NDIS mark-ups for people with a disability as bad as wedding price gouging, insiders say – ABC News

Comment from the article ‘Ms Atmore said there were time consuming, costly and “quite stringent” processes that providers within her organisation went through before they could offer services to NDIS participants.”

Usually involving some kind of registration and appropriate standards before they even consider providing work,” she said.
She also said allied health professionals often had to tailor their services to the needs of NDIS participants, which can also take up more time and resources.’

My comment is, surely any organisation should expect costs for registration and have apprpriate standards for to not do so could well mean there is no governance of the organisation and the services they provide. So my concern is what about the organisations not registered are they just doing what they wish to with no consideration of their customers.

With ‘tailoring services to the needs of patients’, surely this should be done in all cases as if not services could be given that are not appropriate.

Unfortunately I feel the instances of unsatisfactory organisations and inappropriate services is much more prolific than it should be in many countries, even in the US with their for profit health care system.

Every organisation should be providing good, if not excellent service and all services provided should be exactly what is required for each individual patient be it provided through a universal free at the point of delivery service or through profit making insurance provision. None should be over priced for anyone, especially for persons with disabilities., but, unfortunately that is not so for many business do increase their prices when they know they will be accepted this is especially so for areas through insurance and when dealing with large national medical organisations.

Many large national organisations may have a stringent process to initially include suppliers onto their list of recommended suppliers, but is this list frequently inspected, if ever to see if ‘value for money’ is still being provided and services just as good and maybe better could be obtained for other and maybe new suppliers.

I don’t know, but I do wish the national medical organisations do so, for all concerned.

 

Source: NDIS mark-ups for people with a disability as bad as wedding price gouging, insiders say – ABC News

Companies would have to offer repairs for worn-out products for up to 10 years under proposed EU rules | Reuters

The European Union wants to give consumers the right to have worn-out products like washing machines and televisions repaired by producers even after the sales guarantee has expired, to cut waste and make goods last longer.

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This is how it was many, many years ago, when goods were made to last, but then manufactures saw that the buying market was not taking place as they wished it to. Then technology moved so fast that many items were out of date as you bought them, certainly, mobile phones for the advertising encouraged this.

It was thought resources would be never ending, but we see now, hopefully, not too late, that resources are running out or by harvesting them Earth is being destroyed and so in time our own lifetime on Earth.

Yes, what the EU is doing is welcomed, but as usual they have not thought it through, so is the case with any government.
To make goods last longer their prices will increase and so will costs of any repairs thereby causing many people to not afford to do so or will escalate the ‘cost of living’ which so many of us wish for it to decrease.

Yes, manufacturer Warranties should be increased to well more than 2 years for that is when many products tend to require repairs if any are currently possible. But longer Warranties will also increase costs of products, maybe making them out of reach for many, which could have been another reason for the growth of our throw away culture.

What is required is not just one action, but many actions from various areas, Governments, manufacturers and the buying public.

Governments making decrees will only cause more unrest, they need to take everyone with them, but means they for once need to listen and not just carry on regardless, but that is not the government way, any government.

Source: Companies would have to offer repairs for worn-out products for up to 10 years under proposed EU rules | Reuters

Fewer than five accessible toilets in York – campaigners call for more | York Press

THERE are fewer than five accessible toilets for disabled people to use in York, new figures show.

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This is not only in York, but throughout the UK.

To find Changing Places toilets look on https://www.changing-places.org/.

Many more are required as suitable toilets are very essential facilities.

Perhaps Building regulations should be changed so any new commercial buildings have to include not only male/female and disabled toilets, but at least one Changing places toilet, it will take time, but the numbers of toilets will increase.

But also more needs to be done in existing buildings as everyone has a right to use a toilet.

 

Source: Fewer than five accessible toilets in York – campaigners call for more | York Press

Prepayment Energy Meters, Are You Due Compensation?

Unfortunately, many Utility companies can’t be trusted, if any at all, so unless each and everyone of them are taken to court separately for each and every breach of the law they will continue to break the law at will.

Each and every CEO needs to be made legally responsible.

While not about prepayment meters, I am in dispute with my own Utility company and have sent them a formal cpmplaint in early January 2023, all I have received so far is an auto-email acknowledgement saying they will respond in 5 days. Those days are now 2 months, but can’t refer to Ofgem for another month.

No point in switching for they are all as bad as each other.

Currently they care for no one except themselves.

Same Difference

With many thanks to Benefits And Work.

Energy suppliers have been told by Ofgem this week to pay compensation to customers wrongly forced to have prepayment meters.  Other customers may have the right to have their prepayment meters removed, even if they don’t get compensation.  We would like to hear from Benefits and Work readers if you have been affected by this growing scandal.

According to Ofgem rules, suppliers can’t legally force-fit a prepayment meter under warrant for people in very vulnerable situations if they don’t want one. Nor can they legally use warrants on people who would find the experience very traumatic.

