Essential guide. Welcome. PCS+ services for members. Public and Commercial Services Union pcs.org.uk 2

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1 2013 Essential guide PCS+ services for members Welcome Dear Member As you know PCS provides a wide range of collective and personal support for members in their working lives. However, we have also used our collective strength to create PCS+, a specially selected range of products and services to meet the wider needs of PCS members. From discounts on your shopping bills, travel insurance to financial advice, you can be sure that PCS+ has something for you. This latest edition of the PCS+ Essential Guide gives details of the extensive range of services available from our third party suppliers. They all provide excellent value for money, first rate customer service and have a commitment to PCS which they demonstrate by supporting PCS financially. In a change to our previous practice only an electronic version of the guide will be produced, which will be available on the PCS website. The NEC is committed to providing the best value for money and regularly reviews all the services and providers. One of the advantages of producing the guide electronically is that it can be quickly updated to reflect any change to these benefits and services. Any changes will also be published in the PCS People. Chris Baugh Assistant General Secretary Stella Dennis Head of Central Services In addition to the services in this guide we also provide: The PCS benevolent service which, within certain parameters, can provide financial assistance to members in severe financial hardship. Full details are available on the PCS website or by calling , option 3 for an application form. Death benefit which the NEC has increased for 2013 to a grant of 1,520 to the nominee of any employed full member who dies whilst in membership. You should check your membership record to ensure that your nominee details are up to date. PCS legal services through which the union offers a personal injury compensation claim scheme. For more details please call our Legal Services Department on Credit Union PCS Credit Union was launched in April This offers an important benefit to PCS members and their families. For more information see page 6. Various helplines to help with a range of problems: zlegal available answered 24 hours a day on zbreast cancer care on zdomestic Violence on A free wills service an information pack can be obtained by calling option 3. Public and Commercial Services Union pcs.org.uk 2

2 Contents 2 Welcome 4,5 Legal services 6 Credit Union 7 Your membership 8,10,12,13,14,15 Insurance 9,16 Financial advice 10 Health care 11 New and used cars Discount shopping Contacts Headquarters Tel: Fax: HQ bargaining units DWP and Commercial Sector DWP: Tel: Fax: Commercial Sector Tel: Fax: Home and Justice Tel: Fax: HMRC and Culture Tel: /2645 Fax: Defence and Public Sector Tel: Fax: HMRC and Culture Tel: /2634 DSg and PSg Tel: /2645 BEATLE: Business, Education, Aviation, Transport, Land Registry and Environment BIS: Birmingham Fax: Education: Peterborough Tel: Fax: Aviation: London Tel: / 2645 Fax: Transport: Cardiff Tel: Fax: Land Registry: Birmingham Fax: EFRA: London Tel: / 2645 Fax: Regional centres Scotland HQ: Glasgow Tel: Fax: Edinburgh Tel: Northern Tel: Fax: Yorkshire and Humberside Tel: Fax: North West Tel: Fax: Midlands Tel: Fax: Eastern Tel: Fax: Wales Tel: Fax: London and South East Tel: Fax: South West Tel: Fax: When you need a specialist union lawyer, you need Slater & Gordon Lawyers on your side. PCS legal services Slater & Gordon Lawyers (formerly Russell Jones & Walker) has represented PCS and its members for over 30 years. This gives us an unique view and unprecedented experience of the challenges you face in the workplace. Our objective is to deliver services that provide extra value to your membership. We provide free confidential advice on personal, family and consumer issues. PCS Legal Helpline, Line open 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week slatergordon.co.uk Slater & Gordon (UK) LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Financial Services Authority for insurance mediation activity. We work with PCS to assist members on: Personal Injury Law Accident & Disease Compensation Discrimination Issues Health & Safety Issues Industrial Law Collective Litigation Personal Legal Services Additional services: Free Legal Guides Legal Helplines Online Legal Documents 3 4

