Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Free £8 mumsday mug, PPI FAQ, £3 shoes, stop spam calls, 25% off takeaways, Whistles 25% off, 3for1 Easter eggs, £26/yr travel ins, 0% overdraft ends

Martin's Money Tips Email (can't see this properly? Read it online)
Martin Lewis

MoneySavingExpert.com weekly email

Cutting your costs, fighting your corner Weds 29 Feb 2012
Cards Reclaim Shopping Deals Utilities Banking Travel Insurance Mortgages Income
Martin's Quick Briefing

Hammer £100s off home insurance
Cut costly errors — 10 things everyone NEEDS to know

Many massively overpay due to misunderstandings and errors. Our new Cheap Home Insurance system takes you through step-by-step. Here's a starter for 10.

1. Turn your house upside down to see who covers what. Only freeholders need buildings cover. Renters & leaseholders just contents. Imagine turning the house upside down. If it falls, it's usually contents. If not, it's buildings.
2. It's not your home's value that counts, it's what it'd cost to rebuild. Many massively overpay for buildings by covering what the house'd sell for. Yet the usually much lower rebuild value is key (the ABI calculator helps).
3. Don't stick with your mortgage provider's cover — SWITCH. If you got buildings insurance with your mortgage, it's often bad value. Compare, ditch & switch, even if there's a fee. Some, such as the AA*, Churchill* & Direct Line*, pay up to £25 of the fee (ensure they're cheapest, see below).
4. home insuranceUnderinsuring contents may halve payout. To value contents, add everything, incl clothes, which add up. Don't think "I've £40,000 worth, but will only cover £20k as I'll never claim more. "Then claim for a £1,000 sofa and the insurer may investigate and only pay in proportion, ie, £500.
5. Combining cover usually, but doesn't always, win. You often get discounts combining buildings and contents. Yet if you're a high risk for one, try separate quotes, though claims can then fall between the two.
6. Urgent! Even if not at renewal, lock in a cheap quote for 3 mths. Many insurers' big discounts are ending, yet get a quote NOW and the following are valid for 90 days: Direct Line* 30% off (ends WEDS) Aviva* 50%, Barclays* 50% contents (ends 1 July), Churchill* 50% off (ends 31 Mar). Don't think I'm saying "grab this", instead "grab a quote in case it's cheaper".
 
7.

Find cheapest with speedy NEW 'best comparisons for you'

Comparison sites give a wide range of quotes at speed but don't all cover the same insurers. We've new analysis of a large sample to show which combination and order are likely to be cheapest in various scenarios.

Typical home (use if none below apply)

Comparisons order: (do as many as poss) Gocompare* | CompareTM* | Confused* (94% chance of cheap quote compared with using all big 5 sites)
Always check: The missed biggies Aviva* & Direct Line* + Special Deals

One bedroom homes

Comparisons order: (do as many as poss) Confused* | MoneySup* | CompareTM * (95% chance of cheap quote compared with using all big 5)
Always check: The missed biggies Aviva* & Direct Line* + Special Deals

If you've needed to claim in last five years

Comparisons order: (do as many as poss) CompareTM * | MoneySup* | Confused* (94% chance of cheap quote compared with using big 5)
Always check: The missed biggies Aviva* & Direct Line* + Special Deals

High contents value

For high value items always specify them when taking the policy.
Comparisons order: (do as many as poss) Confused* | CompareTM * | Gocompare* (95% chance of cheap quote compared with using all big 5)
Always check: The missed biggies Aviva* & Direct Line* and Special Deals

8. Beware, comparison sites make assumptions. When clicking through to insurers, check all the info is correct and the policy is suitable, especially if your roof's not tiled, the building's listed or it's had an extension, as when insurers find out they may not cover you.
9. Not cut the cost? Use 'we guarantee to beat your renewal' providers. More Than* and Post Office* promise to beat renewals, and for existing bank customers, NatWest* or RBS* will beat it by £25 (not all qualify).
10. You may get PAID to take home insurance. The ALL-TIME record using our system is a PROFIT of £67 (2011's best was £9 profit). The insurance cost £53 but there was hidden £120 cashback. For how to check for cashback see the Updated Guide: Cheap Home Insurance. Report Successes: Home Insurance Winners Related: Cheap Car Insurance, Cheap Gas & Electricity

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get it themselves via moneysavingexpert.com/tips

Use the Money Mantras If you're skint, ask - do I need it, can I afford it If you aren't, ask Will I use it, Is it worth it?

