Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Beat gas hikes, Sky 50% code, free Sprite, flight secret, M&S 25%, reclaim bank charges, £20 railcard, 15mths 0%, wine code, H&M 25%, car ins hottie

Martin's Money Tips email. Can't see full email properly? Read it online (may affect Gmail/Yahoo users).
Martin Lewis

MoneySavingExpert.com weekly email

Cutting your costs, fighting your corner Martin's Money Tips Wed 16 Oct 2013
Cards Reclaim Shopping Deals Utilities Banking Travel Insurance Mortgages Income

This week

15mths 0% debt-shift AND spending
Book flights 59 days in advance
Car ins deals comparison sites miss
Reclaim bank charges: "I got £2,000"
Family Railcard £10 off code
M&S Outlet 25% EXTRA off code + winter coats even further reduced
Totally free 500ml Sprite
Free Can You Afford Uni? guides
New 50% off Sky TV/ b'band codes
Codes: Matalan 20%, H&M 25%, etc
Morrisons wine EXTRA 14% code
7 Nails Inc polishes £22
15 fireworks £5
24-hour FLASH currency sale
Great British Bake (Money) Off deals
£20 movie streaming £10
£1 Star Trek & Monsters Inc toys
2for1 Ideal Home for Xmas
Vouchers Index: Restaurants / Shopping
Best Buys: 0% cards | Car insurance
Best Buys: Gas & Elec | Bank Accs

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

Beat energy hikes if you act NOW
One of the big six's hiked prices 8% - the rest are almost certain to follow

There's a short window of opportunity to beat price hikes, but you need to do it now. On 15 Nov, SSE prices will rise an average 8% (c.£100/yr). And as energy firms are like sheep, the rest are almost certain to follow.

Many can save £100s and lock in no price hikes for up to FOUR WINTERS with a cheap fixed tariff, and as some have no exit penalties, if prices elsewhere get cheaper again, you could leave. Why's it urgent? They usually use fixes to build market share. Once they've got the numbers, they relaunch at a higher price.
  • ALWAYS compare to find YOUR cheapest (and get cashback). The table below shows average prices, but your winner depends on usage & location. We've built an MSE Cheap Energy Club Top Fixed Tariff Picks comparison page to show your winner, as normal comparisons sort by tariff price.

    If Energy Club can switch you, you’ll get £30 dual fuel cashback, depending on tariff. More cashback options in Cheap Gas & Elec.
TOP FIXED DUAL FUEL DEALS (not prepay)
Fixed until Exit fee Cost/yr
Someone on a standard tariff (BEFORE HIKES) (1) - - £1,420
Joint longest fixes: EDF* & Npower* (2)
31 Mar 2017 None £1,340
Cheapest non-exit penalty fix: Npower* (2)
30 Nov 2014 None £1,180
Cheapest fix with exit fees: First Utility* (2)
30 April 2015 £60 £1,170
Cheapest variable (subject to price rises) (2) - - £1,120
(1) Quarterly billing. Source: Ofgem. (2) Avg mthly direct debit. Varies by region.

YOUR BIG 'ENERGY PRICE HIKE BEATING' QUESTIONS

martin energy youtube videoOver the last week, we've collated your forum & social media questions. Here are the most common.

Or click the video Q&A on the right if you prefer to listen than read (there are more questions too...)



Q. Why fix? Why not just go for the cheapest price?
A. Do a normal comparison now & your cheapest will likely be one that hasn't yet announced hikes, but will soon. So you could be shifting out of the frying pan into the fire. If you want to play variable tariffs, it's best to wait until all have put prices up to compare. Though for most, a cheap fix wins anyway.
Q. My fix is ending soon (eg, Jan or March 2014) should I ditch & refix?
A. Without a crystal ball, it's impossible to know. So here's my best guess.

No exit penalties (eg, EDF Blue): As it takes 2 mths to actually switch over, you'll hardly have any time left on your cheap fix, so there's little problem.

