Skip to content
MoneySavingExpert.com homepage
Founder, Martin Lewis · Editor-in-Chief, Marcus Herbert
Petar Lekarski

Petar Lekarski

Assistant Editor – News & Investigations

Petar joined MoneySavingExpert in 2019, but his passion for all things MoneySaving goes back much further – as evidenced by his 'Part of the furniture' badge on the MSE Forum.

He developed his in-depth knowledge of bank accounts, credit cards, loans and savings in the Money team before moving across to MSE News. He has written about a wide range of personal finance topics, covering everything from mobile roaming charges to supermarket loyalty schemes to railcards.

In 2021, Petar researched and wrote MSE's comprehensive and massively popular guide to diesel emissions legal claims, and he continues to maintain it as the cases progress.

Petar has also worked directly with Martin Lewis as his researcher, supporting the MoneySavingExpert with his eponymous ITV show and other media appearances over a period of 18 months.

When he's not polishing prose or crunching numbers, you'll find Petar at the cinema, eating spicy food or cycling around London on a rented bike. He also enjoys playing video games, bouldering and lists of three.

Latest from Petar Lekarski

rent-increase-NI-hero.png
Rent increases (Northern Ireland)
Rents in Northern Ireland have been rising sharply, going up even faster than in other parts of the UK. In this guide, we take you through when your rent can and can't be put up, how to challenge an increase and where to get one-on-one help.
13 May 2025
Brightly coloured South West train at station
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator (if you haven't already) so it can pay you the money you're due. Here's what you need to know.
30 April 2025
Blue train travelling at speed in Northumberland, taken on a sunny day with white clouds
Martin Lewis: Aged 20 to 25? Trick to get a FREE four-year railcard worth £100 from Santander
If you're aged 20 to 25, there's a trick right now that can get you a free four-year railcard worth £100 via the bank Santander. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis takes you through it.
22 April 2025
Get paid to cut energy use.
Get paid to cut your energy use
Energy suppliers are relaunching schemes that pay customers to cut their electricity use at peak times, as part of an ongoing 'demand flexibility service' offered by the National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO), as well offering their own energy-saving schemes. This guide explains how these initiatives work, who's eligible and how you can sign up. 
1 April 2025
Plastic tray with plate of food and juice box on a canteen table
School payments card provider Squid agrees to drop £10 refund fees – here's what you need to know
Squid, a provider of cashless payments for school meals, trips and other expenses, has agreed to stop charging parents £10 fees to get their own money back after it decided to withdraw its services from the UK. Here's what you need to know.
31 March 2025
Rachel Reeves
Spring Statement 2025: Universal Credit and disability benefits shake-up confirmed
A huge shake-up to Universal Credit, the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments and a raft of other measures have been confirmed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in today's Spring Statement.
26 March 2025
Exterior of the shiny glass and steel office tower housing the Financial Ombudsman Service head office
Financial Ombudsman Service to start charging claims firms – but you can still complain yourself for free
The independent Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) – which settles disputes between UK-regulated financial companies and consumers – has confirmed plans to start charging claims firms and other "professional representatives" to bring complaints from 1 April 2025. But you'll still be able to do this yourself for free.
7 February 2025
A British Airways aeroplane taking off
British Airways customers 'hugely disappointed' as loyalty scheme revamp means only those spending £1,000s a year will earn status perks
British Airways (BA) has announced sweeping and controversial changes to its 'Executive Club' loyalty scheme for frequent flyers. The shake-up means you'll likely need to spend a lot more with BA from 1 April 2025 if you want to earn any perks. Here's what you need to know.
5 February 2025
Heading of a page goes here
Lead information goes here
4 February 2025
Colourful Sky word mark as shown on Sky.com
Exclusive: Sky TV customer? Why you still CAN'T cancel penalty-free if it hikes your price mid-contract
If you've got Sky TV, Sky can put your price up during your two-year contract without telling you what rises to expect before you sign up AND without letting you leave penalty-free. Thought this kind of thing was supposed to be banned? So did we. But our investigation can now reveal that Sky is exploiting a surprising gap in the new rules – leaving its TV customers in the lurch.
4 February 2025
What to do with your Child Trust Fund.
Turning 18? What to do with your Child Trust Fund
Child Trust Funds locked at least £250 away for most children born between September 2002 and January 2011 until they turned 18. With some finding they've now got £1,000+, that's a considerable birthday present. This short guide has everything you need to know about what happens now, and the best options for your cash. 
30 January 2025
Smartphone showing the Zing app next to a sleek black Zing physical card
Zing travel money app to shut down – what you need to do and the top alternatives
If you're a Zing user, you should spend, move or withdraw your funds before it shuts down on 22 May 2025. It's unclear if you'll still be able to access your cash after this deadline, so it's best to move your money beforehand.
30 January 2025
Hourglass filled with golden sand on a wooden table
Self-employed, high earner or parent with income of £50,000+? Don't miss the 31 January self-assessment tax return deadline
If you're one of the 3.4 million taxpayers yet to file their online self-assessment tax return or pay the tax due, you have just days left until the deadline. You must act soon as those who miss the deadlines face fines of at least £100 – plus 7.25% interest on any late tax payments.
27 January 2025
Person at table using a calculator and laptop with paper forms on the table too
Warning: Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland customer? Your overdraft rate may be raised to 50% this week – who's affected and full help
If you have an overdraft with Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland, the interest rate you're charged for using it could be going up from Friday 31 January as part of a shake-up announced last year. Here's what's happening and what you can do about it.
27 January 2025
Chase Bank's debit card beside a pound coin
Chase saver? Your rate may be dropping to 3.5% – here's how to check and what to do
If you took out Chase's popular boosted saver before 9 December 2024, your rate will drop from 4.5% to 3.5% after your boost comes to an end on Thursday 16 January. Chase will also cut the rates on ALL its savings by another 0.25 percentage points in February. The changes mean you can earn more on your savings elsewhere – though Chase is still worth keeping for its debit card cashback.
16 January 2025
Red South West Trains carriage with blue door waiting at platform
Travelled with South West Trains from London in 2015 to 2017? You have until Friday 10 January to check if you're due £30+
If you took a South West train out of London between 1 October 2015 and 20 August 2017, and held a Transport for London (TfL) Travelcard at the time, you may have been overcharged and you can claim compensation. But you'll need to be quick as the deadline for claims is this Friday (10 January).
7 January 2025