Urgent! Register to vote by tomorrow night.

As I suggested in my blog of 25th of October, a General Election was imminent, well we know now it is to be held on Thursday the 12th of December 2019... And, you have until before midnight tomorrow (11.59pm/23.59 hours, or if you want a postal vote, it needs to be before 5pm/17.00 hours), Tuesday the 26th of November, to register (Government website). Registering online "usually takes about 5 minutes" only, and remember, if you are not on the register you cannot vote, and you may be fined!* 

If you want/need to register to vote please do hurry to the website and register.

* Explained in older blog

Pier Owner Fined Regarding HMRC Dispute

The owner of Hastings Pier (still closed!), (not a real Sheikh) Abid Gulzar, was fined in Hastings Magistrates Court yesterday for failing to comply with HMRC tax regulations regarding staff PAYE at his Eastbourne hotels (Eastbourne Herald); not the first time he has had a brush with HMRC and the Law (eg Eastbourne Herald). This, following his ally, (not a real Lord) Brett McLean intimating that he had been let off because HMRC had made a mistake...

Since originally writing this I have found out more about the sums involved (BBC). Gulzar was fined £8,000 for failing to pay HMRC "almost £62,000" and, in addition, his two companies, Mansion Lions Hotel Ltd and Albany Lions Hotel Ltd, "were fined £4,000 each for failing to pay £40,000 and £22,000 respectively for Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and National Insurance contributions."

"Speaking after the case, Richard Wilkinson, assistant director of HMRC's fraud investigation service, said: 'HMRC made numerous attempts to engage with Gulzar, who was trading illegally as he failed to pay the security bonds and then tried to thwart the prosecution.' "

Worrying times for anyone applying for jobs, whenever the Pier reopens!

Microchipping Dogs from 6th April Compulsory.

As I wrote about in January, but, if your dog has not been microchipped yet, you now only have a further 21 days in which to comply, or risk receiving a £500 fine...

Microchipping Dogs: Compulsory from 6 April 2016.

Not quite what I fully had in mind for dog control, but from 6 April 2016, every dog of 8 weeks and over in England and Scotland will have to be microchipped (already law in Wales); a law which the Government says will help reunite people with their lost or stolen pets, and to track down the owners of vicious or illegal dogs.

Dogs will need to be microchipped and registered with their keepers’ contact details; the only exemption would be when a vet has certified that a dog is 'unfit' to be microchipped. All keepers, including breeders, will be required to keep details up to date.  

Will help reunite owners & lost pets.

The microchip, approximately the size of a grain of rice, will be officially registered within an approved microchip database, which will hold up-to-date information about the dog and its owner's contact details.

Before the new requirements come into effect, pet owners or keepers will be able to get their dogs microchipped free of charge in a number of places. Many vets are offering free microchipping, as are animal welfare organisations and some local authorities.

Once the new rules come into effect, if a dog without a microchip comes to the attention of the authorities, its keeper will be served a notice requiring the dog to be microchipped, and may face criminal prosecution and a £500 fine if they do not comply with the notice! 

I advise you refer to the Pet Owners Association's website for further advice, or go to your vet, if your dog isn't yet microchipped.