The Ones Not To Miss

29 Feb 2012
Reclaim PPI for FREE — new FAQ to make it easier
Latest news is 99% of people who take Barclays, Lloyds, RBS & MBNA to Ombudsman WIN

If you've had a loan, credit or store card, catalogue or car finance, check if you were mis-sold PPI. The tweet we received (below) shows how easy it is to reclaim. Yet many unnecessarily give 30% away using claims handlers, though a quick letter's often enough. People say it's as they've questions, so we've added a big new PPI FAQ with 65 answers to our guide.

"PPI RESULT. Letter from MBNA re OLD credit card & it's sending a £9,000 cheque. Took 1 call" — @inthesticks

  • reclaim ppiWhat counts as mis-selling? The PPI seller needs to ensure it's suitable at the time you got it. Typical mis-selling includes lying that it is compulsory, adding it without asking, giving the self-employed unemployment cover and not saying pre-existing conditions are excluded. See the full mis-selling checklist.
  • How far back can I go? It's easiest if the PPI was still ACTIVE in the last six years. If you got a loan 12 years ago, and repaid it five years ago, that's fine. Some still successfully reclaim on older PPI, but the chance is lower.
  • I can't remember who my old lender was? Get your credit file. It lists all active debts from the past six years.
  • I haven't got my loan agreement, how do I check for PPI? Under the Consumer Credit Act you've a right to get a copy from your lender. See the loan agreement request template letter in the guide.
  • Can I reclaim if I’ve used the PPI? Yes, though success chances are lower and you may not get a full refund.
  • My bank's said no, what are my chances? Many get paid by banks, but if not, don't give in. A staggering 99% of Barclays, Lloyds, RBS & MBNA customers who've been rejected by their bank then go to the free Ombudsman and WIN. The average uphold rate for all providers is 88%. See bank-by-bank PPI success rates.

MORE Q&As in the Updated Guide & Free Letters: PPI Reclaiming Related Reclaims: Bank Charges, Council Tax

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'FREE' £8 personalised mug (£2 p&p) with code. Perfect for Mother's Day, just use online code. Valid till Sun 11 Mar, for new and existing Truprint customers. Deals Note: Top Photo Deals


Last chance? 0% overdraft + free £100 may end. Strong rumours Santander's* Preferred current account, which offers a 1yr 0% overdraft and £100 sign-up bonus, will be pulled soon. So if you need it, grab it. You must switch min £14,200 salary & direct debits. Service feedback ain't great. Compare: Best Bank Accounts


25% off 4,500 local takeaways with special link. A quarter off takeaway directory Hungryhouse which lists local takeaways, valid to Sun 4 Mar. See the Deals Note: Hungryhouse Deals

30 ways to boost Avios points
The top Avios reward cards | Earn 10,000s of bonus points | Which rewards are best ?

When Airmiles & BA Miles rebranded as Avios last Nov there was much disquiet from Airmiles collectors as flight taxes are no longer free. So we've launched our new Avios points boosting guide, with 30+ ways to push to the max. A taster...

