said scooters of 10% per unit. If made law this would obviously grossly affect the cheaper end of the scooter market. I contacted Fiona Hall, a Lib Dem MEP who happens to be on the correct committee ‘Fiona submitted a written question on this matter to the Commission in June. Just before we went to press I received the following reply:-

 Answer given by Mr Kovács on behalf of the Commission (10.8.2007)

“The classification of mobility scooters has been discussed both at international level and within the EU. ‘Mobility scooters’ are not only for use by disabled persons but also by mobile persons wishing more comfort in their daily life; for example because they do not, or cannot, walk for long distances. (So what is his definition of a disabled person?Editor)

In November 2000, the Harmonized System Committee of the World Customs Organization classified mobility scooters as vehicles designed for the transport of persons under heading 8703.10. In January 2005, this classification was confirmed at Community level by the publication of explanatory notes to the Combined Nomenclature 1 .

Within the Community, this classification implies that mobility scooters imported from third Countries are subject to a 10 % rate of customs duty.  The Commission is aware that this duty has an impact on the cost of mobility scooters used by disabled users.  However it should be pointed out that this duty only concerns imported scooters, and that the customs classification is based on criteria other than the applicable duty rates.  Moreover the duty is paid on the basis of the import price and not on the basis of the resale price and, therefore, any impact on the final price would be far below 10 %. For the above reasons, the Commission does not intend suggesting a reclassification of mobility scooters in the EU tariff.”

Mark Oaten of the Lib Dems then sent in a written question on the subject. He received the following reply:-  “John Healey (Financial Secretary, HM Treasury) Import duties are established by the European Commission and European Community law imposes obligations on member states to ensure that the correct amount of import duty is collected within the prescribed time period.”

Ok, I suppose things could be worse, rumours have run rife, but at the end of the day we can all expect to have to pay extra for our mobility scooters if manufactured outside the EU, and, surprise surprise,  we can forget ever getting any help from the present government! Thanks Lib Dems for your assistance on this matter. 

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By John Killick

 I don’t know about you, but I thought that under the new access laws, all new public buildings, and those that have been renovated, must have access for disabled people. As I read it! I did not see anything that said ‘except railway stations and public houses’! That all shop car parks should have a percentage of all disabled car park spaces nearest the door, not all those except Tesco at Wrexham! May I enlarge on my complaint? 

Railway Stations:- A brand new platform costing five and a half million has been added to a station at Newport in Wales recently. When asked, according to a report in the September/October edition of ‘Able’, about how come there is no disabled access, the reply from Network Rail is that it will be added in 2010 in time for the Ryder Cup. From this, I suppose, I am not intended to read, “Rich Golfers are more important to Network Rail than disabled people”! I must also not suppose that they are also more important to Newport Planning Dept! Why? Well, all planning applications have to go before the local planning department. How come they passed it without ensuring disabled access? Come on gentlemen, who do you think you are fooling? Obviously not ‘Able’, and equally, you are not fooling us. Since I have no reason for supposing that the people of Newport are any more stupid than we are, I can only suppose that you are not fooling them either! Stop trying to be clever, put the darned access in now, it won’t cost any more, and admitting that you got it wrong might even get you some votes at the next local election.

 The Public House; have a look at the Britannia in Cleadon Village, Tyne and Wear. At the end of last year it was re-opened after extensive refurbishment. Before it was refurbished my wife and I enjoyed many a good meal there. The old door to the restaurant has now been turned into a fire door leaving no disabled access. The renovations were planned by a consultancy from Liverpool, who are now getting the blame from South Tyneside Planning department for the problem. They are, of course, blaming the planning department. In the meantime the manager, who is stuck with the problem, asks disabled people to go to the front door and somebody will come up and open the fire doors. I feel sorry for the manager, who’s fault it aint! One day somebody from one of those much less understanding disabled organisations are going to arrive at his door and become extremely unhappy!!!!

