Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Clubcard alert, rail hell rights, 0% debt masterclass, petrol hike help, air lounge hack, 'free' West End tix, Visa compo?, Martin's student loan fix, free mascara

Hi - here are your latest deals, freebies, tricks and messages to help you save.
                                                           
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Overdrafts, credit cards, even loans. If you've debt, ensure the rate is as cheap as possible - and nothing's cheaper than 0%

 Martin here... The regulator the Financial Conduct Authority has just rightly proposed a crackdown on short-term, high-cost credit. It's looking to cap rent-to-own rates (where you get a fridge/TV on credit and it can cost 5x the true sum), to change the way overdraft-breach charges work, and to toughen doorstep lending rules (though I want 'em to go further). I admit we don't have guides for those, as we believe they're bargepole products (ie, don't touch them with one). Yet sadly some who struggle and can't get other credit feel trapped into using them.

If that's you, first do a budget to minimise expenses, then check credit union options and payday loan alternatives. Plus if you've paid fees for busting your overdraft, see if you can reclaim bank charges for free.

Yet for ANYONE with debt, ensure it's at the cheapest rate possible. Nothing beats 0% (done right), as you just repay what you borrowed at no cost, so all repayments clear the debt, not just service interest. So the team has put together top tips to cutting ALL debt costs...

  1. Cut OVERDRAFT costs to 0%. While the FCA focused on ghastly up to £8/day fees, even a £1/day arranged overdraft could cost a mega £365/yr if consistently £100 in debt. Do your utmost to stay out of your overdraft as it's NOT your money - it's debt that needs repaying. But if overdrawn, there are two ways to cut interest to 0%... (You need to pass a credit check for both.)

    a) Try to switch to a 0% overdraft. First Direct* offers an ongoing £250 0% overdraft. Plus, if you switch to it you can choose from perks such as £170 Bose wireless headphones or a £150 Expedia voucher (see 
    full info). It's topped every customer service poll we've ever done and offers a 5% regular saver. There's a £1k+/mth min pay-in for the account, otherwise it costs £10/mth. Nationwide FlexDirect's 0% overdraft can be bigger, but only lasts 1yr (it costs 50p/day after) so aim to clear before. More help in 0% Overdrafts.

    b) Use a 0% money transfer credit card. This is where a specialist card pays cash into your bank, clearing your overdraft, so you owe it instead - useful for large overdrafts. The top deal is from MBNA (
    eligibility calculator / apply*) which gives up to 32mths 0% for a 2.99% fee (23.9% rep APR after). For full help and best buys see our Money Transfers guide.

    c) Can't get a better deal or struggling? Ask for help. The FCA says firms must ensure customers are treated fairly. So if you've a big overdraft and can't switch, call your bank. Full help in Cut Overdraft Costs

  2. Cut CREDIT OR STORE CARD debt with up to 36mths 0%. A mega 55% with a card balance pay interest - at typical 20% rates that's £400/yr on a constant £2k debt. The remedy is often a balance transfer - where you get a new card to repay debt on old cards, so you owe it instead, but at 0%.

    But don't just apply willy-nilly. Each application marks your credit file, so if you're rejected and you apply again, it makes it trickier. Instead use our free Balance Transfer Eligibility Calc which shows which of the top cards you're most likely to get.

TOP NEW-CARDHOLDER 0% BALANCE TRANSFER DEALS 
CARD
0% LENGTH (REP APR AFTER)

FEE
MBNA (eligibility calc / apply*) - lowest fee of the joint-longest
Up to 36mths (21.9%) 1.99%
Virgin Money (eligibility calc / apply*) - longest but non upto higher fee 36mths (20.9%) 2.8%
HSBC (eligibility calc / apply*) - long 0% with low fee + £25 cashback if you transfer £300+ within 60 days
32mths (19.9%)
1.4% (min £5)
Santander (eligibility calc / apply*) - longest NO FEE card
27mths (18.9%)
NONE

More help to pick:

- Go for the lowest fee in the 0% period you're sure you can repay in. Unsure? Play safe and go long, even with a big fee.
Some are 'up to' 0% lengths, so you may get shorter even if accepted. So we include the best 'non-up to' options, where you get the full length if accepted.

Always follow the Balance Transfer Golden Rules:

a) Clear the card or transfer before the 0% ends or you pay the high APR.
b) Never miss the min monthly repayment or you can lose the 0%.
c) Don't spend/withdraw cash. It usually isn't at the cheap rate.
d) You must usually transfer within 60/90 days of card opening to get the 0%.

Full help and more info in Best Balance Transfers (see APR Examples).

  1. Cut PERSONAL LOANS to 2.7%. If you have a loan with a high interest rate, the big question is "Can you get a new loan to clear your current one and save?" Here's what to check...

    STEP 1: Ask your current lender for a settlement figure. This is how much it costs to fully repay your loan now, incl early repayment costs  of up to 2mths' interest. In other words, this is the amount you'd need a new loan for to pay off your old one.

