Wednesday, 10 June 2015

Free £100 + 5%, PayPal warning update, 3.5% loan, pension help, free car check, marriage allowance, Dad's Day free card, new top savings, cheap energy

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Martin Lewis

MoneySavingExpert.com weekly email

Cutting your costs, fighting your corner Martin's Money Tips Wed 10 Jun 2015
Cards Reclaim Shopping Deals Utilities Banking Travel Insurance Mortgages Income

This week

Cheapest EVER loan - 3.5%
Cheapest energy in three years
10 online shopping tricks & tools
Free 'Taking Your Pension' booklet
Dad's Day: £3 photo mug, free card
Shift debt to 3yrs 0% for 2.39% fee
Due £212/yr marriage allowance?
Free £15 summer car check
MoneySuperMarket, Ofgem & me...
PayPal warning update
Achoo... 90 hayfever tablets for £4
New, top easy-access savings - 1.5%
Free kids' cooking classes
Hot home insurance deals: 'Free' pressure washer or £85 M&S vch
£79 Nails Inc set £25 delivered
'I saved £970 on car insurance'
Free Cake & Bake Show tix
Codes: Body Shop 30%, Burt's Bees extra 20% off sale, The Works 25%
Free tennis sessions
50% off Thorntons hamper codes
Vouchers Index: Restaurants / Shopping
Best Buys: 0% cards | Car insurance
Best Buys: Gas & Elec | Bank Accs
Time to care for the carers

MARTIN'S QUICK BRIEFING: For more tips, alerts & awful puns, follow Martin on Twitter

NEW: Earn 5% interest and a free £100 on top
There's never been a better time to switch bank - the 10 need-to-knows

Banks are rarely mentioned in glowing terms. I oft hear growls of two varieties. First, moral turpitude, evidenced by huge fines such as Lloyds' for recent PPI mishandling, Barclays' for market rigging and HSBC's for aiding tax avoidance.

Then there's terrible service. Last week in my This Morning phone-in, a recent graduate asked: "I'm £1,500 overdrawn at 0% till Aug 2016. I can reduce it by £100+/mth, but the bank wants me to convert it to a loan [likely at 10%+]. Should I?" NO. Why pay interest? A reminder it's a bank's job to sell, not advise, so I say:

If your bank's a b*****d, don't bitch, just switch.

Yet in the last year, only 2% of people have. Thankfully, though, you can do it right now, and a continued price war to draw in your custom has just kicked up a notch. Here are the 10 need-to-knows...

1. Seven-day switching means it's mostly no hassle. Seven-day switching is now almost 2yrs old. Within seven working days, your new bank will...

- Switch your direct debits and standing orders for you.
- Close your old account & ensure all payments to it go to the new one.

In Feb, I did a snap Facebook poll on switching - 82% of 220 who'd switched since 7-day switching began found it 'easy and hassle-free'. Only 4% had problems. And I constantly get tweets such as Mark's last week: "Just switched. First Direct has been brilliant. Easiest money I've made."

What counts as switching to get the perks? Full account-by-account info in Top Bank Accounts. For most accounts below, to get the perk and fee-free banking, you must switch via the bank's switching service and...

a) Pass a credit check, though these aren't normally too harsh.
b) Most require a 'min monthly deposit'. In reality, it's just how they ensure you pay your income in there. A £500/mth pay-in = £6,000/yr salary. If this may be tricky for you, see point 5.
c) Many require you to have a couple of direct debits/standing orders.
2. BankingNew. Earn 5% interest + £100. Until this week, TSB's* Classic Plus's big sell was that it paid the highest in-credit interest at 5% AER variable (Nationwide matches it, but only for a year), though only on up to £2,000.

This week it added a free £100 for switchers, too, substantially increasing the appeal, though you must apply by 28 June. Below, I compare it to the top 'free cash' and 'savings interest' deals. As you'll see, it by no means wins for all, but for those with smaller savings, it's a powerful new offer and shows how competitive the market is.
3.

Free £150 for switching. Some banks want you so much they pay you to switch, and this bribe is tax-free. Here are the main players, including their customer service rankings from our Feb poll (see poll results)...

