To pay out on my father’s policy the company wanted information no one could hope to provideWay back in 1955, my parents both took out life insurance policies with the Prudential. In 1993 they were told by the company that the policies were “paid-up”, …
As ‘finfluencers’ spread through social media, beware the pitfalls
YouTube, Instagram and TikTok are full of finance ‘experts’ promising riches to the young and credulousDepending on where you look on social media, making money seems to be straightforward. Learning how to buy a property in the UK with no money, or get…
Ocado drivers ‘paid less than £5 an hour’
Workers on rapid delivery service see pay slashed as company’s profits skyrocketDrivers delivering groceries for Ocado are earning less than the minimum wage, the Observer can reveal.The drivers, who deliver orders for the online retailer’s rapid deliv…
From solar power in Africa to UK tomatoes – the eco-schemes to turn your cash green
Savings rates are low but some green investments can pay up to 8% interest a yearEnvironmentally conscious consumers fed up with low savings rates are being targeted by a variety of green investments paying up to 8% interest a year.However, those think…
Roaming charges return: how will the dreaded charge affect UK travellers?
If Brexit and Covid wasn’t enough, the extra cost of using a mobile in the EU is making a comebackIf you are planning a winter holiday elsewhere in Europe this year, get ready to pay more to use your mobile phone while away – as roaming charges are abo…
Apple refuses a refund after my sister ran up £1,100 bill on ‘bundles’
She has a learning disability and doesn’t know what in-app purchases areI recently found out that my sister, who has a learning disability, unwittingly spent more than £1,100 on 83 Apple purchases over four weeks. She enjoys playing word games and colo…
Homes for sale with a loft conversion – in pictures
From a groundbreaking house with claims to fame, to a converted coach house on the site of an old mill Continue reading…
HMRC’s error entering my date of birth could cost me £10,000
It is blocking me from opening a lifetime Isa to supplement my pension savingsHMRC is blocking me from opening a lifetime Isa to supplement my pension savings because of an admin error it had made. You have to apply before the age of 40 and I did so we…
Ready meals, new clothes, fairy lights: the products you stopped buying (or wish you had) in the pandemic
For some of us, this has been a time to cut back and live more sustainably. Others have found it harder to rein in their spending. Nine readers reveal how they have saved – or splurgedI bought my own proper coffee machine during the first lockdown and …
Ticket resale sites could face closure threat in crackdown on touts
Fines are another option on the back of regulator’s proposals to stop ‘unscrupulous’ touts ripping off fansTicket resale websites such as Viagogo and StubHub could be shut down or hit with large fines if they are found to break consumer protection rule…