With exit penalties: These can be £100 and I'd be surprised if fixed prices rose that much by January, so it's worth sticking until mid Dec (when you can switch penalty-free). Yet for March finishers who want to grab a long fix, the risk is bigger that you may miss the boat.
Q. Should I take a short cheaper fix, or fix long? I can't decide.
A. For a short fix to likely beat the four-winter ones, two things need to happen:

a) Prices rise less than 10%+ each year. It's almost certain prices are going to rise every year - the question is how much. 10% annual rises are possible, but on the high side. If you're cautious and can't risk big hikes, go long.

b) You must keep switching. The maths above assume as soon as your short fix ends, you'll fix/switch cheap again. The Cheap Energy Club will monitor or tell you when. If you're not the type who'll bother, go long.
Q. I'm on a prepay (key or card) meter. Can I fix?
A. There are no current prepay fixes, but you can switch & save (compare prepay tariffs). The problem's you risk moving to a firm that'll soon hike prices. So you may be best waiting until all have hiked, so it's a level playing field to compare.

Also consider shifting to a billed meter, if your credit score allows. For how to do this cheaply, see the Cheap Prepay guide.
Q. A fix'll cost me more - should I still do it?
A. It depends how much more, and how much you want price certainty. With prices likely rising 8-10%, if it's less than that, you would still likely save. If it's more, as long as you're an energy tart who'll keep switching every time (the MSE Cheap Energy Club will give you alerts), then you could just ride it out.
Q. I have electricity only, can I still fix?
A. Yes, you can, and all our top pick fixes are available (compare top fixes).
Q. I may move house, could I take a fix with me?
A. Many fixes, incl ALL above, can be ported to new homes. Check with others.
Q. Will prices keep rising in the long run?
A. With energy companies' efficiency, green energy, and investment obligations, prices are predicted to go up at least 30-40% over the next five years - unless there's huge political change.
Q. Can't I just call my existing provider to fix? It'd be easier.
A. You can, but doing that may lock you in on a high price. Better to compare.
Q. I've switched before. It said I'd save but my bills weren't cut - is it a con?
A. The problem is, comparison site savings are compared to 'what you would've paid' (we spell this out in the Cheap Energy Club). So if you were told you'd save 10%, but your price is due to rise 10%, don't expect your bills to drop. The gain is that they haven't risen.
Q. I'm in debt to my supplier, can I switch?
A. If you're on prepay, you can if the debt's £500 or less. If you're on a credit meter, it varies by supplier and payment method. British Gas and Scottish Power told us you'd need to pay off the debt before switching away. The other big six suppliers may let you switch then pay it off. If you're in credit when you switch, your old provider needs to give you the cash.
Q. Is it true that paying by direct debit is cheapest?
A. Yes, but this is specifically for monthly direct debits, which can be 6% cheaper. Though then your bill is estimated, so ensure you do regular meter readings.
Q. I've just moved and I've got no energy bills, how do I compare?
A. You can give the MSE Energy Club or its specific top fixes comparison rough details of your house size and it'll estimate usage. While not perfect, it's far better than not fixing due to lack of info.
Q. I switched to a lower rate but my direct debit has been increased?
A. Direct debits are based on an estimate of your usage. So even if your rate goes down, the debit can go up, either because your new provider over-estimates usage or your old one under-estimated. If you think the debit is too high, you've a right to ask for it to be lowered. See Energy Direct Debit help.
Q. My friend says Utility Warehouse promises to be cheapest?
A. Utility Warehouse/Telecom Plus is a network marketing firm, so its users can be very keen to sell it on. Its 'price promise' is often quoted but this excludes online tariffs, which are almost invariably the cheapest.

Its prices are covered by comparison sites, just like others. So to see its price for you, do a comparison (scroll for it, as it usually isn't near the top). However, some do like it for getting multi-utility discounts.
Q. I'm not with the big six, will smaller providers raise prices?
A. Probably, as we're in a price rise environment. Yet they're not part of the herd like the big six, so they don't rigidly follow the timetable or the same scales of magnitude.
Q. First Utility is promising no hikes. Is it worth looking at?
A. It's promising no hikes until March. Other firms who've done this before tend to raise prices very soon after. As March is only 5 months away and switching takes 2 months, you've only gained 3 months. Fixing gives more surety.

