Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Next 50% sale?, £125 bank bribe, Virgin Wines, halve broadband costs, urgent tax credits, no-fee 0%, £1k CPP, M&S Outlet 25%, staycation tricks

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Martin Lewis

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Cutting your costs, fighting your corner Martin's Money Tips Wed 16 jul 2014
Cards Reclaim Shopping Deals Utilities Banking Travel Insurance Mortgages Income

This week

10 top UK summer hols savers
6mths 0% bad credit borrowing
Mayo hair conditioner?
Travel money rate watch
No.1-rated bank offers £125 bribe
£122 case of Virgin wines £58
New. No fee 0% balance transfers
50% Next sale this wknd?
M&S Outlet 25% off, Wed only
"I received a £1,000 CPP cheque"
30% off Clarks & Nike shoes code
£15 posh moisturiser in £4 mag
£20 Converse online sale (incl del)
Urgent. Tax credits deadline 31 July
Payday loan cost cap crackdown
30% off 500+ hotels incl Holiday Inn
Kids go for £1 on Eurostar in Aug
Work with us: MSE is hiring
Vouchers Index: Restaurants / Shopping
Best Buys: 0% cards | Car insurance
Best Buys: Gas & Elec | Bank Accs
Are mortgage changes fair?

HALVE broadband and phone costs
Price war for your custom - can you save £200+/yr and boost speed?

The broadband price war's hotting up but deals tend to be short-lived, so you need to pounce quickly. You also need to know where to look as offers tend to be exclusive, so going direct doesn't always work.

Always add up exactly what you're paying now for phone and broadband so you know exactly what you'll save - many pay a whopping £300+/yr.

1. Ends Sat. Pay £162/year for b'band & line rent, GET £120 Amazon vch. MSE Blagged. This is one of the hottest deals we've ever seen. It used to be only for those with an EE Sim, but now it's open to all (bar existing EE broadband customers). Till Sat, via this specific EE deal* link, entering code EEHBB120, on a 1-yr contract you get...

- Compulsory line rent: The cheapest way to get it is to pay £132 for the year upfront, which you must opt for during sign-up: equiv £11/mth. If you decide to pay by the month, it's £15.75/mth. Weekend calls to landlines are included, other costs are mostly on par/a touch more than BT.
- Unlimited broadband: You pay £2.50/mth, so £30 for 1yr, avail to 95% of the UK. Be warned the price will rise after the contract ends.
- You get a £120 Amazon voucher after 3mths. It's sent automatically if, as noted above, you go via this EE deal* link and enter code EEHBB120 (the code for the voucher also works on costlier superfast fibre optic deals).

Analysis: Pay line rent upfront, then broadband monthly, and it's £162 for the year, excl calls: equiv £13.50/mth. If you pay line rent monthly, it's £219 - equiv £18.25/mth. Of course, there's also the £120 Amazon voucher. If you'd spend that anyway, factor it in and it's effectively £42 over the year, equiv £3.50/mth. Paid monthly, it's effectively £99/yr or equiv £8.25/mth. If you need a new line, installation's another £60.
2. broadbandBoost broadband speed for FREE. Key tips to push your broadband into top gear.

- What is your true speed? Do a free broadband speed test*. Firms advertise 'up to' speeds, but only 10% need to actually get them.

- Is your wi-fi limp? If you struggle to get good wi-fi, it'll slow your overall speed. Full tips, incl where to position routers and how to cut interference in our 11 Broadband Speed Boosters.

- Give your computer, phone or tablet a spring clean. If your memory's clogged up, you're on an old browser or on old software, this can be a speed killer. See Sort Your Gadgets Tips.

- Go wired, not wi-fi. Not always a favourite option, but cables are quicker if wi-fi lets you down. See Use A Cable.

- Get a cheap wireless booster. OK, so it's not free, but you can pay a decent £20 to boost your wireless signal. See Wireless Boosters.
3. Superfast fibre optic b'band, equiv £21/mth. Most broadband is via a copper line but fibre optic is a different technology that typically gives two to three times greater speed than normal. But you pay a premium for this.

