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Weekly Flylady Thread 9 February 2026
Welcome to the weekly Flylady Thread. What is FLYLADY? Well, it's our version of the US flylady idea - but we work on the principle that housework is not fun, it's boring, can be time-consuming, is often thankless but, unfortunately, necessary. It's here on Old Style to provide the support we all need and to make the whole…
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Confused. Smart Parking
Hi all, I’ve read through the newbie FAQs and a few similar threads, but just want to sanity-check I’ve understood things correctly. I’ve received a PCN from Smart Parking at Spring Car Park, Wilmslow. I appealed initially because I believed I’d paid correctly via RingGo, but Smart have rejected it saying I parked in…
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Energy and Broadband comparison with Spain
Just thought i would share this, I am wondering if the differences are due to Tax or profit from companies. We purchased a house in Spain in 2021, so sharing the prices in Spain then and also today, compared to the UK Broadband 600MB 20 euros per month in July 2021, price today still 20 euros (no increases) compared to my…
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Offer help
Hello! Viewed this property and considering putting in an offer - however, we are FTB and more than a little clueless (/learning slowly!). It would be so great to get some opinions from folks who have been round the block. It seems like a reaonable price for the area, places seem to go from around thw £180,000 mark up to…
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Visa for China
I'm a UK citizen with a holiday to mainland China booked for the beginning of April. It was recently announced that visas will no longer be required for UK citizens to visit China but with no date confirmed for when this will start. The China visa website suggests that the turnaround for visa applications is a matter of…
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Same firm of solicitors for buyer and seller: a good or bad idea?
We are part-way through a house purchase. Our solicitor has just written to inform us that they have now taken on the seller as their client; the seller has switched solicitors since accepting our offer. Despite our solicitors assurances that there is no conflict of interest as they have enough staff to manage this…
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EDF Gas Smart Meter issues (ongoing...)
We have a smart meter with EDF for gas and electricity It’s been working ok for years. We pay monthly direct debit whole amount. In December 2024 I thought the debit was a little low but didn’t think too much about it. In January 2025 again, I saw a low debit so checked our EDF account and saw that the gas meter was only…
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Can I get my tax code changed?
I've had to pay tax on savings interest from the previous tax year so my tax code has been changed accordingly. I've paid the tax owed directly on the HMRC site, but I will still be paying more tax because HMRC expect me to earn the same amount of taxable interest this tax year. I've moved money into ISAs so I know I…
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Council Tax Query - Reduction?
Hi, We are privately renting and currently we are a total of 5 adults (2 married couples) and 1 child living in a 4 bed property, we are all related (family). We (5 adults) are all on the tenancy agreement. However in the next few months 2 adults (1 married couple) will be moving. We will therefore need the tenancy…
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Please remind me which lever turns the water off.
I know this is the way to turn the water off, I just want to check which levers to turn. A water softener is in the cupboard next to this under sink cupboard. All the taps in the house, except the garden tap have softened water so go through these pipes. (I’ve turned the water off before so know this works, it’s just a…
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Much delayed supply and fitting times
Hi There, in September of last year I signed a contract with a shutter company to install bespoke shutters to our home. The owner of the company who came in to provide the quote verbally assured me that work will be done before Christmas. The only section in the contract that relates to timeline is this:“Currently shutter…
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Revolut £20 sign up bonus
I recently opened a Revolut account via a link that offered £20 upon my first purchase using the debit card. I added some money to the account but without really thinking just used some of that money to top up my trading 212 account but then I realised this term from the T&C's of the offer: "This must be a genuine purchase…
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Over-charged French withholding tax on dividends?
TL;DR: My dividend paid in UKP has had 25% deducted by Computershare before payment. Shouldn't it be lower than this due to the tax treaty with France? The longer version, with background. I have shares in a French company traded in Euros. The shares were obtained while working for a UK subsidiary of the French company, as…
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Car tax going forward & taking payment for a sold car.
