Oh, What a Tangled Web Phone Services Weave [30th Jul 2012]
Those businesses affected by a phone fault which left them without service for up to five weeks have been told they are unlikely to receive worthwhile compensation. A problem with an underground cable meant that companies based in Marks Tey, Essex could not use phones, the internet or take payments made by card and despite a fall in profits for many businesses they will not receive compensation. Patrick Schils from the Interbike store has said that his turnover dropped by 35% and he fears his customers thought he had gone out of business. He also points out that there was no sense of urgency from his supplier, Unicom, to sort out the problem. Mr Schils contacted BT who said the fault lay with the service provider, however they can offer 90p per day for the line rental. BT commented that the issue was extremely complicated and the cable route become flooded due to bad weather. They point out that compensation claims should be made to the service provider. Related Stories: Marks Tey businesses anger at telephone line problems - www.gazette-news.co.uk Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act have shown that one council in Rotherham,South Yorkshire has paid out more than £1 million in compensation since 2007. One example of a payment made was to a 61 year old cleaner who tripped over a mop injuring a groin muscle. This worker received more than £9,000. Another town hall assistant received more than £14,000 after tripping over a table leg and a labourer got £10,000 after he fell into a pond in the garden of a council owned house. On average the council has paid out close to £200,000 each year for the last five years. Robert Oxley from The Taxpayers Alliance has pointed out that this bill is unacceptable high and the council should not the paying out in cases where common sense would have avoided the accident. The council have said that each case is taken on its merits and the council will always take responsibility and compensate if it is proven they were in the wrong. They say they have robust work training processes to prevent accidents. Related Stories: Council worker awarded £9,000 for tripping over a mop - www.dailymail.co.uk A singer has been refused compensation after she missed an important recording session due to her flight being cancelled due to the Icelandic ash cloud problems of 2010. Najite Graham, from Birmingham, claimed that she could have made it in time if Thomas Cook had offered to reschedule her flight to the Caribbean where she hoped to kick-start her singing career at the famous Tuff Gong studio. Her career has failed to take off since and she feels it was held back by missing out on the opportunity. However three judges agreed that there was no claim for damages against the airline, despite them only offering a refund. Ms Graham says that the airline should have informed her of her right to have her flight rescheduled. The judges ruled that she should pay the costs of the appeal. This will be in addition to what she owes the studio in Jamaica. Related Stories: Wannabe pop star refused compensation for flight cancellation - www.sundaymercury.net An insurance broker has been fined almost half a million pounds for using insurance premiums to fund his business. Stephen Goodwin from Goodwin Best in Lancashire has also been banned from working in the financial services industry by the FSA. It seems that the broker had received premiums from his clients, but sometimes paid them into the business account rather than to the insurer. The fine given is the largest ever levied on an individual and reflects the fact that three clients suffered financial loss due to his actions. One had tried to make claims only to discover they were uninsured and another two had been forced to pay their premiums twice to ensure they were covered. These clients may now be entitled to compensation and are in contact with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The FSA have said that these were dishonest breaches, despite most clients remaining insured. The money was being used to keep the business afloat. Goodwin receives a 30% discount on his fine because he agreed to settle at an early stage in the investigation. Related Stories: FSA fines former insurance broker £471,846 - www.fsa.gov.uk Broker Stephen Goodwin fined and banned - www.bbc.co.uk FSA fines insurance broker £471,846 over insurance premiums. - www.mondovisione.com  |
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