World War Two survivors share tips on how to boost morale at home while in lockdown

THE Consumer Crew are here to solve your problems.

Mel Hunter will take on readers’ consumer issues, Jane Hamilton will give you the best advice for buying your dream home, and Judge Rinder will tackle your legal woes.

Jane Hamilton, property expert

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AS we celebrate VE Day’s 75th anniversary, World War Two survivors have have shar­ed tips on how to boost morale while stuck at home in lockdown.

Matt Hutchinson, director of flatsharing site SpareRoom, which compiled the advice, said: “This is the perfect opportunity to learn something, to remember what their generation did for us and hopefully find the comfort we so badly need.”

Here’s how to keep calm and carry on at home.

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1) Ronald, 93: "If the worst happens and you lose your home – whether it’s rented or mortgaged – remember you can rebuild. Our house was flattened by a bomb, but you move on. You’ll get a new home. You might even like it better."

2) Colin, 90: "Living with flatmates, not your family? Become like a family. During the Blitz we had to look out for one another. As long as we look after each other, like a family, we’ll get through this."

3) Winifred, 92: "Make do and mend. Don’t throw out or buy new items right now, as you don’t know when you’ll need the money. Instead, fix up your furniture and other household items. You can give them a whole new look with a lick of paint or new handles."

4) Jacques, 83: "Set up a routine for everyone in your home and stick to it. I caught tuberculosis and was sent to a sanatorium away from family and friends for a year. Despite the physical effects of the disease and the mental effects of my confinement, I found a daily schedule helpful. I very much recommend this to young people going through lockdown today."

5) Ilene, 82: "Make the most of your green space, whether that’s a garden or a local park. When things get tough, go for a walk and listen to nature, as the world is still there for our enjoyment. Have hope for better days ahead, as they are just around the corner."

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Judge Rinder

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Q) I WAS on a rolling temporary contract working for a large bakery. I have worked full-time for them since November 2018 but my contract only ran until Easter.

Under normal circumstances I would have expected that to be renewed.

But with the coronavirus pandemic ongoing they have laid me off permanently with no pay, saying they have no obligation to me because I only have a temporary contract.   

Many of the other staff were furloughed and the business is still in operation.

Do I have any rights?

LOUISE, Manchester

A) This is a tough one, I’m afraid. The difficulty with your situation is that you haven’t been working for this firm for two years or more, which means you do not have the same legal rights as other employees.

It seems to me that your employer is allowed to terminate your contract so long as they paid your full wage until Easter.

Even though contracted staff (including those on zero hours contracts) are entitled to benefit from the Government’s furlough scheme, there is no legal obligation for employers to claim this money.

Your situation is extremely unfair in the circumstances but the law is the law, I am afraid.

I must add that you need to be confident that this company hasn’t discriminated against you.

They may be legally entitled to cancel your contract but they cannot do so for reasons relating to your race, age, gender or sexuality, regardless of how long you have worked there for.

If you think your employer has singled you out for any of these reasons, you might be able to make a substantial legal claim against them.

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Q) I HAD a cruise booked for 11 days in April, but obviously it was cancelled by the holiday company.       They confirmed by email I would get a refund.

It arrived a few days later for £2,400 but the holiday cost £2,800.

It seems they have deducted the deposit.

Now I cannot get through to them on the phone to ask why, when it was they who cancelled my holiday, it is me that loses my deposit money.

I thought a full refund meant a full refund.

Is deducting the deposit legal?

MARGARET, Hull

A) A huge number of travel company contracts make it very clear that deposits are non-refundable.

Many of these companies are now relying on this to justify withholding customers’ money.

The problem for them is that your cancellation was not your fault whatsoever.

You could not have taken this trip, even if you had wanted to, because the Government declared it to be unsafe.

This is referred to in contract law as a force majeure issue – legal language for an act of God.

Given the travel company could not provide you with the trip, it seems to me you should be entitled to all of your money back, including the deposit.

You should write to this company asking them to explain and justify their legal position to you.

At the same time, you might want to check with your credit card and/or travel insurer as to whether or not they will cover you for your loss of money.

• Got a question for Judge Rinder? Email [email protected]

Mel Hunter, Reader's champion

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Q) WE booked two holidays, neither of which can be taken due to the lockdown, and as yet we have not received a penny of our £5,000 back from Jet2.

The first holiday was due to begin on April 17. The second was set to depart on May 31.

We had one email from Jet2 saying that our holiday had been cancelled and that someone would be in touch in ten days but we have had nothing since.

We are elderly and this is a substantial amount of money for us.

Noreen, Falkirk

A) A huge number of people are experiencing delays with refunds, and for each individual the fear of losing such large amounts of money can cause huge stress.

Although package holiday companies should refund within 14 days of the trip being scrapped, the huge volumes they are dealing with means this is rarely proving possible.

Some companies had been criticised by consumer body Which? for delaying refunds, making it very hard for customers to claim anything but a voucher. Jet2 was one of these.

With £5,000 tied up in two trips with the company, you were beside yourself.

I was also concerned because your first missed holiday had long since passed and you had received no information at all, despite the firm saying it was dealing with customers in order of departure date.

I got on to Jet2 and within 24 hours you had been promised your money back within ten days.

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Q) TOWARDS the end of March I received an email from BT stating it was capping any spending on calls to UK landlines and mobiles outside of my call plan to £5 a month.

It stated I didn’t need to do anything.

But when I received my latest bill I was surprised to see £101.40 call charges.

Brian, Ipswich

A) BT’s charge cap was a welcome bonus for many, allowing people stuck at home to have long chats on the blower with friends and family in this uncertain time.

You did the same, but your talk cost you dear.

I called BT and it turns out the price cap was applied to your mother-in-law’s account, which is also linked to your email.

As you are also a BT broadband customer, the offer did not apply to you.

As the letter from BT contained no name or postal address, you could only have spotted it wasn’t aimed at you by the last four digits of the account number included on the letter.

It was therefore a very easy mistake to make.

A BT spokesperson explained: “Understandably therefore there has been some confusion between Mr Loftus’ account and his mother in-law’s.

“However, we are doing everything we can to help our customers during these unprecedented times and as a gesture of goodwill we’ve refunded charges."

• Do you have a consumer issue? Email [email protected]

Maddy Tooke, Coupon Queen

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HERE are my top five freebies of the week . . .

1. NHS staff get a free MoveGB membership to get access to workouts and live-streamed fitness classes. Register online at .
2. Free TENA Lady samples. Choose between seven products and have them discreetly delivered. Request your sample from .
3. Join Pukka Tea loyalty scheme The Pukka Collective and get a free welcome pack of eight Pukka organic tea sachets. Sign up at
4. Free access to all UK records at Ancestry to celebrate VE Day 75. Available until May 10 or sign up for a 14-day free trial. See
5. Free kids’ shoe-size measuring gauge. Visit to make sure you get the right size for your kids while you can’t go to the shops.

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