This page contains some useful information and if you have some items that you think could be useful to others, then why not submit it for inclusion? Please send it to either Alan or Brian in the first instance for consideration ..... contact details on the Contacts page. How many of you are aware of the following? If you've not heard of it then it's worth reading the following and setting it up on your Mobile today! ICE - In Case of EmergencyPlease Note! This is recognised and recommended by ALL the Emergency Services. How Does It Work?Do You Have 'ICE' In Your Mobile Phone?Eight out of ten people aren't carrying information that would help if they were involved in an accident. Storing next-of-kin details in your mobile phone can assist the emergency services if you're unable to tell them who to contact. By simply entering the acronym ICE - for In Case of Emergency - into the mobile's phone book the emergency services will have the name and number of someone who should be contacted in an emergency. Getting StartedOn most mobile phones you simply need to select 'Contacts' and choose 'Add New Contact', then enter the letters 'ICE', followed by the name and telephone number of your next of kin. For example, ICE - David followed by David's telephone number. It is possible to have more than one contact by typing ICE1 David, ICE2 mum etc. and entering their telephone numbers as before.Make sure you choose a number that's easy to get in touch with. A home number could be useless in an emergency if the person works full time. If possible enter both daytime and evening telephone numbers. What Should I Do Next?Make sure the person whose name and number you are giving has agreed to be your 'ICE' partner. You should also make sure your ICE partner has a list of people to contact on your behalf, such as your place of work. In addition, they'll need to know about any medical conditions that could affect your emergency treatment, including allergies or medication.If you're under 18 your ICE partner should be your parent, guardian or an immediate member of your family authorised to make decisions on your behalf. Friends and other relatives won't be able to make decisions for you if you're admitted to hospital. Storing an ICE number makes it easier for everyone if you're involved in an accident. It only takes a few seconds, so do it today - please. A Comment from the Staffordshire Fire & Rescue ServicesIf you don't have a mobile phone it might just be worth having a Pay-As-You-Go one as a minimum as it could end up saving your life. The idea is to take it to bed with you and then you have a means of contacting the Emergency Services if circumstances require it. For instance, a fire could disable your normal phone line line whereas a mobile can make the difference between life and death.It was also stressed that we should have a torch to hand and rather than a battery type, where the batteries will possibly be expired, then a wind up version would be better. Wilko's have some suitable ones at £3.99, with wind up handles. The cheaper one has a squeeze type wind up mechanism which I felt weren't suitable for the older person whose squeeze action weakens due to the likes of rheumatism and arthritis taking it's toll. ▲ back to top
Register with the Telephone and Mail Preference Services to avoid unsolicited calls and mail.Do you suffer with annoying telephone calls with people trying to sell you something or maybe when you get to the phone there's no one there? The latter is usually a company ringing you anyway but their automatic dialling software cuts out when the first person they rang answers, hence you hear nothing when you pick it up. The only real way to avoid these unwelcome telephone calls is to register via the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) which you can do very simply by either calling 0845 070 0707, via their web site, or email: tps@dma.org.uk. Whilst this won't stop ALL calls it will dramatically reduce them! There is a similar service for junk mail via the Mailing Preference Service, and they can be contacted via telephone 020 7291 3310; the web site; or e-mail: mps@dma.org.uk. There's also a site for registering your fax line too in the same way, and that's via the Fax Preference Service. It's worth a visit to the above sites to see what they can do and how
it affects you. Just click on the blue italicised text to visit the sites in question. Scam nationEvery year about three million people – that is one in 15 adults –loses money to a scam. The total theft exceeds £3 billion and the average loss is more than £1,000. This is big business. In essence, all scams are the same. They prey on our gullibility and, yes, our greed. One of the latest masquerades as HM Revenue & Customs and says you are owed a tax refund. If you click on a link in an email, it asks for personal details and later a fee to process the claim. Another has latched on to the concern about excessive bank charges and promises to recover them for you. But first, of course, it wants your bank details. And money. Old favourites still reap a rich harvest. If someone calls or emails to say you have won a foreign lottery you have not entered, it is bound to be a fraud. The classic "Nigerian" con asks you to help transfer money to the UK. You will be asked for your bank details and, once hooked, they will want money for expenses. If this were genuine you would be condoning criminal activity. As it is, you will end up being the victim of it. If you fear you might be tempted, write on a post-it note: "If it seems too good to be true it probably is" and stick it by your phone or computer. Scam emails are best deleted unanswered – replying gives them more information. With a scam phone call just put down the phone. Never be polite to crooks! More at www.oft.gov.uk/oft_at_work/ consumer_initiatives/scams. Another useful site you can use to check whether the emails you receive are genuine warnings or not is Hoaxslayer. Very useful site - I use it quite regularly.
Do you have a Digital Camera?Many people these days are very likely to own a digital camera yet might not have a computer. What's the connection you might ask? Your photos are stored in a digital format on a memory card in the camera and these need to be saved periodically to say a CD or DVD or other media for safe keeping, especially if they have any sort of value to you, sentimental or otherwise. To do this we use a computer. It's neither difficult nor expensive to do this in general, but there are a number of people that don't see this as important, but it is so that you don't lose your treasured photos. You can either take your camera or card to a dealer on the high street or talk nicely to a friend with a computer but you ought to think about backing up your photos before it's too late. If you've inadvertently or accidentally deleted a photo off your camera, then don't panic! Just stop taking any more photos on that card and seek help as most times these can be retrieved with the use of a computer and some software. The secret is to STOP using that card as soon as you discover the problem. If you have a second memory card, swap cards and then continue taking more photographs! I find that memory cards are available on line from the likes of 7dayshop.com at a much more competitive price than on the high street. Again, talk to a friend with a computer for help. There are a few members in the club that would help out I'm sure if you get into problems. Just ask. ▲ back to top Do you know about the "Social Tariff" for Gas and Electricity?Any household suffering "Fuel Poverty" is defined as energy bills acconting for > 10% of your income, and if this is th ecase then you can apply to go on to the "Social Tariff" offered by the major energy suppliers. talk to your provider at the earliest opportunity. You can also apply to go on it if you are entitled to Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Income Support or Jobseekers Allowance, a Pensioner or disabled. You should get 20% off your bill on the Social Tariff compared to normal rates. However energy experts warn that you might save more by switching provider or the way in which you pay your bill. You can get more details on how to save money on energy bills by calling the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 336 699 ▲ back to top  |
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