THERE are plenty of ways to show your dad you care today without forking out for a costly Father’s Day gift.

If money is tight and you were planning on showing up at his door empty-handed, my panel of parent experts are here to share their views and ideas to save stress and cash.

• Tom Williams, a dad of two from Lichfield, Staffs, who runs the Working Daddy blog: “If you have no money or have a very limited budget, why not make something? There are plenty of ideas on the internet. I would rather receive a gift that’s been made with love.”
• Cathy Ranson, mum of one and editor of parenting site ChannelMum.com: “Your presence is the important thing here, not your presents. Make him a card with an old photo of the two of you together and write a lovely message about how much he means to you. Or invite him over for lunch. How about making him a voucher for you to do some chores he doesn’t enjoy, such as ironing or gardening?”
• Tom Briggs, a dad of three from East Sussex who runs blog Diary of the Dad: “Material objects don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things but showing affection and gratitude is important.”
• Mumsnet founder Justine Roberts: “How many dads really want another World’s Best Dad mug or a golf tee key ring? Mumsnet users say that anything handmade with love and thought knocks shop-bought stuff out of the park. You could bake his favourite cake, make a roast lunch, plan a film evening with his favourite comedy, or just hand him the keys to his bike lock and tell him he’s free to spend the day doing what he wants.”
• Dad-of-three Ricky Willis, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, founder and editor of Skint Dad: “There seems to be a lot of pressure to make things perfect, and that usually means spending money. Dads would prefer no gift than a child getting into financial trouble for one day.”
• Sun Saver Pat Myers, from Rotherham: “Make a video using your phone, with friends and family talking about their favourite memories and moments of your dad.”

My Savers fiver

LAURA Spafford, of Rotherham, says: “I cashed out money in my Sun Savers wallet to open an ISA account for my six-year-old son to access when he’s 18. It will hopefully go towards college, or his first car.”

• Send your Savers fiver stories to sunsavers.co.uk/fivers and you will get 28 codes worth £5 if yours is used. Include name and town.

Reader’s saving tip

KAREN McGuire, of Cleethorpes, Lincs, says: “Black printer ink generally runs out first. Print non-business letters or documents in greyscale, or kids’ homework in blue or red by changing the font colour.

• Send tips to sunsavers.co.uk/tips and you will get 28 codes worth £5 if yours is used. Include your name and town.

Deal of the day

TREAT Dad to a Father’s Day £6 meal deal from Co-op. Includes a main and two sides, or a main plus a side and dessert.
SAVE: £3.49

Save a fiver

Handout

Get your first healthy-snacking Graze box using our code and save a fiver[/caption]

SNACK on your first Graze box. There is £5 off for new customers when they use code 5CREDIT from promotionalcodes.org.uk.
SAVE: £5

Win a year of Odeon Cinema

HERE’S a blockbuster giveaway that’s guaranteed to be a hit with film fans.

Sun Savers has TEN annual cinema passes from Odeon to be won.

But don’t worry if you miss out – as there are also 500 pairs of Odeon cinema tickets for the runners-up.

There is something for everyone this year at Odeon, from Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom to family favourite Incredibles 2 and action-packed Mission: Impossible Fallout.

Make sure you don’t miss out on this fantastic competition.

Entering is easy. All you need to do is collect FIVE Sun Savers codes from the 11 printed daily in the paper until Tuesday, June 26.

Today’s Sun Savers code is at the bottom of page 28. Then, go to the Sun Savers app or website and enter your Sun Savers codes.

Once you have entered FIVE codes, click “Enter” before the final credits roll at midnight on Monday, July 9.

So if you fancy yourself as a film critic or you just want to see more of your favourite Hollywood star, our latest Sun Savers competition is perfect for you.

Not already a Sun Savers member? Then join today! Just search “Sun Savers” in the app store or head over to sunsavers.co.uk. You only need to enter a few basic details to get started.

• T&Cs apply. Find out more here.

Play now to win £15,000 on the Sun Savers Raffle

JOIN thousands of readers taking part in the new Sun Savers Raffle.