So fibre optic isn't for everyone - it's best for gamers, heavy downloaders, streamers & homes where many people use it at once. But using the internet is as much about your computer & the site's speed as your b'band.

If you're set on fibre optic, Virgin Media offers the cheapest deal via this Broadband Choices* link, though it's only available to 50% of the UK. On an 18-month contract, you get:

- Compulsory line rent: The cheapest way to get it is to pay £144 for a year upfront (you'll need to call after installation's set to do this), equiv to £12/mth. For the remaining six months, it's £15.99/mth. That averages out at £13.33/mth over 18mths, if you pay for the year upfront. If you pay monthly, it's £15.99/mth for the whole term. It includes weekend calls to landlines and 0870 calls, other costs are mostly on par with/ a touch more than BT.
- Unlimited fibre optic broadband: Sign up via the Broadband Choices * link and you pay £4/mth for the first 12, then £15.50/mth for the next six. That averages £7.83/mth over 18 months.

Analysis: Add the average £13.33/mth line rental cost (if you pay upfront for a year) to the £7.83/mth average broadband costs and it's equiv £21.16/mth. More options in Cheap Fibre Optic Broadband.
4. Got Sky Sports? 'Free' broadband for 2 years. Many already have sports, yet pay for broadband. But that's pointless as Sky is giving away two years' broadband for Sky Sports customers who have a Sky box and pay the provider's £15.40/mth line rental.

This is the cheapest way to get phone and broadband if you have the package and can't pay upfront. You also get it for two years, whereas the deals above are for less. Only this week, Martin met a Sky Sports customer on his Martin Lewis Money Show roadshow paying £10.40/mth for broadband and told him it was pointless. Sky Sports 'free' broadband info.

PS. We're not suggesting you to get Sky Sports for 'free' broadband - this is aimed at sports nuts who already have a subscription.
5. Cheapest home phone line rental £9/mth. Primus offers this for £8.75/mth, or its Home Saver deal for £9.75/mth has evening and weekend calls to landlines included. Be warned - it came bottom of our poll on home phone customer service. See Cheapest Home Phones.
6. Want broadband but don't need a landline at all? It's outrageous that people who just want broadband almost always need a phone. On the rare occasions broadband is available as a standalone product with no need to have a phone at all with any provider, it's mega-expensive.

Compare the cheapest option, which is Virgin Media's £31/mth fibre optic unlimited deal (available to 50% of UK), which costs £49.95 to install, to the Virgin fibre optic deal above, which is £21/mth for phone AND broadband.
7. The cheapest way to call from a landline. Bizarrely, while you have to pay your provider line rental, you can use override providers (where you dial a prefix to re-route the call) to slash costs. Our UK Callchecker and International Callchecker tools show you the cheapest way. For example...

- Cheapest way to call UK mobiles. Calling a mobile in peak hours via override provider Cheap Calls is 1p/min (plus 15p connection) compared to 12p/min on a BT landline (plus 15p connection).

- Cheapest way to call UK landlines. A peak call to a UK landline via Cheap Calls will just cost 0.5p/min plus 15p connection. BT peak calls are 9p/min plus 15p connection.

- Cheapest way to call overseas. You can call the US for just the 15p connection charge via Story Telecom - BT is 20.5p/min (plus 15p connection). Of course, if calling from a computer, phone or tablet to another similar device you don't have to pay a penny if both parties have the same calling app such as Skype, Viber and FaceTime (do over unlimited wi-fi or risk huge data charges). See Call Abroad For Free.
8. Clever tricks to further slash landline call costs. Here are our top tips:

- Beware long calls during 'free' time. While you may have inclusive evening or weekend calls to landlines, they usually have a cut-off period. BT, TalkTalk, Sky & Virgin are 60 mins; Primus 90 mins. After, you pay up to 11.5p/min. So if it's a long call, just put the phone down just before the cut-off and redial.

- Use mobile minutes to call mobiles, use landline minutes to call landlines. Generally, mobile calls from landlines are pricey, so use your mobile's inclusive minutes for those.

