The cost of parking in public car parks will be increasing by around seven percent this week. From Wednesday, 1 May the cost of a single unit paycard will increase from its current price of 97p to a new price of £1.04, while a two unit will rise from £1.94 to £2.08, and a four unit from £3.88 to £4.16 from 1 May. Monthly season tickets will rise from £156.66 to £167.96, and a monthly half permit from £78.33 to £83.98. New prices for an eco one unit paycard will cost 52p, a two unit £1.04, and a four unit £2.08. A monthly eco season ticket will cost £83.98 and a half permit £41.99. The Minister for Infrastructure, Constable Andy Jehan, has also confirmed that charges will apply at the new Charles Street Car Park each day (i​ncluding Sundays) between 8am and 10pm. He said that this was a trial to help ensure the car park has capacity for the general public, for Islanders needing spaces and supporting businesses in town, and that these charging hours will be reviewed later this year. The income the Government receives from car parks is used to fund their repair and maintenance and will support road safety initiatives. ​  Current (including GST) From 1 May 2024 (including GST) % Increase 1 Unit Paycard £0.97 £1.04 7.22% 2 Unit Paycard £1.94 £2.08 7.22% 4 Unit Paycard £3.88 £4.16 7.22% Monthly Season Ticket £156.66 £167.96 7.21% Monthly Half Permit £78.33 £83.98 7.21% Eco 1 Unit Paycard £0.49 £0.52 6.12% Eco 2 Unit Paycard £0.98 £1.04 6.12% Eco 4 Unit Paycard £1.96 £2.08 6.12% Eco Monthly Season Ticket £78.33 £83.98 7.21% Eco Monthly Half Permit £39.17 £41.99 7.21%  

Are you thinking about jetting off for some sunshine, soaking up some culture on a mini-break, or visiting some loved ones abroad? If you are, then there’s a number of potential scams that you should be aware of when booking your next trip. Which? magazine have highlighted a recently released report from Lloyds Banking Group warning their customers about holiday scams. Their findings show that between November 2021 and March 2024, the most common travel scams were: Fake flight tickets – most of these scams take place on social media where scammers create fake adverts or pretend to sell airline tickets they’re no longer using, for an upfront payment. They then disappear once they have been paid. Fake holiday home or cottage rentals – scammers use booking websites such as Airbnb, with a fake photo. They will take deposits or upfront payments through the legitimate site, then ask for further payments via bank transfer or PayPal. It’s not until the victims arrive at their holiday accommodation that they find out it’s not legitimate.   Caravan purchase scams – scammers lure their victims by using photos of the caravans that they’ve taken either from real adverts or from Googe. They then offer temping deals for payments up-front. Booking scams – after hacking into booking systems and posing as genuine hotels on real booking sites such as Booking.com, scammers then steal banking or card details. Camping trips – one of the most common holiday scams is when holidaymakers are duped into the purchase of camping items on social media. Which? magazine gives a guide on how to get your money back if you’ve been scammed in the ways above. Tips on how to prevent holiday scams Lloyds Bank offer the following advice on how to evade scammers when booking your next trip: Book directly with the airline or hotel. Use reliable retailers to book through.  Check the reviews on websites such as TripAdvisor to check what you’re booking before you do it. Always use a credit or debit card. You’ll have some protection if anything untoward happens.  When booking on Booking.com or Airbnb only ever pay through their system, never agree to pay directly with the vender. If you receive a message asking for more money, always query it. You can do this by contacting the hotel directly by telephone or contact Booking.com directly to confirm things.  Be very careful when buying items on social media. Always visit in person and view the merchandise before handing over any money. If it looks to good to be true, it usually is! Don’t be rushed into anything. Always take notice of warnings from your bank and follow any advice provided. If you’re not sure if these are genuine, call your branch or pop in and ask them. 

