With the ongoing fuel protests across Ireland (we heard it's about to happen in the UK and possibly France too), many people are being affected in ways they didn’t expect: – unable to get to work – missed flights or holidays – cancelled appointments – delayed deliveries and services Naturally, the question is: 👉 Am I still liable if I couldn’t fulfil my obligations? 💡 You may have heard the term “force majeure”. In simple terms, this refers to an event outside your control that prevents you from fulfilling a contract. Another example is an outbreak and an act of war. This is a clause often found in contracts to cater for an event outside of everyone's control....some contracts have them but some don't.... ⚖️ Key point Force majeure only applies if: – your contract actually includes a "force majeure" clause – the situation falls within what that clause covers – the event genuinely prevented performance (not just made things more difficult) 💬 Some real-world examples: Missing a flight due to fuel shortages → unlikely to trigger force majeure against the airline Unable to attend work → depends on your employment contract and specific circumstances A business unable to deliver goods → may rely on force majeure if properly drafted into the contract ⚠️ Important Force majeure does not simply mean “I couldn’t do it, so I’m not responsible”.... It is a contractual protection, not a general legal right. If there is no clause, the situation becomes more complex and may involve legal principles like frustration (which is much harder to rely on). 💡 Practical steps if you’re affected: - Check your contract terms - Notify the other party as soon as possible - Keep evidence of what prevented performance - Try to minimise the impact where you can Situations like this are exactly where taking early, structured steps can prevent a dispute from escalating. ⚖️ What if your contract can’t be fulfilled due to fuel disruption or an act of war? If your contract includes a force majeure clause, this may allow the parties to temporarily suspend their obligations until the situation improves ⏳

👀 The situation: You receive £5,000 into your bank account from someone you don’t know 💸 (ker-ching… or is it?) No reference. No explanation....... A few hours later, someone contacts you saying it was sent “by mistake”. They ask you to return it — but to a different bank account. 💭 What would you do in this situation? A) Send it back immediately to the different account they gave you — it’s not your money! B) Ignore it and keep the money (finder’s keepers… not your fault, right?) C) Contact your bank and let them deal with it? D) Send it back to the account it originally came from? ⚠️ Think carefully… this catches a lot of people out.... One option is correct. One option could put you in serious trouble. ⏳ We’ll reveal the correct answer on Sunday (April 12th) 👇 Vote below — which do you think is right? Feel free to vote and if you want to, post a comment to say why you voted as you did..... Poll: A / B / C / D

There is nothing more alarming than your bank account being blocked without notice and you have no access to funds.... Why do banks do this?. It's mainly for your protection - they are regulated financial institutions and they have to do this to preserve your funds. They may do this if they see strange transactions, misuse of your bank account (e.g. you let a friend use it), a potential scam or if you receive funds which trigger anti-money laundering checks...... ⚠️ A classic reason is you use your account for "crypto-trading" - with many online scams and the fact people are roped in by unregulated "traders", the bank will simply freeze your account to stop further money leaving your account. Sometimes this block can last months!. Even worse than this, the bank may well record a fraud marker against your credit report - whether they think fraud was involved or even if you were a victim of a scam. This can then make it very difficult for you to open another bank account so the fallout can be devastating. A fraud marker can also be for things like identity theft, misuse of the bank facility, fraudulent applications for credit, insurance claims fraud - with the marker lasting for up to 6 years! You may want to use more than one account and spread your funds to ensure you do have access to some money if this happens to you. Or keep a sum of cash available for essentials if this happens to you..... Chances are it will happen to you one day, such is the proliferation of scammers and the fact banks are under more pressure to scrutinise your transactions as a result. So what can you do if your account is blocked? 🔧 What you should do immediately: ➡️ Call the bank immediately - ask why the account was restricted - be polite with them (they have to do this to protect your account and to comply with regulations! ➡️ Request all information the bank is relying upon - ask what you can do to speed up the process ➡️ Respond clearly and consistently, provide any evidence they ask you for

Wishing everyone in the community a relaxing and enjoyable Easter weekend ahead. In the meantime, a quick bit of (slightly legal-themed) Easter trivia…... Did you know 👇 In the UK, Easter is one of the busiest periods for consumer disputes, particularly around: – travel cancellations – delayed deliveries – faulty goods (yes… even Easter gifts 🐰🍫) After long weekends and holidays, there is also often an increase in enquiries relating to: – relationship breakdowns – cohabitation disputes – child arrangements – property disagreements Spending more time together can sometimes bring underlying issues to the surface… 💡 Which means knowing your rights can make all the difference before things escalate. Whether you’re dealing with a dispute or simply taking a well-earned break… 👉 small steps early on can save a lot of stress later — our guidance is designed to help you stay in control. Thank you to everyone for being part of the community. We’ll be adding more content, templates, and practical guidance over the coming weeks 👍 Enjoy the weekend!

Every year around holidays, scam activity spikes — and this year is no different... People are more relaxed, spending more, and unfortunately that’s exactly what scammers rely upon. At Law Clinic, we’ve now seen thousands of people affected by fraud — often with devastating consequences: bankruptcies, lost homes, broken relationships, and worse. The good news is — most scams follow patterns. If you know what to look for, you can spot them early 👇 🔍 Quick checks you should always do before dealing with anyone online: ➡️ Check how old their website is If it’s only been live for days or weeks, that’s a major red flag ➡️ Investment offers = regulation required In the UK, they must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority if you are in the UK In Ireland, by the Central Bank of Ireland (if you are based in Ireland) If they’re not — they are operating illegally, no matter what they tell you! ➡️ Ask for ID and a contact number A legitimate business will not hesitate ➡️ If they cold-call you — ask how they got your details If they can’t answer clearly, walk away ➡️ Check reviews properly No reviews (or fake-looking ones) = warning sign ➡️ Check the website itself No terms & conditions or privacy policy? Avoid ➡️ Watch for “clone companies” Scammers often impersonate real businesses using genuine documents If in doubt, contact the real company directly using their official number 💳 Payment matters more than people realise... If you pay by credit card, you have stronger protection If you paid by bank transfer, your bank may still be liable — but only if you haven’t ignored warnings or acted recklessly Even outside the UK, many banks have protection mechanisms — but how you approach them matters A weak or rushed complaint often fails. A structured one stands a far better chance - which we can help with! ⚠️ Most people only realise it’s a scam when it’s too late That’s exactly why we’ve built: ✔️ Step-by-step scam guides ✔️ What to do immediately after being scammed