- Say no to 0870. Customer service lines often charge through the roof on pricey 0870, 0845 or worse numbers via landlines and mobiles. See our Say No To 0870 guide for how to find geographic alternatives (eg, 020, 0121) that won't cost if you use inclusive calls.

- Call off-peak. The cheap time to call for most is before 7am and after 7pm.

- Pay by direct debit. You're likely to be charged extra paying any other way.
9. Want to stick with your provider? Always haggle. Broadband and phone is a mature market, so they're desperate to keep hold of customers. Call and ask for your 'MAC code', which can be helpful when switching. This will prompt a "why are you leaving?" conversation.

Explain it's for a better deal and they may try to beat it, just as forumite Giddyup experienced: "Just had a pleasant 5-min call with Sky. Said I would leave to TalkTalk and was instantly given FREE broadband for 12 months, saving £90 for a year." See How To Haggle.
10. Want TV with phone and broadband? From £23/mth. If you want more than just Freeview, it's often worth getting it together with broadband and line rental.

A basic package from TalkTalk with YouView (effectively Freeview + catch-up) is £23/mth (if you pay line rental upfront), but you could pay up to £95/mth with Sky for the lot, incl sports & movies. Full info: Top Digital TV Deals With Phone And Broadband

- Coming soon. Expect to see more quad-play deals - mobile phone, TV, broadband and landline together. Virgin's the only biggie with this, but we suspect others will follow. See how Virgin Media's quad-play stacks up.

PS. I'm off filming the Martin Lewis Money Roadshow this week (I've been to Sheffield, now to Manchester - do come along), so this week's email is mostly in the very talented hands of the MSE team.

Blagged for MoneySavers

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MSE News

Top story: Payday loans cap will slash costs
MSE sees second misleading pay demand from Npower
500k moved to Barclaycard Freedom
Energy firm complaints soar
"Make insurance renewals clearer"
Saved cash? Shout it from the rooftops.
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Use the Money Mantras If you're skint If you're not skint
The Ones Not To Miss Wed 16 Jul 2014
10 top UK summer holiday savers
Whether it's day trips with the kids, or a wee break in our fair isles, we've 10 hot tips to keep your costs down

The key tip for saving cash on UK trips is to plan and book early. That way you can snatch vouchers, ensure availability and keep prices down. While there may be last-minute bargains in individual places, that's a cross-your-fingers solution.

staycation1. Get 10% off Family & Friends Railcard (usually £30/yr) plus see more Cheap Train Tricks.
2. Check out 50 free festivals & carnivals nationwide, many family-friendly.
3. Bag a 2for1 theme park voucher for 27 attractions incl Alton Towers, via £3 cereal.
4. Stay in London & other big cities by renting rooms in uni halls - far cheaper than hotels.
5. Swap Tesco vouchers for up to 4x value on 100s of days out, eg, Mme Tussauds, Ldn Zoo.
6. Use special tricks to uncover secret 3-5 star hotels & pay far less than the usual lead price.
7. Free kids' activity tix, eg, tennis coaching, DIY; watch the latest family blockbusters with kids' cinema tickets from £1.50; or see top West End shows with Kids Week*, incl Billy Elliot.
8. Many museums and galleries are free, eg, London's Science & Nat History museums. Find out what's in your area.
9. Want a really cheap UK getaway? Hostels can be winners, especially with Game of Thrones views for £23/night.
10. Check for cross-country coach trips for £2.50 return, eg, London-Leeds £1 singles (50p fee) with Megabus.

For far more: Days Out, UK Hotels, Train & Coach Tickets, Summer Hols Family Fun and, if going abroad, 50 Travel Tips.

Now FREE £125 for switching to no.1-rated bank. Ends 31 Jul. It's won every customer service poll we've ever done (92% rate it great). Now First Direct's* currently giving £125 for switching (via this link only, normally it's £100). It also has a £250 0% overdraft & linked 6% regular savings account. Full eligibility info & alternatives in Best Bank Accounts.

Virgin Wines 12 bottles £58 (norm £122). MSE Blagged. Virgin Wines virgins only. Cheap Wine. Be Drinkaware.