Every Sun Savers code you enter will earn you a ticket for our £15k monthly Raffle. And for every ten tickets you collect in a calendar month, you get a GOLDEN TICKET for our £80k Raffle, which takes place every three months, with the first one at the end of June.

There is no limit to how many tickets you can collect. So the more you enter, the better your chances.

To take part go to sunsavers.co.uk or open the Sun Savers app. Then opt in to each month’s Raffle by clicking “Yes!” when prompted and start collecting the Sun Savers codes printed daily in the paper.

Today’s code is on Page 28. Every time you scan or enter a code into Sun Savers, you get a Raffle ticket in the £15k Raffle.

Not yet a Sun Savers member? Just go to sunsavers.co.uk or find “Sun Savers” in the app store to get started.

• T&Cs apply. Full T&Cs at sunsavers.co.uk/faqs.

Fancy a free fiver?

YOU can get FREE cash with super Sun Savers just for buying your favourite paper.

Our brilliant new rewards club will pay back our most loyal readers.

Just pick up the paper each day to collect your Sun Savers codes and we will GIVE YOU £5 when you have ­collected 28.

This isn’t a one-off and there is no limit to how much cash you can save.

For every 28 codes you enter, we will give you a fiver. So over the course of a year, that could add up to £65.

We are keeping it super-simple. You don’t have to enter codes from consecutive days, so don’t worry if you forget a day or two.

Download our easy Sun Savers app and quickly scan your code using your smartphone. Or go online and enter your code at sunsavers.co.uk.

To get you on your way, join today and we will put a bonus £1 in your Sun Savers wallet tomorrow. And the good news doesn’t stop with free cash.

With Sun Savers, we give you the best hacks, deals and tips to save money every single day.

TO JOIN: Don’t worry, folks — joining takes just 30 seconds, in three steps.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/6550863/parent-experts-share-their-tips-so-you-dont-have-to-spend-your-doh-this-fathers-day-plus-win-a-free-odeon-cinema-pass-for-a-year/

TAX changes mean that being a buy-to-let landlord is less appealing than it used to be – but the introduction of a new Government scheme means homeowners can make thousands just by renting out their spare room.

The Rent a Room scheme lets you earn up to £7,500 a year tax-free by renting out a room in your house.

Andrew Styczynski – The Sun

Jessica Pryce-Jones, 56, set herself up on sites like AirBnB and charges guests £80 a night[/caption]

It’s a generous increase from the old allowance of £4,250.

The scheme is open to anyone who is a so-called resident landlord.

This is where you are renting out part of a property you live in, which is your only or main home.

It’s also open to those running a B&B or guest house.

To benefit from the tax-free allowance all you need to do is complete a tax return.

Andrew Styczynski – The Sun

Jessica converted her basement into an annex flat with a bedroom and small kitchen[/caption]

Andrew Styczynski – The Sun

It’s the first year that guests are paying to stay at Jessica’s and it was book every night in April[/caption]

Andrew Styczynski – The Sun

The Rent a Room scheme lets you earn up to £7,500 a year tax-free by renting out a room in your house[/caption]

Jessica Pryce-Jones, 56, set herself up on short-term lettings websites such as AirBnB in February this year after she and her partner David completed the renovation of a basement annex in their North London home.

Having previously had a lodger and an au pair, she was relaxed about the idea of having strangers staying in her home.

She says: “We’re quite social and like having people around.”

Jessica employs an agency, who take a cut of around 20 per cent, to take care of the cleaning and administration between guests’ stays.

The annex has a separate entrance and guests are able to check themselves in using a secure key box.

She says: “I didn’t want to be waiting up until 2am to meet someone with a key.”

Guests pay £80 a night and must stay a minimum of two nights – the longest stay to date was 25 days.

Her aim is to fill the room for at least 50 per cent of the year, meaning she’ll rake in £14,800 a year.

Andrew Styczynski – The Sun

Jessica employs an agency, who take a 20 per cent cut, to take care of the cleaning and administration between guests’ stays[/caption]

Andrew Styczynski – The Sun

Jessica and her husband paid to renovate the basement into an annex to rent out to strangers[/caption]

It’s early days but demand has been high so far, with the annexe occupied every night in April and booked for 16 days last month.