Car Tax I'll be looking to buy a car, probably two & have recently heard about some older cars soon to be costing the owner a ridiculous amount in car tax. When looking at cars I can only see what the charge for them is now, not what it's going to be later in the year. Is there an easy way to find what this would be so I…
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Car dealership refusing to help cancel car finance with the finance company!
I’m seeking advice on next steps regarding a dispute with a car dealership and finance company. In January, my partner agreed to part-exchange his Audi Q3 for an Audi Q5. The Q3 was still on finance and in negative equity, which the dealership agreed to roll into a new finance agreement. My partner paid a £500 deposit and…
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Merged: Car finance company will not cancel car finance and is ignoring all communication
This discussion has been merged.
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Getting a valuation from the dealer
hi folks, sons gf will be changing her car soon, she has a Hyundai i10, which is a 66 plate, she wants a newer, later model one from a 23 plate onwards , she’s on about going to the local Hyundai dealer, ( where she bought it from and will be buying her new one from them if she can find what she needs), she needs to find…
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Is it wise for me to move my Zopa PCP to a Tesco Loan?
Zopa PCP Currently £74 a month and a balance of GMFV £9750 in August 2029 9.9% I overpaid to get it to £74 (The monthly interest on 9750) I also pay £25 a month for a service plan. Tesco Loan Offered 5.8% for 12500 £240 for 60 months. Going to use the 2000 to pay off my 4 year service plan which is also running alongside…
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Transfer of House Left in Will/Buy Out Sister
Hi, can anyone point me in the right direction to understand how the following works please? My parents died (Dad2021 and Mum 2024) and their will states they leave the house 50/50 to my sister and myself. Because of one thing or another, this hasn't been processed yet (has not gone through probate?). I wish to pay my…
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Property insurance during probate for unoccupied flat.
I'm executor for a relative who has died, leaving an empty flat. I now need to insure this empty property until the property is sold. The funeral director mentioned probate house insurance or unoccupied property insurance. Any suggestions on how to arrange this - a specialist broker or one of the usual insurers?
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Mozillion and OTP texts
I am considering moving to Mozillion because of the EE backbone. I'm aware that some users on Spusu (also an EE MVNO) have a problem receiving OTP codes, especially it seems, if they are using an eSIM. Can anyone on Mozillion comment on whether OTP's are working OK for them? Thanks.
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IHT - parent paying University Fees directly - still a gift to child?
Hello, We have been saving in childrens JiSAs £9k/year with a view that they can use the money for University costs (if they decide to go). It is clear that £3k is exempt and £6k is subject to 7 year rule. However, as an alternative, if a parent pays university fees directly - is this still considered a gift to child…
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Another DB & DC pension question
Following on from my last post… I have ten years till I turn 60 and can access my Premium Civil Service pension and then need to wait until my state pension and Alpha pension to kick in (currently 67, I think). My working assumption is that I won't take the lump sum option (for my Civil Service pensions) given comments to…
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New build property with heat pump and solar panels …
Conundrum … We have recently moved to a new build property which has just three solar panels, a Worcester Bosch heat pump, no inverter, no battery. No gas. We were with Octopus Energy at our previous house, but they’ve well and truly botched things up in moving us over to the new property. In addition, they automatically…
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0% boiler deals - which are the best
I'm going to need a new boiler some time in the next 12 months. I won't qualify for any of the grants and schemes as I earn too much, but I live alone so have to watch the pennies. Does anyone know where to find the best deals to help pay for a new boiler and installation over time? I've had a quick google and there are…
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Why the long written notice period to cancel estate agent contract?
I've noticed that many estate agency contracts require a very long written notice period - often 28 days - to be able to cancel their sole agency contract. So it may be an 8 week contract but if you decide after 8 weeks you want to go to another agency they're effectively making it into a 12 week contract with a whole…
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What brokers use the below?
Do you have any brokers who approach the below: Hinckley & Rugby BS Saffron BS Leek United BS Bath BS Market Harborough BS Tipton & Coseley BS Mansfield BS Buckinghamshire BS Melton Mowbray BS and have you used any of them?