New NO-FEE 0% balance transfer. Accepted new Barclaycard* cardholders (check eligibility) can now shift debts to it for 6mths 0% for a 1% fee that's refunded within two working days. Need longer? The new Lloyds card is 28mths 0%, with a low 1.5% fee. Also, Tesco is 32mths 0% for a 2.9% fee*. Clear debt or shift again before the 0% ends or they jump to 19.9%, 18.9% and 18.9% rep APR. Full help in Balance Transfer Best Buys (APR Examples).

Forum Hottie. Next sale - 50% off this weekend? A sale is happening, precise details unconfirmed. Updates: Next

New 6mths 0% POOR CREDIT borrowing
A rare, long 0% deal many usually rejected may get. Used right, gives respite from bank charges & payday loans

Those with poor credit should be careful taking new borrowing. Yet done right, this new credit card deal's interest-free and can rescue you from worse debts. Don't use it for willy-nilly borrowing, always plan repayments and be precise.

  • poor creditNew. 6mths 0% credit 'rejects' card. Barclaycard Initial* (via this link) now gives accepted new cardholders 6mths 0% spending and accepts some with past defaults (1yr+ old) or a CCJ (that's settled). Use our 'will I be accepted?' tool. ALWAYS clear before the 0% ends, or it jumps to a horrid 34.9% rep APR. It's best for...

    Use 1: (Re)build credit history. Do, say, £50/month of normal spending, preferably repaying IN FULL. Over time, it can boost your ability to gain credit, eg, for a mortgage. Full explanation and alternatives (incl cashback cards) in Credit Rebuild Cards.

    Use 2: Respite from bank / payday loan charges. Do normal spending on this up to the credit limit, instead of your debit card. Then use money built up in your bank account to reduce your overdraft or repay lenders. Now the debt's on the card & you've 6mths to clear it (ensure you do). Please read FULL help on this in B'card Initial Tips.
  • Check if you can get up to 19mths 0% spending. Check for free, without any credit file impact that lenders can see, whether you're likely to get better with our 0% Spending Cards Eligibility Checker.
  • 0% spending cards golden rules. a) Always pay at least the monthly minimum, and keep within your credit limit, else you'll lose the 0% deal. b) Clear the card before the 0% ends, or you'll pay hefty interest. c) Don't balance transfer/withdraw cash - that's not usually at the cheap rate. d) See APR Examples.

Wed only: M&S Outlet EXTRA 25% off code. MSE Blagged. Grab 25% off items already up to 50% off. M&S

"Thank you for your help with CPP mis-selling claims. I received a cheque for £1,010."
Helen's sent us our biggest win yet. Not sent your letter back? You've only got until 30 Aug. Free templates: Reclaim CPP

30% off shoes code incl Clarks, Nike, Adidas. Includes kids' shoes AND works on up to 50% off sale. Brantano

'Free' £15 Balance Me moisturiser & £10 Neal's Yard hand cream. In £4 mags. Beauty Deals

£20 Converse (incl del). Up to 50% sale gets cheapest we've seen recently. Ltd stock. Also incl Vans & Nike. Converse

ACT NOW. Tax credits deadline's 31 July. Tax credit renewal forms have been sent. Don't ignore 'em - check if you need to renew, and if you can, do it online. Do nowt & you may have to repay already-spent cash. Tax Credits Help

Payday loan crackdown. The regulator plans to cap costs, but has it done enough? Let it know. Payday Loan Curbs

Condition your hair with mayonnaise
Happy 10th birthday, MoneySaving Old Style board. We're celebrating with top tips, incl using cola to clean loos

MoneySaving's about clever ways to slice down costs. Yet old-style thrift is about spending time to save money. 10 years ago, Martin joined two threads - "Live on a World War II ration book" & "Make your cosmetics" - into the MoneySaving Old Style board. Now it's packed with gems & has its own book. Thanks to all who've posted. Tips incl...

