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Citizens Advice column for September

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice:

Q: Everywhere I look I see adverts for upcoming sales - Black Friday and Cyber Monday ‘deals’ are jumping out at me from all directions. Some of the prices seem too good to be true - how can I be sure I really am getting a good deal and not being scammed? 

A: You’re not the only one eager to bag a bargain. The busiest shopping time of the year is also a busy time for cyber criminals who use the spike in spending to disguise their scams as legitimate shopping sites. 

Fraudsters are also taking advantage of AI advances to help them produce accurate and professional-looking content to trick victims into giving away their financial details. 

It sounds like you’re aware there are risks when buying online and that scammers will try to tempt consumers with special offers, fake reviews and sought-after items at rock bottom prices. The good news is there are ways you can protect yourself and shop safely. 

Here Citizens Advice Senior Consumer Expert, Kate Hobson, shares her top five tips to make sure you don’t end up with more, or less, than you bargained for during this busy shopping season. 

1. Make sure you don’t feel rushed. Scammers will often create a sense of urgency by claiming it’s a limited offer or price which encourages you to act without taking as much time to consider the purchase. 

2. Know who you are buying from – if buying from a company you have not used before, check reviews and previous customers’ feedback. If in doubt, don’t buy. 

3. Be wary of suspicious web links. These may direct you to fake (but realistic-looking) websites. It is better to type in the website address yourself. 

4. Don’t share any one-time codes that you’re sent when shopping online. These codes are used to confirm that you’re the one making the purchase, so don’t share them with anyone. 

5. Avoid paying anyone you don’t know by bank transfer. Paying by credit card for single items costing £100 and over gives you legal protection if the goods do not arrive, are faulty, or do not match the description. Paying by credit or debit card for orders costing less than £100 also gives you protection using your card provider’s voluntary ‘Chargeback’ scheme. 

* If you’re worried that something you’ve seen online might be a scam, you can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer line by calling 0808 223 1133 or visit https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer for more information.

John Palmer completes skydive challenge at 77

                                * John Palmer kitted out and ready for the skydive.

Llangollen man John Palmer has just completed his first skydive at the age of 77, raising money for  a cause close to his heart. Here he describes how it went:

"I completed my tandem sky dive last week.  It had been postponed because of inclement weather.  However the forecast was promising and I arrived at Skydive Tilstock Freefall Club in Whitchurch at 8 am.  

"It was still a bit damp and cloudy but that gave us time for a briefing and some drills one of which was stretching back like a banana – necessary for the freefall part, and the second was pulling my knees to my chest to facilitate our landing. Having confirmed that I could actually do it, I put on my suit, met my instructor and got into the minibus to drive to the plane.  

"There were 10 of us in a ridiculously small aeroplane. Whenever I fly on a domestic flight I am always relieved when we actually leave the ground and continue to ascend. In retrospect this was probably the scariest part of the whole thing. We gradually reached 10,000ft. On the way up my instructor attached himself to me and briefed me again.

"Once we had the green light (literally) one by one people went out through the door. We were the last to go and I found myself dangling out of the plane – no going back now. Suddenly we were in flight just like a free fall parachutist falling at 140ft per second/per second.

* John floats to earth during the dive. 

Picture is by his son Nic.

"It was a relief when the parachute deployed with a jerk and we floated down to the landing zone. A quick practice of the landing drill and then we were landing for real.

"We returned to base and got changed. The instructors were very professional and I was very impressed with their expertise.

"Going home to do the shopping was in stark contrast to the adrenalin rush of a sky dive.

"I did the sky dive to raise money the Friends of Llangollen Health Centre and I would like to thank everyone who sponsored me. I have not yet got a final figure, but I am grateful for all the support.  On the news they reported that a 102-year-old lad had done a sky dive – puts my efforts in the shade.

* John's Gofundme page is at: https://gofund.me/7935d2aa

Llan park runner Michael takes on 100km charity challenge

* Michael Beynon is a regular at Llangollen's Old Railway Trail parkrun.

Sixteen years ago doctors told Michael Beynon’s mum he would spend most of his adult life in a wheelchair. 

But with support, continuous training and determination he is planning to take on the formidable challenge of running 100km in just one week in a bid to raise £10,000 for the charity Mencap.

 

Michael, now 29, was born with Downs Syndrome, visually impaired and mild right-sided Cerebral Palsy.