  • avios pointsUrgent! If buying Avios, do it today (Wed). Avios lets you buy extra points to top up. 1,000 points currently costs £20. From tomorrow (1 March), this soars to £31.
  • 2for1 flights with best Avios credit card. FULLY repay each month and you can bag points for free on credit cards. BA's Amex* gives 9,000 if you spend £1,000 in the first 3mths, plus the usual one per £1. Those spending £20k+/yr (eg, for expenses) get a free 2for1 flight voucher giving an identical ticket, even if biz class, when redeeming. If you don't have the £30k family income to get it, Lloyds Duo Amex* gives 5x Avios for the first 3mths. Fail to fully repay and they're 19.9% & 15.9% rep APRs (see Official APR Examples). To GAIN MORE see full Top Avios Credit Cards.
  • Exchange Tesco points for Avios NOW. Now's the perfect time to trade in Tesco vouchers for Avios points, as until 31 Mar, £10 Tesco vouchers gets 4,000 Avios, rather than the normal 2,400.
  • Earn up to 12,000 of extra points. A few current promos give free points, eg, if you've not converted Tesco points to Avios in the last 13mths you get 2,000 extra (worth c. £16). See full bonus points list.
  • Redeem on Eurostar and no taxes. Swap Avios points for Eurostar returns tickets and you don't pay taxes or charges, making it excellent value, eg, 9,000 Avios for a Paris return, depending on availability.
  • Redeem either economy short haul OR biz long haul. With Avios you pay taxes & charges when you redeem flights, yet for Europe returns most pay a low fixed £27 BA/Iberia charge for economy (£34 for biz class). On long haul flights, economy taxes & charges can cost similar to a full fare on cheap airlines (see Cheap Flights). However, with prem econ/biz class tickets it can work out, eg, Martin's tale: "Over Xmas, I used two years' points & a credit card 2for1 to treat Mrs MSE to a New York trip, flying out biz, back first class. It would have cost £12,600 cash — completely unjustifiable — yet with total charges of £875, it was cheaper than economy."

For MORE see New Guide: 30 Avios boosters Related: Reclaim Tesco Vouchers, Cashback Credit Cards

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Forum Hottie

£3 shoes, £2 leggings, £5 shirt & tie at HUGE Tesco clothing sale. Get up to 50% off men's, women's & kids' clothing & accessories in-store & online, while stocks last. Tesco Deals


Instant
Discount
Vouchers & Codes

Gap

25% off

Whistles
25% off

Clarks
20% off

Debenhams
20% off

Sainsbury's
£10 off £50

In-store & online
Ends 4 Mar

In-store & online
Ends 13 Mar

Online code
Ends 29 Feb

Online code
Ends 3 Mar

Online code
Ends 17 Mar

See all Vouchers


Reminder. Shift to 7mths' 0% with POOR credit. Capital One's* Balance card lets you shift debts at 7mths' 0%, with a one-off 1.7% fee. Uniquely, it doesn't auto-exclude those with defaults or CCJs over a year old. Yet it's a big 34.9% rep APR after, so see our Capital One Do it Right info for safety (and Official APRs).

spam calls"Aaargh — I get 4 spam PPI calls a day. Help!"
If you're plagued by spam calls and texts, you can minimise them

Whether dodgy PPI claims handlers, ambulance chasers or debt write-offs; you tell us they're plaguing you with texts and calls. There's no perfect solution, but get help from our Stop Spam Texts & Stop Junk Calls guides. Here's a taster...

  • Stop spam texts. It depends on which type: 1. For legit marketing messages (eg, you opted in) or premium messages with clear sender details, just text back STOP. 2. Real spam, eg, anonymous PPI, debt write-off types, DON'T TEXT STOP. It may add you to databases. Instead, report them — for how, see the Stop Spam Texts guide.
  • Stop spam calls. Sign up your home phone AND mobile to the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) (takes about 28 days). It's illegal for UK firms to call those who've registered (though if you tick yes they're allowed). Also there's the free Silent Call-gard service. Very little helps spam calls from abroad, except our forumites' cheeky overseas spam call tips. Full help: Stop Spam Calls
  • Stop calls and mail to deceased relatives. NanofOne tweeted: "How can I stop companies ringing up to speak to my husband who's been dead this past 10 years? I am fed up." Ask the company to take you off the database, use the TPS and to reduce mail use the Bereavement Register & Deceased Preference Service (takes 4-6 weeks).
  • Free MSE 'No Cold Callers' door sign. To deter unwanted salesmen print our Trading Standards-approved 'no cold callers' sign. If energy salesmen don't obey, you can report them. Others aren't forced, but it makes 'em think.