3 Legal services PCS Credit Union PCS Credit Union 5 Introduction PCS provides a range of support, legal and personal, to members. In some cases, we can extend that support to members of your family and also to provide support on issues arising outside of the workplace. There are five main areas of legal and personal case support: zemployment advice and support zpersonal injury claims zgeneral legal advice zfree Will service zconveyancing services Employment advice and support Advice and support on issues arising out of the member s employment (including dismissal) is available to all PCS members, subject to our standard requirements. In any case where there is a potential claim to an Employment Tribunal, strict legal time limits apply (generally, 3 months less one day from the date of the problem arising) and it is important, therefore, that you raise the issue with your local representative without delay. If, for any reason, your local representative is not available, you should contact your PCS Branch Secretary. PCS aims to provide local support to members. Local reps, where necessary, have access to more experienced support and advice, including, in appropriate cases, professional and/or legal advice. In certain cases, PCS may offer legal representation at tribunal hearings. We can only support members themselves in disputes with their employer and cannot extend this to partners or dependents. Also if you have another job with an employer where PCS does not recruit members, we may not be able to assist. Personal injury claims The PCS Personal Injury Scheme covers members and their families who have an accident or suffer injury or ill health or experience medical negligence within the UK. The only claims we won t cover are for family members who suffer occupational injury but any other claim, whether or not work related, will be covered. The Scheme offers the services of a specialist personal injury lawyer to assess the merits and value of your case and, if appropriate, to take your case through to an acceptable settlement. There is a 3 year time limit for making a claim. The Scheme can also assist where the member or family is injured in circumstances enabling them to make a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. There is a 2 year time limit for CICA claim. The scheme is completely free to both members and their families and you will keep all of the compensation awarded and of course unlike other no win no fee lawyers we can also help to resolve any issues that may arise with the member s employer as a result of the injuries sustained. Strict time limits apply to all personal injury claims so please get advice as quickly as possible to maximise your chance of receiving compensation. Details of the PCS Personal Injury Service can be found on the PCS web site at: pcs.org.uk/en/resources/legal_ toolkit/personal-injury.cfm General legal advice For any legal matter, except personal injury or employment law matters, members can call our 24-hour legal advice line, operated by Russell Jones and Walker Solicitors. Call Free will service PCS, through our solicitors, can offer you a free will service - provided the arrangements are straightforward. More complex arrangements can be put in place, at a reduced cost. To get further details call (select option 3). Conveyancing PCS has arranged exclusively priced conveyancing for members, through Thompsons solicitors who have offices in most major cities in England, Scotland and Wales. For more details telephone Remember to mention that you are a PCS member. Disclaimer This document is intended to provide a general overview of the schemes on offer to members and should not be considered to be a full legal statement of entitlements. Nothing in this guide should be seen as giving a member or relative any entitlement to services. For full details of the rules of the schemes and your entitlements to services, please see the PCS web site pcs.org.uk/en/about_pcs/ member_benefits/index. cfm or contact Resources for Representatives: PCS Credit Union, Douglas Houghton House, 231 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, SW1V 1EH [email protected] Telephone Web pcs.org.uk/creditunion PCS Credit Union Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) reference number Registered under the Data Protection Act Public and Commercial Services Union pcs.org.uk Photos: Shutterstock

