The last few years have been a torrid time for homeowners. The news is full of stories about high interest rates, mortgage deals that appear and vanish in weeks and warnings of a volatile year ahead. I’ve been filming a series of free mortgage video guides with...

At the last count, I had 17 supermarket and retailer loyalty scheme cards cluttering up various bags and wallets. I love a good loyalty card, but my main problem is I forget to bring them with me when I go shopping, so I miss out on the discounts! Loyalty schemes have...

I may be a consumer rights campaigner, but even I took a sharp intake of breath when I saw my water bill for 2025/26 – and I was already aware that my payments were going up by £26 a month, a 31% increase. When money is tight, we tend to take a closer look at the...

I took a sharp intake of breath when I saw my water bill for 2025/26 – and I was already aware that my payments were going up by £26 a month, a 31% increase. When money is tight, we tend to take a closer look at the debits that are leaving our accounts and ask: why is...

Retailers are by far the most complained-about sector in the UK. The good news is we have a range of laws in the UK that govern our rights when we shop – and these provide us with way more protections than many of us realise. Yet it’s clear you’re your comments that...

The government has been giving a real dusting down of its ‘to do’ list recently. And I’m pleased to say that it’s finally got round to dealing with one of the most popular – and unregulated – areas of lending: buy now pay later (BNPL) credit. It’s estimated that...

Of all the subjects I write about, the cost of looking after pets always prompts the biggest response. According to the latest report from the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), there are 10.6 million pet dogs, 10.8 million cats and 800,000 pet rabbits alone...

Your credit file is your passport to loans, credit, mortgages and much more. Yet judging by my postbag, there’s a lot of confusion over what lies within your credit reference report, how credit scoring works and why you might get turned down if you want to borrow...

Private parking tickets are back in the news at the moment. In one sense, that’s a good thing, because there’s a new code in place that makes it easier to appeal or reduce some charges. However, many readers of this column have been in touch to complain about being...

If there’s one subject that drives people mad, it’s scammers. Spring is upon us and the scammers are out in force, adapting their cons to catch us out. Many of these attempts to steal your money are variations on common themes. But while the underlying methods may be...

Spring has sprung and the holiday season is formally underway. No matter whether you are enjoying an early break now or planning a summer getaway, I hope you have a wonderful time! But what if your holiday turns out to be… a bit rubbish? Sadly, a lot can go wrong with...

If you have flights or a holiday booked in the coming months, then you might have received a message, email or update in the app that gave you the chills. I’ve been flooded with messages from panicked travellers who have been notified that new rules mean they need a...

Finally some good news! Shopping online is about to get much easier thanks to a ban on ‘drip pricing’. This is when businesses quote a price to lure you in, then add on additional, unavoidable fees that you can’t opt out of. As a result, what you are charged out at...

Holiday season is now upon us! As you’ll have seen from my regular newspaper column, there lots of higher costs and unexpected annoyances lying in wait for the unwary traveller. From sneaky airline charges to misleading hotel advertisements – and complicated rules...

Bills bills bills! It’s been a busy April as I toured the studios of radio and television studios across the land to talk about bills going up and saving some cash. One of the biggest sources of frustration that I’ve encountered relates to bills we are stuck with:...

Are you planning a last minute getaway to escape the recent run of terrible weather? Or maybe your thoughts are turning to booking a summer holiday? I’ve just finished filming the latest season of Rip Off Britain Holidays (out in April) and I’ve been struck by how...

I recently wrote all about ‘Awful April’ – the time of year when all of our main bills go up, from taxes to utilities. If you’ve been worrying about these extra costs, then you might have found yourself looking at your finances and wondering if there are places where...

No matter what the weather is up to, spring is technically upon us. You might be sprucing up the house, clearing out your wardrobe or having another crack at your resolutions. But spring is also the perfect time to give your finances a spring clean too. Here are my...

April is a time for optimism, as spring gets underway, the days get longer and there’s a chance that the weather might finally approve. But in recent years, it’s also become ‘Awful April’ – the time of year where all your household bills go up. This year isn’t looking...

If you’re not a fan of opening bills when they pop through your letterbox, then you might want to reconsider doing so at this time of year. That’s because in February and March, you’ll start to receive notifications about all of your regular payments that are...

Spring seems a long way off right now, doesn’t it? That’s why February is one of the peak months for booking holidays, as we allow ourselves to dream of a break in the sun. But be prepared. Prices for holidays have increased significantly in the last year – and it’s...

Valentine’s day is on the horizon. No matter whether you are a hopeless romantic or a committed cynic about a day of celebrating love/enforced spending, we can all (mostly) agree that spending your life with a partner is a wonderful thing. Being together forever means...

Of all the important things we spend our money on, pensions are the single most misunderstood. There are lots of reasons for this. The most obvious is the simple fact that none of us want to admit that we won’t last forever. If you’re under 50, then retirement seems a...

