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Complex contentious probate
Hi everyone, I'm looking for some advice regarding an inheritance dispute involving my late father. I'm now the administrator of his estate and representing myself. The situation is complicated, so I'll try to summarise it. Background My father's cousin died in October 2019, leaving a will made in 2016. My father and…
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Weekly Flylady Thread 21st September 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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CARERS deductions and overpayments
My wife works part time and is a carer for me. Last year for 5 months she picked up a couple of extra shifts to cover someone's maternity leave which unknowingly put her over the limit to receive carers allowance. I was looking over our UC statements to see when it would be payed off and noticed that for the months we are…
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partial retirement
I'm wondering if there is anyone that has taken partial retirement at 50 from the NHS from the 1995 scheme? I have been working at the top of a senior band for the past 10 years but cannot face continuing in this role for another 10 years. If I take a lower banded post it will affect my pension at 60 as the 1995 scheme is…
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Help with calculating best Octopus tariff option, adding EV charger to solar/battery setup?
Hi all, I'm getting myself confused so would welcome some direct advice, or suggestions on where to go for it We have a Growatt system, which is not ‘intelligent’. I can manually set it for timings (eg push export out during peak evening period). I am about to purchase an electric car, and install an EV charger. I am most…
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Any point complaining about a hospital department?
After a heart attack and cardiac MRI scan cardiologist 'A' said my condition could be managed by medication 'X' and said I'd get another appointment to see how things were in a couple of months. I asked if I could still travel abroad as I'm a frequent traveller and he said I could. I got a date for a follow up appointment…
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Helping daughter's budget at Xmas
They are hard up and have suggested no present exchange for this year. So I am wondering if I can think if a way of helping out with something like a regular shopping support for a few months or petrol. You get the idea. Not keen on just money gift as can get lost in the whirl of casual shopping. Don't want them to feel…
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2026Q4 price cap: electricity single rate v. multi-rate
My fixed tariff ran out at the wrong time, so I'm currently on my supplier's SVT which looks reasonable until the end of the year. However, when poring over Ofgem's tariff tables, I noticed a strange development. I don't do gas, so I'm only interested in the rates for electricity. Just to make sure it wasn't just living in…
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Self managed DMP advice
hi all. Been on here a lot but just wanted to give an update/ advice needed 5 CCs. All defaulted but Tesco have not sent me anything in few years and not paying them anything. Not sure what even going on the other 4 i pay small amounts to each month what I can afford few are asking me to do a budget planner. I have told…
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Corporate Bond - Halifax
Hello, wonder if someone can help me with my understanding. There is a Halifax corporate bond with a coupon of 13.6% https://www.hl.co.uk/shares/shares-search-results/h/halifax-13.625-perp-subord-bds-regd-gbp I have a mortgage with Halifax of £170k at 4.1 Two ISAs (HL and II) with a combined value of £150k. Would it be a…
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Sky price rise in November - can I cancel mid contract?
Thanks in advance for any replies. I have received an email from Sky about a November price rise. Does it mean I can cancel my contract now? I’ve called Sky and they say I can’t cancel without a fee. They tell me that as a diamond member they didn’t raise my prices in April and so are raising them now. I said that was kind…
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Security pop up
What is the cause of this pop up ? I can't stop them from repeatedly appearing - its infuriatingly annoying….
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Skiddle refund for cancelled gig
I had tickets to see the Human League in Hitchin on 27th August, but a torrential downpour meant is was cancelled on the night. I was not informed by the organisers and have never had any communication from them. However, I did get an email the following day from Skiddle, who the tickets were booked via, and they stated…
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Can anyone shed light on this situation.
a relative who is down sizing currently in a small rented house had a offer accepted on a flat couple months ago subject to contract. She had a level 3 survey done ( it’s a period property) bought up wood rot & damp issues & the roof needs maintenance but no sinking fund. She has reduced her offer which they were( prices…
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Support Worker - Mileage tax relief
Hi, just after some advice please as I've never claimed anything back tax relief wise. As a support worker I use my own car to transport clients to appointments and receive 45p a mile from my employer. Also, would I be able to claim anything back for needing to have business car insurance? I was just wondering if anyone…
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Iceland: Christmas Bonus Card offer - £15 free bonus
The Iceland/Food Warehouse bonus card offer is back for christmas. Load £100 of new savings onto your Bonus Club account in one or more transactions by 5th November and you receive the usual £5 bonus (£1 FREE for every £20), and a £15 bonus. That's a total of £20. The standard £1 bonuses will be loaded onto your account…
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S172 advice please
I received a letter in the post at the end of March to say I'd been caught speeding in my car in England (38mph in a 30mph zone). I returned the letter the same day notifying them I was the driver. I've got a clean licence so was hoping to be offered a speed awareness course. I didn't send it recorded delivery stupidly.…
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CGT on share of investment portfolio to be inherited by inheritor abroad
I am the executor of an estate which includes an investment portfolio. The estate overall is liable for IHT and that has all been dealt with. Part of the portfolio is to be inherited by somebody who is not resident in the UK. They want me to sell their share of the assets and send them the proceeds in cash. There has been…
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O2 issue Apple Watch contract
September/October 2022 I bought Apple Watch SE 2 on contract my contract has run out (19th Sept 26) when I click on view upgrade options it says this when I click on smart watches to see my offers I can only see Samsung watches! my SE 2 is connected to my 16 pro max! Went to o2 store yesterday lovely young lady who was…
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Fixed v tracker in current climate
Ive had an offer accepted on a house for 225k. Going through the final stages of a divorce and the consent order has 125k in it which i currently cant access until all approved by judge. It should be accepted but paperwork still not sent off and I hear it can take 4 -10 weeks to be approved. As a last resort a family…
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money claim issued by DCB Legal
Hi All, I'm looking for some advice please. I've been issued with a claim for an unpaid parking charge. The claimant is Parking Eye and their legal representative is DCB Legal. TBH, I don't really understand why they are still pursuing this as it relates to an incident from 21/4/2023. The vehicle to which the PCN relates…
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AI completely free apps with voice chat
Hi I use my laptop or Chromebook mostly Recently started using Chatgpt or whatever its called and often the Goolge one I've looked for free apps that talk back to you - but they are not free, or I cant get them to work which is the best one, ie easy to use for general stuff Thanks
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Looking for a new laptop but what has happened?