 The Car Park:- It seems that somebody at Tesco’s in Wrexham feels that ordinary customers take precedence over disabled customers as far as distance from the door is concerned. They have moved the disabled parking away from the doors of their store in Wrexham. A spokesman from Tesco told a local newspaper that he is sorry for the inconvenience to disabled customers (Then why not put them back?). A disabled Tesco customer, one of our members, rang Tesco’s to be told that ‘They had followed Health and Safety guidelines’ and that ‘they were only obliged to provide designated bays for disabled customers and that it didn’t matter where they were placed.’ I don’t know which set of rules this person had read, but it differs from every other copy in the country. Well, I know what I think all you disabled Tesco customers of Wrexham should do. If by now this hasn’t been corrected, there just has to be another supermarket you can use belonging to one of Tesco’s competitors in the area, Switch Supermarkets! Meanwhile Tesco, I hope that the incompetent idiot that came up with this one is no longer working for you, or has been sent for basic literacy lessons! 

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Ask yourself, how many times have you seen women put their handbags on the hook at the rear of a shopping trolley?    Think about it, it happens all the time yet women still do it and run the risk of having their handbags stolen.

Just the other day I heard of an instance where this had happened.  The bag was on the hook whilst the person was shopping in an Asda store.  When they turned away for an instant for some tomatoes and looked back the bag had gone.  It had taken literally seconds for this to happen but the knock on effect from this crime is immense.

Taken along with the bag were the owner’s purse and personal belongings.  There was a considerable amount of money in the purse at the time along with personal photographs that can never be replaced as well as debit card/cashpoint cards, bus pass and savings cards.  The money was claimed on the insurance so that was not such a big issue and the cards were easily replaced, however, the photographs were of great sentimental value as they were of the person’s husband that had passed away.  Fortunately the keys for the person’s house were not in the bag so the locks did not have to be changed.  Also, the staff in the store were very helpful and rang the banks concerned to stop the cards.  This turned out to be fortuitous as the thieves tried to use the cards in a cashpoint within 15 minutes of the theft.  The other concern was that the thieves may have tried to use the debit card on the internet.  However the ordeal of this caused the person concerned a great deal of stress and anxiety.

If you are a woman going shopping in a supermarket and are taking your handbag with you then ask yourselves some basic questions:

• do I need to take my handbag with me or can I leave it securely locked up in the car and just take my debit card with me to pay for the groceries etc.
• do I need to hang my handbag on the trolley hook.
• do I need a large amount of money in the handbag.
• have I fastened the top of the handbag to stop people trying to steal the purse from within it.

 Even if you take a shopping bag and you have your handbag inside, it is a good idea to fasten it securely.

Police have said that this kind of opportunist theft is on the increase owing to people just not being aware of the risk whilst out shopping.  They have also stated that a large amount of people carry their PIN numbers around with them on a piece of paper in the purse, this allows thieves to access their bank accounts and sometimes clean them out.

So, in the future, think before leaving you handbag/shopping bag unattended on a trolley.

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Today we launch new research that shows that carers are having to sell their homes, cut back on food, heating and clothes, give up their jobs, and sacrifice their pensions - leaving many deeply worried about their financial future.

Carers UK wants to see a radical overhaul of the benefits and tax system and are calling for improved investment in social care. We think the new National Strategy for Carers is a golden opportunity for Government to get this right and deliver the deal carers deserve.

We need Government to know, in no uncertain terms, that this issue has the backing of the public. We are urging carers, their friends, colleagues and families to sign up to our new campaign, Real change, not short change, to ease the constant financial pressure carers face.

Imelda Redmond
Chief Executive

New research from Carers UK shows almost three-quarters of people are financially worse off since becoming a carer. This is in stark contrast to the £57 billion contribution carers make to the economy each year. You can help by pledging your support for our campaign. Complete the form on our website and Carers UK will deliver your message to Gordon Brown.

www.carersuk.org/Newsandcampaigns/Shortchanged/TellGordonBrown

Meet Don Jones

"My name is Don Jones and I care for my sister Sheila. I didn't realise quite what a devastating impact being a carer would have on my life. I'd had a good wage as an engineer for Aerospace and suddenly I was living on benefits. I knew carers could claim an allowance but I had no idea it would be just £48 per week. Frankly it's insulting."

www.carersuk.org/Newsandcampaigns/Shortchanged/MeetDonJones

The research

3000 carers completed our survey, giving Carers UK a detailed picture of how caring affects their finances. The report is called Real change not short change and reveals very clearly that the current benefits system doesn't allow carers an acceptable standard of living and doesn't recognise or value them for the contribution they make to the national economy.

www.carersuk.org/Newsandcampaigns/Shortchanged/CampaignFAQ

Join us

If you're a carer or former carer remember that Carers UK