We often associate compensation with having to battle with businesses after they make mistakes or treat us badly. But did you know that many of the businesses that bill you monthly are supposed to pay you compensation when things go wrong? I say ‘supposed to pay’...

Did you get a gift card for Christmas? Or maybe you have one lurking in your wallet or purse that’s nearing its expiry date? You’re not alone. Gift cards are big business. It’s estimated that the gift card market was worth a whopping £7 billion in the UK last year –...

The UK has recently shivered through some of the coldest temperatures we’ve seen in years. Whenever the temperature drops, cold weather complaints can arise. Here’s my guide on what to watch out for. Keeping your home warm Energy bills are a major concern for readers...

I have had a huge response to my recent articles on budgeting and making financial resolutions from readers. Firstly, thank you all so much! Many of the people who got in touch have asked me for advice on how to make the most of their finances in 2025. I’m going to...

Welcome to 2025! Last year certainly came with its challenges, so you might be thinking about making a few resolutions this year to help you keep on top of what the future may hold. Making plans for the coming months is always a good idea – but it pays to be...

“Oh I LOVE IT!” This year, like every year, people around the land will say those words and clutch a gift tightly to their chests. But reader: they don’t love it. They don’t love it at all. There’s nothing wrong with not liking a gift, even if you feel a bit...

I thought I was on top of Christmas. I followed the advice that I’ve given in my previous columns and made lists, ordered in advance, saved money by cancelling subscriptions and even got the decorations out early. But as the final festive countdown ticks away, things...

It looks like this is going to be a turbulent winter, with storms, flooding, cold weather and other weather traumas affecting people in every corner of the United Kingdom. So what can you do if something spoils your Christmas plans? Here’s my guide. What if my flight...

Charles Dickens said that Christmas is a time of goodwill to all men. Dickens wasn’t just one of our greatest novelists. He was a passionate social reformer who wanted to address the imbalances in society and improve the lives of those less fortunate. Yet we can all...

Nothing spoils Christmas like a seasonal scammer and this year the festive fraudsters are out in force. From dodgy social media adverts to fake messages from retailers and banks, we all need to be extra vigilant this year so we don’t get caught out. Here’s my guide on...

This year has been one of the most expensive on record for hard-pressed people trying to get through the cost-of-living crisis. Despite this, we’ve seen some inflation-busting price rises. Insurance contracts have increased dramatically, with car insurance up by...

As the temperature plummets and the heating gets knocked up a notch or two, energy bills are back on the agenda. While bills aren’t quite as high as they were at the height of the energy crisis last year, the fact remains that for most of us, paying for gas or...

I’ve been deluged with requests from readers recently who want to know more about their rights when they buy goods or services. We have some great laws in the UK that give us many powers, but some retailers are notorious for ignoring them, making it difficult to...

The internet has turned millions of people in to entrepreneurs. You may be one yourself and not even realise it. A decade or so ago, the most common way people would buy second hand goods would be by getting up early and tramping around a field or car park. Crafts...

It’s that time of year when the sales begin, Christmas purchases are made… and we all collectively remember how frustrating package delivery companies are! Don’t get mad though. Here’s my guide on how to get even when faced with a delivery disaster. Your rights when...

One of the biggest challenges for consumer rights campaigners like me is reaching the people who need help the most. If something goes wrong – from broken energy smart meters to battles over bills – sorting out a problem can seem intimidating, frustrating and in many...

There’s a lot to be said for planning ahead. With ‘you know what’ just around the corner, you may have started planning your gift shopping for friends and family. Alternatively, you might be browsing online in the sales looking for inspiration. Nothing is ever simple...

After well over a decade of fraudsters robbing people blind, finally we have some good news! The Payment Services Regulator (PSR) – the organisation in charge of the systems we use to pay for things in the UK – has announced that UK banks and other (but not all) money...

If you’ve opened your insurance renewal documents recently, you may well have had a nasty surprise. Insurance contracts have been increasing by on average around one third, with many people reporting price hikes of 50% or more. So how do you cut your insurance bill....

Nothing in life is ever straightforward. So at various times in our lives we are likely to need to borrow money. Sometimes borrowing can fund a big financial commitment, like a mortgage. Alternatively, you might enter in to an ongoing credit agreement to buy a car and...

Readers: I apologise! I know I’ve mentioned the ‘C word’ months before the big day. But we need to talk about Christmas this year. I know that a lot of people are worried about their finances, yet with a little bit of planning you can avoid the pitfalls that can...

It can feel like fraudsters and scammers are everywhere these days. From emails allegedly from a friend or family member who is ‘stranded abroad’ to text messages saying your bank account has been breached, criminals have become creative. According to UK Finance,...

It might be sacrilege to admit it, but despite being a Mancunian I hate Oasis. Let’s face it though: I’m in the minority. Zillions of people were feeling supersonic about the prospect of seeing Manchester’s most flighty brothers reuniting for a series of massive gigs...

