Money News

Bedfordshire’s frontline services have issued a warning to residents across the county as criminals seize the current opportunity of the pandemic to use the vaccination programme to create new scams.

These scams could cheat people out of their life savings and put people in danger.

Buying or rehoming a cute puppy may seem a good idea and a welcome addition to a family, but Central Bedfordshire Council’s Trading Standards team is warning residents to be aware of illegal imports.

Last week, officers had to quarantine an illegally imported puppy because it had not received a rabies vaccination before coming to the UK. The second time in four months they have had to take such action.

Two Marston Moretaine residents are starting 2021 on a high, after winning £50,000 each with People’s Postcode Lottery.

Their postcode, MK43 0WX, was announced as a winner with the lottery on Tuesday 5th January.

HMRC has revelled that over 2,700 people filed their Self Assessment tax return on Christmas Day.

The Self Assessment deadline is on 31 January 2021. Those who need to complete a tax return can do so online ahead of the deadline at a time that suits them.

Every year, HMRC said that it sees thousands of taxpayers using the festive period to get their documents in order and complete the task.

On Christmas Day, the peak time for completing tax returns was 14:00 to 14:59, with more than 200 customers pressing send on their online form.

The Big Issue has called upon the public to, once again, support the organisation as hundreds of vendors are being forced off the streets as Tier 4 COVID-19 measures in London, south-east and east England and South Wales take effect.

A Christmas online toy safety campaign has been launched by the Office for Product Safety and Standards. It is working in partnership with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, the Child Accident Prevention Trust, and the British Toy & Hobby Association.

Morrisons is offering those in the Emergency Services, Care Workers and Armed Forces who hold a Blue Light Card ​a 10% discount on their shopping in stores nationwide.

The move follows on from the 10% discount offered by Morrisons to NHS and School Staff across the country.

Bedfordshire Police is working with Action Fraud to increase awareness of investment fraud with one Bedfordshire resident having lost more than £200,000 to such a scam.

Bedfordshire Police is working with partners across the country to help keep your vulnerable family members and friends safe.

Ahead of the planned increase of restrictions, the force would like to encourage people with elderly and vulnerable family members and friends to familiarise themselves with available crime prevention materials.

From Monday 2 November 2020, all teachers and school staff will be able to claim a 10% discount on their shopping in Morrisons stores nationwide.

Lasting until after Christmas, the special discount is a thank you to half a million teachers and additional school staff who are looking after the nation’s children and supporting them through the Covid-19 pandemic.