thrifty tips1. Would you treat your hair with mayo? Yuk for some, MoneySaving magic for others. Also try Fairy Liquid baths, yogurt after-sun & more in the Homemade beauty fixes thread.
2. Bust grime on the cheap. Save zillions on cleaning, eg, using white vinegar to unblock the sink or cheap cola to clean the loos.
3. DIY Big Macs & fish & chips. Save big bucks on fast food. See Takeaway secrets.
4. Upcycle furniture. Shabby Chic III has tips on reinventing battered pieces, incl pics.
5. Cheap grub. Make tastier, not pricier food with the What are you making for dinner? thread.
6. Tuck into eggs from your garden. Swap tips in Hey... let's keep chickens. As Loftyboy says: "If you haven't tasted a creamy, orange-yolked egg, you haven't lived."
7. Perfect pickles. Making your own jam & chutney? Preserver's Year shows what to boil up when.
8. Top seasonal tips. The Old Style Calendar is full of timely tips. Thanks to Angelavdavis, you can print & keep it forever.
9. Grow your own fruit'n'veg. Spuds, onions, raspberries and rhubarb, forumites share successes in Grow Your Dinner.
10. Thrifty ways to avoid the worst. Pipes frozen? Car stuck in snow? See Preparedness for when the SHTF.

Buy the Old Style (charity) book: Thrifty Ways for Modern Days is written from forumites' collective wisdom. It's a great gift to get someone thrifty. All 'author' proceeds go to the MSE Charity Fund.

Click the titles for full info and all our top picks
Balance Transfers Car Insurance Cheap Loans Top Cash NISAs
Longest 0%: Barclaycard*
33mths 0%, 2.99% fee

(18.9% rep APR)

Low fee 0%: Post Office*
18mths 0%, 0.7% fee

(17.8% rep APR)
Get quotes in this order...

MoneySupermarket*
Gocompare*
Direct Line*
Aviva*
Admiral MultiCar*

Sainsbury's* (£5k - £7.5k)
5.3% rep APR



Sainsbury's* (£7.5k - £15k)
3.9% rep APR


BM Savings* 1.55% AER
Min £1, 1.05% bonus/yr
Online/phone. Transfers allowed


Coventry BS 2.75% AER
Min £1. No transfers
Loophole: Fixed till May 2018


See Card APR Examples & Loan APR Examples

Hidden summer hotel sale. Last sec up to 30% off UK/Europe Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, etc. You only get access to the sale if you join (or are in) the group's rewards club. For stays until 4 Sep. Full info: Hotel Sales

£2 Eurostar kids' return tix with any grown-up. For every one-way grown-up ticket you buy, you can get up to two child (aged 4-11) one-ways for £1. Child returns normally £49+. Book 16-21 Jul for travel in August. From Ldn to Paris/Brussels/Lille and back. Eurostar

Travel Money Rate Watch: Urgent. Travelex 2hr flash (airport) sale
We monitor rates so you don't have to. How to get the best bang for your buck, euro or even dong...

Every week during the summer, we're going to do a rate watch to get you the best deals. This week, the pound's at an almost six-year high against the dollar (£1 now gets you $1.71) and a 22-month high against the euro (€1.26)...

  • travel money FLASH online currency sales. These are brief rate boosts (on top of currency fluctuations). Use our Travel Money Rate Comparison - it updates during them.

    - Travelex 2hr boosts (incl airport pickup): The boon here is you can order in advance to pick up at the airport. Great, as order-at-airport rates are usually hideous. SALE TIMES for euros: Fri 18 Jul 11am-1pm. For all others: Thu 17 Jul, 11am-1pm.
    - Amex boost (incl Birm airport pickup): Euro, US, Egypt, Croatia, Canada, Swiss. SALE TIME now till Fri 18th, 4pm.
    - Tesco 48hr boost (store collect or delivery): Euro, US, Aus, Can, Mexico, Croatia. SALE TIME starts Tue 15 Jul 8am.

