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SEASONAL Christmas work could pay out up to £30 an hour and give your bank account a much-needed boost.

Plenty of retailers are on the hunt for temporary staff to cover the busy festive period this year.

Most seasonal roles end before or shortly after December 25, but they are still a great way to cover the extra cost of Christmas.

New research from Indeed reveals that online searches for seasonal work are at a six-year high too.

The hiring platform says there are some which pay out as much as £18.56 more than the National Living Wage which is £11.44.

Top of the list of highest paying Christmas temp roles is playing Father Christmas, which could earn you up to £30 an hour.

Next is Christmas Elf work, which could earn you up to £25 per hour, then retail assistant which pays out up to £20.

Even work as a mail sorter could see you take home £17.50 an hour, while warehouse packers can bag up to £13.50 an hour.

Jack Kennedy, senior economist at Indeed, said: “When it comes to securing holiday work, high street retailers are a great place to start, as they’re leading the charge in driving seasonal job postings.

“On Indeed, M&S, Dunelm, Boots and The Perfume Shop are some of the top ten businesses by volume of seasonal job postings from August to October.”

Poundland is also hiring 1,000 staff for temporary roles this Christmas, while Aldi is also on the hunt for 3,500 workers.

Searches for seasonal work are at a six-year high, but roles are on the decrease, Indeed said.

The hiring platform, which first launched in 2004, said job postings on its platform were down 12% this year compared to 2023.

Boost your chances of getting seasonal work

With job postings down, it means competition will be fierce this Christmas.

There are ways to boost your chances of landing a temp role though, Mr Kennedy said.

“Use online job search engines to find opportunities, and don’t hesitate to network with friends and family for potential leads.

“Anyone looking for seasonal work should aim to secure it sooner rather than later as many employers begin hiring a few months before the season – so now is an opportune time to get your application in.

“Another tip that could boost your chances of securing a seasonal role is to be flexible with your work hours, as seasonal roles often require availability on short notice.

“Finally, treat the application and interview process with the same seriousness as a full-time role to maximise your chances of success, and to possibly be considered for a full-time role in the future.”

Your rights as a temporary worker

Taking on a temporary job can be a great solution to make some extra cash and you are entitled to a minimum hourly salary.

You must be paid at least the national minimum wage for your age group:

• People aged 21 and over should get no less than £11.44
• People aged 18 to 20 get no less than £8.60
• People aged under 18 should get no less than £6.40
• Apprentices should earn no less than £6.40

You’re also entitled to a pay slip showing how much you’ve earned, how much national insurance (NI) you pay and what tax band you are on.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

AN easy parking mistake left Vivien Laing led to her overdraft being slashed and credit card limit being lowered after she got a black mark on her credit report.

In March, Vivien saw her excellent credit score plummet from 800 points to just 576 – but she had no idea why.

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After checking her credit score she was shocked to discover that a County Court Judgement (CCJ) for £238 had been registered against her.

The following month, Vivien, received a letter from a bailiff company chasing an unpaid debt for a parking fine for her doctor’s surgery incurred in September 2023. She called the firm and paid immediately.

“I made the stupid assumption that this was all connected to the CCJ,” said Vivien, who lives in Wiltshire.

You received a CCJ if court action is taken against you because you owe someone money, and the court rules you should pay it back. 

After further investigation she realised they were for different penalty notices, the CCJ relating to a fine in November 2022, both served by private car park operator Civil Enforcement Limited. 

Vivien was unaware that her GP’s car park was operated by a private company and that a one-hour time restriction applied. 

Drivers can avoid a fine by entering their car registration into a computer mounted on the surgery’s wall, a rule Vivien knew nothing about.

“Inappropriate system”

Vivien had asked her daughter to drive her car to the appointment that day, following a diagnosis of epilepsy.

After being kept waiting by the surgery, her stay in the car park ran to one hour and twenty minutes.

“I was more concerned about the way I was feeling, as I wasn’t feeling 100%,” said Vivien.

“You want to see your GP, you’re not thinking about how long you’ve been in the car park.

