Author: admin

How to Report Scam Texts & Phone Calls

~ admin

Criminals often impersonate legitimate organisations in an attempt to dupe their victims and leave them out of pocket. So it’s important to be extra cautious if you receive a text message or a call from a number you don’t know.

Scam calls often involve criminals purporting to be from HMRC, your bank or from a legitimate business such as well-known energy providers or phone network providers offering better deals or ‘upgrades’ to your account. Texts often involve parcel delivery scams from various couriers or Royal Mail, or even scammers pretending to be your friends and family!

How to report and where to report
Most major communication networks have signed up to the 7726 service, making it very easy to report scams texts/whatsapps or calls to your mobile.

7726 is a number that most mobile customers using UK networks can text to report unwanted SMS messages or phone calls on a mobile. The number ‘7726’ was chosen because it spells ‘SPAM’ on an alphanumeric phone keypad!

The following Ofcom web page has some useful information on scam calls and messages:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/scams

The link below takes you to a ‘How to report’ page and takes you through a very quick guide on reporting numbers to 7726 on iPhone or Android. The videos are very short and easy to understand.
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/scams/7726-reporting-scam-texts-and-calls

To report a scam text you copy the content of the text and start a new message to 7726, paste in the content and send the message. The service will then reply to you asking for the number the message was sent from. You copy and paste the number or manually type it in and send it as a message.

To report a scam call number you just need to copy the number, put it into a text writing ‘Call’ before you put the number in and send it to 7726.

When you’ve done this, it alerts your mobile provider to investigate the number and potentially block it from the network, if it’s found to be a nuisance.

Please also remember to block the number on your handset!

See below an example of what it looks like on your phone when you report these texts or calls.

If you have actually engaged with a scammer over the phone and been defrauded or given out personal information as a result, please report this to the police on 101 or Action Fraud: Action Fraud 0300 123 2040 or visit https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

If you have been scammed or duped into contracting with a business or a trader, please report to Citizens Advice Consumer Advice Line on 0808 223 1133 or go to the following website to report online:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue/

Power for People – February 2023 Update

~ admin

A new Government-published report – the ‘Net Zero Review’ – has backed exactly what we are campaigning for. Its leading recommendation for more clean community energy: “Government should commit to the Local Electricity Bill.”

It says: “Current regulations in the energy market mean that community energy projects cannot directly supply local communities, an issue which the Local Electricity Bill seeks to address.”

But despite this Government-published report recommending that they themselves support the Bill, they continue to say it is not needed.

Active advocacy in Parliament by our MPs can help change the Government’s mind. We have seen that local constituents meeting with their MP is a very effective way of creating this.

Will you please meet with your MP? We will support and guide you with the organising and provide a briefing to help you feel confident and prepared. You do not need to be an expert on the issue. I can come along with you too, which has worked well when other supporters have met with their MPs.

Please click here if you are interested.

This campaign has come so far in building support to over 300 MPs. Let’s keep the momentum going so that we can enable communities to take control of local clean energy generation.

Together we can transform things.

Cake & Plant Sale – Saturday 25 February

~ admin


On Saturday 25 February, West Wickham Rotary will be on Rotary Corner, West Wickham High Street (opposite Barclays Bank) from 10.00am – 1.00pm  selling cakes and plants to raise funds for the terrible disaster in Turkey and Syria.

We have recently despatched a Shelter Box to Turkey which is a sturdy green box packed with the necessary items, e.g. tents as temporary shelter or shelter kits to allow people to build or rebuild durable shelters, mosquito nets, water filters, water carriers, solar lights, cooking sets, blankets and mats and whatever else is needed. This Shelter Box costs £600 and we are trying to raise more funds to be able to send another one to Turkey / Syria.

If you can spare a little time on Saturday to visit us, we would be very happy to see you.

The Big Lunch Coronation Street Party

~ admin

The Big Lunch was a very simple idea started in 2009 by the Eden Project.

The aim is to get as many people across the UK to have lunch with their neighbours, in a simple act of community, friendship and fun, once a year.

We want to support local communities to ensure that everybody enjoys celebrating the King’s Coronation by throwing a street or park event on the Coronation weekend from Saturday 6 May to Monday 8 May 2023. To aid this, Croydon Council has for these special occasions, committed to covering the cost of the Traffic Management Orders required for road closures.

For further information, read the guidance on organising a street party

If you’re planning to close your road or hold an event in one of the borough’s parks or open spaces for the Big Lunch, there is certain information that we require.

Your completed application form must be submitted by Friday 7 April 2023.

We recommend submitting your application at least one month before the deadline.

The weekend will be running over the 3 day period, however you can only select one day to host a big lunch event.

To apply to hold a street party or an event for the Coronation, click here.

For more information on the Big Lunch Project, click here.

Petition Against Croydon’s 15% Council Tax Rise

~ admin

Plans to increase council tax in Croydon by 15% have been approved by the government.

Under current rules, town halls can only increase council tax by 4.99 per cent without a referendum, including a 2 per cent levy to pay for adult social care. But Croydon Council was on Tuesday (7 Feb) given special permission by the government to increase the charge by a “staggering” 15 per cent – two times more than most other local authorities.

The council tax increase will see the average Croydon household pay out about £235 more per year. It means Band D homes will pay over £2,230 a year for their total council tax bill.

Croydon Council sought permission to impose the rise without a referendum after declaring itself bankrupt for the second time in three years in November.

Last November, Croydon council was forced to issue a Section 114 notice after becoming insolvent for a third time – admitting it couldn’t balance its budget for 2023/24. It has also been obliged to commit to £130million spending cuts in the next financial year.

Funding for Croydon Council from central government has been cut dramatically over the past 13 years, and Croydon receives far less funding per person than neighbouring Lambeth.

Council tax is due to rise for all Londoners as of 1 April when the Mayor of London will add £38.55 on yearly council tax bills,

It means the typical household will pay just over £434 to the Greater London Authority, mainly for transport, policing and the fire brigade, as well as the running of City Hall.

A petition created by Steven Downes, Editor of Inside Croydon, will call on the Croydon Mayor to withdraw plans for a 15% hike in Council Tax in the middle of the worst fall in living standards on record.

You can sign the petition against a 15% Council Tax Rise by clicking here.

You can also sign the UK Government Petition by clicking here.