2023

No-frills mobile operator Lycamobile has surprisingly switched all of its customers from O2's network – which it piggybacked on – to EE's, seemingly without telling them ahead of time. It comes after the company quietly signed a deal with BT Wholesale last week, meaning it will now piggyback off EE's mobile network.

BT customers will no longer be able to get a discount on their home phone and broadband line rental by paying for a year upfront as its 'line rental saver' product is being axed for new sign-ups and renewals from 21 July. If you currently use it, you won't pay any more until your contract expires after this date, but when it does you'll be switched to paying line rental monthly – meaning you'll lose the £20 a year saving.  

First Direct has scrapped all fees for overseas spending and cash withdrawals on its debit card for both new and existing customers, MoneySavingExpert.com can reveal. 

The Bank of England has increased the base rate from 4.5% to 5% – taking it to its highest level since the 2008 financial crisis. This rate is used by the central bank to charge other banks and lenders when they borrow money – and so it influences what borrowers pay and what savers earn.

Easyjet passengers who accepted vouchers for Covid-19 disrupted flights or holidays have now got until 31 January 2024 to use them, as the airline has extended their validity for a further six months. Below we've got all you need to know about the extension. 

The UK's biggest mortgage lenders have today agreed to introduce a new set of support measures for struggling borrowers, including allowing homeowners to increase their mortgage term or switch to interest-only repayments temporarily without any impact on their credit rating. These reflect several of the measures MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has been calling for since last autumn.

Parents on Universal Credit with high childcare costs will soon be able to claim £100s more in support each month, as the Government is boosting the help available from Wednesday 28 June. In addition, some of those eligible will also be able to get one month's childcare paid for them upfront, instead of having to pay the full cost and getting it reimbursed later.

NS&I will increase its Premium Bond prize-fund rate to 3.7% from 3.3% for its July 2023 draw and beyond, with an extra £39 million in higher-value prizes up for grabs. This latest increase – the sixth we've seen in just over a year – is to the highest rate in 15 years. The odds of winning will remain the same at 24,000 to one, but there will more prizes between £50 and £100,000 available.

Virgin Media's broadband customers have been hit by a widespread email outage this week, leaving users unable to send or receive emails. Here's what you need to know if affected.

British Gas is offering some customers with a smart meter half-price electricity on Sundays this summer as part of its 'PeakSave' scheme. It's a no-brainer perk for those who can get it – but you should still consider and keep an eye out for cheaper fixed deals, as they could save you more in the long term.