 “It seems inappropriate to me that any GP surgery should have that sort of system. But I suppose what are their other options. They must stop non-patients using the car park. 

“But what if someone collapses and has to be taken away by ambulance?” 

Vivien tried repeatedly to get in touch with Civil Enforcement by phone to find out why they had not contacted her about the CCJ, yet the bailiffs had found her for the September 2023 fine. 

After leaving four unanswered messages on the company’s enquiry line, she wrote a letter of complaint about her treatment and asked if the CCJ had been cancelled as she had now paid both fines.

A court response stating that the money had been received and the matter was now closed was the firm’s only response to Vivien’s search for answers. 

“Civil Enforcement’s public persona is non-existent,” said Vivien. “I know they are imposing fines on people which are technically justified, and the recipients won’t be pleased about it, but I feel they should be more empathic.”

Tracking you down

Between January and the end of September, according to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), 185 private car parking operators made more than 9.7 million requests for the personal information it holds on drivers so that they could track them down about a potential fine.

When drivers move home, by law they must notify the DVLA of their change of address quickly. 

They must update their address separately on their driving licence, logbook (V5C) and direct debits. 

Failing to update both the licence and logbook means that should a car park operator need to locate you to send a penalty notice – it will go to your old address. 

Vivien moved home in May 2020. While she had updated her driving licence, she had overlooked her logbook.

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “The irony is that Vivien went to the doctor to feel better and ended up feeling a whole lot worse – anxious and out of pocket. 

“Not telling the DVLA she’d moved was an oversight, but where is the fairness and decency in how this case has been handled? 

“It seems one honest mistake has resulted in someone being trapped in a system devoid of any scope for human contact and few signs of compassion.”

Damage to credit rating

Once a CCJ is recorded on your credit report it will remain there for six years, unless you pay the full amount within one month.

James Jones from credit referencing agency Experian said: “The presence of a CCJ is obviously a big red flag to most lenders and is likely to lead to a score reduction in the region of about 250 points on Experian scores. Once the CCJ goes, the score jumps straight back to where it was before.”

Jones advises drivers to regularly keep an eye on their credit score. 

Vivien says she expected more loyalty from her bank Santander, where she had banked since before its Alliance & Leicester days, and Barclays, her credit card provider as she had not run into credit difficulties before. 

Her overdraft was cut from £1,800 to £50 as a result of the CCJ and her credit limit cut from £10,500 to £8,000.

Santander says it wrote to Vivien in May giving her six weeks’ notice of her overdraft reduction and spoke to her over the phone to discuss matters as well as offering support.

Barclays also wrote to the customer ahead of her credit limit reduction and provided contact details. 

Multiple attempts to trace

After the Sun contacted Civil Enforcement Limited, the company offered to remove the CCJ and pay the court administration costs.

It said that while Vivien was at fault for staying in the car park for over an hour and did not update her vehicle registration details after moving home, it should have escalated her letter to its complaints department, which it did not. 

Under the British Parking Association’s code of conduct for parking operators, before they issue a CCJ, if there has been no response to its parking notice and reminders, the company must make reasonable attempts to make sure they have the correct contact details for the person they are writing to. 

Civil Enforcement says multiple attempts to trace Vivien were made.

Eventually, a search for the second fine carried out in April revealed her current address. 

Civil Enforcement says it manages nearly 10 million parking visits to its client sites every month, with over 99.6% resulting in drivers parking compliantly. 

Both Barclays and Santander say Vivien’s credit facilities can be restored.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories

THOUSANDS of Brits could face the shock of being asked to repay benefits to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Many only discover they owe money after they’ve already spent it, leaving them scrambling to sort out how to pay it back.

The reasons why benefit receivers may have to pay back DWP can vary but we’ve broken down the full list below.

You’ve made a mistake

One of the most common reasons is simply making an error on your benefits claim, like reporting the wrong income or not including all details of a partner’s finances.

You and your partner’s incomes affect the amount of benefits you get, so getting it wrong can mean you are paid too much or too little.