4 Your membership Life Insurance working with The unions membership and management information system is known as Commix, the PCS membership department is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all your union details, your Commix records includes: zyour personal details your addresses, contact numbers and addresses. zyour employer and workplace details your employment and contract type, your place of work and the PCS branch to which your workplace belongs. zyour subscription information recording the payments received, and used to update members on any payments that may have been missed. zyour death benefit nominee details. The membership department should be contacted to: zupdate the address that we hold for you. It is essential that we hold the correct address for our members for ballot purposes, sending union correspondence, and ensuring that you have your say as a member of the PCS. zupdate your contact phone numbers and addresses zupdate/check your death benefit nominee. zupdate your employer, workplace or contract conditions. zaddress any queries you may have regarding how much you are paying or the payment methods available to you. You should also contact membership: zif you are retiring and seeking associate membership. These changes may affect where you sit within the union structure or how much you pay we can explain any changes to you. zif you go on to less than your full basic pay through sick leave, maternity leave, career break, ongoing tribunal or for any other reason, you should get in direct contact with us to discuss your various payment options and to ensure that you retain membership. imembership allows PCS members to check and update their personal details on-line, contact the membership department: zif you are a member requiring any help or advice in using imembership, we can provide assistance and support over the phone or you can arrange for an overview when visiting PCS HQ, please [email protected] or call on /2680 zif you are an activist and wish to have one on one support on the uses of Commix or have any questions regarding the information held on members, your branch records or you simply wish to attend our drop in support clinic when you are next visiting PCS HQ for a session of best use of Commix or have any how to do questions please [email protected] or call on The membership department can be contacted by ing [email protected] or by phoning /2680. When contacting membership it would be helpful if you could provide us with either your PCS or your National Insurance number. Death benefit (Associate members are not entitled to this benefit) PCS death benefit increased to 1,520 from 1 January Members also have the option of receiving further free cover of 400 by contacting: Union Income Benefit (UIB) Members can check and amend their personal details including their death benefit nominee details via the PCS website pcs.org.uk by logging on using their membership number and selecting my membership (if you have not logged in before you will need to create a password). Pays out if you die But gives you money back if you don t * Click here for a quick quote to choose a level of cover to suit you or call * Money back if you keep the plan to age 70 and no claim is paid. Amount of money back depends on age when policy starts. **Acceptance guaranteed if you are a UK resident aged PCS+ is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Union Income Benefit Holdings Ltd (UIB) who arrange and administer this policy. UIB is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, FSA registration number This can be checked on the FSA website PCS+ Life Cover is underwritten by ACE Europe Life Ltd ( )

5 LIGHTHOUSE FINANCIAL ADVICE Financial planning consultation for PCS members Free eye test when you spend over 50 including digital retinal photography You work hard for your money, but is your money working hard for you? As a member of PCS you are entitled to a no-obligation consultation with Lighthouse Financial Advice, LV=Frizzell s chosen provider of professional financial advice. Our qualified financial advisers can provide you with practical, informed advice on: investing for income & growth protecting your family s income inheritance tax planning boosting your pension provision maximising income in retirement other financial planning issues Tens of thousands of people throughout the UK rely on us for affordable, expert financial advice. To arrange your initial consultation please contact us on: or [email protected] Free eye test when spending 30 off complete glasses 70 off contact lenses 10% off sunglasses Double Nectar points Family vouchers Making your money work harder PCS acts as an introducer appointed representative to the Liverpool VIctoria group of companies for investment, general insurance and advice on investment, life protection and pensions. Liverpool Victoria Financial Advice Services Limited is an introducer to Lighthouse Financial Advice for independent financial advice. LV= and Frizzell are registered trade marks of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited and LV= Frizzell is a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies. Lighthouse Financial Advice Limited, trading as Lighthouse Financial Advice, is an appointed representative of Lighthouse Advisory Services Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Lighthouse Advisory Services Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lighthouse Group plc. Registered in England No Registered Office: 26 Throgmorton Street, London, EC2N 2AN. Simply visit visionexpress.com/pcs Terms and conditions apply, see website for full details. We ll see you right 9 10

6 CHEAPER CAR INSURANCE From your PCS approved provider 75% Up to No Claims Discount For 5 or more years claim free! frizzell.co.uk/pcs for a quote or to provide us with your renewal dates For textphone: first dial Lines are open 8am 9pm Mon to Fri, 8am 5pm Sat, 9am 5pm Sun. To help continually improve customer service, calls may be monitored and/or recorded. PCS acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative to the Liverpool Victoria group of companies. LV= and Frizzell are registered trade marks of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited and LV= Frizzell is a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies. Liverpool Victoria Insurance Company Limited, registered in England and Wales number is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, register number Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF. Tel: WS

