October 2020

Mobile companies will be banned from selling 'locked' phones which only work with their network, under new rules coming into force at the end of next year. 

AA, Bank of Ireland and Post Office credit card customers have been reporting problems after their accounts were switched to fintech firm Jaja earlier this month. 

Almost a third of free-to-use ATMs at Post Office branches will be shut over the next 18 months, with around 600 set to close by March 2022.

Cafes, pubs, restaurants and councils across England are offering free meals to children in need over the October half-term, following a high-profile campaign started by the footballer Marcus Rashford. 

Refund credit notes issued up until 31 December 2020 for cancelled holidays will be protected by the ATOL scheme after it extended cover put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic - so if you accept one and the travel firm were to then go bust, you will get your money back. 

The Government's Job Support Scheme will be extended and the next self-employed income support grant doubled, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced today, while businesses in England affected by 'tier two' restrictions will be given access to new cash grants.

State pensions are expected to rise by 2.5% next April under the 'triple lock' guarantee – meaning an increase of about £230/year for those receiving the new state pension in full.

Nationwide is to reduce the level of cover its FlexPlus travel insurance offers for cancellation due to coronavirus, in a blow to holidaymakers with the popular packaged bank account. Under changes to FlexPlus cover that will apply to all trips booked from January, a new Foreign Office warning against travel will no longer be sufficient grounds for a cancellation payout.

Consumers can now send packages through Royal Mail without leaving the house, as the firm launches a new collection service meaning parcels can be picked up from people's homes at a cost of 72p each. 

The Government has confirmed that the energy price cap, which limits how much suppliers can charge for poor value tariffs, will be extended until the end of 2021 – and will cover those on prepayment meters.