- Free £150: Clydesdale's* Current Account Direct pays big; it also pays 2% AER variable on up to £3k. Customer service rating: just 39% great.

- Free £100 + No. 1 service: First Direct* also offers a £250 0% overdraft and 6% linked savings. Customer service rating: 92% great.

- Free £100 + 5% interest: TSB* Classic Plus also gives 5% AER variable on up to £2,000 (worth c. £100/yr pre-tax). Customer service rating: 55% great.

- Free £100 + £5/mth:
Halifax Reward* also pays you a flat £5/mth (after basic tax) if you're in credit. Customer service rating: 57% great.

- Free £100 + £25 to charity: Co-op* gives £25 to one of seven charities. Customer service rating: 72% great.

- Free £100 M&S gift card: M&S Bank* also has a £100 0% overdraft and linked 6% regular savings. Customer service rating: too few votes to rate.
4. Top for savings interest: 3% on £20,000. The alternative way to suck in customers, rather than cash bribes, is to pay loss-leading interest rates for those in credit. As with normal savings, the interest is taxed.

- 3% interest + up to 3% cashback: Santander 123* pays 3% AER variable interest if you've £3,000 to £20,000 in it - double the best-buy normal easy-access savings. Couples can open one each and a joint one, provided they meet all the criteria, so that's a max £60,000 saved between two. No other easy-access account pays well on anything close to that.

There's a £2/mth fee, but for most that's easily covered by the cashback it pays on direct debits: 3% on mobile, phone & b'band; 2% energy; 1% water, council tax & Santander mortgage payments. As Hannah tweeted: "£260 cashback yearly. Mortgage, broadband, phones, TV, utilities." Alternatively...

- Earn 4% on £4,000-£5,000: Club Lloyds* pays 4% AER variable.
- Earn 5% on up to £2,000 + £100: TSB* pays 5% AER variable - and as explained earlier now gives £100 cashback.
- Get £5 each month you stay in credit (+£100): Halifax Reward* pays this regardless of how much you have. As it's after basic-rate tax, it beats TSB for most averaging under £1,500 in their account.
- Saving monthly? Two free £100 accounts, First Direct* & M&S* (free gift card), have linked 6% regular savers for saving up to £300 & £250/mth.

Open more than one to save large sums?
It can be tricky, but for a list of all top bank savings and how to combine them, see the 5% Savings Loophole.
5 Free £100 for switching and you needn't pay in owt. Many with uncertain incomes tell us they worry about banks' 'minimum pay-in' terms. This doesn't mean you must be in credit, only that you need to pay in a set amount. It's banks' way of ensuring your income/salary goes through the account. Eg, £1,000/mth equals a £13,200/yr pre-tax salary.

M&S Bank*, which gives a £100 M&S gift card for switching, a £100 0% overdraft & linked 6% savings, is the only top pick with no minimum pay-in.

- No min pay-in: M&S Bank*
- £500/mth (equiv £6,000/yr salary): Santander 123*, TSB Classic Plus*
- £750/mth pay-in (equiv £9,150/yr): Halifax*
- £1,000/mth pay-in (equiv £13,200/yr): Clydesdale* and First Direct* (With First Direct you can get it with less, but then there's a £10/mth fee.)
- £1,500/mth pay-in (equiv £22,000/yr): Club Lloyds*

Can I jemmy the pay-in? Yes. The rules say you need to pay in a set amount from external sources. So let's say you want a £1,000 pay-in but only have £500 coming in. Get the £500 paid in, withdraw it either as cash or to another bank, then pay it back in, and BINGO, you've qualified.
   
6. Which pays more - free cash or bank savings interest? As a rough rule of thumb, if you've £10,000+, Santander 123* always wins. Below that, it's close - to work out which wins, we need to get a little nerdy...

a) How often will you switch? You could switch annually (or more often) to keep bagging free £100s. To earn more in bank savings needs £3,000+. If you just want one account to stick with, as savings pay each year, they win.

b) Where'd you save it otherwise?
The top savings accounts pay 1.5% AER, so you can earn that without switching bank. So if bank savings pay, for example, 3%, then the gain from choosing it as your bank is 1.5%.

c) Tax. The free cash for switching is tax-free, but interest is taxed like income, eg, at basic rate you lose 20% of it (higher rate, it's 40%). So £100 free cash is £100, but £100 interest is £80 (£60 at higher rate).