Yet it has become increasingly clear that suppliers have been forcibly fitting meters unlawfully with virtually no scrutiny by courts, who simply took the suppliers word that all the necessary checks had been made.

T get a warrant, energy companies’ representatives swear an oath that they have…

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To Complain, or Not To Complain, That Is the Question

Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE X-NONE To make a complaint is a Right we all have and one we should all exercise if we are unhappy with anything an organisation is involved with. All organisations have to have their own Complaints policy. Initially you could complain informally, but if this is insufficient, then you can make a Formal Complaint Complaints can be made in any media, be it in persons, by phone, letter, email and many others. However, some organisation may say you have to make it on their own Complaints form which is not true. However, when making a complaint I believe it is important to keep a record of the complaints, so if in person or by telephone, I would follow it up by a written communication referencing how it was made initially. Some organisations fear complaints, when they should be looked at as a means to improve what is there. In this, I dislike the word complaint, which could be viewed negatively by those who receive it, but it should be viewed positively as a means for improvement, so I do feel comment would be a better word to use. Unfortunately some organisations act against who is complaining, especially if the person is employed by them and they are labelled ‘Whistleblower‘, but again they are trying to right a seemed wrong and this should be applauded and encouraged in every instance. But, when complaining, please try to do this in a calm manner and not be abusive, no matter how upset and possibly angry you are, and if possible make some comments on how to improve for the future. When a complaint is received by an organisation it should be formally acknowledged in letter or email with a timescale as to when a response could be received. Any response to any formal complaint should be written either letter or email and fully answer the complaint made, with an indication if you are not in agreement with the response how it could be taken further. This could be by referring to the Local Ombudsman or other similar organisations such as Ofgem, Ofcom and others. I do practice what I say and have over the years complained to my Local Authority, Health Authorities (PALS in respect of hospitals) and many other organisations and in many of these my complaints have been upheld and hopefully improvement been made by the respective organisations. However, I have used PALS and some other complaint areas to make compliments for good service too.

‘Truly amazing what we’re pulling off’ in forcing people to pay BBC licence fee, says Tim Davie

Director-general’s comments show corporation’s ‘arrogance’, say critics

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This shows, completely what is wrong with the BBC for it is Me, Me, Me all the time and its reliance on the historic importance of the BBC , from 1920, which then was only radio, but then experimental television broadcasts were started in 1929, with limited regular broadcasts using this system began in 1934.

TV licence was first introduced on 1 June 1946, the licence covering the monochrome-only single-channel BBC television service cost £2 (equivalent to £88.26 as of 2021).

But TV now is multi-channel networks with as many as 400+ TV channels and 160+ Radio channels on Sky, but there are many other providers, but not showing as many as Sky, but still a good selection, but, in the main there are additional charges for these networks.

But, these charges are additional to the BBC TV licence fee, which needs to be paid whether you watch BBC TV or not.

If you only wish to pay one fee, the BBC TV Licence, then you would need to watch by using Freeview, Freeview Play, Freesat or maybe Youview in some instances.

You don’t need a TV Licence if you never watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service, or use BBC iPlayer*. This applies to any device, including a TV, computer, laptop, phone, tablet, games console or digital box. Or let us know you don’t need a TV Licence. Find out more about when you need a TV Licence.

Currently, BBC income from the TV licence to BBC (2021) is £3.75 billion, but total BBC income is £5.06 billion.

Not paying for a TV Licence could lead to a £1,000 fine if we find that you have been watching, recording or downloading programmes illegally. Is it against the law to not have a TV Licence? You are breaking the law if you: watch or record TV on any channel via any TV service (e.g. Sky, Virgin, Freeview, Freesat)

It is an offence under section 363 of the Communications Act 2003 to watch live on any channel, TV service or streaming service, or use BBC iPlayer* on any device, without a valid TV Licence. Section 365 of that Act requires a person to whom a TV Licence is issued must pay a fee to the BBC.

But can you become a criminal for not having a TV Licence?

If convicted, you will get a criminal record, but it isn’t one that you have to disclose for most purposes, and it will not show up on basic criminal record checks

No, you can’t go to prison for not having a TV licence. The court can only give you a fine for this. But if you don’t pay, the court can take further action to collect the fine, including sending you to prison as a last resort.

Is it time to scrap the TV Licence or at least decriminalise it?

So, currently who knows what will happen.

So, many in the UK will be paying twice to watch TV, the BBC Licencing fee and the Network subscription fee, surely having to pay twice is far from right and certainly having a criminal record for not paying for the TV Licence.

If it is decided to retain the BBC licence fee, which is well debateable, surely it should be made under Civil Law and not Criminal.

“The difference between civil law and criminal law turns on the difference between two different objects which law seeks to pursue – redress or punishment.” In other words, criminal law seeks to punish for an offence. Civil law seeks to achieve a remedy (for example, compensation) for the injured party.

In my opinion if the TV Licence fee is to be retained then it should be under Civil Law and not Criminal.

