What a wonderful resource Martin Lewis is for anything relating to finances. I’ve subscribed to his mailing list for many years, and almost all of them hold a valuable snippet or two of relevant financial advice. The only thing I can think of that stopped my ability to access a COVID test recently, is my credit rating. In this week’s email, Martin shared a link to check your credit report – https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/check-free-credit-report/

“It used to be that the only way you could check your score for free was to sign up to 30-day free trials of these services, and then cancel before the time’s up so you don’t get charged. Yet, now, you can check your report on all three agencies for free every month – though they’ll make money if you apply for credit cards and loans through them.”

Martin Lewis

When you apply for a postal COVID-19 test, the agency being used by the UK government is TransUnion (formerly Callcredit). I discovered it can be accessed here – https://www.creditkarma.co.uk/about-us. It’s apparently the UK’s newest credit reference agency, though he states it tends to not be as widely used as the other two agencies he references. However, you can get free access at any time to your TransUnion report and score.

If you want to open a dispute about specific issues with a statutory credit report, as I do, here’s the links https://www.transunionstatreport.co.uk/Help/ContactUs

https://www.transunionstatreport.co.uk/DisputesFAQ?client=karma

I’ve noted the physical address to write and open a dispute, as unsurprisingly we just can’t tick the requisite boxes! It says we’re not on the Electoral Roll, but we are. At my daughter’s address. Because we’re classed as having ‘no fixed abode’, it fails to recognise that fact. It’s so complex! And although we’re registered at my daughter’s address, we don’t have a mortgage. So I can’t tick that we ‘own’ the property, OR that we have a mortgage. Consequently, I had to tick that I live with my parents – who are deceased! It’s nonsensical. I’ll let you know if I get anywhere with my dispute, but it’s doubtful …

If anyone has any ideas on how to beat this tick-box system, do let me know.

Farewell For Now Friends

Pip and Mick on NB Oleanna cruised past this morning, for the final time on lockdown. They’re busy for a few days, and by the time they return this way, we’ll have made it to the Llangollen so long as all goes to plan. They’ve been a wonderful source of support to us and we’re extremely grateful to them. One day in the future we’ll return here for a COVID-19 reunion party!

Sparky and Co Will Miss Us

Each day the teenage ducklings and their mum come a-calling. They’ve now taken to arriving at the perspex screen at the side hatch, and almost knock there.

Kim’s named one of them ‘Sparky’, and is threatening to remain here after we leave as she’ll be heartbroken to leave this friendly family of mallards. I have no doubt they’ll miss her too. They allow her to hand feed them now:

Wonderful WordPress!

I know, I’m a bit of a nerd. But I do adore WordPress, including their latest post editor Gutenberg. It took me a while to adjust to it, but I wouldn’t return to the ‘classic’ editor thank you. I know some bloggers are resisting …

Look at this latest block – a post carousel! I may it this in future posts, especially after Day 80 (Saturday 6th June 2020) when I’ll be stopping daily blogs. Don’t despair, I still intend to blog twice a week – on Wednesdays and Saturdays from then. UNTIL there’s a second lockdown in the UK. At that point, if we’re still here and not New Zealand, I’ll re-commence daily posts … It’ll be interesting to watch things unfolding. Though I detest the fact that there’s likely to be so many more deaths 🙁

COVID Symptom Study

Today the website states there are currently 162,868 people currently predicted to have symptomatic COVID in the UK. That sounds like a lot! Thankfully we’ve reported no symptoms again 🙂