ContractStore Legal Business Blog

Thanks to all who wrote to us. For the lucky ones, your mousemat is being mailed to you. Our stock of 2009 calendar mousemats has now been used up.

For the last couple of years we have been making a limited edition mousemat with a calendar and a ruler on it. We are well into into 2009 now but since we have some left after sending many to our best customers, you can get one yourself. Just drop us an email with your postal address in the UK and we will send you a mousemat – while stocks last! You may also find the layout useful – you can even print it and glue it onto last year’s mat. Probably a good idea to stick a sheet of lamination plastic over the top as well…or just post the calendar on the wall for reference. Enjoy!

This offer is for readers based in the UK.

Download PDF of the ContractStore Mousemat with Calendar and Ruler 2009

The Information Commissioner

A series of online, bite-sized video guides for new and small businesses has been launched today by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The videos and guide are available to download free from the Business Link website at http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/taxhelp.

The 10 videos, fronted by TV presenter Dan Snow, provide a helpful overview on a range of tax issues, including setting up in business, income tax for the self-employed, corporation tax and VAT. The videos also provide handy links to further online information and help.

The presenter Dan Snow said:

“We’ve broken the information down into small video chunks, so that people can access exactly what they need to know. Hopefully this makes the new videos really useful for people and businesses.”

A free guide for new and small businesses has also been launched alongside the videos, entitled “Giving your business the best start with tax”.

The Office of Fair Trading and Get Safe Online have today joined forces to urge internet users to be vigilant against online fraudsters as recent research shows that online scams are on the increase.

The warning comes as part of the OFT’s Scams Awareness Month, The second week of this year’s campaign, beginning today, is focusing on internet scams and is being supported by Get Safe Online, the UK’s national internet security awareness initiative.

The internet has revolutionised the way we live, work and shop but recent research carried out by GetSafeOnline.org highlights the increasing need for vigilance against online fraudsters. 23 per cent of UK internet users surveyed said that they, or their close friends and family, had been a victim of phishing scams in the past 12 month period, compared to just eight per cent the year before. Similarly, over 1 in 6 (16 per cent) had fallen prey to other scam emails or websites.

Three of the most common e-mail scams which consumers should look out for are:
* Phishing – the email appears to come from your bank, a company you regularly do business with, a Government Department or from your social networking site and directs you to a mocked up website that asks you to provide personal data such as account details, passwords and credit card numbers. The site is fake and your details can be used to commit identity fraud.
* Bogus foreign lotteries – you are told you have won a foreign lottery but to claim your winnings must send off money to cover administrative fees. Often your personal details will also be requested and used to commit identity fraud.
* Advance fee scams – someone asks you to help transfer a large sum of money out of a foreign country in return for a share of the spoils but they are just looking to empty your bank account. A recent variation involves being asked to part with money for “taxes” and “visas” in relation for a fake job offer.

The OFT today launches its 2009 Scams Awareness Month to raise awareness of mass marketed scams, which cost the UK public