Energy bills are back in the news. As bills are due to rise on average by 10% to £1,717 a year from October – with further rises predicted in 2025. I’ve also been flooded with enquiries from pensioners worried about their bills now the winter fuel payment is only...

Planning on going to Europe in the coming year? Well fasten your seatbelts, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Well, a little less smooth than it once was. After Brexit, there’s already been something of a kerfuffle about the maximum time non-residents can spend...

There are some subjects that grind our gears so much, I can’t possibly cover them in depth in this column. So when readers asked me to write about the horrors of hiring a car abroad, I found I’d written over 3,000 words before I knew it… and I wasn’t even half...

Take a walk down any high street in the UK, and you’ll see endless people bumping in to things while starting intently at their phones. We’ve become so reliant on our mobile phones that when we’re forced to cope without them, we can feel a little helpless. This is...

A lot can go wrong when we pay for goods or services. Businesses going bust, sneaky scammers, underwhelming retailers and missing deliveries are just a few of the problems that we have to navigate when shopping online. Avoiding these situations is something of a...

Saving money is hard at the best of times, never mind during the cost-of-living crisis. Many of the people I speak to are worried about the future but just can’t afford to put much (or any) money aside. Yet there’s one way we could all potentially save thousands of...

There’s a battle going on over your water bill. Yet no matter who wins, you’ll be paying much more for your water in future. Regulator Ofwat has just announced proposals that would limit water price increases to 21% a year, or £19 on average. In reality, what you’ll...

Do you ever have a slightly nervy moment when you set off on holiday? Maybe you’re running a bit late? Or you’re worried that you’ve not packed all the essentials (or turned the oven off?) The big worry for most of us is the fear that our flight will be delayed – or...

Insurance is one of those vital expenses that we can’t afford to do without. But insurance contracts vary considerably and sometimes when you come to make a claim, you might find that you get turned down. Surprisingly, lots of people aren’t aware that they can...

Insurance is one of those vital expenses that we can’t afford to do without. But insurance contracts vary considerably and sometimes when you come to make a claim, you might find that you get turned down. Surprisingly, lots of people aren’t aware that they can...

I don’t want to rub it in, but I’ve just got back from a wonderful holiday. However, now I’m paying the price. I’m currently sorting out the bills, dealing with a ridiculous ‘to do’ list, and working out what complaints I need to make to businesses. As a point of...

I don’t want to rub it in, but I’ve just got back from a wonderful holiday. However, now I’m paying the price. I’m currently sorting out the bills, dealing with a ridiculous ‘to do’ list, and working out what complaints I need to make to businesses. As a point of...

It’s hard to imagine a world without the internet, isn’t it?! But much as the web has made life easier for us all, it’s also a twilight world of conspiracy theories and outright mistruths. I’m often asked about financial urban myths: things we hear or read about that...

It might seem hard to believe, but after three long years of ludicrous energy bills, shivering through the winter and desperately trying to reduce our energy usage, bills are going down once more (though not as much as we’d initially hoped). One of the many downsides...

Many regular readers of this column have got in touch recently to ask about how they can effectively reduce their debts without damaging their credit reference files. This is a tricky question to answer– but I will in this column! There are a range of options...

The two May bank holidays are reminders to parents across the land that summer holidays are on the horizon… and it’s about to get expensive! A bit of family time is a good thing, but many of the parents I speak to are positively seething about the endless ways...

Have you nearly been fooled by a fake email from a delivery company? Has your bank called you and told you that you’d been defrauded and you need to change accounts? Or has someone knocked on your door to tell you about a great new deal on your energy bills? Fraud and...

When is a bargain not a bargain? I was reading recently about a case in Mexico where a man spotted that a pair of gold and diamond Cartier earrings had mistakenly been listed on a website as $13 instead of $13,000. When Rogelio Villarreal placed the order, it went...

In my hometown of Manchester, there is a ginormous black box that is the UK’s largest indoor arena, or it will be, when it opens. However, as Peter Kaye and Olivia Rodrigo fans will be painfully aware, the show hasn’t gone on. A spate of unspecified technical problems...

The way we shop has changed dramatically over the last few years. While there are many advantages to online shops, like cheaper items, lots of choice, convenience and comparison sites, there are a couple of pretty major flaws. My biggest concern is the proliferation...

Hard as it may be to believe right now, there will come a day in the not-to-distant future where we can leave the umbrellas at home, store the winter coats and go out in the sunshine. Calves will be bared and dust blown off bottles of suntan lotion. Have faith. Of...

It doesn’t exactly feel like Spring is in the air at the moment, what with the never-ending rain. But April is upon us, gardens and parks are starting to bloom and it’s time for a Spring clean! While you’re airing out the house and boxing up things for the charity...

From staycations to foreign vacations, millions of people will be heading off on holiday over the next few months. Most will have a fabulous time, with only a bit of sunburn and a few regrets about life choices to taint the trip. But if you’re unlucky, you could find...