FULL info on junk mail too in the Guides: Stop Spam Texts, Stop Spam Calls, Cold Callers & Junk Mail

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Forum Hottie

Urgent! £2ish Red or Dead hosiery via £5 off no min spend code. Code gets instant £5 off Red or Dead hosiery at Tightsplease. Cheapest tights £7ish, plus delivery's free. Ends Wed, limited stock. Hot with forumites. Deals Note: Tightsplease Deals


3for1 Easter eggs incl Cadbury & Disney at Tesco. Get 3 medium Easter eggs, incl Cadbury Flake and Disney Cars, for £2.50 at Tesco until Tue 6 Mar (that's a cracking 83p each). Deals Note: Easter Egg Deals


Click titles for full info & all top picks
Balance Transfers Easy Access Savings Cheap Loans 0% Spend Cards
Barclaycard*
22 mths 0%, 2.9% fee

(17.9% rep APR)

Halifax*
22 mths 0%, 3.5% fee

(17.9% rep APR)
Santander* 3.1% AER
incl 2.6% 1 yr bonus



Virgin* 2.85% AER
Top clean rate
Sainsbury's* (£5k - £7.5k)
7.9% rep APR

(Need Nectar card)

Sainsbury's* (£7.5k - £15k)
6.1% rep APR

(Need Nectar card)
Tesco* 15 mth 0%
16.9% rep APR



M&S* 15 mth 0%
15.9% rep APR
See Card APR Examples & Loan APR Examples

'Free' £18 Clinique | 'Free' £9 Crabtree & Evelyn cream. Four Clinique minis to choose from incl mascara & gloss in £3.50 mag. Cream with voucher in £2 paper. Full Info: Beauty Deals


Ends Today Free £24 M&S for £12 Netflix, MAKE £12. Netflix* lets you watch 1,000 films online. It offers a 1mth free trial, then is £6/mth, but via this link you get £8/mth M&S vouchers back for 3mths (and can cancel anytime). Facebook issue: If you're logged into FB you'll need to sign up via it. To do it by email, log out of Facebook and refresh. Full help: Netflix & Lovefilm Deals

£26 ANNUAL travel insurance, incl winter sports
Booking last-minute trip on the slopes? Get cover at same time, and don't pay over the odds

If you're grabbing a last-chance skiing break, don't ignore travel insurance. Done right it won't strain your pocket, and you can pop your goggles on with peace of mind. Plus don't wait until the day you fly — grab it at the same time as the main holiday, or you won't be protected against cancellation. All policies fit our basic min cover requirements.

Annual costs Europe, basic winter sports Worldwide, basic winter sports
Individual (18-30) Direct Travel* Budget £27 (or Virgin £26 doing MoneySup* comparison) Protect Your Bubble* £36 (or £33 doing MoneySup* comparison)
Individual (31-55) Protect Your Bubble* (PYB) £30-£33 (or £26-£30 Virgin or PYB doing MoneySup* comparison) Protect Your Bubble* (PYB) £40 (or £35-£37 Virgin or PYB doing MoneySup* comparison)
Individual (56-64) Insure & Go* £41 (or Protect Your Bubble £33 doing MoneySup* comparison) Protect Your Bubble* £55 (or £44-£46 Insurefor.com doing MoneySup* comparison)
Family (oldest 18-54) Protect Your Bubble* £41-£46 (or £37-£42 doing MoneySup* comparison) Protect Your Bubble* £50-56 (or £42-£47 doing MoneySup* comparison)
Family (oldest 55-64) Insurefor.com* £73 (or £56 Virgin doing MoneySup* comparison) Insurefor.com* £76 (or £62-£69 doing MoneySup* comparison)

Today only (Wed). Check Insurefor's* 29% discount on all quotes — enter code 'leap29' (as it's 29 Feb).

For full info, plus the cheapest standard annual AND single trip AND over 65s policies, see the Updated Guide: Travel Insurance Related: Compare Travel Money, Cheap Overseas Credit Cards

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2 'free' (£84) Alton Towers tix via newspaper. Collect 9 tokens from The Sun from Sat 3 Mar (£3.50 total cost, incl stamps) for tix 28 Mar - 1 Nov 2012. You need date flexibility. See Deals: Alton Towers Tickets

Tell friends about us! They can get this free every week!