As you can see, there are a lot of variables, but in a nutshell, if you don't want to regularly switch and you have above, say, £4,000, then high-interest current accounts win. PS: Also read my Santander 123 vs Cash ISA analysis.
7. How to cut overdraft charges to 0%. An overdraft's a debt like any other, so if you often go into the red, cutting its cost makes it easier to clear.

- Switch to 0% overdraft. First Direct* has a £250 0% overdraft, and you can put the £100 it pays switchers towards it, too. Nationwide's FlexDirect* may give a bigger 0% overdraft, credit score depending, but only for a year (50p/day after, so aim to clear before). Eligibility info: Top 0% Overdrafts.

- Shift it to a 0% credit card. Some MBNA cards let newbies do 0% money transfers, where they pay cash in your account to clear overdrafts, so you owe the card instead. There's up to 36mths 0%* for a 2.99% fee (min £3), or up to 24 mths 0%*, if you can repay quicker, for just a 1.94% fee (min £3). Yet always...

(i) Use our Eligibility Calc to see which card's most likely to accept you.
(ii) Ask for a 'money transfer' to do this; don't just withdraw cash.
(iii) Never miss a min monthly repayment or you can lose the 0% deal.
(iv) Ensure you repay before the 0% ends or rates jump to 22.9% rep APR. Full help in Money Transfers.
8. Free travel insurance bank accounts. The Nationwide FlexAccount* is fee-free and includes Europe travel insurance for the account holder(s) up to age 74 (which is when travel insurance gets expensive). You can upgrade to world cover for £40. Full eligibility info and more options in Best Bank Accounts, or see Cheap Travel Insurance to compare.

Or pay £10/mth and the Nationwide FlexPlus* gives worldwide family travel insurance, plus smartphone insurance for all the family (kids must live at home) and European breakdown cover. A family needing 'em all could pay £600/yr separately. See Top Packaged Accounts for more options.

As with all travel policies, always disclose pre-existing conditions.
9. Fed up with banks? Want something different? Here we factor in both perks and the rating given by Ethical Consumer, which evaluates behaviour on the environment, human & animal rights, politics and investments.

Two building societies do well: Nationwide*, whose deals I've covered already; and Norwich & Peterborough, whose debit card allows cheap spending abroad. For a real change, try a credit union (local savings and loan non-profits), though not all offer current accounts, so check yours.
10. Can't get a bank account? There is a way. Sadly, more than a million people in the UK don't have a bank account. Yet as long as you've ID, you should be able to get an account, though you need to ask the right way. See our full Basic Bank Accounts guide for step-by-step help.


PS: Barclays customer?
It's trounced by accounts above, but if you still want to stick, read A free £48/yr for Barclays customers.

PPS: Changing bank doesn't stop you reclaiming.
If you were mis-sold, you can still reclaim after switching. Full help in Reclaim Packaged Account Fees & Reclaim Bank Charges (avoiding bank charges in the first place is even better).

A quick note from me: Having been through the big stuff, I'm taking some time off, so the rest of the email is in the talented hands of the MSE team.

Blagged for MoneySavers

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MSE News

Top story: 'Apple Pay' coming to UK next month: Here's how it will work
Co-op hit by customer service backlash in MSE energy poll
Hiring a car? You'll need DVLA code
Revealed - the top 10 high street stores for haggling
PPI: Lloyds fined record £117m
Motorist takes parking charge challenge to highest UK court
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Use the Money Mantras If you're skint If you're not skint
The Ones Not To Miss Wed 10 Jun 2015
Cheapest EVER loan 3.5% - and tricks to slash costs further
Loan rates have plummeted, and for once it's not just for larger amounts - they're competitive from £2,500 up

Done right, borrowing's cheap, yet that doesn't mean you should do it. Only go for it for planned spending, eg, a new car or kitchen, for as little as needed, repaid as quickly as possible, where you've budgeted and repayments are affordable.
  • Cheap LoanNew 3.5% loan. Rates have dived. In recent years, while APRs for bigger loans have been decent, even the cheapest small loans have been outrageously expensive, so to have a list of best buys all in single-digit APRs is a welcome change.