My recent column on sorting out your utility bills in time for April promoted quite the response! In particular, I’ve had loads of questions from readers about mobile and broadband contracts and price rises this year. The good news is the April price hikes will be...

I’ve spent a busy week talking about the budget and what it means for us all. In other words, I was trying to make a very dull (but vital) story interesting while translating the announcements in to plain English. It was a very long week… The problem with government...

Finally, some good news about energy bills! From April the new Ofgem price cap means bills will drop by an average of £238 to £1,690 a year. Even better, it’s predicted that this will drop even more in July to around the £1,463 mark (not guaranteed though). Of course,...

If you’ve not had your insurance renewal documents through yet, then prepare yourself for a nasty surprise. According to figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), vehicle insurance is up a third (34%)compared to this time last year. However, readers who...

One of the most common problems that I’m asked about is also one of the most complicated to sort out. Disputes with builders and other contractors. Before we get going on this, let me be absolutely clear by saying that we have many, many magnificent builders,...

This week I spent a very frustrating two hours attempting to return two things I’d bought that didn’t work and get a refund for a parcel that never turned up. I then tried to get some energy bill problems sorted out using the official complaints procedure of two...

One of the things that frustrates me the most is when a business goes rogue and ignores the rules, regulations and laws that they are supposed to follow. I’ve been contacted by lots of readers recently who have told me that they’ve followed my guidance on energy debt,...

Seeing our high streets bustle with people in the sales has given me a bit of hope for 2024. I for one, hope that we finally see the return of high street shopping. Online retailers that helped kill off high street brands are now starting to charge for returns. Many...

January feels like the longest month ever, doesn’t it? Well that’s because it is. If you’re paid monthly, then chances are you got your wages a little earlier in December. This tradition is great for helping you fund Christmas, but it means that the wait to payday can...

January has been exceptionally cold, even by the usual standards. So it’s not exactly a surprise that bookings for foreign holidays are through the roof at the moment, as people flee the miserable weather for a bit of winter sun. If you are planning a getaway, here’s...

In recent years, a new form of credit has appeared that’s used by millions of people every year. Buy now, pay later deals are a way to pay for things in chunks, often without interest, allowing you to spend money without using traditional loans. But my postbag is...

I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas and a wonderful New Year. But now January looms large over us all, I’m going to do my best to help you get through it over the next few weeks! Many readers might not be inclined to write a resolutions list. But January is a good...

I can speak from bitter experience when I say that my last few months of national train travel have been unmitigated disasters. Cancelled trains, sitting in aisles, being stranded on windswept, Winter platforms. It’s been no fun. But on many occasions, I’ve not been...

There’s no getting away with the fact that there has been a huge increase in fraud over the last year. [According to the BBC] Barclays have said 77% of scams they are seeing originate on social media, online marketplaces and dating apps. TSB also reported a huge spike...

Money is tight for everyone this year, so make sure you’ve set your face to ‘grateful’ when you unwrap your prezzies and share a bit of the love. However, not all gifts are going to be… well… your thing. You may also own the gift already but pointing that out feels a...

Judging by the size of my postbag, energy bills are the single biggest concern for readers at the moment. So this week, I’m going to fly through all of the main complaints, how to tackle them and how to take things further. Billing errors Energy bills are so...

This year has been one of the most expensive on record for people trying to get through the cost-of-living crisis. Despite this, we’ve seen some inflation-busting price rises. Insurance contracts have increased dramatically, with car insurance up by roughly 50% and...

Are you sick of the sales already? I know I am. Let’s face it, we’re becoming increasingly aware that the pre-Christmas sales aren’t exactly filled with bargains. In fact, Which? analysed over 200 Black Friday deals from sales last year and found a whopping 86% of the...

Have you experienced a delivery disaster? You are not alone. In fact, ask any of your friends, family or colleagues and the majority will have a story about a parcel going missing, turning up broken or being left in a random place. This year, an emerging new trend...

Have you had a bad experience with an airline over the last few years? Sadly, you are not alone. I regularly hear from readers who are furious with airlines that are hiking prices for things that used to be free, refusing to refund or are just not answering the phone...

It’s that time of year again when we need to talk about fraudsters. UK Finance have released their latest half year fraud statistics that reveal that scammers have managed to pinch a whopping half a billion pounds in the first half of 2023. It’s not all relentlessly...

It’s that time of year again when we need to talk about fraudsters. UK Finance have released their latest half year fraud statistics that reveal that scammers have managed to pinch a whopping half a billion pounds in the first half of 2023. It’s not all relentlessly...

Have you given in and put the heating on yet? I finally cracked and gave in this week, though I’m keeping a close eye on my energy consumption. It goes without saying that concerns about the size of energy bills are at the forefront of all our minds at the moment. But...