It’s really important that we all know how to protect ourselves and those around us from financial scams. The States of Jersey Police (SoJP) and Jersey Financial Crime Unit (JFCU) have issued a public warning following a series of sophisticated scams, where imposters posing as bank representatives have defrauded dozens of victims in the island, resulting in losses exceeding £10s of thousands of pounds, since January this year. They’re urging us to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity immediately by contacting the States of Jersey Police on 01534 612 612. Here are some tips on how to protect yourself and loved ones: Never Share Sensitive Information: Do not disclose online banking passwords, one-time security codes, PINs, or tokens to anyone over the phone.  Verify Independently: If you're uncertain about the legitimacy of a call regarding your bank account, end the call immediately. Then, contact your bank or financial institution directly using the official number from your banking app or the back of your bank card.  Stay Alert: Your bank will never request personal security details, such as passwords and codes. If you receive a suspicious call, hang up at once. Do not respond to, or click on, links in text messages purporting to be from your bank.  Community Vigilance: Check on friends and family, especially those who are more susceptible to such scams, to ensure they are aware of these fraudulent schemes and know how to protect themselves. The SoJP and the JFCU are committed to combating financial crime and protecting all islanders from these predatory tactics. For more information on how to prevent financial fraud or to report a scam. States of Jersey Police - How to Spot a Scam or visit www.fraudprevention.je Report a scam by telephoning the States of Jersey Police on 01534 612 612.    

We've asked Jersey’s main mortgage providers to explain why the mortgage rates on offer in the Island are significantly higher than those in their UK high street branches. With housing costs being a significant driver in the cost of living in Jersey, and even the slightest fluctuation in interest rates meaning the difference of hundreds of pounds in monthly repayments costs, the Council is keen to ensure that Islanders are being treated fairly. In a detailed letter, we've has asked lenders to explain the factors influencing their rates in Jersey, a comparative analysis of the market conditions in Jersey compared to the UK, what regulatory differences there may be and what efforts are made to keep consumers informed about mortgage rates and why they differ here. The Council has written to Santander, NatWest, Barclay’s, HSBC, Lloyds and Skipton, all of whom were found to have at least a one per centage point or greater added to their local five year fixed rates compared to the UK rate. Our Chairman, Carl Walker said: “The mortgage industry in Jersey seems to be another one of those areas where a Jersey Premium is being applied for no rational reason, and with housing and repayment costs taking up to a third of people’s salary in some cases, it is important to dig deeper into the market and understand better why Islanders are being charged more than their UK counterparts for effectively the same product in a much more financially secure housing market. “We accept that most of the banks here are ring fenced and, in some areas, separate businesses to the UK banks under the same branding. However, mortgages offered to Jersey residents are intrinsically linked to the Bank of England’s interest rates so it does not seem right for banks to claim they are separate entities, but as soon as the BoE raises interest rates in the UK, Jersey’s mortgage providers do so within a few hours. They can’t have it both ways. “With housing costs being such a huge driver of our local rate of inflation, we have already contacted both the Housing and Treasury Ministers, who are eagerly awaiting the responses we receive from the lenders. Once we have a better understanding of the local market, we can consider what, if anything, can be done. That could be pressure for more transparency, pressure to open up the market and make it more competitive or exploring any options through the regulatory route.” Read the letter below: Inquiry Regarding Basic Mortgage Rates Discrepancy Dear Sir/Madam, I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to you on behalf of the Jersey Consumer Council, an organisation committed to advocating for the interests of consumers in Jersey. Our goal is to ensure transparency and fairness in the local market, and we have recently received inquiries from consumers regarding the observed differences between the basic mortgage rates offered by mortgage providers in Jersey compared to their parent or equivalent lenders in the UK. We acknowledge that various factors contribute to the determination of mortgage rates, including market conditions, regulatory environments, and operational costs. However, in light of the concerns raised by consumers, we are seeking clarification from mortgage providers to better understand the justifications for the observed disparities. Our Inquiry: We kindly request that you provide a detailed explanation justifying why the basic mortgage rates offered in Jersey are higher than those provided by your parent or equivalent lender in the UK. Specifically, we would appreciate information on the following: Factors Influencing Rates: Clarification on the factors that contribute to the determination of basic mortgage rates in Jersey. Any unique considerations that may lead to differences between rates in Jersey and the rates offered by your parent or equivalent lender in the UK.   Competitive Analysis: Comparative analysis of the mortgage market conditions in Jersey and the UK. Information on how local market dynamics and competition are taken into account when setting mortgage rates.   Regulatory Compliance: Confirmation of compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements in Jersey. Details on any regulatory differences that may impact mortgage rates in the two jurisdictions.   Communication and Transparency: Explanation of the communication strategy employed to inform consumers about the factors influencing mortgage rates. Information on any initiatives in place to enhance transparency and consumer understanding of mortgage pricing. Timeline for Response: We kindly request that you provide a comprehensive response to our inquiry within three weeks from the date of this letter. This will allow us to address consumer concerns and keep them informed of our progress in determining the reasons why, on the face of it, Jersey customers are treated differently to those in the UK, particularly when our jurisdiction offers a more stable housing market. The Jersey Consumer Council values open communication and co-operation with industry stakeholders and believe that addressing these concerns will contribute to fostering a fair and transparent mortgage market in Jersey. Please feel free to contact us if you require any further clarification or if there are specific details that may assist in providing a comprehensive response to our inquiry. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to your prompt response. Sincerely, Carl Walker Chairman cc. Minister for Treasury and Resources, Deputy Elaine Millar and Minister for Housing, Deputy Sam Mézec

