NatWest Reward Platinum: No Foreign Fees from October
NatWest confirms Reward Platinum debit card will scrap foreign transaction fees from October 1, 2026, saving holidaymakers 2.75% per overseas purchase.
Category : Council Services
HMRC Letters: 800,000 Self-Employed Face Pension Gaps
HMRC is writing to 800,000 self-employed taxpayers about potential National Insurance gaps affecting State Pension. Letters target those self-employed between 2015 and March 2024, with 160,000 near pension age contacted first.
HMRC: Claim £2,200 Child Trust Fund for 2002-2011 Births
HMRC urges parents of children born 2002-2011 to check for unclaimed Child Trust Funds worth £2,200 on average. Up to a million accounts are lost.
Santander customers handed £250 in 'outstanding' move
Santander offers £250 cashback on 10-year fixed mortgage at 5.74%, while Atom Bank and Oxbury top savings deals, says Moneyfacts.
Lloyds, Halifax, RBS to Close 26 Branches in Sept
Lloyds, Halifax and RBS will close 26 branches in September 2026, continuing the shift to digital banking. Full list of closures inside.
Grump Limited Applies for Alcohol Licence in Chelmsford
Grump Limited has applied to Chelmsford City Council for a premises licence to sell alcohol at 56 Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, operating as a cafe and neighbourhood store. Representations due by August 26, 2026.
HMRC monthly tax plan: self-employed face £19,464 bill
Self-employed workers earning £50,000 could pay £19,464 in 14 months under HMRC's new monthly payment system, starting April 2029, warns cash-flow squeeze.
HMRC mulls 20-year tax probe period under Healey
HMRC proposes extending tax investigation period to 20 years from six, impacting non-deliberate errors. Consultation open until September; experts warn of risks.
Tapo D205 2K Doorbell Now £34 on Amazon
Tapo D205 2K Video Doorbell reduced from £54.99 to £34.47 on Amazon, offering crisp 2K video, AI detection, and free local storage with no subscription.
Andy Burnham £200 Payments: No Benefits Needed
Households can apply for £200 cost-of-living payments from local councils without claiming benefits, under the new Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Heatwave nappy smell: Warwick Council rejects bin change
Warwick District Council has ruled out switching to fortnightly rubbish collections during heatwave, leaving families with young children to face smelly nappies.
Birmingham bins U-turn as flats return to weekly collections
Birmingham council U-turns on fortnightly bins for flats, restoring weekly waste collections after pilot complaints. Recycling continues fortnightly.
DVLA Extends Ukraine Driving Licence Rules After Burnham Promise
The DVLA has confirmed a driving licence rule change extending exemptions for Ukrainian drivers in Great Britain, following a promise from Andy Burnham. The extension applies to those on Ukraine visa schemes.
Asylum Seeker Jailed for Weapons at Rochdale School
Both Douk Deng, 21, was sentenced to two years after police bodycam captured him brandishing a hammer, hatchet and knife on school grounds in Rochdale.
Man Admits Taking Ambulance with Patient Inside
Marshall Leese, 32, from Hanley, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and aggravated vehicle taking after stealing an ambulance with a patient inside from Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Dudley Council Staff Pay Guaranteed Despite IT Concerns
Dudley Council's watchdog committee has been assured staff will be paid on time when a new Enterprise Resource Planner system goes live in September 2027, with contingency plans in place.
DWP to Revoke DVLA Licences from October
From October, DWP can revoke driving licences for benefit debts over £1,000. Andy Burnham's government enforces the crackdown to recover fraud and unpaid debts.
Rubbish Piles Up as Two-Week Bin Collections Start
Birmingham streets are overflowing with waste after the council switched to fortnightly refuse collections due to an ongoing bin strike, leaving residents frustrated.
Chelmsford parking changes from August 2026
Chelmsford City Council introduces No Waiting at Any Time restrictions in Springfield, Chelmer Village, and near Beaulieu Park Station, plus a disabled bay change, effective August 17, 2026.
Lloyds Bank Handsworth Branch Closes June 23, 2027
Lloyds Bank has confirmed the Handsworth branch will close on June 23, 2027, amid ongoing branch closures across the UK. The bank cites digital banking and alternative local options.
Saffron Building Society Moves to Brentwood Library
Saffron Building Society is relocating its Brentwood branch to the town's library, building on a successful partnership with Essex Library Service. The move creates a community hub offering financial services alongside library amenities, with no reduction
Driver Arrested After Police in Birmingham Discover Stolen Car
A driver was arrested in Birmingham after police discovered the car they were driving had been stolen. The incident occurred during a routine patrol.
DWP PIP and DLA claimants get Motability mileage letter
PIP and DLA claimants on the Motability Scheme will be contacted by Motability Operations about a new mileage allowance extension for rural and island areas, adding up to 3,000 extra miles per year.
Dad used friend for driving test due to poor English
Charanjit Singh, a dad-of-three from Birmingham, asked a friend to take his theory test after twice failing due to limited English. He was caught, prosecuted, and given a community order with 100 hours unpaid work.
Villa Tavern Seeks 8am Alcohol Sales, Longer Hours
Admiral Taverns applies to vary Villa Tavern's licence in Nechells, Birmingham, proposing alcohol sales from 8am to 1am daily and opening until 1.30am, with public representations due by 13 August 2026.
VAT Cut Sparks £81 Charge Warning for Driveway-Less Households
Andy Burnham's VAT cut on household electricity from October 1 saves £45/year, but EV owners without driveways face £81 public charging costs, prompting calls to equalise VAT.
Man arrested over £150 restaurant bill hair complaint
A 23-year-old man from Tamworth has been arrested on suspicion of theft after refusing to pay a £150 bill at a Burton-on-Trent restaurant, claiming there was a hair in the food.
Molly Smith and Tom Clare Marry in Intimate Manchester Ceremony
Love Island All Stars winners Molly Smith and Tom Clare have officially become husband and wife in a legal ceremony at Stockport Town Hall, ahead of a larger celebration in Spain.
Andy Burnham £666 UC Payments for Couples Over 25
New Prime Minister Andy Burnham will oversee enhanced Universal Credit payments of £666 per month for couples over 25, fulfilling a cost-of-living pledge.
HMRC August 7 MTD Deadline for £50k+ Earners
HMRC warns 864,000 sole traders and landlords earning over £50,000 must submit first quarterly MTD update by August 7, 2026, under PM Andy Burnham.
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