Guests range from couples looking for somewhere to stay between homes, businessmen over from the US and holidaymakers who want good transport links to the centre of London.

Jessica says: “It’s the first year so it’s difficult to know how much we could earn, I’m sure there will times when it is much quieter, but I’m hoping that on average it will be occupied 50 per cent of the time.”

Jessica, who is a freelance consultant and executive coach, says the extra money helps with the mortgage and means she doesn’t have to work full time.

She adds: “I really like the social aspect too. Guests have their own entrance and space in the garden and we give them privacy but you end up talking and finding out a bit about their life.”

In fact, it’s going so well Jessica is considering renting out the entire house when she’s away on holiday.

She says: “Guests are authenticated by Airbnb and our agency does checks too, so you can be pretty sure that the person is who they say they are.”

As well as declaring their income on a tax return, any homeowner renting out a room should make sure they are insured.

Short-term lets are not covered on standard home insurance policies and your insurer could even void your policy if it discovers you have been renting out space without declaring it.

Companies such as Inlet offer specific insurance policies who those who rent out a room or do a house swap.

Louise Birritteri, chief executive at Inlet, says: “Many homeowners will mistakenly believe they are fully covered by the Airbnb guarantee or Host Protection insurance but this is not the case and if an accident happens or a guest abuses your trusts, you could be left significantly out of pocket.

“The rent-a-room scheme is a great way to earn some tax-free extra income, but people must remember to treat it like a business and budget for small things going wrong such as breakages and general wear a tear.”

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ASDA has dropped the price of fuel by up to 3p per litre.

The price drop will come as a relief to motorists who have been feeling the pinch since the end of March, where the rising cost of oil saw the price at the pump go up by up to 10p per litre.

Drivers who fill up with petrol will save up to 3p a litre, while the supermarket has shaved 2p a litre off diesel.

The supermarket is passing the savings on to motorists, as the price of oil has fallen back to $76 a barrel.

More to follow…

For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online.

Thesun.co.uk is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. For iPhone click here, for Android click here. 

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TRAIN companies are continuing to “mislead” passengers about when they are entitled to apply for compensation, a consumer group has claimed.

Some operators are telling customers that they’re not liable for expenses like taxis when a train is cancelled, despite changes in industry rules, according to Which?.

Getty – Contributor

A warning that rail firms will not pay out to cover any losses after a train is cancelled was removed from the National Rail Conditions of Travel (NRCoT) in March.

It was found that this rule wasn’t in line with the Consumer Rights Act (CRA), which has been in force for the rail industry since October 2016.

The consumer group made “mystery shop” phone calls to 26 operators, asking if an elderly friend or relative could claim compensation when the last train of the night was cancelled and they were forced to pay for a cab.

Almost half – 12 out of 26 – provided “incorrect or inconsistent advice”.

AFP – Getty

The six “worst offenders” – Cross Country, Grand Central, Greater Anglia, Heathrow Express, ScotRail and Stansted Express – all said that the customers couldn’t ask for a payout.

The two firms providing an airport link – Heathrow Express and Stansted Express – follow different terms and conditions but are still subject to consumer law.

Train companies advise passengers to claim compensation through their delay repay scheme, which makes payouts based on the length of delay and type of ticket.

The CRA gives customers the right to claim back any extra money they had to spend because their train was cancelled.

Alex Hayman from Which? said: “[The train companies] have been warned time and again about their duties to ensure their passengers are getting the money they are owed when they fail to deliver, yet they fail to act until forced.

“The regulator must now start showing some teeth and take immediate enforcement action or the government has no choice but to step in and stand up for passengers and their rights.”

Jason Webb from the Rail Delivery Group, representing train companies, said: “Over the last five years, compensation payments have increased by almost 500 per cent to £74 million, supported by the introduction of quicker and easier forms of compensation, train announcements and email reminders.

“There is still even more we can do to improve customer information which is why we are carrying out a review of all train operator websites and are continuing to train our employees to ensure that customers get clear advice about how they can claim.”