If you’re paid too much, the government can ask you to pay it back, and there’s no limit on the time period over which this applies.

If you’re being paid too little, you’ll usually only be able to make a backdated claim for the previous month.

So either way it pays to make sure the information you give is accurate and up to date.

Failed to report a change in circumstance

Any change in circumstances – such as starting a new job, receiving a pay rise, or inheriting money – must be reported to the DWP immediately.

If not, you could find yourself owing money back for benefits you were no longer entitled to.

For those receiving Child Benefit, there’s an added complication.

If your or your partner’s income rises above £60,000 during the tax year, some of that benefit will have to be repaid, usually through a tax return.

Misrepresenting your circumstance

Another major issue is fraud. If you intentionally lie or misrepresent your circumstances, the DWP will classify it as benefit fraud.

This can result in being taken to court, or having to pay back the money with additional fines.

System errors

Sometimes, benefits are overpaid because of system errors.

This might happen if you receive two payments in error or if the system calculates your benefit incorrectly due to a delay in processing updated information.

If you’re overpaid, you’ll need to repay the extra, regardless of whether it’s the DWP’s fault or not.

For Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, and Employment and Support Allowance, over payments are generally recovered, even if it’s DWP’s fault.

But for other benefits, over payments caused by a DWP mistake might be written off.

Advances or interim payments

Advances on benefits can also become an issue if not repaid on time. Universal Credit claimants, for instance, can receive an advance while waiting for a claim to be processed.

However, this advance is considered an over payment once the claim is finalised and must be repaid.

Other benefits, like Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance, may offer interim payments, but these too need to be repaid if you stop receiving benefits before the full amount is covered.

Universal credit hardship payments

Hardship payments are another area where repayments might be needed.

These payments are designed to help those struggling due to sanctions or penalties.

While they provide short-term relief, they must be repaid once the penalty period ends, typically through deductions to future benefits.

Late awards or system delays can also lead to overpayments. If a benefit is paid late and isn’t factored into other payments, it could lead to an excess, which the DWP will expect you to repay.

The DWP sometimes makes errors, which could lead to an overpayment.

Whether you need to repay the money depends on the type of benefit.

If a claimant dies

If someone dies while still receiving benefits, payments might continue if the DWP isn’t notified in time.

These over payments are called “direct payments after death” and are usually recovered from the deceased’s bank account.

If the money can’t be recovered this way, the DWP might ask the next of kin to pay it back.

In cases where a couple is receiving benefits together, and one partner passes away, the remaining partner may be responsible for repaying any over payments.

This applies to Universal Credit and other similar benefits.

Social fund over payments

If you’ve received too much money from specific payments like the Maternity Payment or Winter Fuel Payment, and the over payment is due to incorrect information being provided, the government can reclaim the money.

However, if the over payment occurred due to a government mistake, they can’t take it back.

Knowing what can trigger a repayment request is crucial, especially if you’re relying on these funds.

While the DWP does offer repayment plans and deductions from future benefits, it’s always better to avoid owing money in the first place by keeping your details up to date.

It’s always worth checking if the DWP have got it right, as an investigation by The Sun revealed thousands of people may have been told to pay back benefits – but don’t actually owe a penny.

Elsewhere, A disabled woman was left in “disbelief” because her benefits were stopped and she was told she owed £28,000 in over payments for the Department for Work and Pensions.

How to complain

If you’ve been asked to repay benefits and think it’s not right, you can raise the issue with the DWP.

If the DWP believes you have been overpaid a benefit, it will write to you detailing what happened and how much you owe.

You can ask it to reassess your case if you don’t agree with its decision.

In your response, ask how it made its decision, as well as for a “mandatory reconsideration”.

You should then get another letter with the outcome of the reconsideration.

If you still don’t agree, you can appeal the decision at a tribunal.

You can also make a complaint about the customer service you receive from the department.

Say you’re making a formal complaint and ask to initiate its complaints procedure, either in writing or over the phone.

A complaint resolution manager should look at your case and issue a final response.

t’s a good idea to keep hold of any correspondence when you make a benefit claim in case you have any issues down the track.

