News
NEWS PAGE
Welcome to the News Page.
Please visit here from time to time, you may also choose a link from the “News” drop-down link on the main menu bar above for a list of current news items.
The latest STAFF TRAVEL postings from the Rail Delivery Group, etc., are on the Staff Travel News page.
The latest railway-related news can be found via the Industry News page
British Transport Pensioners Federation have teamed up with award-winning Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines to give you a very tempting discount – up to 10% for existing customers – with 5% British Transport Pensioners Federation discount in addition to Fred. Olsen’s 5% Oceans Loyalty Club discount.
Human Rights Video from Age Platform
A video presentation by our own Peter Rayner
Click on the title to watch
Phone Scams
We have received numerous reports of ever more complex phone scams.
This involves a variety of scams that either persuade you to buy phone-related products / services that turn out to be substandard or non-existent; or to make phone calls or texts to premium services by accident; or to unknowingly sign up to expensive subscription services.
There are a wide variety of frauds that can target you on your phone and we have compiled a list of the most common on our website on the link below.
https://www.npcuk.org/post/scams-beware
For further information on other forms of scams go to the Action Fraud website.
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
We would urge you to be ever vigilant.
Goodbye Cinderella
Haven’t picked up your copy of Goodbye Cinderella – A New Settlement for Care Services?
Use the order form on the link below to get your copy.
https://www.npcuk.org/post/goodbye-cinderella-1
Care Sector Webinar
If you didn’t get a chance to join us, or want to watch the NPC Care Sector Webinar again, you can do so on the link below.
Many of the transcribes and notes are also now available.
https://www.npcuk.org/post/uk-health-and-care-experts-call-for-national-care-service-at-npc-emergency-online-summit
Easy Fundraising
Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your annual holiday – you could be raising free donations for National Pensioners Convention with EasyFundraising?
There are over 4,000 shops and sites on board ready to make a donation – including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S – and it won’t cost you a penny extra to help us raise funds.
Find out more https://www.npcuk.org/post/easyfundraising
Thank you for your support.
Care Homes (England) Briefing Paper
The NPC has produced a briefing paper on the recent Amnesty International Care Homes (England) report.
The briefing from NPC shows how critical the issue of human rights is for older people receiving care. The NPC policy for a National Care Service free at the point of need puts individuals at the heart of services, with choices and involvement in having their needs met.
Our webinar on Older People’s Day is still attracting attention and there are now many Trade Unions, independent organisations and others producing policies on a National Care Service.
The NPC is considering how we bring these all together and also tackle the issue of human rights – not just for those in care homes, for those who receive care at home – and for their carers.
Find the briefing paper on https://www.npcuk.org/post/
Easy Fundraising
There are over 4,000 shops and sites on board ready to make a donation – including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S – and it won’t cost you a penny extra to help us raise funds.Find out more https://www.npcuk.org/
The National Pensioners’ Convention would like to place on record our thanks to our panellists, speakers, attendees and those who live streamed the NPC Care Sector Webinar.
If you didn’t get a chance to join us, or want to watch it again you can click on the banner above.
Scam Alert
The NPC are sharing just some of the latest scams with regards to TV Licensing, Test & Trace and COVID-19. Please be ever vigilant and see the below information.
- As of this week TV Licensing have started sending letters to anyone aged over 75 asking them to either pay for their TV licence or apply for a free one. The letter TV Licensing sends will include your licence number, your title and your last name and they will only ask you to pay using the following options:
- By post using the address TV Licensing, PO Box 578, Darlington DL98 1AN
- Online at tvl.co.uk/75pay or tvl.co.uk/75apply
- Over the phone on 0300 790 6151
If you are contacted and asked to pay for your TV licence using a different phone number, a different website or by posting your details to a different address, this is a scam.
TV Licensing will not come to your doorstep to collect the licence fee if you are over 75, so anyone who claims to do so is also a scammer.
If you’re unsure about anything, you can call TV Licensing on 0300 303 9695 to speak with someone who can help.
- Some people are receiving texts offering a free TV licence for a year. They ask you to text your bank details back to them in order to get the free licence. Please don’t respond to this text, it is a scam and you have the potential to lose your money and your identity.
- Emails claiming you owe money to the TVLA and to go online to pay it. Some emails also state you could go to court if you don’t pay.
- Letters supposedly from Television Licensing Authority (TVLA) saying your details need updating because there is something wrong. They ask you to go online and put your personal details in. Again this is a scam.
- COVID-19: anyone offering cheap sanitiser, masks or purporting to have test equipment is likely to be a scam. In some cases, the sanitiser has been known to cause damage to the skin. Do not pay for test equipment. The NHS or your GP will offer it free.
- NHS Test & Trace – the original scam on this was shut down by the Fraud Action Line. However, it is operating from another phone number and will text you asking for payment, The NHS will never ask you to pay. Report to Fraud Action Line on 0300 123 2040.
As time passes, we are likely to see more scams around the TV licence issue, so please make sure by just making a phone call that whatever you have received is legitimate.
TVLA will always use the last part of your post code along with your TV licence number in any communication they have with you.
For more information on scams see the below links
https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/check-if-something-might-be-a-scam/
https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/scams
https://www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart
RAILTRAIL TOURS
** Special Offer to BTPF members **
10% Discount on UK and Continental Tours
Why noy let someone else do the driving and explore superb scenery, experience excellent food, stay in quality hotels and visit stunning destinations. If that’s appealing to you, well you’re on the right track booking with Railtrail Tours
Members may use the code below(once per member) to receive 10% OFF their first ever booking with Railtrail Tours. Codes can be used either when booking over the phone or when booking online via the website.
NOTE:
If the member books multiple tours at the same time the code will be applied to the highest value tour
Book online at www.railtrail.co.uk
or
Telephone +44(0)1538 382323
Remember, booking online or by phone the code should be quoted as BTPF10
B.T.P.F. / Railway Benefit Fund
A message from John Harrison, our National Chairman.
I am pleased to announce that the BTPF has agreed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Railway Benefit Fund. This statement outlines an agreement reached on Thursday 10th October 2019, between our two respective organisations to work collaboratively and in partnership with each other. This is for the benefit of both BTPF and RBF members, supporters, beneficiaries and for the wider rail rail community. The full statement can be seen HERE.
There is a link to both of these organisations on our website. As with Fred Olsen, members can enjoy a 10% discount with both of these organisations by quoting BTPF10 when finalising your booking.
Best Regards to all.