Want to ask a question? I'll answer all tweeted to me, @martinslewis, today (Wed) between 2.45-3pm. On Fri from 7.00-7.20pm, MSE Archna, who runs the Cheap Energy Club, will take questions via @MoneySavingExp.

FIX YOUR GRAN TOO. It's outrageous many struggling elderly people are those who pay the most to boil a kettle. So if you know an elderly person, politely offer to help them save too. help your granny

Blagged for MoneySavers

Did you miss?

Get permanently cheap energy
Our club ensures you're always on the cheapest tariff.
Join free: Cheap Energy Club
Reclaim PPI for FREE
Claims handlers aren't more successful.
Free help & templates: Reclaim PPI

MSE News

Top story Got a Tesco Clubcard? Check now for unspent vouchers
PPI mis-selling bill now tops £12 billion
Bought online texts from O2? Use them now or lose them
Sky phone customers face price increases
Train fare rises capped by Government
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If this email's ever helped you, please forward it to friends and suggest they get it via moneysavingexpert.com/tips
Use the Money Mantras If you're skint If you're not skint
The Ones Not To Miss Wed 16 Oct 2013
New top 0% debt-shift AND spending card
All-rounder card. ONE application, TWO best buys. The winner if you've existing debts & need new borrowing
Most credit card deals either allow you to shift debt at 0%, or to spend at 0%. So to have one that's a convenient top pick for both means one less application hitting your credit file, protecting your credit score. And there's a new top player.
  • 15mths 0% spending & low-fee balance transfer. Halifax All in One* isn't only the new low-fee balance transfer top pick, now letting newbies shift debt to it for 15mths 0% for just a 0.8% fee, it offers the same 0% on new spending too (though please be very careful borrowing). Crucially, it used to not give some accepted applicants the full 15mths as it was a 'representative 0%'. Now if you get accepted, you'll get the 15mths. Here's how it compares.
TOP 'ALL-ROUNDER' CREDIT CARDS
Card Balance transfer offer Spending intro offer Rep APR after
Halifax* 15mths 0% - 0.8% fee 15mths 0% 17.9%
NatWest* / RBS* 15mths 0% - 0.9% fee 15mths 0% 16.9%
Sainsbury's* (1) Long term 7.8% rep APR - no fee Long term 7.8% rep APR N/A
TOP SINGLE CATEGORY 0% BEST BUYS
Barclaycard* (1) 28mths 0% - 2.99% fee Not competitive 18.9%
Lloyds* (1) 24mths 0% - 1.5% fee Not competitive 17.9%
Tesco* (1) Not competitive 18mths 0% + points 16.9%
(1)This offer's representative - you may get a higher APR or fewer months at 0%.
For full info & best buys, see Top All-Rounder Cards, Best Balance Transfers, Top 0% Spending. (APR Examples)
  • Can you get them? Our free All-Rounder Eligibility Checker shows your odds of getting the top cards (and doesn't hit your credit file). Also try the Balance Transfer or Spending Cards eligibility checkers.
  • Golden rules: 1) Always minimise new borrowing. Budget, and plan to repay before the 0% ends. 2) Clear or shift again before the 0% ends or you'll pay the full APR. 3) Pay at least the monthly minimum or you'll lose special rates.

Family Railcard for £20 code (RRP £30). Gets 4 grown ups a third off travel and 4 kids 60% off. Railcard Deals

Ends Thu. M&S Outlet EXTRA 25% off code. MSE Blagged. Use on items already up to 50% off. Want a winter coat? Get another 20% off on top - meaning a £125 M&S coat can be got for £38 delivered. Full info: M&S Outlet

Totally free 500ml bottle of Sprite. Get voucher to claim at Subway (no need to buy owt). Subway Deals

Free 'Can You Afford Uni?' 2014 MSE booklets (for parents, 6th formers, teachers). New guides for 2014 starters. Download for: Full-time study, part-time study, teachers, mature students. Teachers - feel free to distribute them.

