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New. Today, five banks pay switchers at least a FREE £225. We've never seen that before! Grab some cash
Including BOOSTED Santander Edge - the top for bills, and First Direct - the top for service

Two accounts have souped-up their switcher deals this week. Both the bill-buster Santander Edge account - which pays you cashback on bills you pay from it by Direct Debit - and the service standout from First Direct - which has number one rated feedback - now give switchers a total of £225. So unless your bank treats you beautifully, grab cash to go elsewhere, especially as we can't find a single time in the last twenty years we've had this many paying £200+, never mind £225+.

Switching's usually quick & easy. To get the free cash (usually paid within 3mths), you need to use the bank's seven-working-day switch service (so roughly 10 real days). This closes your old account and moves all your money, Direct Debits & standing orders for you. All payments to the old account are auto-forwarded. You'll need to pass a not-too-harsh credit check.

• Are subscriptions moved when you switch? Direct Debits and standing orders are moved for you. Yet the third category of regular payments, known as recurring payments eg Netflix, Disney+ etc, where you give the long number on your debit card when you pay, aren't moved; you need do this yourself. If you do forget, though, normally they'll notify you 'your payment card no longer works' so it shouldn't be too big an issue. See recurring payment help.
  
  
• Can switching bank affect your ability to get credit? In the short term, yes. It's a credit application, so that has an impact by itself, but also lenders like to see evidence of stability. It usually isn't a big deal, but if you've an important credit application soon (eg a mortgage), it's probably best to hold off until after. You may want to check your 'eligibility rating' via our free MSE Credit Club (or easier via the MSE app on iOS & Android). More in how switching banks affects your credit.
  
  
• You may be able to make £1,000s by repeatedly switching bank. Becoming a bank bribe bagger can pay well - we've had people tell us they've made a shed load. See full pros & cons in make £1,000s by repeatedly switching bank.

Six ways you may be able to save £100s on water bills
News. Eng & Wales water bills will rise again in April, by an average 5% (Scotland 9%)

Regulator Ofwat last week announced water bills across England & Wales will go up again this April. This is on top of last year's huge increase (which averaged 26%) - and sadly increases are expected to continue for at least three more years. However the 5% is an average - there's huge variance across firms with rises from 0% up to 13% - so check your water firm's hike. Yet just because the water world is a perverse one with privatisation and no competition, don't assume there aren't ways to save. We've six main ones for you to look at...

1. The Big Saving: (Eng & Wales only) Can you save £100s with a FREE water meter? Water bills are based on the old pre-1990 rates system, where the amount you pay's roughly based on your home's rental value, not your usage. So bigger homes tend to pay more, even if they don't use much water. Yet you can get a free water meter in England and Wales, which measures how much you use and bills you accordingly. Here's Martin's simple rule of thumb...
   
   
   eg three bedrooms, two people... there's a good chance you can save. Use a water meter calculator
   
   If the water calc shows savings are likely, but you want a more formal assessment, your water firm can do that. For some, the savings can be massive. Debbie emailed us in October: "I took your tips on installing a water meter. My Direct Debit has gone from £108 a month to £19, [a £1,068/yr saving]. Thank you, Martin."
   
   Can you switch back? If you voluntarily fit a meter, with most (though not all) firms you've up to two years to change your mind and go back for free (see firm-by-firm switch-back policies), so if it doesn't work for you, don't worry.
   
   Live in NI or Scotland? Water charges in Northern Ireland are part of rates. In Scotland they're part of a 'combined service charge' along with other services. While you can have a water meter installed, it's pricey, so unless you live alone in a manor-type property, estimated payments are cheaper.
   
   
2. If they can't fit a meter (Eng & Wales), in some ways you're in even more luck... Some with shared pipes or in flats are told by water firms they can't 'practicably' have a meter fitted. If so, ask for an 'assessed charge bill', which works out how much you'd likely pay on a meter. Then it's simple - if that's cheaper than your normal water bill, switch to it, if it isn't, don't. Shirley emailed: "After receiving a £1,400/yr, water bill, your mantra 'fewer people than bedrooms' prompted us to apply for a meter. We were put on an assessed amount of £40/mth until a meter could be fitted. It couldn't be done, so we remain on that, a huge saving [of £920/yr]. Thanks."
   
   
3. On a lower income, are you eligible for a 'social tariff'? Social tariffs are offered by all firms and can cut what you pay by up to 90%. Many assume they'd get it automatically if they're eligible, for example if they claim Universal Credit. Yet it doesn't work that way, you have to apply to your firm separately. An estimated 3 MILLION households are eligible and missing out on £175/yr on average. 
   
   Frustratingly there's no single definition of a social tariff. We've lobbied for a national standard, but the Government rejected that in its recent water rule changes (we're still pushing though). See our firm-by-firm social tariff help. Amy emailed us: "I'm a single working mum of 3 paying £60/mth for my water bill. I read your social tariff info and applied to Yorkshire Water online. I am delighted I did: my water bill has reduced to £28/mth. I'm saving £384/yr just from a simple online form and a few emails! Thank you so much Martin!"
   
   
4. WaterSure: On a meter, benefits & have 3+ children or a medical condition where you use lots of water? Those with three or more under-19s in the home, or who use a lot of water due to a medical condition such as Crohn's or eczema, may be able to have their usage capped under the WaterSure scheme. This can be done on top of a social tariff.
   
   
5. 100,000 freebies to cut your water use (good even with no meter) eg £20 shower heads. Water firms UK-wide are handing out 100,000s of water freebies, though it's firm dependent. They're especially MoneySaving if you've a meter - but even if you don't, as much of the water we use is heated, they can cut energy bills. Plus, see our 30 water-saving tips.
   
   
6. Can you get a sewerage rebate? It's generally assumed that used water creates a similar amount in sewage. Yet if you've a way of draining or storing water - such as a soakaway, cesspit, pool or big garden - which means some of the water you're using isn't going straight back into a public sewer, you may be able to claim a rebate worth an average £35/yr.