For example, if there is an error and you spot it, make sure to raise it with the relevant department and keep a record of this correspondence.

IF you think Britain’s best pub can be found on a posh high street in London, you would be sorely mistaken.

Instead, the crown jewel of UK boozers is located in Tamworth, a town about 14 miles north of Birmingham – that many have never heard of.

Aptly named the Tamworth Tap, this unsuspecting spot has been voted the National Pub of the Year for two years running.

The award is handed out by Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and is deemed the organisation’s highest achievement.

Despite only being open for five years, the business has been praised for not only its booze but its efforts to bring the local community together.

I made the hour-and-a-half journey from London to visit the haunt myself to see what the hype was about.

You will need to walk through an unspectacular high street filled with boarded-up shops to reach the Tap, and if you want to visit on a weekday don’t expect to get through the door before 4pm.

Founder George Greenaway tells me this is done to better suit his 12 staff members, who will get to clock off at around 10pm tonight.

On the weekends, the business runs on a more traditional schedule opening at noon and closing at 11pm on a Saturday and 8pm on a Sunday.

George says: “There are plenty of pubs that are open during the day around the town..we wanted to be a little bit more exclusive than that.”

If you are a footy fan or keen to hear the latest chart music, then you also might want to think twice.

The pub has no television screens to show sports and George says the music in the Tap is strictly from the 1960s, 70s, 80s or maybe 2000s at a push.

There is no denying the vintage feel to this pub.

It is set within a 16th-century building, which George transformed himself on a self-funded budget after he left his job in IT.

Adding to this, the walls are decorated with vintage Belgium beer artwork, which he picked up second-hand from places like eBay.

The European country has inspired a lot of the aspects of the Tap, including making sure the correct beer is served in matching glass.

This has appeared to pay off, we are only chatting for about 20 minutes before the entire ground floor of the Tap has filled up with locals.

After another half an hour passes, the second floor has a smattering of customers, some of the capital’s best pubs would not draw much of a crowd on a weekday so I was very impressed.

Top beers on tap

The Tamworth Tap is the dream pub for any craft ales and IPA’ fans.

On draught, there is a varied selection of ales, including Tam’s Jaipur and White Rat, which is a welcomed break from the typical Coors or Heniken.

The pub regularly stocks beers that are hard to find in your typical boozer across the UK.

George says he’s often found a queue of travellers lined up outside of the pub before opening to try one of their rare ales, such as Bathams which can only be found in the Black Country.

“It’s a pilgrimage to a lot of real ale enthusiasts,” he explains.

In terms of price, a pint of ale will set you back £4.20 and if you want a snack to accompany like a homemade sausage roll it will cost £3.

Paying £7.20 for a drink and snack seems reasonably priced especially when you are used to handing over that for a drink alone in the capital.

Obviously, if you went to a larger chain such as Wetherspoons it would be a lot cheaper but the welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff are worth the difference in a few quid.

The pub also has a board clearly displaying prices of pints for customers, which I thought was a nice touch.

But, there is so much more to the Tamworth Tap than its drinks selection.

Hidden feature

Outside, it boasts a large garden area which has a stage and a cinema screen, which displays retro movies in the summer.

This is all set behind a stunning view of Tamworth Castle, which peaks out behind the walls of the pub.

Getting a glimpse of the historic Norman palace is reason enough to visit the Tap.

When the weather is warmer, the stage is also used to host its regular Sunday live music sessions, which are performed by local talent.

It is just a few of the ways George has worked to bring the local community together, alongside hosting comedy nights and art classes at the pub.

Visiting from a major city like London, it was refreshing to see an establishment that had originality and not just another cookie-cutter chain.

Locals are very lucky to have not only a great pub on their doorstep but also a place they can socialise and make friends.

If I ever happen to find myself in Tamworth again, I would happily pay it another visit.

HERBIE Farnworth could take the biscuit by helping England avenge World Cup heartbreak – but he would rather claim the Cake.

For while arguably the best centre in the world has lived in Australia seven years, he has not forgotten where he comes from.

