Train delays, cyber-attacks, bank fraud, flight delays all seem to be increasing and costing us dearly. But too few of us get redress even though compensation is readily available.It is estimated that around £100m available for delayed rail passengers was not claimed last year despite the number of delayed and cancelled trains increasing. Every day we hear about cyber outages with bank customers unable to access their wages, pay direct debits and incurring penalties and interest charges into the bargain. Any additional costs should be covered by the banks involved and if the outage caused distress or embarrassment they should make that good as well. Too many of us do not claim when we suffer poor service. And the companies get away with it and do not feel the need to improve their systems. The more they pay out the more likely they are to invest in providing a better service or to avoid regulatory penalties and public scrutiny.You can help them to offer better services. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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27:31
Ep - 101 - Save Interest
Bigger bills for energy, council tax, water, broadband, mobiles mean that for many of us our money runs out earlier each month and we have to use credit cards to buy essentials.Credit card interest rates average a frightening 24.65%. And the debt can soon get out of control if you don't pay off credit card in full each month.£71.5 billion is currently owed to UK credit card companies and it can literally take decades to pay back if you make minimum payments on credit cards.It is time to break the debt cycle.Interest-free credit cards are readily available to people who have a track record of paying credit cards and other bills on time. It is worth using an eligibility checker to find out if you can borrow and pay no interest.Employers can also provide interest-free loans or salary advances.Cutting interest can save hundreds of pounds a month, but interest-free deals can be dangerous if you don't adhere to the strict rules. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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23:04
Ep - 100 - How to Survive Fraud
Fraud accounts for more than 40% of all crime in England and Wales. On one Monday morning I was contacted by three different people wanting to steal my money. All of us are vulnerable, especially if you are busy and start the week with hundreds of emails waiting for you. Every day I hear from intelligent, competent people about the scammers who have tried to defraud them. If you use email, telephones or social media the fraudsters find out very quickly when you are involved in a new business or activity. We need to trust no one, secure our devices and beware of any generous offers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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27:04
Ep - 99 - Cut Bigger Bills
April is an expensive month. Water, energy, council tax, broadband and mobile bills all increase during the month. But it does not have to be a done deal. You can cut hundreds of pounds from your household budget and may actually be able to get a tax gift if you are one of the two million eligible couples who have not claimed the marriage allowance. It can be worth more than a thousand pounds.Water bills are going up but about 40% of households can save money by opting for a water meter. If your home has more bedrooms than occupants a water meter is likely to be cheaper than if the water company estimates your bills. Fixed price energy bills are once again likely to be cheaper than the price cap. Even the energy regulator recommends customers to go for a fix. It takes minutes to check out the market and apply for a better deal. Look after your money. No one else will. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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29:38
Ep- 98 - Get Saving
It is time to make sure we are not being ripped off by banks and building societies. There is currently around £250 billion sitting in bank and building society accounts paying no interest according to the Bank of England. And the banks use this money to bolster their profits without suggesting to customers how they could be much better off. Instant access savings accounts pay up to 4% currently and regular savings accounts pay more and help to give customers a savings habit. A savings habit can start with one penny on day one and give you £667.95 by the end of year one. Once a saver you can think about avoiding paying unnecessary tax and making sure you get the best deal on your money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mrs Mean sets out to save you money every day. She details the tricks and the ways we are persuaded to spend more than we can afford. With the economic crisis hitting so many people, now is the time to work out ways of saving your money. Let Mrs Mean and broadcaster Glen Thompsett guide you through the maze. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
UK