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Reigate & Banstead District Citizens Advice Bureaux is a generalist advice and information service. Using the Citizens Advice service's unique information system we can give you free, confidential, impartial and independent advice and information on a wide range of subjects.
In addition to our general service we can also offer Outreach Surgeries at
We have specialists within the Bureaux who deal with Employment and Debt matters.
On Tuesday evenings at the Redhill Bureau we offer an appointment service to our clients. However this is usually reserved for people who are in full time employment or who are carers. Please contact the Redhill Bureau for further details.
Also on Tuesday evenings we operate a free Solicitors Rota where an appointment can be made for you to discuss any legal aspects of advice obtained by us on your behalf. You will first need to have been seen by a Generalist Adviser before a referral to this service can be considered. Each Solicitors Appointment lasts for 20 minutes.
CAB advice and information can also be found on the CAB Adviceguide website.
If you need further advice or information and you live in the area covered by bureau area, we offer an advice by email service or you can contact us in person (Opening Times), by phone or in writing (Contact Us).
If you do not live in the area we cover, the national Citizens Advice service website includes a UK-wide directory of local CAB with their contact details and the services they offer.
As an alternative to contacting the Bureaux you may be able to find the information you require on this website by scrolling down to one of the following advice categories:
| Example questions |
Some of our most popular factsheets deal with the following current topics:
If you are unsure about your entitlement to benefits, at Reigate & Banstead District Citizens Advice Bureaux we can advise you. We can help with unemployment benefits such as income support, housing benefits, council tax benefit, the social fund, tax credits, disability benefits and jobseekers allowance.
We also have information on the current social security benefits rates.
We can give practical help by helping you to work out your entitlement to benefits, help you fill in the appropriate forms, and write review and appeal letters.
If necessary we can help you prepare to represent yourself at social security tribunals and employment tribunals. We can also assist you to take your case to the commissioners, if appropriate.
For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website.
At Reigate & Banstead District Citizens Advice Bureaux we can advise you on many aspects of debt and the courses of action open to you. We can help with preparing a financial statement, negotiation with creditors and on occasion, representation at county court repossession hearings.
For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website.
If you are unsure about your consumer rights, at Reigate & Banstead District Citizens Advice Bureaux we can advise you and help you to decide what to do next.
We can also give you practical help by negotiating with shops and traders, phone or fax companies on your behalf, help you write letters, fill in forms or help you with small claims procedures at the county court.
For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website.
At Reigate & Banstead District Citizens Advice Bureaux we can advise you on many aspects of housing including: rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, tenancy agreements, housing benefit and rent problems (including how to establish 'fair rents'), advice on eviction and problems with neighbours.
For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website.
If you are unsure about an employment matter, at Reigate & Banstead District Citizens Advice Bureaux we can advise you on your rights according to your written contract. If you don't have a written contract we can advise about your statutory rights including the minimum wage and holiday pay.
We can also give advice about the benefits and tax credits you are entitled to whilst in work, and on race and sex discrimination at work.
Practical help is available to assist you make a claim for unpaid wages, checking redundancy payments are correct, advising on changes to terms and conditions, employee's individual rights and identifying possible claims for unfair dismissal.
If necessary we can help you take your claim to an employment tribunal and may be able to find you representation free of charge.
For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website.
At Reigate & Banstead District Citizens Advice Bureaux we can help you: gain access to justice, advise you on your entitlements under the Community Legal Service provision, pursue compensation for accidents and injuries, and give advice and guidance about going to court.
If necessary, we can make an appointment with a legal representative.
For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website.
At Reigate & Banstead District Citizens Advice Bureaux we can offer advice on many aspects of immigration such as: visitor visas, fiancé(e)/spouse visas, student visas, settlement visas, work permits, immigration status, welfare benefits, asylum seekers and refugees.
In most cases we will be able to advise you ourselves. However, in certain cases we need to obtain separate Legal Advice.
For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website.
At Reigate & Banstead District Citizens Advice Bureaux we can advise you on many aspects regarding the family including: separation and divorce, maintenance and child support, parents rights and responsibilities, birth and adoption, change of name, and what to do when someone dies.
If appropriate we can refer you to a counsellor, a mediator or make an appointment to see a family lawyer.
For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website.
Advice microsite launched 15 November 2010
Citizens advice have launched a microsite www.advice4me.org.uk aimed specifically at young people in order to ensure that they can access advice and information quickly and easily about the problems that concern them the most. The site pulls together information on debt, benefits, employment and housing from the charity's existing self-help website and puts it in one easy to use place.
Advice podcast available
At Reigate & Banstead District Citizens Advice Bureaux we can advise you on many aspects regarding student life, especially money, legal and other problems. The national charity Citizens Advice has produced a podcast aimed especially at University students. Timed to coincide with the start of the Autumn term, the podcast covers money management and housing rights.
