Episode 6 In Your Corner

This evening, we are live in County 1 In Your Corner, we bring a fresh

perspective to the issues that matter. It is the last programme of

the series, up but we are live from the Tollymore National Outdoor

Centre. It is a great location. This could be the most spectacular

setting yet. The centre is the base for all sorts of outdoor activity.

Today, it plays host to the In Your Corner cameras as the team has

transformed it into at TV studio. We have travelled right across

Northern Ireland helping to resolve issues you care about. We have

tackled computer scams, derelict houses, diabetes care. It is the

last programme, but we still want to hear the story In Your Corner.

You can get in touch by e-mail. Follow us on Facebook or one

Twitter. Please keep your contacts coming. Coming up, the demand for

social housing is a constant problem. Can unsold problems -- and

unsold houses be the answer? A new laws and County Down could force

dog owners to keep their pets on a lead. We have spoken to the faults

of Newcastle. Remember, we are live, so keep e-mails coming in. I am

joined by Chris Moore for the top story. We're always looking for

people to get in touch. They looked at computer scans the earlier and

are still receiving e-mails. You are talking about at the Prince

Gamp. Each of us received e-mails about this. It is about Payment

Protection Insurance. Banks sold some people Payment Protection

Insurance. And it would cover repayments if you are strapped for

cash. The financial regulator has looked at how those were sold and

deemed many were not sold correctly. Abbott is a problem or banks,

having to pay out. That has created a whole new industry for

opportunistic businesses and criminal gangs. Legitimate

businesses might chase after compensation, but will charge you

33% in commission, better than not getting anything, which could

happen if you get contacts from an unscrupulous company or gang. You

have to pay several hundred pounds upfront. Victims then find out that,

once they have your money, they are no longer interested in chasing

Banks that nestled Payment Protection Insurance have been

ordered by the regulatory body to send out 12 million letters in

search of victims of banking excesses. This is an attempt to

stop customers being ripped off a second time by claims management

companies or, even worse, criminal gangs posing as those companies.

is a constant battle. The scam has a role was ahead of regulators.

They are difficult to catch. These cameras are making millions of

pounds. -- these people. The latest Gammans and Payment Protection

Insurance. I am on my way to meet a woman who believes she has been

defrauded out of several hundred pounds. Last April, she received a

cold call from a claims management company. The company wanted to help

her with a PPI claim and what was called irresponsible lending by her

credit card company made increased her credit limit unsolicited. What

was the offer from this company? This was the result of a telephone

call? Yes. It was a cold call, sparking an interest. I thought I

could claim it back. It would be �495. And it could wipe out the

balance of the credit card. Sold the company wanted �495 from you to

proceed with acclaim? Yes, encouraging me to play if what --

encouraging me to pay it on my credit card. But that was near its

limit, so I used my debit card. she paid �700 up front. I am about

to meet a pensioner who, at the same time last year, was also asked

to pay up front by a telephone, promising at PPI refund in return.

I was told, if I paid �99, I would get the money plus the �99 back.

This never came. You got no money? No. And I did not get my �99 back.

When I was called by then, -- buy them, I took down the details of

what was needed, including account number. I was sent a letter by

registered post by a them. I had to send it back. Anyway, I had not

heard from them for about one week. Maybe two weeks. I went into the

bank in the high street and spoke to do it girl at customer services.

Basically, she said, it sounds like a scam. We have seen hundreds of

people complaining over the number of years from companies they had

said they will claim back protection insurance. Unfortunately,

a lot of these people are based abroad. People do not realise, when

you pay money over the telephone, you have lost that money. What has

happened since paying that funny? Nothing. I have just been around

every corner. I keep contacting them, calls and never returned.

a Kohl has been catalogued. She held on for over one hour and only

gave up because her arm and you went numb. There is a serious issue

to consider. Are you in any way be able to check with your credit card

company if a claim was made? Maybe a claim was made? That is the task

come Monday, I have not done it. was confirmed the claims management

company was in touch. She was told they did not understand what she

was saying about irresponsible lending to stop we spoke to the

company she was using, hanging up on four occasions on us. We spoke

to a manager twice. He claimed the woman was not paying for Payment

Protection Insurance. We actually have the forms sent to hire or

signature. We asked whether she would get a refund for her �700. He

did not answer. She was promised a telephone call. We have to see what

will happen. �99 is �99. It is a lot of money to me. I was angry. No

two ways about it. Ever since, anybody who sense the letters were

sent they are text, I just ignore it. Have you had a cold call

yourself? I have had many, some to my own office. One eye and so

trading standards, we have had people saying they are ringing from

the Office of Fair Trading. I have had telephone calls telling me that

I have recently been in an accident and am entitled to payment.

Sometimes, I play along to establish how these people work and

get more information. So when we try to make consumers aware of the

types of scams out there, we have first-hand experience.