SWPIX.COM

Without hesitation, it is Jaffa Cakes over Tim Tams – every time.

And the finest in his position in the NRL for the last two years revealed how he keeps his supply – by doing the business for club side Dolphins.

Farnworth may resemble a stereotypical Aussie – his moustache was around a long time before thoughts of Movember – but when it comes to his taste buds, there is no competition.

When asked which he preferred, he immediately shot back: “Jaffa Cakes. All day.

“I can’t find them in Australia but some fans at the Dolphins games hold up a sign saying, ‘Herbie, a photo for some Jaffa Cakes.’

“So I always go over and they give me a box of them. That’s pretty cool, now I’ve got heaps of them!

“Life there is very different to here. In Australia, rugby league is probably their main sport but it’s nice being back here, seeing family and not being asked for pictures.

“It’s pretty cool to be back in the normal world. As I’ve gone on in my career, it’s definitely got a lot more demanding on my social life than I thought it would. You’ve just got to be careful.

“But accent-wise, I’m probably stuck at the minute. I’ve got the English accent but the Aussie slang, so when I’m in England I get teased, when I’m in Australia I get teased.

“I can’t win either way!”

Farnworth may hail from Blacko in Lancashire and live 10,000 miles away but playing in Wigan today is special.

Uncle Brian Foley was a development coach and scout for them and Herbie played amateur at the town’s famed St Patrick’s club before moving to Brisbane Broncos after impressing in summer trials.

SWPIX.COM

He also used to cheer on the Warriors, notably a certain former Test team-mate, now team manager, Sam Tomkins.

And he revealed a special memento still has pride of place at his parents’ home.

He added: “Sam was a massive inspiration of mine as a kid and I used to wear his boots.

“He signed a pair and luckily I was the same size as him, even though I’d have been about 14 – I’ve still got them!

“They’re bright yellow and they’re still at my mum and dad’s house. When I played alongside him at the World Cup, I was still a bit like, ‘Woah.’

“Now I know him. He’s a very humble guy and done a lot for the English game. When I was younger, I was just a fan and players almost aren’t real to you.

“But it’s pretty cool to be around him now. I also played for St Pat’s and when I was a kid, I’d go down all the time to watch Wigan play.”

Last time Farnworth – who has been back and forth between Blacko and seen older brother Will’s new bar in nearby Clitheroe – pulled on an England shirt, he tasted agony as Samoa stunned the hosts in golden point extra time of the 2022 World Cup’s semi-final.

SWPIX.COM

This time, though, things are different. He is better and boss Shaun Wane’s talent pool is far better – and they are ready to show it.

The 24-year-old told SunSport: “Memories are still vivid, for sure. It’s the second-hardest loss I’ve ever taken – it was the hardest but now it’s last years’ NRL Grand Final.

“Samoa played very well but we didn’t play how we could. We can’t wait to right that wrong.

“And I feel a better player, 100 per cent. I’d like to think I’m completely different – I was only 22, coming off a biceps injury and finding my form in the NRL. I’d like to think I’m coming into the prime of my career

“Our talent pool is a lot bigger and boys have done well in the NRL – Morgan Smithies and Kai Pearce-Paul have been standouts.

“And winning 2-0 after beating Tonga 3-0 last year would send a real message ahead of next year’s Ashes. I’m excited about what this team can do.”

JUDD TRUMP and Kyren Wilson will face off in a mouthwatering final TODAY – and it could go either way.

Trump proved why he is currently the world’s best by whitewashing Elliot Slessor in a thrilling semi-final.

While World No 2 Wilson edged past Chinese star Junxu Pang in yesterday’s other tie.

• Start time: From 1pm BST
• TV / Stream: Eurosport / Discovery+
• Full schedule and results

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SOME Virgin Media customers have been warned eight premium channels will disappear from their boxes this week as a special offer comes to an end.

The list includes several big names in children’s television, such as Cartoon Network and Sky Kids.

Alamy

People who subscribe to the kids TV channels won’t notice any change to service[/caption]

But fear not, they’re not leaving Virgin Media for good.

