# data[].attributes.body
Self-produced documentary on fraud and online crimes. Final project at university as a part of my BA degree

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Not on my account - the world of cybercrime

# data[].attributes.body
News story on the autonomous cars. Produced in Poland in foreign language

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The future of automotive industry - Autonomous cars

# data[].attributes.body
Commercial for The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

# data[].attributes.body
Video story spreading awareness about the need of peace

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Uploaded by Michał Wojtczak on 2017-12-12.

# data[].attributes.body
video production for BBC Oxford

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How can we improve children's social skills?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Uploaded by Michał Wojtczak on 2018-02-05.

# data[].attributes.body
Video from my journey to New York City in 2017

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Memories from New York City /August 2017

# data[].attributes.body
Behind the scenes of my preparation to the live show

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Uploaded by Michał Wojtczak on 2017-11-16.

# data[].attributes.headline
Low-cost airlines struggle to regulate their structure after Brexit

# data[].attributes.subject
Low-cost airlines struggle to regulate their structure after Brexit

# data[].attributes.body
Online piece for iCov

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As the clock is ticking down towards March 2019 - low cost airlines are gritting one's teeth before the final date of Brexit, fearing the future of the airline industry in Europe. On 19th March the UK and EU have agreed on a "large part" of the agreement that guarantees free-movement of people during the transitional period that will last between March 2019 and December 2020. This assurance gives the airlines some additional time to operate without disruption, however it doesn't provide them certain rights after the UK's withdrawal.

The Open Skies agreement that came into force in 2007 allows EU airlines, even those based in the UK, to operate in each other's countries. The regulations might change soon and become a barrier that cannot be overcome for airlines in the UK.

The Chief Executive Officer of Ryanair Michael O'Leary told the European Parliament that they might have to suspend all Ryanair flights for months after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union as a result of no further progress on any Brexit deal that might potentially stop low-cost airlines from operating between the UK and other European countries. It would certainly cause a huge disruption for international passengers and those who legally work in the UK, despite their different nationality. Those people have already been assured about their rights after Brexit which at the moment guarantee them a stay if they have been legally living in the UK for the past 5 years.

"In the document published in February 2017r (White Paper) The UK Government assured that everyone living in UK for 5 years or more has a right resident status (subject to the conditions laid down in the Treaties and the measures adopted to apply them). According to the information from December 2016, over 12 months, 37.600 people have obtained the status of permanent resident. Since the Brexit' referendum the numbers of applications for resident status increased about 10%" says Katarzyna Krause, Head of Political Section at Polish embassy in London.

Despite the favourable benefits and soft solutions of Brexit for EU residents, there are still many regulations to be discussed. Low-cost airlines such as: Wizzair, EasyJet and Ryanair have not yet been provided with the regulations and legal issue to be able to plan their future.

Every next day brings us closer to the Brexit deadline, leaving the airlines with many unanswered questions about their future and passengers rights. The assurance of legally stay for foreigners is a certainly great news for those who already settled down in the UK, however it is not certain how they are going to be transferred from point A (foreigner's home country) to point B (the UK) and opposite, as the air regulations and legal issue are still on-going.

It is not only about the permission to operate between the UK and European countries, it's also about the ticket prices, as the dropping pound will certainly affect low-cost airlines and force them to lower the prices because otherwise airlines would not have enough passengers to operate certain flight routes. Thus, it becomes not worthwhile for the companies to perform flights.

Roxani Athousaki, lecturer in Aviation at Coventry University told iCov that the possibility of drop in number of passengers after Brexit lies under what kind of aviation agreement UK will have with the EU. How easy will it be for the UK citizens to visit EU destinations and vice versa? If we are to enjoy a similar arrangement as the one we have today then I don't believe we will see a difference in the traffic flow. In any other case, there is going to be a disruption and that might affect negatively passenger numbers.

Also, She is afraid the problem is more complex than the element of the dropping pound. LCCs do not have loyalty over unprofitable destinations and therefore anything that will be considered as high risk will be resumed. The main problem currently lies with the regulatory framework that exists between United Kingdom and the EU countries and whether UK registered airlines will have access to Singe European Market or the EU registered airlines will have access to the UK Market (International and Domestic).

These questions are not likely to be answered soon, as the procedure of Brexit has already been delayed which, means not everything goes as planned and it's not easy to establish all regulations within a short period of time. Airlines believe the future's regulations will be as soft as regulations allowing foreigners to stay in UK if they have been living in the country for 5 years so far.

Michal Wojtczak

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Low-cost airlines struggle to regulate their structure after Brexit

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As the clock is ticking down towards March 2019 - low cost airlines are gritting one's teeth before the final date of Brexit, fearing the future of the airline industry in Europe. On 19th March the UK and EU have agreed on a "large part" of the agreement that guarantees free-movement of people during the transitional period that will last between March 2019 and December 2020.