It was World Mental Health Day recently, which got me thinking about money and human nature. According to the annual Financial Stability Tracker report from Creditspring, a quarter of people said that their mental health is the worst they’ve ever experienced due to...

We are approaching the season of shopping and my postbag is filled with questions about scams and staying safe online. Many of the readers getting in touch are particularly concerned about fraudsters seizing their identity. Fortunately, as I’m currently deep in to...

As the nights get longer and it gets colder, many people are contacting me to say they are concerned about not being able to pay their bills. Over the next few months, I’m going to do my best to provide you with all the help, information and tips you need to save you...

I love a bargain. And if I’m visiting friends or exploring a new city or town in the UK, I can’t resist the lure of the local charity shops. Of course, the advantage of buying second-hand goods in person is you have the opportunity to check the item and look for flaws...

Changing the law to protect and strengthen our rights can be a long and lengthy process. But the way we live, communicate and shop is changing rapidly, so it’s vital that the laws we have keep up with society. In the coming months, the Online Safety Bill and Digital...

Changing the law to protect and strengthen our rights can be a long and lengthy process. But the way we live, communicate and shop is changing rapidly, so it’s vital that the laws we have keep up with society. In the coming months, the Online Safety Bill and Digital...

Despite a last-ditch attempt at summer the weather has remained defiantly rubbish this year. Now as the days get longer and the kids are back at school, your thoughts might be turning to what the months ahead hold. The heating may not have gone back on yet, but...

It seems like there’s an endless array of disasters just waiting in the wings to ruin your holiday sometimes, doesn’t it? The recent failure of the UK’s National Air Traffic Service (NATS) resulted in thousands of flights being cancelled, leading to chaos. Yet this...

Have you noticed when you book a flight the price you start off with is nothing like the price you end up paying when all the extras have been added on? You are not alone. In the last few weeks, additional charges by airlines have come under the spotlight as...

Do you know how much money you’ll get when the time comes to claim your state pension? According to research from Royal London, over half of us have not checked our State Pension forecast, which tells you how much money you’ve built up so far and how much you’re due...

I happened to be at the counter of a very popular clothes shop the other day, telling the lovely member of staff how much I hated the self checkout machines. “Oh thank you” he responded. “If enough people refuse to use them, then me and my colleagues might just keep...

In the last few weeks, the news has been filled with some absolutely horrifying stories about ludicrous energy bills that clearly can’t possibly be true. What’s particularly frustrating is the abject failure of some energy firms to acknowledge that these bills are...

In recent weeks there has been a series of apocalyptically named heatwaves rolling across Europe, ruining people’s holidays and resident’s lives. Over in America, records are being broken and the sheer endurance of the extreme heatwave periods is causing serious...

Do you ever feel like each week there’s a new scam, or rip-off, or crafty trick to part you from your cash? Well that’s because many of them are. In fact there are a few new methods that businesses are using to part you from your cash Drip-pricing. This is where...

If you’re taking a holiday this year, then travel insurance has never been more important. With strikes, overbookings and rising costs adding to travelers’ woes, a good insurance policy can really bail you out if things go wrong. I was recently asked to compare a...

Are you addicted to your phone? I know some people who are so obsessed with their mobiles that they constantly have to check it every few minutes. Others carry bags filled with batteries and charging cables, just in case they run out of charge while out and about....

I love technology that has the power to transform people’s lives and save us some cash. So when the Government announced over a decade ago that it wanted to see a smart meter installed in every home in the UK, I thought it was a great idea. Then things started to go...

I often get asked some quirky questions about banking problems. Some of these are modern ‘urban myths’ – things that people believe but aren’t really based on fact. Other questions are about things that we just don’t understand but have pretty simple explanations. In...

Getting started with a complaint is one thing, but what do you do if you’re not happy with how things work out? I often mention in this column where there is a free Ombudsman or Alternative Dispute Resolution Service (ADR) that you can go to if a business doesn’t sort...

No matter how hard you try, you can’t prepare for every eventuality. I’m due to go on holiday to Spain soon and the forecast is… thunderstorms and rain. Oh well. Travelling is one of my favourite things in the world, but there are a lot of things that can go wrong...

As regular readers might know, I’m a huge fan of the Eurovision Song Contest. Fabulously, I just got to fulfil my dream and spend a week reporting live from the event, attending the parties and – yes – watching the shows too. Now the glitter and headaches are fading...

Businesses love vouchers and gift cards for a very simple reason. Most of us forget we have them… and when they expire, they are gone forever. All of which equals big profits for essentially nothing. Since the pandemic nixed our travel plans for two years, millions of...

There are few things worse than finding out a complete stranger has stolen your identity and left you potentially facing huge bills and a bureaucratic nightmare. Every week I’m contacted by readers who tell me that they’ve been the victims of identity theft. So I’ve...