    Competition on our TravelMoneyMax.com comparison tool is so strong (as it's very popular) that when one firm boosts rates, smaller firms often respond. So sale rates don't always win - yet you tend to gain overall.
  • Forget cash - get constantly UNBEATABLE rates worldwide. The specialist Halifax Clarity* credit card gives near PERFECT exchange rates worldwide (takes 1-2 weeks to arrive). Get one, set up a direct debit to pay it IN FULL every month or it's 12.9% representative APR, then spend on it abroad for top rates. Use our Which Travel Card Will Accept You? tool and read full instructions in our Top Overseas Credit Cards guide. (APR Examples)

    If you can't get or don't want a credit card, our top pick prepaid card is Ukash*, as it has no overseas fees and the best exchange rate of the prepaid cards. Full info: Prepaid Cards

Want to work at MSE? We're looking for sub-editors, deals researchers & developers, all based in London. MSE Jobs


Click the titles for full info and all our top picks
Gas & Electricity Bank Accounts Home Insurance Landlines
Get constantly cheap energy.

Our club ensures you're always on the cheapest tariff.

Join free: Cheap Energy Club

Up to £30 cashback for dual fuel, £15 for single switches.

First Direct*
£125 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*

Primus Line Rental Saver
landline only
£8.75/mth for 12 months



Primus Home Saver
with evening & weekend calls
£9.75/mth for 12 months
Do a Money Makeover Budget Planner MSE car sticker £13 Travel Insurance

Restaurant vouchers

Discount vouchers

Top deals

The Moneysaving community
The MoneySaving Community

CAMPAIGN OF THE WEEK
Are changes to mortgage contracts fair?

The financial watchdog is looking into the fairness of changes to mortgage contracts, such as altering interest rates or removing features. Changes are allowed if they're fair, but what do you think is fair? What would you expect to happen if your lender wanted to change your mortgage? Let the Financial Conduct Authority know your views (the first six questions are aimed at consumers) before Tue 30 Sep and have your say in the MSE Forum.

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA
Do I sell my home to pay off some debt?

This week's MoneySaver who wants advice asks... My partner and I both work full-time but we're struggling. At the moment, I've not got enough to pay my bills for the month, plus we don't have enough money for food, petrol, etc. My mortgage is £580/month and I think I can sell up, pay off debts and rent for £500/month instead. Should I do it? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should I sell my home to pay off debt? | Suggest an MMD | View Past MMDs

THE GREAT HUNT
What bargains have you picked up on holiday?
The pound's currently strong against the dollar and euro - giving Brits bigger purchasing power abroad. So whether it's electrical goods in the US or cut-price Zara clothes in Spain, we want to know what you've bought for less by picking it up on holiday. Share yours/read others': Holiday bargains Past topics: View all

CHEAP FLIGHT SALES ALERT
Airline: Monarch Offer: Majorca & Alicante from £29 one-way Ends: Midday Tue 22 Jul
Our pick this week is Monarch's* East Midlands & Manchester sale - Majorca & Alicante from £29 one-way. It's on till midday Tue 22 Jul and includes taxes and most charges - credit card fees apply. It's for flights from Fri 25 Jul until Fri 31 Oct from those two airports to 10 destinations. Extra charges warning: Avoid payment and check-in charges - see Budget Airline Fee Fighting. Related: Cheap Flights, Cheap Hotels, Spending Abroad, Cheap Currency, Travel Insurance

THE GREAT HUNT... REVEALED
Your tips for hosting a MoneySaving summer party

MoneySavers suggest getting friends to bring their own dishes,
making sure your party ends when you say it'll end, and if you're coughing up for food - suggest your friends contribute to the bill. There's also punch-making tips, and if a barbecue doesn't appeal, try a 'bring a cheese' bash.

Quick forum tips

Freebie of the week

Martin's blogs

Martin's appearances

17 July
Martin Lewis Money Show, roadshow in Manchester Arndale Centre.
11am - 7pm.
18 July
Martin Lewis Money Show, roadshow in Manchester Arndale Centre.
11am - 7pm.
21 July
This Morning, ITV, 11am-12pm
Subject TBC
 

MSE team corner

Discussion of the week

Birthday day off school?

Is it OK to allow children to miss school on their birthdays? One forumite raises the issue in the Keeping kids off school thread. Join the discussion.