    Warning: Applying marks your credit file, so first find which loans you're most likely to be accepted for using our Loans Eligibility Calc so you can minimise applications.

    - £7,500 to £15,000:
    Sainsbury's* over 1-3yrs is now 3.5% rep APR for Nectar cardholders (if you haven't got one, just get one; it's instant and free) and 3.6% rep APR over 4-5 yrs*. Next cheapest is M&S* at 3.6% over 1-5yrs.
    - £5,000 - £7,499: M&S* and Zopa* offer 4.5% rep APR over 1-5 yrs.
    - £2,500 - £4,999: Hitachi* is 8% rep APR, then 7.8% above £3,000 over 2-5 yrs. Peer-to-peer lenders Zopa* and Ratesetter* have personalised rates and may undercut it. Full info: Cheap Loans guide (APR examples).
  • For smaller amounts, 0% credit card loans win. A few specialist cards allow money transfers, where the card pays cash into your bank account like a loan, then you owe it instead. Accepted new MBNA* (Eligibility Calc) cardholders can get up to 2yrs 0% for just a 1.94% one-off fee (min £3). Just never miss a min repayment and clear before the 0% ends or it's 22.9% rep APR. FULL step-by-step help & more best buys in Money Transfers.
  • A 3.5% loan can charge you 20%. All loans are now 'representative' rate, meaning only 51% of those accepted need to be given that rate and the rest could pay more. The only way to know is to apply, and that marks your credit file. Our Loans Eligibility Calc (it performs a 'soft-search' that lenders can't see) can't tell you if you'll get the rate, but shows acceptance odds - the higher they are, anecdotally, the more likely you'll get the advertised rate.

All applicants require a credit check - see our Boost Your Credit Score guide. And if struggling with debt, see Debt Help.

New. Martin's FREE 'Taking Your Pension' 40-page printed booklet. They've been the most radical pension changes for a generation, yet more choice means more pitfalls. Our new free booklet takes you step-by-step through how it works, whether income drawdown or annuities win, tax and more. Free Taking Your Pension guide

Father's Day deals: £3 photo mug delivered via code (was £10.50), FREE personalised card. MSE Blagged. Order mug by Mon 15 Jun for Father's Day. Card via free iPhone/iPad app - 20,000 available, order by Wed 17 Jun. See all Photo/cards deals.

NEW. 3-year 0% balance transfer just a 2.39% fee. The price war rages on. Barclaycard* (Eligibility Calc) now lets accepted new customers shift debt to it for up to 36mths 0% for just a 2.39% fee. It cut it in response to Halifax* (Eligibility Calc) lowering the fee on its up to 36mths 0% card to 2.49%. Virgin Money* (Eligibility Calc) is still 36mths 0% with a 2.5% fee. Repay quicker? Don't pay a fee. Tesco* lets you to shift debt to it at 18mth 0% NO FEE. With all, never miss min repayments and clear the debt before the 0% ends or they jump to 18.9% rep APR (Tesco 20.6%). See Best Balance Transfers (APR Examples).

Are you due the new marriage tax allowance? It could be worth £212/yr to you. See if you qualify.

FREE £15 summer car check. Battery, wipers, oil, screen wash (with free refill), bulbs & air con checked. Halfords

MoneySuperMarket, the Ofgem investigation & me... For what's happening & what it means, see Martin's response to Kelvin MacKenzie.