Back in the mists of time (the early 90s) I managed to get my hands on some tickets for Madonna’s Blonde Ambition tour in London. Back in those days, if you wanted to get to the front of a gig, you queued up outside the venue all night and then legged it to the front...

If you want to save some cash, then cancelling subscriptions and regular payments that you no longer want or need is the number one way to do it. In fact, you can even claim money back. I’m preparing to launch myself back in to my own accounts this week, to see what...

Last year was something of a disaster for the holiday industry. After scraping through the pandemic, the airlines seemed to have been caught unawares by our desire to jump on a plane and get away. On top of that, millions of us attempted to cash in our vouchers for...

The April showers have lashed the land, daffodils are whitling in vases across the UK and the long Winter nights are fading in to the past. I’ve written a lot about ‘Awful April’ and the price rises that are challenging us all during the cost-of-living crisis. I hope...

There’s nothing worse than that sinking feeling when you realise that you’ve forgotten to do one small but vital task. The recent news that over 1,000 Passport Office workers are due to go on strike for five weeks has reminded many people to check their own passports....

I’ve been devoting my last few columns to helping you save some cash ahead of bills going up in ‘Awful April’. Of all of the price hikes on the horizon, mobile phone and broadband bills are among the highest, with price increases of upwards of 14% in both sectors in...

April is on the horizon and though we might be able to turn the heating down soon (hopefully), thanks to a combination of inflation, higher costs and energy prices, a lot of bills are going to go up. Don’t panic though. Here’s my quick guide to cutting your costs....

I’ve just spent a deeply unglamorous weekend up to my ankles in water, thanks to my washing machine finally giving up the ghost. To be honest the machine had a good run for its money, lasting well over ten years. Truly it’s the end of an era. Of course, I’m far, far...

Are energy bills going to go up or down? That’s the big question in the news this week, as different energy consultancies battle to predict the future. On one hand, the Government’s Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) ends in April. This means bills will no longer be limited...

If there is one thing that defines us as a nation, it’s our obsession with pets. According to the latest research, almost two thirds of the population have a pet. That’s 13 million dogs, 12 million cats, 1 million rabbits, 600,000 guinea pigs and 200,000 ferrets – and...

The robots are coming for your jobs - and this time they want to get creative too. Well, at least according to the news which has been full of stories lately about artificial intelligence. All of this can be a bit scary, though many of the stories feature frankly...

Every January, I write a few columns about sorting out your finances, tackling debts and making resolutions. This year, I decided to put my money where my mouth is by tackling my huge backlog of things to do on New Years’ Day. To say it was frustrating was an...

There’s little doubt that millions of people around the UK are reeling about the rise in the energy price cap by a jaw-dropping 54%. So unsurprisingly, many of us are turning to our bills before the price hike kicks in to see where we can make some savings. And that’s...

An estimated 4 million people around the UK are currently using prepayment energy meters. However, these meters are back in the news for all the wrong reasons. Some energy firms have been accused of rushing to seek warrants to enter people’s houses to install these...

If you’ve been watching the pennies closely lately, then I’m sure you’ll have taken a sharp intake of breath or two at the prices down the supermarket aisles these days. Prices are rising for a wide range of reasons – none of which are going away any time soon....

I’m a great believer in being disloyal. Well, at least when it comes to businesses. I’ve written quite a bit over the last few years about how you’ll end up paying more if you stick with broadband and insurance service providers. And you’ll get precisely nothing for...

Energy bills are something of a mystery for most people. It’s not always easy to know what you’re being charged for or how the bill was worked out. I’ve become increasingly concerned in recent months that many people are assuming that expensive bills are correct...

It’s been a rocky few years for our local town centres and high streets. Yet there are signs that this year that high street shopping might just be making a comeback. Online retailers that helped kill off high street brands are now starting to charge for returns. Many...

One of the reasons that I can look my readers in the eye and offer advice and guidance is I’ve made every mistake going. My past is littered with maxed out credit cards, poor financial decisions and lots of denial about my situation. So I know what puts people off...

Few things feel better than the act of giving. But if we’re being honest, not every gift you receive is ‘your thing’. So here’s my guide to returning items or getting some cash for the things you don’t want or need – without hurting anyone’s feelings. Check the...

Snow over the Christmas can seem enchanting, well, in theory. In practice, a lot can go wrong when the temperature drops. Every year readers contact me in their droves about everything from wonky boilers to excessive energy bills. I’ve covered both those subjects in...

It’s been a tough year for everyone all round, so I hope that you’re enjoying the festive season, whoever you are with, wherever you are. We all need a few good times. And in 2023, I’ll be doing my level best to help you save money, while campaigning for your rights,...

The Winter of Discontent is upon us! Regardless of your feelings about the various strikes taking place in December – and new ones are being announced even as I write this – transport is particularly badly affected. If you’re planning on traveling to see friends or...

In recent years, there has been a huge increase in websites and apps that specialise in selling second-hand or vintage items. These sites have proved particularly popular with younger people, but have gone mainstream as people consider more about the impact of our...