 

A resident of Chirk, he is a regular runner and volunteer with the Old Railway Trail parkrun in Llangollen.

Next month Michael aims to take on a the mammoth challenge of running or walking 100km in one week around Wales, starting on Sunday October 6 and finishing the following Sunday, October 13.

His plan is to raise £10,000 for Mencap by:

* Running the Cardiff Half Marathon on October 6

* Then running/walking 60km around Wales including walking 5km events with local Mencap Clubs, walking groups and Rotarians, taking in the Llanelli Millenium Coastal Path, the Botanical Gardens of Wales, Stackpole Gardens, Aberystwyth parkrun course, Llanfyllin and Llangefni parkrun course and Llangollen parkrun course.

* Finishing off at the Manchester Half on October 13. 

Michael said: “Every year I take on a challenge for charity. This year I decided to raise money for Mencap, as I am a Mencap Myth Buster and because I received amazing support from Mencap last year after a very difficult episode in my life after experiencing racial bullying.

“I wanted to do a challenge that will push me out of my comfort zone and to share my love for walking/running in nature with my Mencap, parkrun, Rotary and friends throughout Wales.

“Mencap works to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities, live happy and healthy lives through campaigning for our rights, providing support and services.”

 

“I will be updating progress on my 100km challenge daily on my social media platforms - Facebook page Michael Beynon, X (Twitter): MichaelBeynon7, Instagram: michaelbeynon95.”

* Michael’s Justgiving page is at: Michael huw mathew Beynon is fundraising for Mencap (justgiving.com)

Councillor reveals why she is backing no-confidence vote in county leader

* The roll-out of the new waste recycling system 

has been fraught by problems. 

Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards has given her reasons for supporting a vote of no-confidence in Denbighshire County Council (DCC) leader, Jason McLellan, which has been called for by fellow members. 

In a statement to llanblogger she says: "I have previously expressed my concerns in June with regard to the systemic failures in the new waste collection and recycling system which have continued to persist.  

"Whilst there may be some service improvements we continue to experience multiple incidents of missed collections, co-mingling of waste, missed green waste and commercial collections, residents on unadopted roads still encountering a sporadic service and non-collection of many surplus bins whilst many residents are still waiting for AHP containers.   

"All this is coming at a heavy cost and this marginally improved service is only enabled by the addition of significant extra resources, personnel working overtime, Saturday collections and the diversion of DCC staff from their usual duties. 

"This is enabling the current failed system at a cost of £55-60k per week with no clarity from the Cabinet or DCC leadership on when this unplanned cost will reduce which is unsustainable. 

"In the face of this we are only offered continuous apologies by the DCC CEO (Chief Executive Officer), Corporate Director, Head of Service for Waste and the Cabinet with no clarity on the root causes of the failings evident, commitment to systemic changes and evidence of a recovery plan with any measurable performance and cost improvement targets being set and reported against.  

"Whilst operationally matters may be improving, we are seeing no reporting of performance in terms of completed and missed collections and financially it appears no evidence of control has been established.  

"My opinion remains that the planning and implementation of this roll out was simply not fit for purpose and since the issues started there is no clear evidence of a structured and measurable recovery plan. 

"As the leader of the Cabinet states, “apologies don’t collect bins'. They also don’t pay for the additional costs which are being incurred every week as DCC struggles to improve their performance with no end date as to when this will be resolved. Ultimately the residents I represent will be asked to pay for this continued failure which is not acceptable. 

"Therefore, as one of the Llangollen independent ward members I supported the motion for a Vote of No Confidence."

Mazda2 hybrid is capable of beating 70mpg barrier

Mazda2 hybrid drive by Steve Rogers

It has been a week to remember. Our paralympians have been breaking records for fun and I have got in on the act as well.

Well, technically my record goes to a car because the Mazda2 hybrid achieved the best economy of any car I have reviewed in 43 years. For the first time I have cracked more than 70mpg over a week’s driving - 71.3mpg to be precise, and I wasn’t even trying, it just happened.

Before getting into the finer detail a little explanation is needed. The Mazda is a Toyota Yaris hybrid. Confused? Don’t be.

Mazda does not have hybrid technology for its Mazda2 supermini and could not justify the enormous cost of development so it made a call to Toyota who happily obliged. Mazda has made a few cosmetic changes, a different bumper and grille, and a body coloured rather than Yaris’s black panel between the rear lights, and, of course, Mazda badges on the body and steering wheel boss.

