From buying your dream house to fixing the boiler, our experts have all the advice you need
The dream team of Judge Rinder, Mel Hunter and Amanda Cable tell you how to spend your money and, more importantly, how to save it
Every Saturday, The Consumer Crew are here to solve your problems.
Mel Hunter will take on readers’ consumer issues, Amanda Cable will give you the best advice for buying your dream home and Judge Rinder will tackle your legal woes.
Judge Rinder - The Sun's legal expert
IF you despise Valentine’s Day, you can breathe easy knowing that the next one is 361 days away.
In the olden days one would wait expectantly for the postman to bring a card containing expressions of love and devotion.
If none arrived, no one had to know.
These days we are required to endure a bombardment of floral arrangement-filled Facebook posts involving people we barely know and certainly don’t care about.
Whatever the medium, Valentine’s Day is for confirming a commitment to a relationship, whether it is of three months’ or 30 years’ standing.
But commitments come in many shapes and sizes, and whether or not those relationships come to an end, those commitments can endure.
It’s not uncommon in the modern world to purchase an Xbox, laptop, car or light aircraft on a credit agreement for a loved one, particularly if their credit rating has suffered a blow in the past.
While taking on credit debt for your partner during the halcyon days may seem problem-free at the outset, experience tells us that it can prove problematic further down the line.
If the relationship breaks down and your ex refuses to honour the payments (at least until custody of Fluffy the rottweiler is settled), you may need to evidence the agreement at court.
A written contract would be best, but evidence of the agreement via text messages or emails would probably be enough.
It is important to remember that credit debt in your name is your debt, regardless of whether your partner has promised to reimburse you for the direct debit.
Even if the payments are honoured, you could face difficulties getting credit for yourself in the future while the payments are ongoing.
If you find yourself needing a loan to cover a holiday or an extension on your house, the bank will examine your current outgoings and they will not take into account the fact that you are being reimbursed.
In my opinion, romantic gestures are best kept to a one-off outlay that can be properly re-assessed before the next organised romantic occasion.
Summing up
Q: TWO years ago my son took his daughter hostage with two knives in her bedroom.
I was in the doorway of the bedroom trying to talk my son down for two hours. Armed officers arrived and came up the stairs behind me.
One of the officers tried to taser my son but missed and shot me in the temple. In the police report the officer who fired the taser says he knew that he had missed my son and had shot me by mistake, but still let the taser discharge for a further two seconds.
I had to be taken to hospital to get the barb removed from my temple.
Can I claim against the police?
Roger, Nottingham
A: As unpleasant an experience as I am sure it was, two seconds is unlikely to be an unreasonable time to withdraw a taser that is discharged by accident.
If you are able to persuade a judge the officer was negligent, your claim is likely to be worth less than £1,000 for the pain and suffering you experienced.
If that is right, your claim would stay in the small claims court. The advantage of this is that the process is relatively simple and you cannot have the officer’s costs awarded against you if you lose.
Conversely, you have to pay your own costs of bringing the claim. It would be advisable to get a solicitor to help you bring the claim, so you would be fortunate to break even, even if you won.
A strong sense of justice is commendable but I cannot, in your circumstances, recommend this course of action to you.
Mr Rinder regrets he cannot answer questions personally. Answers intended as general guidance, they do not constitute legal advice and are not a substitute for obtaining independent legal advice
Got a question for Judge Rinder? Email judgerinder@mcb777.fun
Mel Hunter – Readers’ champion on fighting for your rights
TOASTY: Turn your thermostat down. Go one degree lower and you can save around £45 on heating bills.
BALMY: Get to grips with your energy bills. Understanding what you’re paying for can help you see where you can make savings.
WARM: Most suppliers offer a range of tariffs, along with discounts for managing your account online or choosing a “dual fuel” deal, so get all the advantages you can.
HOT: Go with a crowd-pleasing firm. Smaller company Ovo topped the recent Energy Satisfaction survey from Which? E.on was highest of the Big Six.
Do you have a consumer issue? E-mail mel.hunter@the-sun.co.uk
PROPERTIES sell 38 days faster with online agencies, according to a new Which? Investigation.
While 19 per cent of properties listed by traditional high street agents had their initial listing prices reduced by five per cent or more, only 13 per cent of homes sold by online agencies were similarly discounted.
FANCY some mustard on your carpet? A new retro range from Carpetright is bringing the Seventies revival straight into your home for an instantly contemporary look.
Assistant buyer Jemma Dayman says: “No colour better defines this decade better than mustard, and it works surprisingly well in flooring. Pair mustard with muted greys and browns for a modern Seventies twist.”