Cheap travel money

UK's Best Currency Rates
£100 will buy you:
Best Worst
Euro Flag 124.61 112.14
US Flag $ 169.61 152.64
Turkish Flag TL 345.00 309.60
Rates correct at 12pm Tue
Find all top currency rates
Compare travel cash

This week's poll: How common are free flight upgrades?

Are the days of sweet-talking check-in staff to get a free upgrade to premium economy, business, or first class long gone? Many airlines now sell spare upgrade capacity at the desk. So we want to see how common they are.

Please answer the closest to your situation for flights in the past two years.

Poll results

Do you travel with or without insurance?
We believe travel insurance is a necessity for holiday travel abroad - and 83% of voters who have booked a trip abroad have already got it sorted - hurrah. If you've booked and haven't got a policy yet, take an urgent look at our Cheap Travel Insurance guide.

- 71% of under-30s going abroad have travel insurance sorted.
- 85% of 30-64s have a policy in place.
- 84% of over-65s have bought insurance.

7,362 voted. See the full results.

Question of the week

Q: Can a company run a credit check on me without my permission? Russats, via Twitter.

MSE Amy's A: No. Companies such as banks, mobile phone and utilities firms need your permission, but they usually hide this in the small print. Once you’ve agreed, the firm can carry out checks, and keep carrying them out.

They'll initially check your credit report when you apply to see your past repayment history to check if you're an attractive borrower to them -  and also to prevent fraud.

They may also carry out further, ongoing checks, so if a credit card firm sees you as becoming more creditworthy, it may offer you a higher limit. You can see footprints of extra checks on your credit report for 12 months. But other lenders can’t see them so they won't affect your rating - only footprints driven by credit applications do that.

Not everyone plays fair. MSE found retailer Next carried out hard searches (like an application) on people buying goods online it deemed to have bad credit, even if they did not want credit. Read the Credit Scores guide for full info.

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

 Charlotte's free game of the week: 2048 Game

The world's best animal photobombs

That's it for this week, but before you go, have you ever been photobombed by an animal? Here's a selection of some of the best from around the world, with some crackers in there.

We hope you save some money,

Martin & the MSE team

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What you need to know

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Martin set up and runs MSE, and still writes this email each week (unless it says so). He's an ultra-focused money-saving journalist and consumer campaigner with his own ITV prime-time The Martin Lewis Money Show, weekly slots on Radio 5 Live, This Morning and Good Morning Britain, amongst others. He’s a columnist for publications including the Telegraph and Woman magazine. More info: See Martin Lewis' biography

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Any links with a * by them are affiliated, which means get a product via this link and a contribution may be made to MoneySavingExpert.com, which helps it stay free to use. You shouldn't notice any difference; the links don't impact the product at all and the editorial line (the things we write) isn't changed due to it. If it isn't possible to get an affiliate link for the best product, it's still included in the same way. More info: See how this site is financed.

As we believe transparency is important, we're including the following 'un-affiliated' web-addresses for content too:

Unaffiliated web-addresses for links in this email

ee.co.uk, broadbandchoices.co.uk, kidsweek.co.uk, barclaycard.co.uk, tescobank.com, firstdirect.com, postoffice.co.uk, moneysupermarket.com, gocompare.com, directline.com, aviva.co.uk, admiral.com, sainsburysbank.co.uk, bmsavings.co.uk, halifax.co.uk, ukash.com, firstdirect.com, santander-products.co.uk, confused.com, comparethemarket.com, aviva.co.uk, talktalk.co.uk.

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Note

Referring people to insurers or insurance intermediaries can in some circumstances constitute an FCA regulated activity. For this reason, pages with links which take you to the sites of insurers or insurance intermediaries are hosted by MoneySavingExpert.com Limited on behalf of MoneySupermarket.com Group PLC. MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 303190). The registered office address of both MoneySupermarket.com Group PLC and MoneySupermarket.com Financial Group Limited is MoneySupermarket House, St. David’s Park, Ewloe, Chester, CH5 3UZ.

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