2021

Update 29 July 2021: Since publishing this story McDonald’s has confirmed that, as of 1 July, completed physical loyalty cards can no longer be redeemed, and its terms and conditions have been updated to reflect this. However, we’ve heard some instances of branches continuing to accept stickers at the server’s discretion, so it’s worth a try. McDonald’s is to scrap a long-running loyalty scheme which lets you collect stickers from cups and claim a free hot drink after purchasing six. The separate 'My McDonald's' app-based loyalty scheme, which gives a free hot drink after you've bought five, will continue - but crucially the change means from this summer you'll no longer be able to stack both schemes and earn TWO stickers per drink purchased. 

MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has warned there is a huge raft of deadlines, cut-offs, price hikes and changes about to hit millions of people in the UK, on his ITV The Martin Lewis Money Show (watch the full 24-minute show to get a detailed briefing).   The issue is caused by 1 April price rises by public service firms and utility providers, and includes council tax, energy bills, Sky and BT bills, and more. Plus it's the start of a new tax year on 6 April, which throws up a lot of urgent deadlines - if you miss them, you likely miss out. Martin explains the April price hikes (four minutes)

More than 100,000 Argos customers who bought an extended warranty from the retailer online between July 2019 and October 2020 will soon get a £5 e-gift card, after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found the retailer failed to make customers aware of cheaper alternatives.

Mobile users who sign up to a pay-monthly or Sim-only contract with O2 from 25 March, including existing customers who renew their contracts after this date, will be hit with price hikes of at least 3.9% from April 2022. It comes as the provider shakes up its terms and conditions. 

M&S Bank customers whose current accounts are being closed this summer can now apply for the top cash switching incentives from its sister banks HSBC and First Direct no matter how long they’ve had their account.

A new plastic £50 note featuring the inventor and codebreaker Alan Turing has been revealed by the Bank of England today. It will launch into circulation from 23 June and will eventually replace the current paper design featuring entrepreneur Matthew Boulton and engineer James Watt.    

Millions of Vodafone customers will be hit with price hikes of up to 4.5% next month, the telecoms provider has confirmed. But only those who are out of contract can cancel penalty-free. Here's what's happening.

The largest guarantor loan lender Amigo Loans has admitted the financial regulator does not support its proposed new redress scheme. But it says it's been told the regulator doesn't plan to take action to stop the scheme if it's agreed on by borrowers and sanctioned by the High Court. 

Teletext Holidays may face court action if it fails to refund customers whose package holidays were cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said.  

Santander is to close 111 branches - around 20% of its 563 UK branches - by the end of August, with the bank blaming the move on customers increasingly banking online. We've full info on which outlets are closing and what to do if your local branch is affected.