Book flights 59 days in advance
Don't leave it later if you want a cheap flight. This and other high flying cost cutting tricks

We've yelled for years: booking late's cheap for packages, but for scheduled flights, early booking usually wins. A new tool reveals exactly how early you should act, plus loads of data to fine-tune the cost. Full help in Cheap Flight Tricks, a taster:

  • cheapflights Book 59 days in advance, and fly on Tuesdays. Do a search via flight comparison Momondo* then click the 'Flight Insight' tab if available for your route. This nerdy fun tool reveals how to hone perfect prices for 150+ popular UK routes. Typical stats are...

    How far ahead to book? 59 days (at least). Cheapest day to travel on? Tues.
    Departure airport? Flying Gatwick-JFK's 12% cheaper than Ldn City to Newark.
  • Use the RIGHT comparison to find the lowest price. Different sites do different jobs. Use the right one...

    Find the cheapest price: Try Skyscanner* (for ease), Kayak* (for gizmos) & TravelSup* (for breadth), or better - try all.
    Charter flights: Grab cheap spare package holiday flight seats to traditional destinations with Avro* & Flights Direct*.
    Booking hotels too? Booking them together via Expedia* & Opodo* can mean discounts (also see Cheap Hotel Tricks).

    To really crack flight costs, see our full Cheap Flights guide. Related: Cheap Travel Money, Cheap Travel Insurance.

New 50% off Sky TV & broadband codes. MSE Blagged. We've got a few more, so we've 3,000+ for Sky newbies to use by Thurs (or if you had it 12mths ago). @DaveCook86 told us: "Saved £428/yr." Incl movies/sport. 50% Off Sky

Codes... Matalan 20%, H&M 25% off, Kurt Geiger 20% and more...
Matalan 20% off code & vch | Watch Hut extra 5% off up to 70% off sale code | Kurt Geiger 20% off code
H&M 25% off vch in mag | Body Shop £15 off £30 code | Paperchase 20% off in £4 mag | Full list: Discount Vouchers

Morrisons Wine Cellar EXTRA 14% off code. MSE Blagged. There are already some better-than-half price offers there - this extra code brings them right down, incl £3.90 Kumala (min 6). Delivery's free. See Wine Codes. (Be Drinkaware.)

7 Nails Inc polishes £22 all-in (RRP £77). Lucky dip (random colours). Thu-Fri only - great for Xmas. Nails Inc

15 fireworks £5 (worth roughly £25). Incl wheel & Roman candles. Min age 18. Sparkling Deal (Be fire-aware.)

Car insurance discounts comparison sites miss
We've made it our job to bring 'em to you. New Direct Line car insurance £60 M&S freebie. MSE Blagged.
There's no perfect solution to finding the cheapest car insurance - our aim is to negotiate you a path through the maze. We're constantly updating our Cheap Car Insurance and Young Drivers' Insurance systems to rev up the savings...
  • car insuranceDon't just pay renewal price - get the cheapest quote at speed. Not all comparison sites are equal, they look at different insurers. Combine as many as you've time for. This month's order: a) Gocompare* b) Google* c) MoneySupermarket* d) Confused*
  • Deals they miss, incl Direct Line free £60 M&S. Two big insurers aren't included by comparisons, so check them too. Use this special Direct Line* link for a free £60 M&S gift card if you get a policy (not likely to be around long), and get a quote from Aviva*.
  • Quick tips to slash the cost of cover. It isn't just about the policy, what you quote for counts too, including:

    a) Try adding a responsible older driver as 2nd driver. Faevouritexox tweeted: "As a new driver, my insurance wanted £5,000. Adding mum & dad dropped it to £1,900." It doesn't always work, so use trial and error.
    b) Don't assume 3rd party's cheapest. Selecting comprehensive makes some insurers consider you a lower risk.
    c) More than one car in the home? Comparison sites don't search this, so manually check Admiral MultiCar* too.
Click the titles for full info and all our top picks
Balance Transfers Car Insurance Cheap Loans Top Cash ISAs
Longest 0%: Barclaycard*
28mths 0%, 2.99% fee

(18.9% rep APR)

Low fee 0%: Lloyds*
24mths 0%, 1.5% fee

(17.9% rep APR)
Get quotes in this order...