# data[].attributes.body
Online piece for iCov

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Nowadays, almost everyone has a debit or credit card on them (sometimes even more than one). We use them on the daily basis to complete online transactions as well as pay for goods at local shop. This type of payment became the most popular and quicker one.

However, we all are forced to pay additional 20p/30p/50p or even 1 pound card payment fee when using our cards as payment method. Recently, the UK Government introduced law changes that stop companies from charging any surcharge for credit and debit payments. This rule came into force on 13 January 2018

Unfortunately, the adverse impact on the finances of companies has made the owners to use the lack of knowledge of customers to keep on charging them. Failure to apply these rules as well as robbing people consciously led to penalties and potential law troubles. The National Trading Standards keep an eye on businesses, making sure they do not flout the rules. However, the scale of problem it's bigger than it seemed. It has already been over two months since new regulations has been implemented, but the local shop's owners pretend that nothing has changed.
Are businesses' owners aware of new changes?
Two days after the law has changed I have witnessed a situation in which the customer of a burger restaurant has been asked to pay additional 50p surcharge for a card payment method. The customer's ignorance led to the acceptance of card fee that illegally enriched the restaurant's owner. As a journalist, I could not pass it by without requesting an explanation of occurred' action. The manager of Shawarma KING Coventry said:

"I am really sorry for the disruption. I am aware of the law changes; however, the cost of card terminal rental forces us to keep on charging for card payments. But because we really want to stick to the current rules we are going to cancel this form of payment from the next week. Since that time, customers will only be able to pay by cash which certainly is going to complicate shopping for some customers but we can't afford paying card terminal rental fees by ourselves."

Despite violation of already existing rules, this assurance seemed to sound promising. I decided to keep on tracking this case. A week ago (2 months after new law changes) I have checked whether the management led to changes in fees or at least deprived customers of the possibility of card payments.

Unfortunately, the management of Shawarma KING Coventry did not keep their promises, neither cancel card payment method.
Some changes have been introduced
The only thing that has changed since my last visit are meal prices. It looks like the restaurant is preparing for the changes, wanting to apply new rules however, without losses for the company thus I am questioning whether they have hidden card payments fees in headline price so the customer won't be able to notice it and the restaurant's owner will not be lossy?

In the meantime, in a nearby Polish shop "Krowka" located at Far Gosford Street in Coventry a similar situation took place and the women has been charged 20p on her bill for a card payment.

"Of course, we know about the current rules, but we only carry out the duties given by our manager and we cannot object to them. Many people already complained about it and we passed it over to our management, however we cannot stop charging people without our management's approval." says Katarzyna Z, shop assistant at Krowka.

It is shocking that not many customers know their rights and ask for them, allowing companies to rob them and treating customers according to their own rules that are not compliance with accepted legal regulations.
Another failure...
Few days ago, I decided for inspection likewise in burger restaurant. My surprise was even greater when it turned out that the management changed the name of fee (previously surcharge for card payment, now: service charge) instead of the abolition of this fee. Now the business legally charges the same amount, for the same service (payment by card) however, under different name. Recently, the well-known portal "JustEat" used similar tactics of changing the fees name, keeps on making the profit of card payments.

Customers of JustEat are forced to pay service charge now, even if they use "cash" as their method payment. Such a play is certainly intended to mislead customers and and restoring stable and even larger income from card payments. JustEat generated a huge income in 2017, exceeding £546.3 million. These number will certainly increase over the next few months,
Theresa May lied?
While introducing the current law. UK Prime minister Theresa May presented a statement praising the new rules that are a move that will help millions of people avoid rip-off fees when spending their hard-earned money. I disagree with her statement as ill-designed laws doesn't stop businesses on charging their customers on the contrary they made them pay more (especially those who have always been paying by cash) by adding new charge "service fee" as a replacement or even additional payment to card payment fee.
So why do we still have to pay fees?
It's not clear answer, as some shops still didn't apply new rules thus we can't speak on everyone's behalf. Moreover some pubs, restaurants and small shops already say they will only accept a card when the customer spends more than £5 or £10, and they can continue to do so. It seems like the regulations had not been thought out enough before they were introduced. As the businesses use the legal loophole which allows them to change the name of the fee instead of stopping it altogether. It also doesn't allow customer to save their hard-earned money (as Theresa May mentioned) because they are now forced to spend more money to be able to complete their payment by card.
Where can I report wrong trading?
Trading standards are strongly encouraging customers to report all companies that acted unfairly. However, in most cases it seems to be useless, bearing in mind the fact that they can easily escape from responsibility by changing the name of fee.

It is really annoying and sad to see positive changes used in negative way. Hopefully it will be a good lesson for the government when planning the next "good laws"

Michal Wojtczak

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Local shops fail to apply new rules - Michał Wojtczak - Medium

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Nowadays, almost everyone has a debit or credit card on them (sometimes even more than one). We use them on the daily basis to complete online transactions as well as pay for goods at local shop. This type of payment became the most popular and quicker one.