David is from the Financial Options and office. You deal with hundreds,

thousands of these cases. How do we know if we have been less cold --

if we have been this old PPI? are the people to get in touch if

you have a complaint. The first thing is trying to establish a

problem. Think if you have taken out a loan or credit card within

the last few years. If you have, were you told you needed to do

something to cover you, to give you protection if you were made

redundant or fell ill. You would probably have him protection

insurance, or PPI. And it is not just a payment, it adds money on to

the amount you have borrowed. does, in most instances, the money

for the insurance was a second loan. So it is added up, so the average

compensation can be about �3,000. The biggest we have seen was almost

80,000. Kevin, an opportunity for people who are scanning. You have

dealt with hundreds of cases. have dealt with hundreds. The

companies have realised there is money set aside by banks to pay for

this. These people call people in the or chance they can get some

money from people. What do you do if you think you have been a victim

of some of these people? If you have used your credit card or debit

card to pay, Jimmy get some money back. -- you may get some money

back under the credit consumer or act. Contact your company and ask

for a refund. It is worth contacting your car company with a

debit that. People should not be put off trying to claim back money

if they think they have been sold at PPI because there are people

trying to make money out of them? They are much more straight forward

ways of going about it, aren't there? We uphold many complaints

about PPI. Many in the consumer's favour. People in Northern Ireland

and not complaining as much as the rest of the company. The answer is

to check bank statements, check whether you took out a loan and

were sold anything as insurance to go with it, complain to the person

who sold you the insurance in the first instance. If you are not

happy, come to the Ombudsman. We are free, set up by the Government,

so we are independent. We are less likely to complain, particularly

when there is a chance of an outcome. This should encourage

people to contact the Ombudsman. Maybe we're just too good mannered.

What about prosecutions? Have you successfully prosecuted people?

in Northern Ireland. We believe there have been some across the

water. Just be sceptical if you get telephone calls out of the blue

telling you these people can get your money back from PPI and ask

for money upfront. Thank you both very much for making that clear.

Over the past six weeks, you have got in touch commenting on stories

we have covered, contacting us that about last week's stories. We had

an e-mail about frakking. That man says that will have many

problematic consequences. Another e-mail made reference about

derelict housing last week. It said, I have let the side two empty

properties for over 20 years and the council does nothing. Please

keep your e-mails coming or join the discussion online. Thank you

for all your comments. Aislinn Hagan Has been very welcome.

She has been out and about hearing from people right across Northern

Ireland. She spent the day on the prom here in Newcastle finding out

what is the top of the town. -- Dog owners across Northern Ireland

could be in for a rough time as local a authorities gain new powers

to ensure that animals are kept on a lead in public places. Here in

Newcastle dog fouling has been a problem for the council. So, we are

here to ask locals if they think the new legislation will make dog-

owners think twice before letting If you were fined if your dog was

off the lead? It should be on the lead. Dogs should have their own

freedom, too? Do-nothing - the dogs need to get off their lead? They do,

but on the field, not where such people have to walk. I would be a

bit annoyed about it. She is not doing any harm. If it was on a main

street and she was running around while, I could understand it.

dog should be kept on their lead? I'd do. Because of a bike six Kade,

the dog would be picked down and a kid could be injured. What is the

dog like when it gets out on the beach? Not very controllable.

Hello! We are asking people about dogs on their leads. I could see

why it could come in handy. It is legislation by people who don't

like dogs. I don't like dogs. I just don't like them. If they can

control the animal, that is fine, but can they? It is up to the owner.

Each person should take responsibility for what ever they

have, a wild animal or a wild kid or what ever? How you got a dog?

can't stand dogs! I had a terrible experience when I was young. I have

been frightened of them ever since. If you bought a new house at a

private development only to find out later that summer that

development would be sold off for social housing, how would you feel?

Due to the collapse in property prices and the need for more social

housing it is happening more and more. I had been to meet residents

in a private estate on the outskirts of Belfast who are

alarmed at that very prospect. I am here in the redwoods development in

Dunmurry. When these homes were built it was described as a private,

luxury development. The residents claim that the tranquillity that

originally attracted them to the area is now under threat as the

developers are planning to sell off two empty apartment buildings for

Peter Dawson lives in one of the houses and is head of the

management committee which looks after the concerns of residents who

are alarmed by the proposals. People don't want social housing

here because they bought this as a private residential area. Some

residents received a letter from the organisation which wants to buy

them. Others claimed they were never even informed. How do you

feel you have been treated? Very bad. This is a professional

organisation, and I'm very disappointed in the way they have

approached the people in the estate. They refused to answer questions.