Gocompare*
Google*
Direct Line* (Get £60 M&S e-gift card)
Aviva*
Admiral MultiCar*

Clydesdale* (£5k - £7.5k)
6.4% rep APR



Sainsbury's* (£7.5k - £15k)
4.9% rep APR

Tesco Bank 2% AER
Min £1, no bonus
Online/phone. No transfers

Virgin Money 1.75% AER
Min £1, no bonus
Online. Transfers allowed

See Card APR Examples & Loan APR Examples.

24hr FLASH currency sale. Starts 10am Thu. From ICICI Bank, valid on ALL currencies, but don't assume it's cheapest - see how it stacks up with TravelMoneyMax (and always consider the right overseas travel card instead).

Great bake bargains... £5 Delia's Cakes book, £12 kitchen scale (was £40), £1 cake tins...
Delia's Cakes £5 (RRP £25) | Mary Berry: 100 Cakes & Bakes £5 (RRP £8) | Electronic kitchen scale £12 (was £40)
£1 cake tins at Poundland | Cath Kidston apron £13 (was £20) | Laura Ashley cake stand £26 (was £40) | Baking Hot Deals

£20 movie streaming gift cards £10. Use at pay-per-view service Blinkbox. New blockbusters are £3.50. Movie Deals

Bank charges reclaiming - "I got £2,000 - Thank you"
Some can still reclaim unfair bank charges - a good thing, as they're more expensive than payday loans
Go £10 over a bog-standard agreed overdraft for just a day and it charges £10. Under payday loan compounding rules, this'd be roughly 7,500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,
000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000% APR
. This week, our friends at Which? joined the fight to make the playing field level. We've ranted about it for years - hopefully together, we'll push change. If you've been unfairly hit, consider reclaiming...
  • bankchargesReclaiming's now only for those in financial hardship. We're specifically talking about charges for going beyond your agreed overdraft here, especially where charges have piled up and contributed to that hardship. Definitions of hardship include not meeting basic bills (mortgage, rent, card repayments) or having payments regularly returned due to lack of cash. See what counts as hardship in the Bank Charges guide.
  • 'Over £2,000 from one letter.' While the floodgates are certainly closed (until a court case in 2009, we helped people get over £1bn back), there are still hardship successes coming into us. This month we heard: "Although I was a bit sceptical, I used your template. It contacted me today to refund my charges + interest, over £2,000. Thank you - I would never have reclaimed without your help."
  • Reclaim bank charges for free. Write to your bank(s) detailing the charges and hardship (free template letters in the Bank Charges Reclaiming guide). If it refuses, continue your complaint, risk-free, at the independent free Financial Ombudsman and let it decide. Full refunds are rare but substantial partial refunds are relatively common.

£1 Star Trek & Monsters Uni toys/figures (norm £6). Plus up to 50% off toy sales at Tesco and Asda. Toy Deals

2for1 Ideal Home Xmas tix code. MSE Blagged. Code makes it £14/pair. 13-15 Nov, Earls Court. Ideal Home Show

Stansted Express £12 each way (norm £23). From now, book 7 days ahead & get it cheaper. Stansted Express

MSE job opp: UI designer (2mth contract). Short-term job opportunity, based in London. See MSE Jobs.

Click the titles for full info and all our top picks
Gas & Electricity Bank Accounts Home Insurance Landlines
Compare, switch & get cashback

Cheap Energy Club
£30 dual fuel

Energyhelpline*
£15 per switch

MoneySupermarket*
£30 dual fuel

uSwitch*
£40 wine voucher

First Direct*
£100 bonus and top cust service


Santander 123*
Up to 3% cashback on bills

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

Confused.com*
Compare The Market*
Direct line*
Aviva*

Post Office*
with weekend calls
£10/mth (pay a yr upfront)



BT line Rental Saver*
£11.75/mth (pay a yr upfront)
Do a Money Makeover Budget Planner MSE car sticker £15 Travel Insurance

Restaurant vouchers

Discount vouchers

Top deals

The Moneysaving community
The MoneySaving Community

MONEY MORAL DILemMA
Should I charge my sister's colleague for bed & board?

