Welcome to Issue #818
Conference 2008
Thank you to all delegates, sponsors, exhibitors, advertisers, staff Council members and friends for making Money Advice Scotland's 19th Conference an event to remember.
We enjoyed our time with you at Crieff Hydro and are in the process of producing our Conference report, which will be available soon.
Did you come along to the Conference? We would appreciate your feedback. Evaluate your Conference experience on our website:
www.moneyadvicescotland.org.uk/conference
Training
Sheriff Court Procedures Seminar
- New Rights for Money Advisers to Appear in Court
This seminar is targeted at senior money advisers and money advice managers. This seminar is designed to set the scene for what advice agencies need to know to be able to best represent their clients in the sheriff court. For more information on the seminar and to apply please download the flyer.
Download:
http://www.moneyadvicescotland.org.uk/documents/SCP08.pdf
Wiseradviser (Scotland) Training
We are now accepting bookings for the Generalist, Skilled and Specialist level training courses. For more information regarding the wiseradviser training please call 0141 572 0237, or email info@moneyadvicescotland.org.uk.
Wiseradviser (Scotland) is grateful to The Royal Bank of Scotland, The Money Advice Trust and The Scottish Government for their generous support.
If you are interested in taking part in any of our courses, please email info@moneyadvicescotland.org.uk
Training: ‘Implementing Pension Reform: Ensuring Security in Retirement’
Date: 15th July 2008
Time: 10.30am-2.00pm
Venue: Commonwealth Club, Westminster
More info: www.moneyadvicescotland.org.uk/documents/pensions.pdf
Apply: www.moneyadvicescotland.org.uk/documents/pensions-form.doc
Vacancies
Client Relationship Manager
Stirling Toner Chartered Accountants
The role will be to provide specialist support and assistance to the money advice community in relation to personal insolvency. The post holder will also be expected to maintain existing referral sources and develop new ones. Applicants will have substantial knowledge in money advice and be experienced in interviewing debtors.
Download the full details: www.moneyadvicescotland.org.uk/documents/vcrm0508.doc
Got a vacancy in your organisation? We can help advertise. Email webmaster@moneyadvicescotland.org.uk for more information.
Noticeboard
Mortgage to Rent Research
Professor Glen Bramley and a team of researchers at Heriot Watt and the University of York have been asked to conduct research with applicants to the Scottish Government’s Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme (formerly run by Communities Scotland). The research will help the Scottish Government to decide how well the scheme is working and how it might develop in future. The research team would be keen to hear from advisors who have clients who have applied to the MTR scheme but have been unsuccessful or have withdrawn from the scheme. These people are, inevitably, harder to get in contact with as many have moved on. Knowing why people do not use the scheme is very important to the research.
The team is asking advice agencies to contact any clients who they know have applied for MTR but have not been successful. Advice agencies would be asked to send a letter out to suitable clients for whom they have current address information and let them know about our research. The team will provide an introductory letter to adapt, as well as reply-paid envelopes and consent forms to enclose for applicants to return directly. Or if advice agencies prefer, they could collate the names and contact details of interested applicants and send them to the research team.
If you would like to know more about the research or would like the research team to email you the materials, please call Mandy Littlewood on 01383 872 793 or email: mandy.littlewood@mac.com. The research will run until mid-July 2008.
Money website launched for young adults
The Financial Services Authority (FSA), the UK's main financial regulator, has launched a new information website aimed at young adults.
Visit: www.whataboutmoney.info
New regulations to protect consumers and crackdown on rogue traders
Consumers and businesses are set to benefit from the new Consumer Protection Regulations (CPRs), which came into force on May 26.
Full details at: http://www.berr.gov.uk/consumers/buying-selling/ucp/index.html
Consumer law to be simplified
The Government is planning fundamental changes to UK consumer law, to benefit consumers, reduce burdens for business and help enforcers. The proposals were set out in a major speech on consumer protection by UK Business Secretary John Hutton.
Full story at: nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=366874&NewsAreaID=2
Government announces appointments to new Welsh Consumer Council
Consumer Minister Gareth Thomas today announced the appointment of Members to the new Welsh Consumer Council (WCC).
Full story at: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=368874&NewsAreaID=2
Farepak investigation complete
The Department for Business and Enterprise has announced that the official investigation into Farepak by its Companies Investigations Branch (CIB) has been completed.
Full details at: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=367184&NewsAreaID=2
Have something for our noticeboard? Email us at webmaster@moneyadvicescotland.org.uk.
Benefit Cards
On Sale Now
The MAS Pocket Guides to Benefit Rates have been updated with the new rates for 2008/09. They are very popular with the advice industry, but not just with money advisers, they are also well used within credit and debt collection departments. They are ideal for the pocket or handbag and are a boon when conducting client interviews either home or away.
The benefit cards are £1 each. Looking for a copy? Email your order to us at webmaster@moneyadvicescotland.org.uk.
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