Debt and housing are two of the biggest issues for under 25s who visit bureaux and can be of particular concern to students at University who are often experiencing living independently for the first time. The ‘advicepod’ covers how to manage your money, applying for a student loan and things to be aware of when renting a room or property from a private landlord.
Gillian Guy, Chief Executive at Citizens Advice said: “If you are struggling with debt, or worrying about any other issues, don’t bury your head in the sand and hope it will go away. It’s important to seek help and advice as early as possible. All CAB advisers are highly trained and offer free, confidential and impartial advice to anyone, with any problem, at any stage.”
Citizens Advice is also on Twitter, Facebook and other social networks, where you can sign up to hear about the latest campaigning actions, advice issues and Citizens Advice service news.
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For details of some of the questions that have been answered by the CAB, you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website. A good place to start is the "Frequently asked questions ..." link at the top of the list for each category.
Will writing
A) We would not recommend will writing firms as they are not regulated by the Law Society so there are few safeguards if things go wrong. It is generally advisable to use a solicitor or to have a solicitor check a will you have drawn up to make sure it will have the effect you want. It is easy to make mistakes and, if there are errors in the will, this can cause problems after your death. However, if you don't use a solicitor, it is better to use a firm which belongs to the Institute of Professional Willwriters. These firms must follow a Code of Practice which covers the training and assessment of willwriters. There is also a complaints and conciliation procedure which can help you sort out problems if things go wrong. You can find details of The Code and of firms which belong to the Institute on the Institute's website at www.ipw.org.uk. If you belong to a Trade Union they may offer a free will writing service. There are also books which provide guidance on how to draw up a will. These can help you decide if you should draw up your own will or if any of the pre-printed will forms available from stationers and charities are suitable. It is also possible to find help on the internet. However, you should only consider doing it yourself if the will is going to be straightforward. If you need any advice on making or changing a will you can visit www.adviceguide.org.uk
Ticket Scams
A) It is important to be aware of certain issues before making an online purchase and be confident the site is genuine. Researching the website that you are thinking of purchasing from can help determine how credible a site actually is. For example it is imperative that every website has a full street address and a UK landline number, so this is definitely worth checking. If you are still in doubt, don't be afraid to ask lots of questions before you make your purchase. You could ask: When will the ticket be dispatched and how will you be notified? You should also find out what the company's policy on refunds is. When paying for tickets online, always pay by credit card. Under the Consumer Credit Act, your card issuer is jointly liable for the failure to provide goods or services if the cash price of a single ticket is over £100. If you believe that you have been a victim of scam you can report the incident to the police and get a crime reference number. For further advice, call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit their website www.consumerdirect.gov.uk for information about The Just Tick It campaign, which is running as part of Scams Awareness Month.
Housing Benefit
A) If you are on a low income, regardless of whether you are working or on benefits, you may be entitled to help towards paying your rent through the housing benefit system. But the amounts paid out in housing benefit (sometimes also known as local housing allowance or LHA) to private tenants are about to be radically cut, so it's important to get your claim in as soon as possible before the changes come into force in April. That way, as long as your circumstances don't change, you will be protected against the cuts for over a year, giving you more time to try and find somewhere else to live if you need to. New claimants will be affected immediately by the lower rates, but people already receiving housing benefit will not be affected until nine months after the anniversary date of their claim, unless they move home or the size of their household changes - for example someone leaves. Anyone facing a shortfall between their housing benefit and their rent as a result of the cuts should find out if their landlord will reduce the rent in return for getting paid housing benefit direct. They can also apply for a discretionary housing payment. And anyone who thinks they may have to move as a result of a cut in their housing benefit should seek advice from their local council's housing options service. For more information and advice on housing benefit and how the changes may affect you, go to the Citizens Advice website www.adviceguide.org.uk or consult an adviser at your nearest CAB.
Veterans
A) Yes we do. Citizens Advice Bureaux work closely with veterans' charities - like The Royal British Legion, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency - to provide veterans with specific advice and guidance. Since your daughter is leaving the Armed Forces soon she can get general housing help through the Joint Service Housing Advice Office. For social housing the local council housing office will be able to help. She might also be able to get help with the cost of buying a home. If she is eligible, the Armed Forces Home Ownership Scheme may be able to lend her between 15 and 50% of the value of a home that you choose on the open property market. If she is single she can get help from the Single Persons Accommodation Centre for the Ex Services (SPACES). SPACES helps single ex service personnel find housing throughout the United Kingdom which can be temporary or permanent. If your daughter contacts them within six months of leaving the Armed Forces they may be able to help her find accommodation. The range of welfare benefits and tax credits available to veterans is much the same as that available to civilians, depending on individual circumstances. Since she has served abroad, she may also be able to get a tax-free relief payment for her council tax or contributions paid instead of council tax. Payments are issued at the end of time abroad and they are based on the number of days served abroad. This help for veterans is quite brief but your daughter should get in touch with her nearest CAB and look at our dedicated advice for veterans here