Archive: MoneySavingExpert's Money Tips Email

No-show delivery — fight back
"If I have to waste a day, you have to pay". How to claim for your time. New campaign

A whopping 7m people a year take unpaid leave to wait for deliveries or installations, so when they fail to, errr, deliver, it can make you weep. We've launched a Failed Delivery Compensation campaign to fight back & push them to improve practices. Here's a taster...

• Your relationship's with the retailer not the courier. By law, buy goods and you've entered into a contract with the retailer. If it's arranging delivery then this is part of that contract, so all complaints should go directly to the seller (unless you hired the courier separately).
• If you took another day off you should be paid for it. It might seem strange, but in law you can't claim compensation for the original no-show as you were taking that day off work anyway. But if you then need take ANOTHER day (or morning/hour) off for a new delivery, by law, this is a consequential loss and you could be due the day's pay back.
• Free template letter to fight your corner. While your legal rights can only truly be enforced in court, just knowing and quoting them boosts your complaint's strength. To help, the Failed Delivery Compensation guide includes template letters, what to say on the phone and more, to help you take on the retail beasts.
  

The new guide also runs through other delivery issues such as 'they came but never rang the bell', 'they gave me a 12-hour delivery window' and more. See the New Guide: Delivery Rights Related: Consumer Rights, Cheap Parcel Delivery

New £130 bribe to get top bank account
Now get £100 cash + £30 voucher for 0% overdraft and 5% in-credit interest account

When banks want you, they're prepared to pay to get you. If you've got a decent credit score, they're happy to fling cash to get you to switch to them. And this week the Best Bank Account war just hotted up ...

• Get £130 plus 5% interest and year's 0% overdraft. Minimum income £14,200. Switch to Santander* via this comparison site link to get a £100 bonus (after 3 months) and a £30 Amazon voucher (after 30 days). It's got by far the best rates, with a year's 0% overdraft (then 50p/day, max £5/month), plus 5% in-credit interest on up to £2,500 for a year. However, it's worst for customer service in our polls.
• Free £100 and top customer service. Minimum income £23,100. First Direct* gives £100 free when you switch to it, a £250 0% overdraft, though no credit interest. It's consistently and overwhelmingly been voted top for customer service in every poll we've done.
• Earn £5 EVERY month. With Halifax's* Reward account you earn a flat £5 each month you pay in £1,000, regardless of balance. NEVER go overdrawn though, as it charges £1 a day. Customer service is middling.

Full details and more options in the Updated Guide: Best Bank Accounts Related: Top Savings, 0% Purchase Cards

New. Hottest Forum Deals Feed
Finally, the deals gathering might of 100,000s of MSE forumites together on one page for the first time
Our forumites have an insatiable deals appetite, and post an unstoppable stream daily, so as our Christmas gift to you, we've developed the new WOW factor rating system based on how often each deal's thanked — so we bring you ...

• New live Forum Deals Feed. The Forum Deals Feed is a dashboard that pulls in the most highly-rated offers from our Grabbit, Freebies, Shopping and Groceries boards and more. This is user-generated, so unlike usual MSE deals, isn't checked & validated.
• How WOW works. Our WOW Factor system uses an algorithm to rank deals posts based on how many times forumites have recently thanked them. Numbers go from 0 to 1,000, according to how hot the deal is.

Related: Amazon Discount Finder, Megashopbot, The Demotivator

'I got a £174 uniform tax rebate in 3 weeks'
We told you in Oct about reclaiming tax if you wear a work uniform — we're swamped with successes

If you wash or repair your work uniform, you may be able to reclaim tax. And with so many £100+ success reports, we decided to launch a full Uniforms Tax Rebate guide. You may even get the cash by Christmas. Here's a taster...

• If you wear ANY uniform, try it. Whether it's a full nurse's or police attire, or just a simple T-shirt, provided you DON'T ever wear it for owt else, if you wash and maintain the clothes, you may be due an extra tax-free allowance each year — and can back-date the claim for up to six years.
• "I applied a few weeks ago and got £174 back". Most successes are no-quibble cheques posted once you contact HM Revenue. Eg 'polomint' said: "I've been back-dated £174 for 5 years. If your uniform doesn't have a logo still give it a try. I wear a basic white polo shirt, black trousers & black shoes worn exclusively at work and required by my employer." If you qualify, share the step-by-step uniform tax rebate link with workmates.
  
• Check if you're due £1,000s back in income tax too. Tax is so taxing — even HMRC frequently gets it wrong. In recent years, millions have been sent wrong tax codes. These insignificant-looking digits like '747L' indicate how much tax your employer should take from you. Our unique tax code calculator helps you check if you can join those who've reclaimed up to £5,000 after errors.

Warning! Should you cut debt and mortgage costs NOW?
Waiting until Jan to sort your debts may cost | Some economists predict 2nd credit crunch

The effect of the euro crisis means analysts such as Capital Economics think credit conditions may tighten and suggest consumers may be better applying for credit now (see 2nd credit crunch? news). If you've a decent credit score, as card and mortgage deals are as good as they've ever been, only a little rate gain's possible, yet if conditions do deteriorate there's a long way to fall. No guarantees, but sorting it now seems sensible. New borrowing requires a credit check.

• Mortgage rates are as low as 2.49%. If you've a mortgage deal and can switch without penalty (or will be able to soon) check the market now for deals. Rates for some with decent equity are as low as 2.49% on a two-year tracker, 3.28% on a five-year fix. Though a few on super-low trackers will find existing deals cheaper. For full help use the Free Printed Remortgage Guide: instant PDF or order copy.
• Shift credit card debts to 22 mths 0% with 2.9% fee. Accepted new customers can transfer balances to Barclaycard* at 22mths 0% for a one-off 2.9% fee. Alternatively, Halifax* is 22 mths with a 3.5% fee (under £3k only) and Virgin* 20 mths with a 2.99% fee. Clear before the 0% ends or rates jump to 17.5%, 17.9% & 18.9% rep APR. Full help & the 'which card is cheapest calc?' in Best Balance Transfers.
• Cheapest loan 6.2% or 0% for 15 mths. For full info see Cheap loans but in short Nationwide* is 6.2% representative APR for £7,500+, Sainsbury's* (Nectar cust) 7.9% rep APR for £5k-£7,500. Smaller loans have very high rates, so disciplined use of 0% credit cards for spending is far cheaper. Marks & Spencer* and Tesco* give accepted new cardholders 15 mths 0%, yet plan to clear within that time or they jump to 15.9% and 16.9% rep APR, respectively (see 0% credit cards). Minimise new borrowing, do a budget & repay ASAP.

Related: Best Balance Transfers, Debt help, Cheap Mortgage Finding, Cheap Loans, Credit Rating