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Last Updated: Friday, 28 November, 2003, 16:06 GMT
Thousands to get legal aid bills
Justice graphic

Thousands of people who have received legal aid in the past are being asked to pay back the money.

The Legal Services Commission is writing to 85,000 people in England and Wales who were awarded property or money in a divorce settlement.

A statutory charge will have been applied to their home, and it can be paid on death, when the home is sold, or at any time before this.

However, some people may be unaware they owe money, or that there is a charge on their property, and some cases may be from decades ago.

We spoke to Alison MacNair, Senior Legal Advisor at the Legal Services Commission.

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Chip and pin

Penny Haslam reported on the retailers and banks who are dragging their feet over launching the new "Chip and Pin" anti-fraud system.

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Investment scams

Consumers have been warned to be vigilant against investment scams, the likes of which have tricked Britons out of at least £350m in the past three years, according to government figures.

Unsolicited approaches from crooked investment firms often offer goods with little or no investment potential, as conmen play on ignorance.

Pauline Jones from Kent invested £7,000 in bogus art prints. She told us her story.

And we spoke to Consumer Minister Gerry Sutcliffe about the government advice; and asked what else is being done to tackle the problem.

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Stamp duty changes

Changes to stamp duty come into effect from Monday, 1 December.

Although the present rates will continue to apply to residential property purchases, all buyers must submit a Land Transaction Return giving details of the transaction, with the payment.

This must be submitted within 30 days of the effective date of transaction. Penalties will be payable if the Return is late, and interest is payable on late payment.

We spoke to Conveyancing Practitioner Denis Cameron, and John Whiting of PriceWaterhouseCoopers about the changes.

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OTHER NEWS

Windfall for Staffordshire customers

Savers with Staffordshire Building Society will receive at least £100 as the merger with Portman Building Society has been given official approval.

But people must have had at least £100 in their account on 23 June, 2003, and 30 December, 2003, to get the windfall.

Staffordshire borrowers will get £200 and cheques should arrive by the middle of January. But Portman customers will get nothing.


Moves against discrimination at work

From Monday employers will not be able to discriminate against employees on grounds of their sexual orientation.

And on Tuesday it will also become illegal to discriminate at work against people on grounds of their religious belief.


Producer: Jennifer Clarke
Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporter: Penny Haslam
Web Producer: Nathalie Knowles


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