 

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SHAKEN, stirred, with tonic or in a cocktail, gin is a solid pick for most occasions. But, thanks to the sugar tax and the spirit costing six per cent more than last year per bottle, it is enough to give you a headache before any has passed your lips.

To celebrate World Gin Day today, Sun Savers has shopped around for the best boozy bargains.

Alamy

That’s just the tonic…although with a shot of gin it would be even better[/caption]

BEST CLASSIC

If you are proud that your taste in booze is cheap and cheerful, Tesco’s own-brand Windsor Castle London Dry Gin 70cl could be the drink for you.

It is in no way linked to the Royal Family – although we can think of some members who would not turn a glass down – and you will get the most out of it by serving it over ice with your favourite mixer and fresh lime.

But the best thing about this one? It is only a tenner.

BEST VARIATION

Reckon you have tried every gin-based drink going? Maybe it is time to get your gin kicks another way.

You can get G&T cake frosting from Sainsbury’s for £1.50, which will definitely give any celebration a twist on an old classic. Lather your cupcakes in it, or just grab a spoon and tuck in.

You can also get Cornish gin fudge from Sainsbury’s for £3.95, or pick up a pack of G&T ice lollies from Aldi for £1.99, reduced from £2.99.

BEST ON THE GO

Summer will hopefully mean plenty of BBQs and days lazing in the park – neither of which are complete without a drink.

Snap up pre-mixed G&T cans from Aldi for 85p – they even come in diet variations.

Asda also does G&T cans. If you fancy a bit more variation, and have a bit more to spend, get four mix-and-match cans for £5 at Asda. You can combine standard cans, slimline, and pink G&T in the deal.

BEST FLAVOURED

Upgrade your tipple by going for a flavoured gin.

There are so many available, ranging from classic rhubarb to more unusual miniatures, such as the sweet and citrusy Unicorn Tears Gin Liqueur, 5cl for £8.45 from 31DOVER.com.

We like the Edinburgh Gin Raspberry Liqueur 20cl, £10.25 from the same site.

It is not too sweet and is a limited edition variation, making you feel extra special.

BEST GIFT

James Bond ordered a pink gin in Ian Fleming’s novel, The Man With The Golden Gun, in 1965 – and it is a summer favourite 53 years on.

Tesco’s Pink Gin Selection Gift Set includes four miniatures for £12.

It is perfect for a present and features cute mini 5cl bottles of Edinburgh Gin Distillery Rhubarb & Ginger Liqueur, Greenall’s Wild Berry Gin, Edgerton Original Pink Gin, and Gordon’s Premium Pink Distilled Gin.

Designer Double

 

FADE away troublesome blemishes and scars with Re-gen Oil 125ml for £7.99 (below), instead of Bio-Oil 125ml for £14 at Sainsbury’s (above).

SAVE: £6.01

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Shop & Save

HEAD to Iceland and get two packs of Young’s Gastro Signature breaded fish fillets for £5. Usually £4 each.

SAVE: £3

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My Sun Savers Fiver

BARRY BALDRY, from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, says: “Normally I put my £5 towards a couple of pints but I am currently saving for a Sun Savers Christmas hamper.”

• Send your Savers fiver stories to sunsavers.co.uk/fivers and you’ll get 28 codes worth £5 if your tip is used. Please include your name and town.

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Reader’s Saving Tip

PETER LITTLE, from Maryport, West Cumbria, says: “Don’t waste money buying plastic tubs from supermarkets. Keep containers from a takeaway and wash them. They’re ideal for freezing or as a small lunch box”

• Send your tips to sunsavers.co.uk/tips and you’ll get 28 codes worth £5 if your tip is used. Please include your name and town.

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Save a Fiver

POP a bottle of Abbazia Prosecco extra dry from Ocado, reduced from £12.99 to a fizzing £7.99.

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Fancy a free fiver?

YOU can get FREE cash with super Sun Savers just for buying your favourite paper.

Our brilliant new rewards club will pay back our most loyal readers.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/6485372/sun-savers-gin-deals-raffle/

SSE has been fined £1million by the energy watchdog after it sent “inaccurate and misleading” information about how much they could save by switching tariffs.

The annual statements overestimated the annual savings that customers could make if they swapped to a deal with them.