But, really should anyone have to have a licence for watching live TV, the radio licence was abolished in 1971, so now could be the time to abolish the TV Licence also, perhaps the other TV networks should pay the BBC out of the subscriptions they receive for including BBC transmissions on their networks, rather than adverts on the BBC other than adverts for BBC, which are shown with increasing regularity, which again is debatable and perhaps self-defeating.

What other fees should be looked at next, perhaps the Road Fund, which with the state of the roads does not appear to be spent on them.

What is road fund license? Road fund license, also known as vehicle excise duty or colloquially as road tax is a taxation imposed by the government on all roadworthy motor vehicles. The cost of road fund license is based on the emissions the car puts out.

But, that is for another occasion.

 

Source: ‘Truly amazing what we’re pulling off’ in forcing people to pay BBC licence fee, says Tim Davie

Labour condemns ‘catalogue of waste’ on government ‘credit cards’ | Conservatives | The Guardian

Analysis of civil service spending includes Rishi Sunak’s Treasury department spending £3,000 on Tate photographs

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We are continually told there is a Cost of Living crisis as well as all the others, but these cards are not given to Government Ministers, but the respective Civil Servants. So is the fault with the Civil Servants, whoi are there irrespective of who is in Office, or is the criteria for using them so lacks that no one really knows how and what on they should be used, or are the civil Servants just doing the bidding as directed by their Ministers and feel that they can’t or don’t have the authority to query the spending.

No matter what it is it has to stop and there be proper financial management within Government areas, irrespective of who is there be it individuals or Party. If not all the cards should be immediately withdrawn and all spending has to be completely authorised before it is spent and if not the costs are borne completely by the persons doing the spending or the persons on who the spending is for. Perhaps having spending levels with varying degrees of authorisations, as would any competent business. or should have.

This is not their money, but public money and in the end everyone involved should be accountable to the public on a day to day or activity to activity basis.

We hear so much about ‘Red Tape’ so lets have the accountability too.

 

Source: Labour condemns ‘catalogue of waste’ on government ‘credit cards’ | Conservatives | The Guardian

How the NFL avoids paying disabled players — with the union’s help – The Washington Post

Facing pressure from Congress, the league vowed to make it easier for players broken by football to get payments. But the system remains stacked against them.

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Unfortunately, this is far from unusual in insurance-based sickness plans be they be sport related or not. So great care needs to be taken when applying for any such plan. For it is my experience that any claim will be looked upon as how to avoid paying and if a claim is to be paid then pay the lowest amount possible.

So in America, this is much more important as their health system is insurance based.

For those who can afford to take legal action, claims could eventually be made, but after a very protracted and stressful process, many may not be able to afford to do so, therefore they will suffer medically and also financially, that is if they survive at all.

Insurance is, supposed to be there to help when help is required, but in reality, especially health insurance is in many instances not helping at all.

 

Source: How the NFL avoids paying disabled players — with the union’s help – The Washington Post

Trussonomics is slowly winning the argument | The Spectator

Yes, I agree taxes do have to come down, investments up, less regulation, and more devolution, it can’t all be done at once and there also needs more ‘leveling up’, not just South to North, but rich to poor, in some respects more male to female, more equality for disability, ethnicity and much more. For there is too much inequality in the UK.

Pay levels in the UK are so bad and in some areas, so much more than others many where striking won’t be effective if it ever is for are all the lost income the strikers are experiencing will ever be gained back. But some of the argument is that strikers are not just trying to improve for themselves but for the UK in total. For the NHS is in dire need of improvement which has been covered for many years by NHS workers doing much more to cover some of the inadequacies in the NHS. But it may not be so well known the dire state of social care of which the NHS also needs to survive and the pay rates of social care workers are so much worse than many who are currently taking strike actions.

While this government is ignoring all of the problems in the NHS this government and all previous governments have totally ignored all of the problems in social care and not only social care but also hospitality, agriculture, and maybe others..

Does this government have a clue, no and perhaps Truss did, except she first gave tax reductions to those on higher rates of tax and not to the initial tax rates as the tax-free levels need to be greatly increased perhaps to the National Living Wage, so that it is much more of a Living Wage, for it currently is not?

Much needs to be done but it is the low-paid who are in the greatest need and perhaps paying them more could well improve their levels of life so then, their need to have NHS interventions could be reduced and thereby reduce some of the NHS pressures.

All life is so interrelated and no one area can be looked at in isolation as many governments still do.

Source: Trussonomics is slowly winning the argument | The Spectator

England’s teachers among the best paid for fewest hours in Europe

I am not qualified to talk about Pay for Teachers, but pay is but one aspect of the strike action, for there are others. Be their pay be good or not there is a shortage of teachers and other forms of support in schools. Schools are also extremely short of many other resources vital to the actions of teaching and much of this is down to the continued spending cuts imposed by Governments.

No matter how much one is paid they need all the resouces available to do the job completely and this is not occurring currently.

Source: England’s teachers among the best paid for fewest hours in Europe