You may have noticed that our popular price comparison website isn’t currently being updated. This is due to some essential changes and improvements which we have been making. We will be ready to relaunch the site – which will have a new web address – sometime around Easter.  We thank you for bearing with us and apologise if this has caused you any problems.  In the meantime, you can keep up with all of our latest news – and price updates – by following our social media channels.  Follow @JerseyConsumer on Twitter/X and Instagram or search Jersey Consumer Council on Facebook or LinkedIn.   

Islanders wanting to register their disappointment in the £11.56 ‘goodwill gesture’ offered following last year’s gas outage have until next Friday to complete our online survey. To date, around 400 households have registered with us to express their dissatisfaction in the offer made by Island Energy following the outage in October 2023 – which in some cases left consumers without energy for up to two weeks. Households have now been offered a £11.56 ‘goodwill gesture’ to make up for the disruption – however, numerous customers have told us that this goes nowhere near covering the true expense they experienced. We’re now working with a local lawyer to try and help consumers recover some of the losses they incurred. We’ve been running an online survey, which has now been completed by around 400 households affected by the outage, which occurred on 7 October when a technical fault by Island Energy left around 4,000 Islanders without gas. Had the energy provider been regulated – like in the UK – it would have had to pay £60 for every day a customer went without gas beyond the first 24 hours. Comments from those who’ve completed our online form so far include: “The way they’ve treated us is totally disgusting – we’ve been a lloyal customer for over 30 years and the £11.36 is insulting.” “That offer is insulting. Thankfully the outage was not during a cold period. The fact that the company has no legal obligation to reimburse customers for the outage should not absolve them from a moral responsibility.” “The Consumers are NOT idiots and shouldn't be treated as such! The offer is a total insult.” Before announcing the ‘goodwill gesture’, Island Energy increased the price of gas by 12%, which is about £13.80 for an average family house (in Guernsey it was increased by 8%). Advocate Philip Sinel, Senior Partner at Sinels and Co, has now agreed to work with us and act for Island Energy customers. He said: “Sinels is happy to act on behalf of those consumers affected by last year’s gas outage as, in our view, there has been a clear breach of contract. Losses have occurred, and as a result, the supplier should be liable for those in our view, and we will do our best to recover those losses for consumers.” If you’d like to be included in the action being taken by the Jersey Consumer Council and Sinels, please register below by completing our short online form by Friday, 22 March. You can also email contact@consumercouncil.je to request a paper form. Please ensure that when you fill in the form you include an email address and your Island Energy customer number: REGISTER HERE Our Chairman Carl Walker said: “It’s clear that many Islanders were both inconvenienced, as well as financially affected by the gas outage. Consumers couldn’t heat their homes, cook meals, or even wash in hot water. An offer of £11.56 is nothing short of an insult to its customers by Island Energy.’