SSE

The energy firm sent out 1.15million letters to 580,000 pre-payment metre customers between June 2014 and September 2015.

They contained “inaccurate” information on the alternative cheaper tariffs available, which the company puts downs to an IT error.

Ofgem launched an investigation into the supplier in November last year after SSE reported the issue.

More to follow…

For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online.

Thesun.co.uk is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. For iPhone click here, for Android click here. 

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https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/6470190/sse-fined-1million-for-misleading-580000-customers-about-switching-to-a-cheaper-tariff/

TESCO DIRECT will be closing next month but the clearance sale has already started.

The clearance offers are some of the best deals around on indoor and outdoor furniture, toys and sports gear.

Tesco Direct was built to rival Amazon by selling products from independent retailers online, but will be closed for good from July 9.

Tesco bosses pulled the plug on the online business because “despite best efforts” it isn’t making any money.

The soon to be closed shop has a clearance sale on now which covers everything from suitcases to scooters.

There are over 1,000 items on sale and many are half price or better.

You can find the Tesco Direct clearance sale here.

What’s on offer?

Trolls folding scooter

• Just £10 (Was: £20 Save: 50 per cent) – buy now

This Trolls scooter is cheapest you’ll find anywhereTesco direct is selling a Trolls folding inline scooter for £10.

The scooter was reduced down from £20 to £10 and is being sold for cheaper than anywhere else.

The same scooter is being sold for £12.99 at Smyths Toys, and it is even being sold on eBay for £47.95.

Keter reclining chair

• Just £15 (Was: £30 Save: 50 per cent) – buy now

Tesco

And while the little one races around in the garden on their scooter, Tesco is selling a reclining garden chair for £15 reduced down from £30.

Despite looking like a wooden chair this outdoor chair is actually made of plastic, making it far more durable outdoors.

The exact same chair is being sold on eBay for £28.99, and there is a white version of the chair being sold by Wellindal for £38.29.

Revelation two wheel red suitcase

• Just £17.50 (Was: £35 Save: 50 per cent) – buy now

Tesco

Tesco Direct is selling this Revelation! two wheel red suit case for £17.50 reduced down from £35.

The same suitcase can be found on Amazon for £40, saving you £22.50 when you shop at Tesco Direct.

The suitcase can hold 58 litres and weighs just over three kilograms.

Kenny small double bed frame

• Just £37.50 (was: £75 Save: 50 per cent) – buy now

Tesco

eBay is selling a small double bed frame by Kenny for £74.95, but if you shop at Tesco Direct you can get the bed frame for £37.50.

If you want the bed delivered to your home you can get free standard delivery for £7.95.

Tesco have said that it may now take two to five days for your order to arrive and to contact customer service if this happens.

Smaller items like the scooter can be picked up in store with free click and collect delivery.

Tesco was mocked by customers for giving the most pointless discount ever, taking just 1p off of a pot of olives.

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https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/6447716/tesco-direct-clearance-sale/

CYBER crooks have targeted travel firm Booking.com in a bid to steal hundreds of thousands of pounds from customers.

Users were sent WhatsApp and text messages claiming a security breach meant they needed to change their password.

Getty – Contributor

But the link gave hackers access to bookings and they then sent follow-up messages demanding full payment for holidays in advance with bogus bank details provided.

These appeared genuine as they included personal data including names, addresses, phone numbers, dates and prices of bookings, and reference numbers.

Marketing manager David Watts, 35, of Newcastle, got a WhatsApp message but realised it was a scam. He said: “It looked very believable and I can believe people fell for it.”

But even if customers did not fall for the scam, the hackers still got personal data.

Booking.com insists its systems were not compromised, but said hotels it works with on a separate portal were and customers will be compensated.

• GOT a news story? RING us on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/6437309/hackers-target-booking-steal-thousands/

CARLUCCIO’S could close nearly a third of it’s UK restaurants as part of a restructuring deal.

This follows after the Italian restaurant chain admitted earlier this month that it needed “urgent action” to keep the franchise afloat.