We’ve all got lots of ‘stuff’ haven’t we? The charity shops on my local high street are struggling with the volume of donations as people clear out their wardrobes to ensure their possessions go on to have a second life. As a consequence, lots of people are doing...

Made.com has become the latest retailer to slip in to administration, leaving an estimated 12,000 people in the UK awaiting orders potentially losing their money. It’s also bad news for people awaiting refunds or trying replace or repair items that aren’t as...

The sales season is in full effect and the countdown to Christmas is well underway. This year, with the cost-of-living crisis, rampant inflation and concern over bills, all indications suggest people are being much more cautious about what they spend. But there is one...

The November sales this year are a bit of a downbeat affair. After all, with so much concern about the cost-of-living crisis, shops don’t want to be seen to be actively encouraging people to go on a spending splurge. Having said that, it does make sense to buy your...

The news over the last few months has been relentlessly grim. However, if you’re a saver, after a decade of rubbish rates you can finally make your money work for you. Here’s a brief guide. Making the most of your savings Savers have had a torrid ten years, with many...

In recent months, I’ve noticed that I’m being asked to help more and more with disputes over building work. Many of these complaints are exceptionally convoluted, often involving sums of £30,000 or more, and can degenerate into rather unpleasant legal disputes too....

It won’t surprise you to learn that I get asked a lot these days to write about cutting energy bills by using some energy consuming items around the home less. To be honest, while you can trim some money from your energy bill, in practice, the savings aren’t great...

Imagine if you are enjoying a holiday but then slip and break your leg, only your insurer won’t pay for you to get back home because you didn’t disclose you’re taking a small amount of medication for depression. Or a trip to A&E in America leads to a massive bill...

It’s been one of the most chaotic weeks for people’s finances that I’ve ever encountered. From the impact of the mini-budget and the plummeting pound, to the Bank of England raising the base interest rate to 2.25%, each day seems to bring more worrying news. Knowing...

One of the things I love about my job is being able to help my friends and neighbours out when they have a problem. I live in a communal block of flats and some of my neighbours are in their eighties, or have medical conditions that significantly affect their lives....

A lot can happen in a short space of time. On Thursday 08 September 2022, I was awaiting the announcement of the Government’s plans on energy bills, along with my journalist colleagues. Much had leaked, but there were many things we didn’t know, like what help would...

After a year of turmoil, the Government are finally taking some action about rising energy bills. For many though, the announcement has come too late – and the cost-of-living crisis has already led people to take a long hard look at their finances. Many of the people...

If you’re worried about energy bills, the cost-of-living crisis or out-of-control inflation, you might be considering cancelling some of the regular subscriptions you pay for to save some cash. It’s hard to know where to get started when budgeting and looking to make...

Will there ever be any good news about energy bills? As the energy price cap is announced and bills are set to hit ridiculous levels from October, you could be forgiven for giving up hope of ever getting an affordable bill again. I recently tackled the energy crisis...

A few weeks ago the Bank of England raised the interest rate to 1.75%, the biggest hike in 27 years. Inflation is soaring far higher than wage rises, which adds up to grim news for people trying to make ends meet. For many people, the most important financial...

It feels like each day brings worse news about energy bills and the cost-of-living crisis. I really do understand that this is the number one concern for millions of people all around the UK. There are no easy solutions, but rest assured, my fellow consumer rights...

As if travellers weren’t facing enough problems at the moment, I’ve been hearing lots of horror stories about car hire companies abroad over the last few weeks. Not all car hire companies are terrible – but there are a lot of things you need to watch out for so you...

It’s the height of summer, temperatures are rising across the land and the kids are off school. For millions of people that means it’s time to head abroad for a holiday. The news has been a bit grim for travelers recently, with flight cancellations, airports reducing...

Do mistakes with energy bills happen? Sadly, yes, they do – but people often don’t know for sure if the bill is wrong or how to challenge it. In recent months there’s been an explosion of complaints about incorrect energy bills as people receive demands for payments...

It looks like we might be facing a summer of discontent with strike action likely to affect people across the land. RMT members will strike at most train companies and Network Rail. The union states that up to 50,000 members will be striking, including people vital to...

If you’re going on holiday in the coming weeks and months, you’d be forgiven for despairing at the news at the moment. Both airports and airlines are announcing cancelations of routes and flights as the industry struggles to cope with high demand and staff shortages....

Airlines and holiday companies are announcing bookings for trips abroad are selling out, as sun starved Brits head for the sun and adventures for the first time since the pandemic. But not everything has returned to normal. A lot has happened since the pandemic, from...

Finally, I can bring you some good news! The Government has just announced that the big nine broadband and mobile phone service providers have agreed to some immediate changes to support people struggling with their bills. The measures include allowing penalty-free...

