Monthly Archives: June 2011

Do you have EPC certificate for your home?

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What is EPC?
EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) is a much talked issues now a day. As a home owner you must have to have it in order to measure the energy efficiency of the house or property. Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) contains details information about the way making your home more energy efficient and reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions. All homes bought, sold or rented require an EPC. New home buyers or tenants should inquire about EPC certificate for ensuring better investment of your money.

While you are looking for EPC make sure that your domestic energy assessors are accredited, professional, friendly and insured. For your greater conveniences here some details are provided regarding EPC certificate.

How to get an EPC?
As a home owner you would meet with an accredited (domestic) energy assessor.  After executing necessary works they would provide you EPC certificate. But one thing is important; always hire a energy assessor, who holds an accreditation scheme. If you find difficulties, finding an energy assessor, search various website by keyword like EPC certificate or energy assessor. But landlord and commercial users should remember, an EPC certificate must be less than three years old before placing for rent or sell.

Validity periods of your EPC
Generally an EPC certificate is provided for ten years. But of you are belong to home information pack, an EPC should be less than three years old when the building is first put on the market.

EPC costs and time
An accredited organization set the cost of EPC. Price would vary according to home size. In all cases it may not charge more than few hundred dollars.

EPC takes time like a valuation of a house. But it may vary according to property size and location.

What you should do, if you are not satisfied with EPC?
You can lodge complain to energy assessor department, if you feel unhappy with your EPC. They ought to solve your problem. If they fail to do so, go for accreditation scheme to solve the issues.

Finally, the Banks are addressing the PPI Claims Debacle

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Payment protection insurance and subsequent PPI claims have been all over the news recently. According to reports, Britain’s banks anticipate being forced to make compensation payouts totalling as much as £5 billion, with Lloyds bearing the brunt; its bosses have announced that £3.2 billion has been ring-fenced in order to meet forthcoming compensation demands.

If you’ve missed the whole spectacle, or are feeling a little confused about the PPI fiasco, here’s a quick re-cap:

PPI Claims: The Story so Far

PPI stands for payment protection insurance, an optional extra which banks introduced as cover for loan customers should they find themselves unable to meet repayments.

However, the insurance was rarely paid out, and many customers were either charged for it without being first informed, or were misled by unscrupulous sales-people.

It is estimated that around 13 million PPI products have been sold in the UK, and in 2006, the UK public paid £4.4 billion in premiums. Of these 13 million products, experts suggest that between 50% and 70% of policies have been mis-sold.

As the banks’ underhand methods began to emerge, PPI claims were launched by disgruntled customers in an effort to reclaim some of the money they had been tricked into spending by their banks.

In a bid to stall their customers’ PPI claims, the banks launched a legal challenge, however this was abandoned at the beginning of May, and now the FSA is demanding banks speed up the compensation process.

I think I have been mis-sold PPI, what should I do?

If you think you have been mis-sold PPI and need to speak to an expert about making a PPI claim, contact the team at ClearLaw. You will speak directly with an experienced lawyer who will provide legal advice and guidance, helping you take the first steps towards reclaiming the money you have lost.