Photocall Ireland

The chain currently has 103 restaurants across the UK but could close 30 loss making stores after the company’s creditors agreed to a rescue plan.

The rescue plan was approved by 90 per cent of the company’s creditors, allowing the company to pay off it’s debts over a period time without having to pay any further costs.

Carluccio’s profits have fallen drastically over the last two years due to rising costs – in 2016 the chain’s pre-tax profits fell by 81 per cent.

The Italian chain is following the likes of Jamie’s Italian, Byron and Prezzo who have all had to enter restructuring deals because of the growing cost of rent on the high street and increases to the National Living Wage.

The group of around 30 restaurants marked for possible closure will have their rent bills cut by a third for six months under the rescue plan.

Unless a new reduced rent deal can be agreed by Carluccio’s and it’s creditors by the end of this period the restaurants will close.

These 30 or so restaurants employ around 500 people, potentially putting their jobs at risk.

Under the rescue plan, Carluccio’s majority owner, Landmark Group will pump £10million into the remaining restaurants to upgrade the franchise.

The Dubai-based Landmark Group bought the Italian chain for £90million in 2010.

Alamy

CEO of Carluccio’s Mark Jones said: “We are pleased that our proposal for a CVA has been approved by our creditors.”

“This vote was vital to protect our strong core business and the Carluccio’s brand.”

“I would like thank our landlords for their support.

“We now look forward to a positive future and the on-going development of the Carluccio’s business and of course our passionate people.”

“The positive outcome enables us to kick-start an extensive programme of reinvigoration across our estate – with the aim of elevating the guest experience and underpinned by our brand ethos of minimum of fuss, maximum of flavour, which was so passionately championed by our founder Antonio Carluccio.”

Carluccio’s will give further details on closures “when practicable.”

A number of other UK retail stores such as Carpetright and Mothercare have had to enter into a CVA rescue plan to get rid of loss making stores.

Carpetright had to close 92 stores, axing 300 jobs at these loss making stores.

While Mothercare will shut one third of it’s UK stores to stay afloat – Sky news estimated that these closures could amount to 1,000 job losses.

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https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/6425826/carluccios-close-30-restaurants/

NAT ROGERS will never forget the devastating moment he found his little brother dead.

Unravelling under the pressure of mounting debt, 20-year-old Jerome killed himself after two unpaid £65 fines spiralled to more than £1,000 within months.

Rogers' Family

After bailiffs started to pursue Jerome, he went online and searched for ways to end his life.

In March 2016, he was found hanged in woods where he played as a child after bailiffs clamped his only source of income – his motorcycle – which he needed to work as a courier.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun from his home in East Croydon, South London, Nat, 28, a contract engineer, said: “No one should have to find their little brother like that.

“When he went missing I knew where to look for him. My friend and I were desperately searching for him in the woods near our family home. It was raining and pitch black, the only light we had was from our mobile phones.

BBC Three

“I’ll never forget the moment I saw my rucksack in a makeshift hut, seconds later we found his body.

“It breaks my heart to think of him alone in those final moments but as difficult as it is to talk about, I cannot let his death be in vain.”

Jerome’s tragic tale has been turned into a BBC Three drama, Killed By My Debt, and is due to air today.

In the one-hour episode, we see the devastating effect debt had on his physical and mental health.

BBC Three

Nat says: “His asthma got worse with the stress and he would go online and watch videos from other vulnerable people who were drowning in debt.

“The day before he disappeared was Mother’s Day, we’d enjoyed a family roast dinner together.

“We’d been laughing and he seemed like himself, but behind closed doors he was crying and desperately trying to find money to pay off the debt.

“On the day he disappeared a bailiff had been outside for two-and-a-half hours. We now know that while the bailiff was outside, Jerome was alone in his room searching for ways to end his life and searching for payday loans.

“The next day he was found dead. It breaks my heart to think the bailiff was the last person to see my brother alive.”

The case is believed to be the first in which a suicide has been linked to a bailiff visit.

At the inquest, the coroner recorded a verdict of suicide and said the bailiff from Newlyn Plc – played by Craig Parkinson from Line Of Duty in the drama – had behaved reasonably.