So let’s forget about Toyota, this is a Mazda and a very fine car into the bargain.

It might be small but can land heavyweight punches. Economy is the star turn but it is also a hoot to drive darting around like a hot hatchback. Acceleration is more than decent thanks to the 59kW electric motor stoking the fire of the 1.5 litre petrol engine. With Ford Fiesta off the grid this, and the Yaris, are probably the sweetest driving superminis out there.

But really this is a car that wears a Mr Sensible hat. This is a self charging hybrid that can cruise in electric at all but 60mph and store up enough kinetic energy to drive around town without using a drop of petrol.

It recharges the small battery pack through acceleration and braking and has a B gear. That beefs up the regenerative braking system and feels as if it is slowing the car, which it is, but don’t be fooled into thinking it will stop the car. It is just like dropping down a couple of gears to scrub off some speed. You can watch the state of play in a graphic on the central screen.

There is no gear changing, a CVT automatic box takes care of that so expect the usual whining when the revs shoot up, but however many people often moan about this system it is very efficient and here to stay.

Cars make a big hole in a family’s finances and with prices ranging from £24k to £29k this is a big chunk of money so is it feasible transport for a young family? The curvy roof makes entry tight, particularly into the back seats. I managed to squeeze in a child seat and later transported one tall teen and two youngsters although legroom is tight and not as generous as most rivals. Likewise boot space is low down the supermini league table.

If you can get over that hurdle then the Mazda is tempting particularly if you plump for the entry Centre-Line which has more or less all you need like reversing camera, electronic parking brake, climate control, auto dipping headlights, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, radar cruise control along with a good number of safety aids.

One surprise on my middle of the range Exclusive-Line was halogen headlights. You get so used to LED headlights it is surprising how dim these seem by comparison.

Dashboard layout is standard fair, a lot of black plastic but decent quality, analogue driver’s binnacle and a quick responding touchscreen for radio and infotainment. It is irritating for passengers that a clock is only displayed with the home screen, which will rarely be displayed.

Add ons like navigation, larger touchscreen, digital driver display and a few other luxuries will be found at the top of the chain but you will need to find £29,230. Ouch.

The obvious question is why buy the Mazda hybrid over a Yaris that is £1,490 cheaper? Basically it is giving customers who like the Mazda brand a top notch alternative to the petrol Mazda2. A likely condition of the deal is that Mazda will not undercut the Yaris which sort of makes sense. At least the Mazda is a good bit cheaper than the Honda Jazz, another hybrid packing a big punch.

What a strange old world we live in when it comes to cars…

Fast facts

Mazda2 Hybrid Exclusive-Line

££25,380 (starts £24,130)

1.5 litre 3-cylinder petrol; 114bhp

0-62mph 9.7secs; 109mph

70.6mpg combined

92g/km. 1st tax £175

Insurance group 14

Boot: 286-935 litres

Llangollen Food Share thanks donors for their support

For the second year running Llangollen Food Share has helped to feed local children during the summer holidays.  

During term-time all primary school children and some secondary school pupils receive free school meals. 

But parents don’t receive any help to provide the extra food needed to feed their children at lunchtimes during school holidays. 

The cost-of-living crisis is still very real to many families in Llangollen and the cost of providing extra food needed to feed their children is a real challenge.

A spokesperson for the Food Share said: “Over the last year there has been a growing need to help local families to feed children during the school holidays. Our aim is to make sure that ‘no-one goes hungry in our area’, but this aim is becoming more and more challenging to fulfil.

“This summer was the most challenging yet, because despite chasing funds from quite a few grant funders we were unable to get support for the school lunch project. 

"However, were delighted when Llangollen residents stepped in and donated over £2,000 to enable the lunch project to go ahead. The generosity of local donors is really appreciated. It has provided money for local children to receive healthy and nutritious packed lunches throughout the six weeks of the holidays.

“Llangollen Food Share began helping families during the school holidays just before the 2023 summer holidays. Help continued during Easter, Christmas and half terms. We are grateful to have received financial support from SDCP whilst the scheme was being established."

Each week throughout the year Llangollen Food Share supports over 130 local people from its centre based by Market Street car park. They also have a Community Fridge which is open to everyone that has surplus short-dated food on Monday and Thursday mornings.

* You can help to feed local people who would otherwise go hungry. Follow this link www.llangollenfoodshare.org.uk/giving to help out.

Langollen Food Share is a registered charity (1204420)