Cheshire BS 3.06% clings to top easy-access ISA spot. In past ISA seasons Barclays launched a doozy. This time only EXISTING customers can get Barclays'* 3.05% AER rate (if rates rise, it'll rise for 24 months). Yet anyone can get Cheshire BS's* 3.06% (min £1k) which beats it. Both contain short-term bonuses. Full Info & Best Buys: Top Cash ISAs

Use 18mths 0% spending card to MAKE £100s
Become a stoozer — it's MoneySaving poetry — take 0% cash and save at high interest

Stoozing, put simply, is when you borrow money at 0% from banks to save so you earn interest on money lent for nowt. Right now, we've the best cards since the credit crunch for this. They even PAY you to spend on them. Only do this if you're debt-free, well-organised and financially savvy...

  • stoozingStep 1: Get the longest 0% AND rewards spending card. Do all normal daily spending on it (not an excuse to overspend), repaying just the minimum. Here are the top cards (full info in Top 0% cards) — you'll need to pass a credit score.

    M&S 15mth 0%*
    plus 100 M&S pts per £100 spent — 15.9% rep APR after
    Tesco 15mth 0%* plus 25 Tesco pts per £100 spent — 16.9% rep APR after
    Nationwide 18mth 0%* ONLY FlexAccount* holders, 0.5% cashback — 12.9% rep APR.
  • Step 2: Save unspent wages in the highest EASY ACCESS account. If you've not used this year's tax-free cash ISA the top's Cheshire BS 3.06%* AER (min £1k). Otherwise, the top savings is Santander's 3.1%*. With both, the rate plummets after 12-18 mths, so diarise to switch.
  • Step 3: Rake in the cash. With a £6,000 credit limit on a Nationwide card, filled within six months, including rewards, you could be £250 up by the time the 0% ends. At which point ensure you either FULLY repay it with the savings, or do a 0% Balance Transfer to keep the stooze going (though incorporate any fee).

Stoozing needs concentration & organisation. Read pros and cons in our Full Guide: Stoozing (and Official APRs) Related: Top 0% Spending, 0% Balance Transfers, Cash ISAs

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Ends Sun: £1.17/litre petrol with £60 Morrisons spend Get a 15p-off-a-litre voucher if you spend £60+. This can cut the price to £1.17/litre (avg is £1.32). This & more in the Updated Guide: Cheap Petrol



Save money every day with MSE's new Facebook. Our new MSE Facebook page has latest deals & news, joining Martin's Facebook with banter, tips & Friday 'funny'. Related: MSE Twitter, Martin's Twitter

Big & Easy ways To Save
Quick links or click the titles for full pros, cons, alternatives & more savings

See all official APR examples

More MoneySaving

London-Paris £9 each way coach tix. Book by Thu 26 Apr for travel Tues, Weds & Sat between this weekend and Sat 28 Apr. Limited availability, Easter excluded. See Deals Note: Cheap Coach & Train Tix


Free calls to Poland for a week. Cheap local calls provider LocalPhone* is offering unlimited free calls (if you've inclusive free minutes) to Polish landlines from Wed 29 Feb to 8 Mar. For cheapest to other countries use the MSE CallChecker: Overseas call comparison


Didn't get your 11% Barclaycard cashback? It says sorry. Did you apply for Barclaycard's 11% cashback deal we featured in November which promised to pay £100 in Feb? A few weren't paid out, but the lender promises they will be in March. MSE News: Barclaycard cashback

spill beans

Spill the beans... on things you thought wouldn't sell
Who knew people would buy empty fragrance bottles, old car tax discs and a gameboy fished from the toilet? nickm22 started a thread on this in 2007, it's still a goodie. We want to hear from you what items you've flogged on eBay. Spill 'em: Things you thought wouldn't sell Past topics: View all

5% off 1st & 2nd class stamps. At WHSmith stores (that don't have a Post Office within them) & online. Stock up on any labelled 1st or 2nd now and they're effectively price hike-proof. See the Deals Note: 5% off Stamps

Money Moral Dilemma

Real Life MONEY MORAL DILEMMA:
My hubby earns more. Should he pay more of joint bills?