Cheapest energy deals for three years - save £280/yr
There's a hidden energy price war - while standard prices are unchanged, switchers' deal prices are falling
The new energy secretary's wagged her fingers at the 'Big 6' firms for not cutting prices. Yet don't be fuel-ish and wait for politicians to deliver - the cheapest deals for around three years are available now, if you're willing to ditch & switch.
TOP PICKS (typical usage - varies by region)
Tariff
Cost/yr
Exit fee
Cashback
Avg 'Big 6' standard tariff £1,155 - -
MoneySup* E.on 12mth fix £877 None £30 (a)
Ichoosr BG Jul 16 fix £875 £30/fuel No
Top variable
GB Energy £870 None No
Top non-collective fix First Utility Jul 16 fix £913 £30/fuel £30 (a)(b)
(a) £30 dual fuel, £15 elec only (b) Via Cheap Energy Club. All monthly direct debit, dual fuel, unless stated.

  • Urgent. Cheap 1yr fix ends Mon + get £30 cashback. The two winners right now are 'collective deals' - bespoke tariffs organised through a bidding process.

    - MoneySup's* 1yr E.on fix closes on Mon. For someone with typical use, it averages £877/yr, a £278/yr saving over a Big 6 standard tariff. It has no early-exit penalties, so you're free to leave if things change, and via our link, not direct, switchers get £30 dual-fuel cashback (takes 3-6mths to arrive). It does a full comparison as part of it, so you can see how it adds up (ensure 'all tariffs' is selected).

    - Ichoosr's British Gas July 2016 fix averages £2 a year less than MoneySup, but it has £30/fuel exit penalties and no cashback. One warning here, there's no comparison, something we feel every collective should offer, so ensuring it wins in your area's something of a leap of faith.

    - If you're not worried about fixing the rate, the cheapest variable tariff (ie, its rate could go up or down) is from GB Energy at £870/yr for someone with typical usage. To see how it stacks up, use our Cheap Energy Club.
  • Six gas & electricity need-to-knows. Full help & options in Cheap Gas & Elec, but in brief:

    1) A fix locks in the rate you pay per unit, but if you use more, then the amount you pay can still go up.
    2) If you're on a key or card meter, you can still save big by switching. See Cheap Prepayment Meters.
    3) To get the lowest price, pay by monthly direct debit. Just ensure you then give regular meter readings.
    4) If you don't want to regularly switch, go for a longer fix - it gives you a long-term decent rate with less hassle.
    5) If you're in credit when you switch, the provider should give money back to you. Ask if it doesn't.
    6) Cut usage to max your savings - see our Free Insulation, Green Deal and Energy Mythbusting guides.

PayPal warning UPDATE. Last week we warned 'don't use PayPal to pay on a credit card' as you'll lose your Section 75 rights. Many asked: 'But what about debit card chargeback?' Now that's in, too. Full info in Martin's PayPal warning.

90 hayfever tablets, £4 deliv. If you're suffering from high pollen (achoo... many at MSE Towers are), we've found 3 months of legit generic equivs to Zirtec and Clarityn for £4 - nothing to sneeze at. Branded versions from Boots are up to £25. Cheap, legit hayfever tablets

NEW: Top 1.5% easy-access savings. A welcome boost, BM Savings (min £1,000) now pays 1.5% AER variable, beating Tesco (min £1) at 1.35%. Both are beatable if you're willing to switch current account. Full info: Top Savings

FREE kids' cooking classes. 3-day school holiday course at Tesco cafés. Limited spaces, so book now. Kids' cooking

Hot home ins deals - 'free' Karcher pressure washer or £85 M&S vch. MSE Blagged. These special links get you freebies: a) Age UK, M&S vch* (£35 contents/buildings, or £85 combined) until Tue or Karcher Pressure Washer* (RRP £80) on combined cover; b) Together Mutual, £80 M&S vch* on combined cover; c) L&G £65 Amazon vch* using code GIFT15. They arrive within 120 days. Important: we're not saying they're cheapest; compare with results of Gocomp*, CompareTM & MoneySup*. Full info: Cheap Home Insurance

Click the titles for full info and all our top picks
Balance Transfers Car Insurance Cheap Loans Top Cash ISAs
Longest 0%: Barclaycard*
Up to 36mths 0%, 2.39% fee

(18.9% rep APR)

No fee 0%: Tesco Bank*
18mths 0%, no fee

(18.9% rep APR)
Get comparison site quotes in this order...
Google*
Confused.com*
MoneySuperMarket*

Then check insurers they miss:
Direct Line*, Aviva*
Admiral MultiCar*

M&S Bank* (£5k - £7.5k)
4.5% rep APR



Sainsbury's* (£7.5k - £15k)
3.5% rep APR


NS&I 1.5% AER
Min £1, no bonus
Easy access. No transfers.