And there are some new premium channels to fill the void too.

Since the start of October, the telecoms giant has been offering kids channels at no extra cost for those who don’t already subscribe to them.

For those who already pay for kids channels as part of their package there is no change to worry about.

But for those who have been enjoying them for free this month, the channels will be locked again on October 31 at 6am.

The full list includes:

• Sky Kids
• Cartoon Network
• Boomerang HD
• Cartoonito HD
• Nickelodeon
• Nick Jr.
• Nick Jr. Too
• Nicktoons

It also included hundreds of hours of on-demand content.

Virgin Media customers don’t need to take any action.

But if you want to continue receiving the channels you can subscribe to the kids pay TV channels for £5 extra a month.

While it’s farewell to this freebie, Virgin Media has another up its sleeve.

Until November 8, customers can access 14 premium South Asian entertainment channels at no extra cost, in celebration of Diwali.

Here is the full list:

• Channel 801: Utsav Gold HD
• Channel 802: Utsav Bharat
• Channel 803: Utsav Plus HD
• Channel 805: Sony TV HD
• Channel 806: Sony MAX HD
• Channel 808: Sony MAX2
• Channel 809: Zee TV HD
• Channel 810: Zee Cinema HD
• Channel 811: Zee Punjabi HD
• Channel 815: B4U Movies
• Channel 825: Colors Gujarati
• Channel 826: Colors HD
• Channel 827: Colors Rishtey
• Channel 828: Colors Cineplex

Other ways to get free kids TV

If you’re looking for free kids TV, there are plenty of other options around.

Virgin Media’s V6 boxes offer a little-known free streaming service called Pluto TV.

It provides instant access to streamed channels for all the family.

There are themed channels including Inspector Gadget, Barney and Friends, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Arthur.

If you own a Samsung TV, there’s a service called Samsung TV Plus.

It too has a number of kids’ channels available to watch instantly.

STRICTLY Come Dancing viewers were left in hysterics after witnessing the ‘perfect moment’ last night.

Saturday evening’s instalment of the BBC competition saw the remaining celebrities and pro dancers dress up for Halloween Week.

Claudia Winkleman/instagram

Carlos and Claudia posed for a snap together after the show[/caption]

And even the judging panel got into the spooky spirit.

Fans were left laughing out loud when they realised pro dancer Carlos Gu – who is not partnered with anyone this year – had decided to dress up as.

The dancer looked chic in an oversized blazer, lace skirt and black bob wig.

As soon as he stood next to presenter Claudia Winkleman it became clear who his costume was inspired by.

Many rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to praise the star for his creativity.

One wrote on the platform: “Carlos dressed as Claudia. He has won Halloween 2024.”

Another added: “Winner of this week’s strictly for me is Carlos dressed as Claudia!”

A third added: “Carlos absolutely wins #strictly tonight.”

“OMG Carlos is actually looking very much like Claudia!,” a fourth commented.

A fifth said: “Carlos just won Halloween for me! Iconic.”

After the show the pair posed for a snap together and Claudia shared it on her Instagram page.

She wrote: “I love @gkx_carlos .”

Carlos replied: “Love you to bits ! X.”

Former Strictly winner Stacey Dooley wrote in the comments section: “@sineadmckeefry now ordering 2 of everything .”

Professional Karen Hauer added: “The best.”

The Halloween costumes for the Strictly Come Dancing judges have been dubbed ‘greatest thing on the show’.

Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke stole the show with their efforts – as they dressed up as the creepy twins from iconic horror film The Shining.

Oti Mabuse dressed up as Cruella De Vil from 101 Dalmations, and Shirley Ballas was Winifred from Hocus Pocus.

After last night’s show, actress Sarah Hadland and EastEnders star Jamie Borthwick are at the top of the leaderboard.

The two were awarded an incredible 38 points for their performances.

Meanwhile Chris McCausland and Dr Punam Krishan are at the bottom with the lowest scores.

Eroteme

BBC/Ray Burmiston

Carlos joined the show in 2022 and was partnered with Molly Rainford[/caption]