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks...
When I moved in with my husband two years ago, we agreed to each pay half of all bills. He now earns twice as much as I do, so is it now a little unfair? I can afford to pay my half of the bills and still have money to buy clothes, go out, etc, but I struggle to save. My husband isn't mean, and happily pays for meals out more often than me. But it's unfair I need to pay as much when he has more disposable income than I do. Should he contribute a greater share? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should my husband pay more? Previous MMDs: View All Suggest: A Money Moral Dilemma

Did you sign up for the Netflix/M&S deal? Netflix sent out the first batch of £8 M&S gift vouchers last Wed (22 Feb), but there were problems with the codes. It has sent new vouchers to those affected, and added an extra £2 goodwill credit. If you've further issues, contact Netflix. Full info in Watch Movies Online

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Campaign of the week

Take a small step for Fairtrade Fortnight
It's the start of charity Fairtrade Foundation's Fairtrade Fortnight — dedicated towards fair terms for developing world workers. It wants you to Take a Step (click to see local events) towards fair trade, whether swapping your sugar, having a Fairtrade coffee, or Fairtrade Mother's Day flowers. Fair Trade Discounts: Fair trade isn't always more expensive. Sainsbury's Basics tea bags are just 27p and Co-op 100g chocolate is 79p during the fortnight. Suggest a campaign: This space is for MSE to support charities, community groups and other campaigners. Send your campaign of the week suggestions.

Book Giveaway RESULT. Make and Mend. 25 blagged for MoneySavers. Check your inbox to find out if you got one

Cheap Flight Sales

CHEAP FLIGHT SALES ALERT:
Airline: Easyjet Up to 20% off seat sale Ends: Wed
Our pick this week is the Easyjet up to 20% off seat sale. The sale's on till midnight Wed 29 Feb, it includes some taxes & charges. To find seats quickly use the FlightChecker. Extra charges warning: Avoid payment and check-in charges, see the Budget Airline Fee Fighting guide. Related: Cheap Flights, Cheap Hotels, Spending Abroad, Cheap Currency, Travel Insurance

Cheap Travel Money

UK's Best Currency Rates
£100 will buy you:
Best Worst
Euro Flag 117.67 103.24
US Flag $ 158.29 138.86
Turkish Flag TL 271.50 236.21
Rates correct at 6pm Tues
Find all top currency rates
Compare travel cash

This week's poll: Are you stashing cash under the mattress?

How much cash do you usually keep in your home and wallet/purse in total?

Please select one from the below.

Under £50

Vote

£50 - £100

Vote

£101 - £200

Vote

£201 - £500

Vote

£501 - £1,000

Vote

£1,001 - £2,500

Vote

£2,501 - £10,000

Vote

£10,000 +

Vote

Poll Results

When did you last get a pay rise?

We asked when was the last time you got a pay rise. Of the public sector workers 77% haven't had a pay rise within the last year. And of those that have had an increase 81% got inflation or below.

Only 52% of private sector employees haven't had a pay increase in the past year. And of those that did get an increase 63% were below inflation. See Pay Results.

Question Of The Week

Q: Are you still covered by Section 75 if, since the transaction, you shut your account? Natasha, by email.

MSE Sally's A: Yes — Section 75 means the credit card provider is jointly liable by law for all purchases made, in full or part, between £100 and £30,000. What counts is you spent on the card, not if you're a customer.

Contact the original credit card provider, just as you would if the account was still open. Don't be put off if it says it's not its problem. It is, and legally it has a obligation to you. See Section 75 and Consumer Rights for more info.

Please suggest a Question of the Week (big general subjects are more likely to be answered — we can't reply to individual emails).

Board Of The Week

PETS & PET CARE

Swap tips on how to best look after your goldfish, dogs or even horses. Recent discussions include best value dog wormer, how to care for guinea pigs and looking after a llama. Related Guide: Cheap Pet Insurance

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Game Of The Week

Archna's FREE GAME OF THE WEEK:
Super Mario Crossover 2

"Surprised to be contact by the rudest, most aggressive human being in the world"

That's it for this week, but before we go, some emails make you laugh out loud. And this one we were copied in to by someone complaining to their mobile company, tipped off the scale: I write regarding terrible customer service...

We hope you save some money,

Martin & the MSE team

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