Coventry BS 2.3% AER
Min £1. No transfers
Loophole: Fixed till May 2020


See Card APR Examples & Loan APR Examples

£79 Nails Inc set £25 deliv, incl four £14 polishes. MSE Blagged. Set incl four Nails Inc gel effect polishes (norm £14 each), £11 corrector pen, £6 nail file & £6 nail buffer. 8,000 avail. Plus free £11 polish with £4 mag. All Nails Inc deals.

SUCCESS OF THE WEEK: (Send us yours on this or any topic.)
"In Nov I took out £1,200 car insurance. Having turned 25, I did a mid-year price check, and I got it for £230 following your Car Insurance tips. Thanks MSE."

Free Cake & Bake Show tix. MSE Blagged. Free pairs of tix for Fri 19 & Sun 21 Jun, norm £30. Ends Sun. Harrogate tix

10 online shopping tricks & tools
Clever ways to slash your costs on the web. Price alerts, Amazon bargain basement, 80% off at web outlets...

How do you safely find the best deals in the virtual jungle? Our 40+ Online Shopping Tricks aim to get you the very best price on everything you need to buy, with tools to spot hidden bargains & slash prices. Here are 10 to tease you in:

1. Instantly compare prices across scores of stores. Shopbot sites compare e-tailers' prices; our MegaShopBot tool shows which is best for what, be it games, tech, perfumes or owt else.
2. Perfect time to pounce. Web prices yo-yo. Free price-drop alerts monitor when it's cheapest.
Cheap Loan 3. Hidden Amazon 75%+ bargain basements. Our Amazon Discount Finder manipulates the giant's URLs to create pages, eg, beauty 70%+ off* and TV 25%+ off*.
4. The 'Is it really a deal?' tool. Use the Amazon Price Histories tool to see if the discount it lists right now is really a deal. It's also a very useful benchmark for shopping elsewhere.
5. You've more rights buying online. You've 14 days to cancel even if not faulty. You've then 14 days to send it back (you get the goods' cost refunded, plus delivery to you, but you may need to pay to send back). See online rights.
6. Web outlet stores up to 80% off, incl Argos, Asos & House of Fraser. Many big-names flog unsold lines at up to 70-80%+ off via outlets. Our Outlet Store Discount Finder lists & searches nearly 25 outlets for huge toy, clothing & other discounts.
7. Dodge scam sites. Find how to legitimacy-check unknown e-tailers before you commit and part with your cash.
8. 5% off ALL shopping. The top cashback card pays up to 5% back when you use it, effectively a discount off your shop.
9. Money back via cashback sites. Some sites get paid for sending traffic and pay you a cut, but see our cashback warnings.
10. Got Tesco points? The Tesco Summer Double-Up means a £5 voucher buys £10 of toys, cosmetics, games & more.

ONLINE CODES: Beauty, books & more. We've blagged a Body Shop 30% + £4 'free' gift code, while there's a Burt's Bees extra 20% off sale code, The Works 25% off blagged code & Scribbler 15% off £5 code. ALL Codes & Vchs

Free tennis sessions this weekend. Still time to book, 300+ events in Eng, Sco & Wal. See LTA's Tennis Weekends.

50% off Thorntons hamper codes. MSE Blagged. Eg, £50 chocs £25. Four to choose from. Ends Sun. Thorntons

Click the titles for full info and all our top picks
Gas & Electricity Bank Accounts Home Insurance Landlines

Compare, get £30 dual fuel cashback & alerts if your deal's no longer cheap. Go via the free MSE Cheap Energy Club Top Pick Fixes Comparison.

The savings can be huge. Someone with typical dual fuel usage on a big 6 standard tariff pays £1,155 a year, the cheapest deal's £870.