But it was acknowledged that a bailiff waiting outside the house would have been intimidating and concern was expressed over some of Newlyn’s practises.

Now the Rogers family are campaigning for urgent reform to how bailiffs operate and want an independent regulator in place and recognised.

Jerome’s mum Tracey, 51, who lives with her daughter, Hollie, 21, and Macey, nine,  says: “My son’s tragic suicide highlights faults in the bailiff industry and shows it needs major reforms. It is too draconian.

BBC Three

“Jerome asked Newlyns and the bailiff directly if he could set up a weekly affordable repayment plan and he was told ‘no’. Had he been allowed to make the repayment plan more affordable he may not have taken his own life, directly after a visit from the bailiff.According to Step Change Debt Charity there are around 3.3 million people in the UK experiencing severe problems with debt.

Two thirds of their clients in 2017 were under 40 and one in seven under 25.

Alison Blackwood, policy advocate at the charity, said: “We want bailiffs to offer affordable repayment plans and there to be a review of bailiff fees.

“We also want to see the bailiff industry independently regulated, as well as a single, free accessible bailiff complaints procedure.”

Growing up, Nat tells how Jerome was a kind, quiet child who loved cars, motorbikes and playing games in the woods. The pair were inseparable and always looked out for one another.

Jerome was over the moon when he landed his first job working for City Sprint as a courier, transporting blood and documents to hospitals.

He says: “He was excited to start earning his own money and because he loved riding his motorcycle, it meant he could earn money while doing what he loved.”

Unbeknown to Nat at the time, Jerome was struggling to make ends meet.

“He was a private person,” he continues, “he wouldn’t have wanted people to know he was in financial difficulty.

“His job wasn’t secure and he was on a zero hours contract so his weekly take home pay at the time he was being pursued by bailiffs was between zero to £71.

On March 7, bailiffs returned to seize Jerome’s beloved bike after he failed to meet the repayment deadline.

“He was getting on his bike to go to work when the bailiff came round the corner,” explains Nat, “the bailiff told him he was breaking the law if he took the bike as it now belonged to them so he would call the police and get him done for theft.”

BBC Three

Jerome’s brother Nat tells The Sun how he was a kind, quiet child who loved cars, motorbikes and playing games in the woods[/caption]

Jerome explains: “You cannot seize or clamp a tool of trade unless it’s over £1,350.

“In the inquest it emerged they hadn’t carried out any valuation of the bike, they told the inquest they weren’t required to.”

Later Honda said the bike was only worth £400, meaning they were legally not allowed to clamp it or seize it.

“Newlyn bailiffs should be held accountable for this,” he continues, “had this not happened, my brother could be alive today.”

Jerome walked out of the family home after texting his girlfriend to say he loved her. The next day, he was found dead.

Nat says: “When I heard he was missing I checked his bedroom and all his belongings were still there – including his bank cards. So I knew he could only have gone somewhere nearby and I know how much he loved the woods.

“After we discovered Jerome’s search history on his laptop and the multiple searches on suicide I collapsed crying and had to hold onto railings to support myself.”

Heartbreakingly, Nat found his little brother’s body two hours later in the woods near their home.

“It was the worst moment of my life,” he continues, tearfully. “I’ll never forget it. He had so much to live for, I wish I had known so I could have protected him. But we will continue to fight for justice.”

Two years on, their younger sister Hollie, 21, is having counselling to deal with her brother’s tragic death.

Nat says: “Jerome’s death has left a huge hole in our hearts but we have to keep going. Helping the BBC put together the factual drama will help highlight the plight of those struggling with debt and in desperate situations. We hope his story can help save others.”

A spokesperson from Newlyn said: “Newlyn acted in accordance with best practice and the Coroner found that our enforcement agent acted in a lawful and appropriate manner. However, we regret that debt may have contributed to the tragic circumstances and would like to reiterate our sympathy to the family of Mr Rogers.”

Killed By My Debt is available to watch from 10am on BBC Three via BBC iPlayer.

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https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/6404127/bbc3-factual-drama-killed-by-my-debt-tells-real-life-story-of-jerome-rogers-who-hanged-himself-over-unpaid-traffic-fines/