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Land Registry- removing names
My daughter owns 2 houses outright. She rents one out but has had a baby since this was set up. I have advised her to write a will asap and to put the rented house in a trust for the child. Would this affect her tax codes? She is part time employed, so under the minimum tax level. We would like to go about this but without…
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No proof!
hi all.. After seeing Martin’s advice to check your band, I realised our entire street is in the very highest council tax band there is. I live in a terraced house in a unique street of houses that were all built in 1982, nothing like them in the vicinity. I cannot find any sales between their specific 1989-1993 period,…
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The strange case of the PCN that was paid but still a triple amount is requested(Tower Hamlets)
On December 18th 2025 a PCN of 160£ was issued for my motorcycle for accessing a pedestrian only zone in Tower Hamlets London. The charge was delivered to my address probably on Dec 22 or after, that is after I had flown to Italy for Christmas holidays. I come back to London on the night of Jan 5th and I arrive home after…
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Paying off help to buy equity loan
My partner has a house with a 20% HtB equity loan. Her interest free period ends October this year and her fixed mortgage rate ends June this year. I’ve got a house with a fixed mortgage rate that ends next year. We’re looking to sell our properties and buy our first house together. Re. chains, we want to sell my partner’s…
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took advice on here and spoke to a Financial Advisor
posted a couple of times before and now had an initial meeting with an FA to discuss my pension - summary below and would appreciate comments, thoughts etc. I had a teams call with a company in Glasgow to offer some pension advice initially Very nice guys who for this first call, concentrated on my current pension compared…
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CGT reporting after shares sold
Hello. we arranged for the sale of share held by my mom which was completed in January, looking at the government website I don't think we need to do anything in respect to reporting them, but can someone just clarify I am reading it right as wouldn't want mom to get into trouble with HMRC. the website indicates that: If…
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Virtual landline
Moving over to mobile broadband will mean ditching our landline number that we have had for nearly 50 years, as we’ve moved it with us when we moved home. We still get calls on it, although we usually make calls on our mobile phones. If there’s a fairly cheap way to retain the number and redirect it to a mobile phone or…
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Gift aid claim: what does "paying over higher rate tax" mean?
I am a higher-rate tax payer. For the last several years HMRC have applied tax relief to regular gift-aid donations that I have been making for years. I understand that from next tax year they are not simply carrying over such relief so I need to tell them again. Fair enough. On the government gateway online form for this,…
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Need fresh eyes on my budget!
Hi all! I'm starting a brand new diary to break down my current situation and take a fresh look at things - what I was doing isn't working 😳 About me... I'm in my forties (late forties but we'll not dwell on that!) and live alone in a rented housing association house. I've had a very unstable period in the last six years…
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Time scales for unique Probate code from HMRC
Just a quick question. Does anyone have recent experience of submitting the IHT 400 forms where there is no IHT to pay....roughly, how long before the unique probate code was sent? Thank you.
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How much interest do I owe my son? His savings used to offset mortgage
I have an offset mortgage. I have used my child’s savings to offset to pay less interest. He’s now 18 and I want to give him his savings pus a fair interest ie what his pot would be worth now if he’d put it in a saving account and benefitted from compound interest etc. How do I go about calculating? Is there a formula?…
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Consumer Choice
Hi Like most of us here im in a chunk of debt but starting to do something about.- Circa 35k Im self employed but the business is a partnership and i cannot risk this being affected in anyway I have spoken with Consumers choice about a DMP and who I have seen advertised all over the place and wondered if anyone has had any…
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Buy to let or invest?
Hi, I’ve recently been made redundant at 60 years old and I’m at a bit of a crossroads. I’ve sold my house and once the mortgage is cleared will have around £210,000 left over. I would like to move to a different part of the country but keep a ‘boot in both camps’ so to speak, due to the fact one of my grown up daughters…