Their lack of knowledge. management committee had met at the

developers and the housing association. Tonight they have

called a meeting to update worried homeowners and to make plans to put

a stop to the sale. The residents held their meeting in the marketing

suite, we were not allowed to film. How do you feel at this stage with

what has gone on, how positive do you feel? I still feel really

distressed about it. I am more distressed because of the lack of

consultation from the Housing Trust. They did bring us a letter at the

last minute to say that they were going to buy the other apartments,

but even now they are not forthcoming on any information.

if you're going to have social housing in a private residential

area it has to be stipulated from the outset so you are giving the

people the choice if they want to buy into an area. The fact that

most people paid a big premium under now then forced what this

negative equity situation, which will be further compounded with the

social housing moving into the area. I feel a bit betrayed by their

developers. This has been going on since of temper apparently and they

have just left us behind. Everyone has bought - who has bought and

there has shown them support. It is a good community spirit in there.

The Housing Trust, they only gave us a week up consultancy period and

it was only after the meeting last Wednesday night that they extended

it until the end of April when they saw the opposition they had. You're

obviously not happy about the way they have handled that? Not at all.

So clearly the residents are angry and erect a loss to understand why

what they thought was to be a private development may now include

social housing. I am off to meet the housing association who want to

purchase the apartments. We totally underestimated the strength of

feeling that was obvious when you went to consultation. We have now

extended to the end of April to make sure that we to have

meaningful consultation period. residents have alleged that during

a meeting at them you responded to some of their concerns by saying

you are in negative equity anyway. How do you respond? When they were

saying that they felt that bringing social housing tenants to redwoods

were defects... would take them into negative equity, and made the

comment, inadvertently perhaps, was that some of them had already been

telling me that that was the case. It is one of the largest hosts -

largest housing associations here. They first became aware of the

properties in Redwood last summer and receive support from the

Housing Executive to pursue the purchase in November. The first

sight as it was in January and there are still negotiating with

the developers. Can you appreciate the concerns of the residents?

understand the concerns and I would love the opportunity to reassure

the residents that social housing can be a big positive thought stock

they have two blocks of empty apartments which had been empty for

several years. Hard job is to bring empty units back into use and to

provide homes for people who need them. To try and avoid the

stereotyping also a social housing tenants, that is not fair. We also

wanted to talk to the developers who sold a house is to the

residents and want to sell the apartments to the housing trust.

They declined a request a provided us with the statement. They said

that negotiations were progressing with the housing association to a

quiet the departments - the apartments, and they have already

met with representatives of the residence to see if they can pursue

the issues raised. What d'you want? We would like the housing trust to

pack up their bags and move on. The people unanimously stated that the

don't want social - don't want social housing here.

Cameron Watt represents the Federation of Housing Associations.

Paddy Gray is an expert on housing. Cameron, everyone agrees there is a

need for social housing, but these residents and feel that this is the

appropriate way to go about it. There doesn't seem to have been

well handled. We have got an acute need for social housing in Northern

Ireland. 21,000 people need social housing. It has been very difficult

for her housing associations to get land at the bottom of the market.

Housing association to having to explore all options to get people

heist. It is not easy, but I think these private developments, they

can work with an element of social housing. I don't think it is true

that social housing will depress the value of these properties. What

will do that is if they are left empty, decaying, becoming decrepit.

Although the residents to say that the properties are not been decayed,

but being well looked after. Paddy, this will only work if there was

proper consultation and at this moment the residents don't feel

that has been the case. I agree. The consultation is very much a

part of this and suspicions arise when people don't know what is

going on. The fact that the housing association has extended the

consultation period will help the residents express their concerns.

We have had letters from residents saying that this is inappropriate,

immoral, unjust. They are saying that while they are being assured

that social housing Texan - Tennents ought not to be

stereotyped, they are talking about CCTV cameras and security. That is

not very reassuring. It is unjust that we have 21,000 people in

severe housing needs. The current situation is not tenable. This

Housing Trust is recognised as a very good housing association. They

have good satisfaction levels. If the communities that they are

managing are not well run, their satisfaction levels that they get

would not be possible. This is an exemplary association. In the

unlikely event that problems are identified, they will be quickly

tackled. The status quo is not an option. Paddy, integration, Candace

property - can this properly work? There are concerns in the Northern

Ireland dimension. The first point to make about mixed developments is

that so many housing associations across the UK have been working

with developers to bring these two sides together and it is working

well. In Northern Ireland, we do have a problem but over 90 % of our

public sector housing stock is segregated. In the last couple of

years many people have made great inroads. This Housing Trust we're

talking about won an award last year for an integrated development

that they have in Lisburn. Thank you both very much indeed. You have

been contacting us about tonight stories. We have had any meal in

about the derelict housing. I have been living beside five properties

like this. Our main concern is the house fires, people breaking in and

people even selling drugs in these empty properties. That is it from

Tollymore for this week and for this series. Thanks so much for

getting in touch. We're glad to have got you some answers in return.