So my 2017 laptop is on its last legs, battery gave up years ago, fans are dying one by one and becoming noisy, and 2 BSOD yesterday. Looked online today expecting the technology to have progressed in leaps and bounds but apparently not. My current laptop has a 2TB SSD drive and most laptops i am seeing have similar or…
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Should I tidy up/close credit cards?
I know this is a regular point of discussion online but hoping for some guidance on what best to do. I have 5 cards. 1 - £6k limit, minimal spend, clear it every month, opened 5+ years ago 2 - £6k, regular household spend, clear it every month, opened 5+ years ago 3 - £25k, no balance, this was until recently a 0% deal…
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Chatgpt
Does anyone find that chatgpt is too quiet, i can only hear the voice responses in an absolutely silent room with my phone volume on max, also the voice response is very slow and deliberate, too slow.
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SumUp (Personal Account) Cashback
I saw an advert recently for a SumUp Personal Account: https://www.sumup.com/en-gb/personal/cashback/ From what I can see it's 2% on supermarket spend (could be of interest to those jumping through Chase's hoops to get the same) and 0.5% elsewhere. If the retailer uses SumUp then 5% is awarded (tends to be smaller…
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Insurance for new driver question
Hi all. I'm a bit confused about the best way to go about getting my 17 year old sons insured now he's passed his test. I've looked at getting his own insurance so he can build up so NCD, but it says that he has to be the main driver of the car (which is our car) and my wife and I alraedy have a policy on that car which…
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Benefit overpayment - is council tax included?
Hi all, Filling out asset form for recovery from estates after death and probate granted. Deceased received savings portion of pension credit, had assessed income period until 2018 and passed 2025. Strongly suspect an overpayment claim will be made, but can anyone with experience tell me whether council tax reductions made…
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Compare+ Home Insurance Problem
I've got a quote but I've found that I am unable to alter the number of days unoccupied, it automatically comes up as under 30 days. I realise that this will cover most requirements, but I can't believe there aren't many others like me who require a longer period to cover holidays. Can this be changed?.
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Understanding my September 2026 bill and the April Gov Price Cap
I’m trying to understand my latest bill. For context, I signed up for a new fixed tariff in April and am billed monthly. My latest bill includes the note: “On this statement you will see reversed charges; this is where we have recalculated some of your previous charges.” All of the reversed charges relate to gas. Why are…
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IFA
my IFA (who is also my son) decided that he no longer wants anything to do with me, do not know why, but in September 2025 he stopped managing my portfolio, which is with Quilter, he did not inform me that he was going to do this, and I only found out this week, when I realised that there wa no advisor fees coming out. i…
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Smart Parking Charge Airport Pub, Manchester
Hi On a visit to the Airport Pub near Manchester Airport. I paid for what I believed was 2 hours parking. However, it seems it was only 1 hour and have now received a parking charge. The machine had a delay when changing the time so it took a couple of attempts to get to 2 hours but I can only assume it changed again when…
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Old Style Daily Sunday 20 September 2026
Good morning all.
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How do you stay as a tennant when you are overseas?
Hi, My new works contract requires me to be overseas for up to 16 weeks of the year on equipment trials. I live in a flat on my own in UK. Do you think my landlord is going to be OK for me to just keep paying rent so that i have somewhere to come back to when i return to UK? (I could be out of the flat for 4 months at a…
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Tax Returns after Death Timelines
This might be in the wrong category, please move if it is. My mum died recently, lets say 28/8/26. She used to complete a self assessment return and pay tax. How do I (as executor) deal with 06/04/25 - 05/04/26. I obviously can't do the usual Return. I assume there is a special form/return in these circumstances. Does…
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Patchy WiFi
so, my wifi speed with sky fell below the 300mbps promised for threes days so now I can now leave without penalty or choose another package. Thing is we’ve been having connectivity issues (ps4 not connecting/glitching, one or more devices not connecting while others do, although speed test showing good speeds etc). I’ve…
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DCB Legal Ltd > Parking Eye
Good evening, all, I received a claim form from the County Court – N1SDT I have done the AoS. Background in short: We took a family member to a bowling alley, in the summer of 2024. There was a large group of folk that went through with the organisers to pay and go to their lanes. I stayed on site and waited – ate, drank…
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Switched to Sky broadband and calls. Phone number change error. Compensation?
We were with NOW broadband and calls. NOW had told me that their router was not being updated and could stop working. We got a cold call from Sky to change to them. The price was OK and the Sky salesman promised that the landline number would remain the same. I took the deal. Of course, openreach turned up, did some…
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Best/safest account to transfer pounds to euros for property purchase.
After many years of struggle and an inheritance, I'm now in the amazing position to be able to buy a small home in Spain. I've searched so much about the best way to send my pounds over into euros. NatWest and Santander are only giving me 1.13 exchange when decent rate is 1.15+ at the moment, those few cents make such a…
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Plug in solar - best tarrif
Let's keep this as more of a theoretical topic for plug ins without battery storage. Basic assumptions - 800W-1000W set, with 4 years payback. What's the best electricity tarrif and approach you can think of to make the payback quicker? E7 tarrif to get the night rate lower - make most of it on cloudy days, run any heavy…