A collection company phones my house, at least two or three times a week. During the day, it wakes up my husband who works nightshift. If it phones at night, I tell them it's the wrong number. I have written to it complaining, and have also written to BT twice and reported this as a nuisance call, but still it persists. As I am self-employed, I can't change my telephone number, so how do I get the phone calls to stop, when no-one will listen to me?

Write yourself or via your solicitor to the managing directors - in person - of the collection company and the original lender, and complain. If they fail to respond, contact the Office of Fair Trading Consumer Direct service www.consumerdirect.gov.uk or tel. 08454-040506. The last resort is taking them to court for interdict to stop the calls. At risk if you offer credit

I act as liaison officer for a group of self-employed one-man businesses. We are perturbed by TV adverts advising people that they can wipe out their debts legally. It would take only one customer refusing to pay and taking advantage of this law' to wipe out all profits for at least a year, and possibly the closure of the firm concerned. I took a local tradesman to court over an unpaid account, and it was an anxious time until he settled. Is there any protection for the supplier of goods or services?

No. You can legally demand people pay up front, but the choice is theirs as to whether they proceed. Customers want to see work done well before they pay.

You could try to get the money paid into a trustee account of some sort and made over to you on satisfaction.

You can also make it a condition that property in goods does not transfer to a customer until payment, but fundamentally, the risk is with you if you offer credit terms. Power of attorney move

I am 90 years old, but absolutely fine physically and mentally. If I was going for power of attorney would this mean completely losing power over my cheque book and money now?

No. You should consider getting a power of attorney drawn up, but put to one side until a doctor certifies you unfit to look after your own affairs. That way the document is suspended until it is necessary. If you don't do this now, it might be too late if you fall ill or become indisposed and then are not able to appoint an attorney. Can I claim for draughts?

Do you agree it would be reasonable to claim £750 through the small claims court against a housing association for draughts and wind coming in through bad window maintenance?

I understand you have asked for repairs to be done and no-one is listening. A court action would get their attention for sure, but you can only claim compensation if you can prove that you have suffered physical harm, illness and/or inconvenience as a result of a breach by the landlords of their legal duty. You cannot claim an award just because they are at fault. You would have to produce medical evidence if you say the draughts have affected you.

DO YOU HAVE A LEGAL PROBLEM? Write to Austin at Evening Times Features, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow G2 3QB or e-mail him at: features@eveningtimes.co.uk