I never thought that I’d be writing tips on saving money on food in 2022, but here we are. For a variety of reasons, including the impact of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, food prices are spiralling. It’s not just in the obvious areas, like wheat or sunflower...

I’d just finished writing this column about the latest scams doing the rounds when I was contacted about a new one – which just goes to show how quickly scammers speed in to action when an opportunity presents itself. This scam targets people on WhatsApp with a...

One of the unexpected impacts of the pandemic is the glut of events that were cancelled or moved forward because they couldn’t take place. From concerts to festivals and other adventures, your diary may well be filled to bursting with two years of delayed events. And,...

I often get asked some quirky questions about banking problems. Some of these are modern ‘urban myths’ – things that people believe but aren’t really based on fact. Other questions are about things that we just don’t understand but have pretty simple explanations. In...

When the Chancellor announced that we’d be getting £150 to help us with our energy bills many people – myself included – thought that the refund would be applied ‘in’ April. It turns out that the money will be arriving through the council tax system ‘from’ April. As a...

The Chancellor’s much advertised £150 council tax rebate isn’t materialising quickly for many people as councils across the land grapple with the practicalities of paying it out. I'm speaking to the Government right now about this - but if you need some help or...

Voucher fails Remember back in March 2020 when the reality sank in that we wouldn’t be going on holiday abroad for quite some time? Well, it’s 2022 and while I’ve seen many thousands of complaints about refunds, many more people have vouchers for airlines and holiday...

The last few weeks haven’t exactly been great for people struggling to make ends meet. I know from your messages and emails that saving cash is a big concern – so here are a few things you can do right now to get back on top of your finances. The budgeting basics Take...

Insuring your car isn’t just essential – it’s a legal requirement. But knowing what kind of policy to buy can be a little overwhelming. After all, there’s a lot of choice out there. Here’s my guide to the things you need to be aware before buying. The three types of...

I’ve recently had my claim about my PIP benefit turned down and I don’t know what to do next. How do I get help? A Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a vital resource for people who have a long-term mental health or physical condition and was created to help with...

When the news is bad, scammers, sadly, look to exploit the fact that we might be a little distracted or worried, to trick us out of cash. One of the areas I’ve heard the most complaints about recently has been social media scams and how fraudsters are getting creative...

The cost-of-living crisis has led to millions of people taking a cold hard look at their finances and cutting back. Yet making ends meet is only part of the problem. Thousands of people make complaints every year about their credit files and how credit scores work is...

It’s not much fun being a motorist at the moment. Petrol prices have hit an all-time high and options are limited for people looking to make some savings. There are a few options though. On the forecourt If you caught me on Rip Off Britain Live on BBC One recently,...

In recent years, there’s been a distinct increase in significant weather events – storms and flooding to you and me – not only on our lives, but on the places where we live and work too. In the last week alone, Dudley, Eunice and Franklin have swept across every...

Do you ever feel that your relationship has gone stale? No not your actual relationship - it is the season of love, after all! I mean those ongoing relationships we have with businesses that we’re not getting anything out of. Annoyingly, we can’t break up with some...

Getting started with a complaint is one thing, but what do you do if you’re not happy with how things work out? I often mention in this column where there is a free Ombudsman or Alternative Dispute Resolution Service (ADR) that you can go to if a business doesn’t sort...

There’s no getting away from the fact that 2022 is going to be a much more expensive year for all of us. Many of the people I’ve spoken to in the last few days are still reeling from the extraordinary 54% increase in the price cap for energy bills. While there are no...

The course of true love never did run smooth. So now that we can start going out and meeting people again you might be dusting off those old dating apps to help speed along finding that special person. Unfortunately, problems with dating apps and websites are one of...

If you’re worried about bills in the year ahead, you are not alone. Saving cash is going to be a priority for us all in 2022. That’s why I’m so pleased to have had such a big response from readers to my recent money saving articles. I’ve received loads of questions...

The easing of Covid restrictions and testing requirements has prompted a big rush to book holidays abroad. And why not? We’ve all had a pretty miserable few years so a bit of sun and foreign travel sounds fabulous to me. Of course, the world has changed significantly...

The countdown to the holiday season can be a bit chaotic. It’s easy to get distracted when so much is going on (and needs organising). Sadly, scammers love the season of goodwill – and ruthlessly exploit any opportunity to get their hands on your cash or personal...

Our relationship with the sales has changed dramatically in the last few years. It wasn’t that long ago that people would queue up at 4am on Boxing Day for a shot at 25% off a jacket they never knew they wanted – and would fight for it too. These days, we’ve learned...

In recent days, I’ve been flooded by requests for help from people concerned about new Covid restrictions and the impact on their plans for Christmas. So let’s take a look at one of the things that are affected – travel. You can find much more information in my guide...

Delivery disasters resulted in over 340,000 complaints over the last two years. In some ways that’s not that surprising, given that we were all reliant on deliveries over lockdown. Yet, when I look at the complaints, it’s clear that countless things are going wrong...