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... My sister's got a week's work near where I live, so I've invited her to stay with me, completely free. But she's asked if one of her colleagues can stay too. Not wanting to disappoint, I agreed. Bed and board for two is going to cost a fair amount and while I'm happy to cover it for my sister, I'm not so happy about shelling out for her colleague. Should I ask her colleague for a contribution to the cost or would that be awkward for all involved? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should I charge my sister's colleague for bed & board? | Suggest an MMD | View Past MMDs

THE GREAT HUNT
How to have a spookily good free Halloween
Why spend a frightening amount on Halloween when you can DIY for free? Granted, it's a bit late to start growing your own pumpkins, but there are loads of ways to beat the retailers and still have a spooktastic time. What are your top tips? Share yours/read others': Free Halloween Past topics: View all

CHEAP FliGHT SALES ALERT
Airline: Aer Lingus Price: From £26.99 Ends: Ongoing
Our pick this week is Aer Lingus's from £26.99 sale. It's for flights to Ireland from 15 UK airports between Fri 1 Nov and 31 Mar 2014, and includes some taxes & charges. We found Birmingham-Dublin flights for £25.99 - even cheaper than the advertised rate. To find flights quickly, use the FlightChecker on a £30 one-way max search. 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

THE GREAT HUNT... REVEALED
Secret price codes and what they stand for

Seven seems to be the magic number for sale goods, as forumites report items with prices ending in 7p in Costco, Currys and PC World are clearance items. Also, look out for numbers in between lots of zeros, as these are often disguised clearances.

Quick forum tips

Freebies

Martin's blogs

Martin's appearances

17 October
Daybreak, ITV, 7.35am-7.45am.
Deals of the Week.
17 October
Shelagh Fogarty, Radio 5 Live, 12pm-1pm.
Consumer Panel.
Listen to past shows.
18 October
This Morning, ITV, 10.30am-12.30pm.
Money Talks with Martin Lewis.
A celebrity faces Martin in the vault.
21 October
This Morning, ITV, 11am-12pm.
Subject tbc.
 
22 October
The Sarah Millican Television Programme, BBC2, 9.30pm-10pm.
   

MSE team corner

Discussion of the week

What benefits at 60?

Changes to when you can claim a state pension have raised questions about other benefits for over-60s on the What benefits at 60? thread. Share your experiences with our community of MoneySavers.

Cheap travel money

UK's Best Currency Rates
£100 will buy you:
Best Worst
Euro Flag 117.10 106.80
US Flag $ 158.60 145.25
Turkish Flag TL 308.00 281.87
Rates correct at 4pm Tue
Find all top currency rates
Compare travel cash

This week's poll: Can you haggle on the high street?

Please ONLY VOTE FOR SHOPS YOU'VE TRIED TO HAGGLE IN. Click as many stores as you like

Poll results

Is your energy company's service any good?
Across its five brands, SSE was the big six firm with the most voters calling it 'good'.

- 62% said SSE was 'good'
- 60% EDF
- 58% E.on
- 53% Scottish Power
- 46% British Gas
- 25% Npower

8,952 voted. See the full results.

Question of the week

Q: I've just bought a costly laptop. Do I need to tell my home insurer or will it already be covered? Gwen, by email.

MSE Tony's A: It should be automatically covered - provided it doesn't push you over the total "sum insured". But this only applies within the home - if you're planning to take the laptop outside, you'll need personal possessions/all-risks cover.

If you haven't got this extension, call your insurer. Premiums usually range from £25-£50 - if it's expensive, use our Cheap Home Insurance guide for more help. If you have it, make sure the total limit is sufficent and the single item limit covers your laptop. Finally, if your laptop, any other contents, or your home are used for any form of business, declare this. Otherwise, your insurance may become invalid.

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

 Archna's free game of the week: Magic Layers

Jest for the pun of it...

That's it for this week, but before you go, check out this brilliant list of witty wordplay. Some of these puns are so good, they even rival Martin's... 21 glorious moments of punning history.

We hope you save some money,

Martin & the MSE team

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