Consumer Focus
Spark to give £250K to Citizens Advice after 'serious breaches'
An Ofgem investigation found that Spark Energy breached switching rules and complaints handling regulations
16 February 2015
Consumer Futures calls for Spark Energy probe
Consumer Futures has referred Spark Energy to Ofgem following large numbers of customer complaints
21 May 2013
Firms 'should be clearer on regular card payments'
Traders may not be making it clear to consumers that they're being signed up to a Continuous Payment Authority
12 December 2012
Basic bank accounts 'should have clear standards'
Open a basic bank account online, great if you've no access to current accounts, after comparing the best products with Money Saving Expert Today
2 November 2012
The rogues that ignore 'no cold callers' signs
Charities and political parties are the worst offenders at ignoring 'no cold callers' signs, according to a new poll
18 May 2012
Banks 'give bad advice' over card payment cancellations
Some bank staff wrongly tell customers that regular card payments can't be cancelled, says Consumer Focus
2 May 2012
Group switching 'could transform utilities'
Collective switching by consumers between utility firms could finally end poor deals and unresponsiveness from suppliers
2 May 2012
Citizens Advice to replace axed Consumer Focus
Citizens Advice is to be given an enlarged role under Government plans to shake up the consumer protection system
11 April 2012
MPs demand clampdown on debt products
Tougher action is needed to control debt management companies and payday lenders, a new report says
7 March 2012
Thousands could miss out on Warm Front energy scheme
Consumer Focus and National Energy Action fear a scheme to help the poorest households make their homes warmer won't benefit enough people
27 January 2012
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18 May 2022
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12 ways to save only do with apps
Free chocs, 1.5% savings and more
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Martin: 'Aged around 45 to 70?'
'You may be able to turn £800 into £5,500+'
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New. Top way to spend abroad
Unbeatable exchange rates and cashback
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10% off discount 'best-before' store
Eg, 23p Pepsi , £4,50 for 1kg Lindt
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Cheaper energy deals kiboshed
Martin not exactly impressed
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Lloyds' free £125 bank bribe
But others pay more
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Debt cost-cutting masterclass
Mortgages, cards, overdrafts, loans...
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Three's £2 a day roaming charges come into effect today - here's all you need to know
23 May 2022![]()
Three's £2 a day roaming charges come into effect from today (23 May) for holidaymakers who wish to use their normal monthly allowance in Europe. The change will effect new and upgrading pay monthly and Sim-only customers. -
£17 million of unspent Tesco Clubcard vouchers will expire this month, but there’s a trick to extend them – here’s how
20 May 2022![]()
Some £17 million worth of unused Tesco Clubcard vouchers are set to expire at the end of the month. Use your vouchers now if you can but if not, there is a trick to extend them online. We explain how it works below. -
Millions of 4G smartphone owners may be due up to £30 payout after claims handset prices were inflated
20 May 2022![]()
Around 29 million 4G Apple and Samsung smartphone owners in the UK could be entitled to a payout of up to £30 if a collective action case by Which? is successful - although there are no guarantees. It comes after the consumer group claimed inflated manufacturing costs were passed onto consumers -
Boots and Co-op hike meal deal prices - here's how they compare to other major supermarkets
19 May 2022![]()
Boots and Co-op are the latest retailers to increase the price of their meal deals. Boots has upped costs from £3.39 to £3.59, and from £3.99 to £4.19 in its London shops, while Co-op's meal deal has jumped from £3.50 to £3.75. -
Financial regulator to punish banks and building societies that don't protect people's access to cash
19 May 2022![]()
Under the new 'Financial Services and Markets Bill' banks and building societies will have to ensure cash withdrawal and deposit facilities are available to customers in communities across the UK.
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Martin Lewis: 'UO is just as important as UX: A tip for anyone developing their website or app'
6 May 2022![]()
I set up MoneySavingExpert.com nearly 20 years ago – when arguably the modern web was still in its infancy. With an abundance of self-belief (something I had too much of then, as I realise now) I decided not to read any books, or follow prevailing wisdom on how a site should operate – and just do it my way. -
Martin Lewis: Got a cash ISA? You should probably ditch it
3 May 2022![]()
Press the rewind button and go way back to April 2015... Possibly on the telly in the corner of your living room, I was on-air at the time urging savers as usual to use their new tax-free cash ISA allowance – because 'money was nicer in an ISA'. But things changed in 2016. -
Martin Lewis: Money and Mental Health charity 2021/22 – Covid & cost of living hell...
26 April 2022![]()
It's hard to believe the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI) charity is now six years old. As the chair of trustees, each year I write the foreword to its annual report – and today the 2021/22 report is out, so I thought I'd blog my formal chair's foreword here. -
Martin Lewis: What happened to my pledge to give £10m to charity – 2022 update (spoiler: it's now £20m)
11 April 2022![]()
Nearly a decade ago, in June 2012, MSE joined the MSM Group and I pledged £10m to go to charity. As that was a public pledge and I feel I've a duty of transparency, every year or two I bash out a blog report to explain where I'm up to, and who's got what money.
Clever ways to calculate your finances