First Direct*
£100 bonus and top cust service


Santander 123*
Up to 3% cashback on bills

(£2 per month fee)
Get comparison site quotes in this order...

GoCompare*
CompareTheMarket
MoneySuperMarket*

Then check insurers they miss:
Direct Line*, Aviva*

Direct Save Telecom*
with weekend calls
£11/mth (pay a yr upfront)



Post Office*
with weekend calls
£12/mth (pay a yr upfront)


Do a Money Makeover Budget Planner MSE car sticker £13 Travel Insurance

Restaurant vouchers

Discount vouchers & sales

Top deals

The Moneysaving community
The MoneySaving Community

CAMPAIGN OF THE WEEK
Time to care for the carers

Some 6.5 million people in the UK care for someone, often giving up their own health and wealth. Yet many don't realise there is support available. Around the country, from 8-14 June, Carers Week offers a chance to join others in finding out about the advice. Reach out. Find what's available in your area.

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA
Should I tell the gym my direct debit has stopped?

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... My other half and I have a joint gym membership at the local sports centre. We pay monthly by direct debit, but I've just noticed the payments stopped about 18 months ago and we haven't paid since yet we still go. Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should I tell the gym my direct debit has stopped? | Suggest an MMD | View past MMDs

THE GREAT HUNT
Your tips for selling on local Facebook groups
Facebook's local buying and selling groups are fast rivalling eBay to flog unwanted items. They work like classified sites: most are fee-free, and you set the price and buyers collect. We want to tap MoneySavers' expertise on what sells best, as well as how to stay safe and find top groups. Share yours/read others': Selling on Facebook Past topics: View all

Quick forum tips

Freebie of the Week

Martin's appearances (from Wed 10 June onward)

Thu 11 Jun - Watchdog, BBC1, 8pm.

MSE team corner

Team blogs:
How to be a wedding guest on a budget

Regular team appearances:

Fri 12 June
BBC Radio Manchester, 4.50pm

Discussion of the week

Things your 5-year-old says

Kids say the funniest things. Join our discussion Things your 5-year-old says and share the best things the children in your life (no matter their age) have come out with.

Cheap travel money

UK's Best Currency Rates
£100 will buy you:
Best Worst
Euro Flag 134.50 120.69
US Flag $ 151.26 136.13
Turkish Flag TL 408.75 360.07
Rates correct at 2pm Tue
Find all top currency rates
Compare travel cash

This week's poll: How do you rate your home phone and broadband provider?

We can tell you which the cheapest providers are, but to find out if their service is any good, we need your help. So twice a year we ask you to tell us about your customer service experiences.

Please rate your HOME PHONE and BROADBAND provider(s) on customer service (not price) over the past SIX MONTHS.

Poll results

Should the UK remain a member of the European Union?
Age played a big part in the answers. Just 42% of those 65+ said the UK should remain a member of the EU, while 57% of those under 65 said the same.

Under-35s were even more likely to want to stay, with 69% of them indicating they'd vote yes to the UK remaining a member of the EU.

24,657 voted. See the full results.

Question of the week

Q: I bought my buildings insurance policy from my mortgage provider as it said I had to in order to get the mortgage, but I think I was mis-sold and I could have got a much cheaper policy from somewhere else. What are my rights? Jenny, by email

MSE Rebecca's A: If your mortgage provider said you had to buy buildings insurance through it to be accepted for the mortgage, the policy may have been mis-sold. This is because, while you may have to buy buildings insurance as a condition of getting a mortgage, you have the right to buy from any provider (as long as it meets your mortgage lender's minimum cover criteria).

Contact the provider directly and complain to it, then if after eight weeks it's not responded, or you're not happy with the response, you can go to the free Financial Ombudsman Service. See our Home Insurance guide for full details of how to get the best price.

Please suggest a question of the week (we can't reply to individual emails).

Nick's free game of the week: Box

'I worked for £1 an hour'

That's it for this week, but before we go, did you have a terribly paid first job? From walking two hours to earn a quid to getting paid 20p to balance the books, we've heard some stories. Tell us about your first job in the forum.

We hope you save some money,

Martin & the MSE team

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