7 CHEAPER HOME INSURANCE From your PCS approved provider You won't find our exclusive discounts on any comparison sites EXCLUSIVE discount for PCS members frizzell.co.uk/pcs for a quote or to provide us with your renewal dates For textphone: first dial Lines are open 8am 9pm Mon to Fri, 8am 5pm Sat, 9am 5pm Sun. To help continually improve customer service, calls may be monitored and/or recorded. PCS acts as an Introducer Appointed Representative to the Liverpool Victoria group of companies. LV= and Frizzell are registered trade marks of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited and LV= Frizzell is a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies. Liverpool Victoria Insurance Company Limited, registered in England and Wales number is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, register number Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF. Tel: WS

8 Travel insurance working with Extra support from Planning a holiday? Don t go away without making sure you and your family are covered. Your annual policy includes: 10,000,000 Medical emergency cover 5,000 Cancellation cover 2,000 Baggage cover 1,500 Scheduled airline failure cover 24/7 Emergency assistance service Annual worldwide Premier prices:* Individual 62 Couple 78 Family 88 Don t know what to do about debt? You re not alone. Many people feel trapped by debt, but it gets easier when you talk about it and take action. Contact Payplan today and start looking forward to a future free from debt. We ve helped thousands of people with our free, confidential debt advice and solutions, and we can help you too. Find out more or apply now or call ( ) Call Payplan today on or go to Payplan can also provide debt advice training straight to your PCS branch Local rate number. Lines open Monday to Friday 8.00am-7pm, Saturday 9am-5pm. Terms and conditions apply, cover is correct at 14th January Excess applies. * Prices quoted are based on based on adults, aged up to 64. Policies and premiums are subject to meeting the medical criteria. Annual cover is available up to age 79. PCS is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Union Income Benefit Holdings Limited (UIB) who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, register number PCS Travel Insurance is arranged and administered by Rock Insurance Services Limited and underwritten by Mapfre Assistance. Rock Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), number Payplan and the Payplan logo are trademarks of Totemic Ltd 15 16

9 Welcome to PCS Discounts! Save money now on Food Register now and start saving at all these places and many more! How does it work? 1 Register for free at - you cannot access the benefits without registering. 2 Once registered, click on Shopping Vouchers in the top left corner and a comprehensive list will appear. JOIN FREE STANDARD MEMBERSHIP Fashion 3 Make your selection, decide what value of vouchers or gift cards you would like and order your goods. 4 Your payment will be processed immediately and your goods subsequently sent to you. The discount applies at this point and you will receive full face value in vouchers or gift cards to spend in store. 5 For our Special Offers - please follow the prompts to explain how your discount is achieved. 6 Postage and Credit Card charges apply, so please click on our shipping and handling link to see what applies. 7 Please note that discounts are accurate at the time of print but can be amended or withdrawn during the life of this publication. JOIN NOW & START SAVING Holidays and much more! Home & DIY 17 18

10 19 3 Great Ways to Save 1 Department Stores Home & DIY Electronics 2 SAVE UP TO 10% High Street START Fashion Leisure SAVING TODAY & Holidays SAVE UP TO 10% HUGE DISCOUNTS START SAVING TODAY GREAT VALUE ONLINE Debenhams All of us have probably been given a store shopping voucher as a present, with us though you can buy them for less then their face value so every time you buy you save. Simply order them from us before you go shopping at your favourite stores and you will start to cut your cost of living immediately. High Street General Superstores Many of us are now starting to use gift cards instead of shopping vouchers. Just like our vouchers you buy them from us at a discounted rate before you go shopping and you re saving every time. New Look 3 START SAVING TODAY HUGE DISCOUNTS Click on the links provided to access a great range of online or quote code generated discounted offers. We have negotiated deals with some great brands to save you money on Holidays, Cars, Car Hire, Airport Parking, Hotels, Days Out and Experience Days. Watch out for regular monthly and weekly Special Offers from Thomas Cook Holiday Club and Sytner Cars. Electronics & Home Holidays Leisure Superbreak Mini-Holidays Travel Extras GREATMotoring Hotels & Cottages VALUE ONLINE 10% OFF UK & Overseas breaks, theatre, concert & event breaks, golf & spa breaks, flight & hotel packages and much more! Book online at or call: & quote PCS The STory of frankie Valli & The four SeaSonS Visit to find out more 20