December 2020

The countdown has begun for millions who need to file a self-assessment tax return and pay tax owed, including a portion of which they have been allowed to defer due to the pandemic. Here's what you need to know.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is being phased out following the Brexit deal in favour of a new, free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Here's what you need to know, including what the two cards are, who needs which one and how to get a GHIC for free (thus avoiding shyster sites that charge a fee). Here's our quick Q&A:

The so-called 'tampon tax' has been abolished across the UK today (1 January 2021) with a zero rate of VAT now applying to sanitary products - down from the previous 5%. But retailers don't necessarily have to pass savings onto consumers.

Fee-free mobile roaming when you travel to European Union countries will no longer be guaranteed from 1 January 2021, but major mobile operators have confirmed they have "no plans" to bring charges back now that a trade deal has been reached.

Energy giant E.on has apologised after taking around 1.5 million customers' direct debits up to two weeks early, leaving many without cash in their accounts just before Christmas. E.on says it'll be processing refunds automatically, but these won't hit accounts until 29 December 2020. If you've incurred extra charges, you CAN get reimbursed, but you'll have to ask for it.

Tesco has re-introduced restrictions on grocery sales, allowing shoppers to buy only three packs of certain items and just a single pack of toilet roll. However the supermarket and its rivals insist there are currently no product shortages and are urging customers to shop normally.

TalkTalk landline customers with its Unlimited UK Calls Boost plan will see their bill jump by £24 a year from January. But if you're affected, the good news is you can simply cancel the calls plan penalty-free.

Four "irresponsible" Instagram posts promoting buy now, pay later service Klarna have been banned by the advertising regulator.

Anyone with a current or future guarantor-loan mis-selling claim from the sector's largest lender, Amigo Loans, may not get the full amount they're owed. It's because the firm has asked the High Court to approve a new scheme that would limit payouts and set a time restriction on them in a bid to stave off liquidation given the surge of complaints it's facing.

A major new survey by MoneySavingExpert.com has revealed which travel firms are least likely to have paid out full refunds for trips cancelled due to coronavirus, with Lastminute.com, Teletext Holidays, Loveholidays and Ryanair among those rated worst. With many customers waiting over six months to get cash back, we're passing our findings to the Government and regulators and calling for urgent action.