    STEP 2: Find the cheapest new loan to cover the settlement figure. For borrowing of under £3k, doing a 0% money transfer is likely cheapest. For more, the cheap loans below win...

    - £3,000-£4,999, Zopa* is 5% to 6.9% rep APR.
    - £5,000-£7,499, Admiral* is 3.3% rep APR.
    - £7,500-£15,000, Sainsbury's Bank* (1-3yrs, needs a Nectar card) is 2.7% rep APR. Full info & options: Cheap Loans (APR Examples).

    Use our free Loans Eligibility Calc to see your likely cheapest deal, yet remember only 51% of accepted customers need get the advertised rate, the others can be charged a higher rate.

    STEP 3: Work out how much it'll cost you to stay where you are. Check your monthly repayments and how many are left (ask the lender if unsure) to work out how much it costs to stick.

    STEP 4: Check which of steps 2 & 3 is cheaper. Use our Loan Switch Calc.

  2. Urgently check if you can slash MORTGAGE costs by £1,000s. If you've a mortgage deal ending soon - or you pay your provider's potentially pricey standard variable rate (SVR), which most intro deals revert to - check NOW if you can save. As SVRs average 4.75%, and 2yr fixes start at 1.39%, switching can save £6,300 over the 2yrs before fees on a typical £150,000 mortgage.

    There's urgency as it's the biggest monthly expense for many, but also as rates are creeping up. Huge savings are possible, as Alysia emailed: "Followed your tips and switched, saving £338/mth. That's £20,280 saved over 5yrs. Thanks, MSE." Full help in our Remortgage Guide 2018, plus use our Mortgage Best Buys tool to benchmark the top deals.

  3. What about my STUDENT LOAN 'debt'? In many cases, while it's counter-intuitive, you're better off just to leave it. However, it depends on which type of loan you have, which depends on when you started. We've full guides to help either way...

    - Started in or after 2012 (and you're from Eng or Wales)? See Martin's Student loan interest is 6.1% - panic or pay off? guide.

    - Started before 2012 (or after and from Scot or NI)? See our
    Should I repay my student loan? guide.

  4. Are you in debt crisis? The options above are designed to help people who can handle their debt and get out of it. But if things are tough, that may not be the right solution. Do any of these apply?

    - You can't even meet min monthly payments.
    - You have non-mortgage debts bigger than a year's salary.
    - You have sleepless nights or depression/anxiety over debt.

    If so, forget the solutions above and get free, one-on-one debt-counselling help from Citizens Advice, StepChange or National Debtline. And if you need emotional support too, try CAP.

    All are there to help, not judge. Read inspiring stories in our Debt-Free Wannabe forum and also see our Mental Health & Debt guide. Full info: Debt Crisis Help.



Martin Lewis Money Show LIVE SPECIAL, ITV, 8pm Tue 12 June
 
It's an 'ask me anything' live hour - incl the brand-new 'Holiday Hacker'

Over to Martin... "I've a live special next week. And as always that means you can watch the show, get in touch and ask me questions on anything. I'll also be running through how to slash the cost of holidays, including travel money, insurance, car hire and my 40 holiday hacks. Do watch or at least set the Betamax."

 
 

DON'T believe the fake ads on Facebook
Lots of scam ads that litter social media lie that we or Martin promote Bitcoin, binary trading etc. See Fake ads warning.

 

 
 

Trains fiasco: Botched timetables, constant delays & more - EVERYONE should know their rail rights. Are you due £100s?

Train delay hell is common. Yet it's been acutely painful for millions who use Great Northern, Northern and Thameslink services after new schedules went horribly wrong recently. While they've hit the headlines - with subsequent calls for the Transport Secretary to quit - rail misery can strike at any time. Our Train Delays guide has full info on how to claim - and we've five quick tips below (for Eng, Scot & Wal - the rules are different in NI). Claiming not only gets you cash for the inconvenience, but it hits rail firms in the pocket - giving them an incentive to sort the mess out.

  1. EVERY time you're late, check if you're due 25-100% back via Delay Repay. Of the 30 rail firms, 20 are on this refund system, which Fiona's used: "Delayed on trips to and from Newcastle with partner, got £184 - 100% of our fare."

    - If you arrive 2, 15 or 30mins+ late you're usually due 25%+ of the fare back in cash, whatever the reason. Exact delay times and compensation amounts vary - see firm-by-firm rules. (A clever tool also shows delay times, but not for NI.)
    - How to claim. Do it online or by post, usually within 28 days. See how to claim.

  2. Can't use Delay Repay (eg, Arriva Wales & Chiltern)? You may still be due cash. Arriva Wales, Chiltern, Eurostar, Grand Central, Great Western, Heathrow Express, Hull Trains, London Overground, Merseyrail and TfL Rail aren't on Delay Repay. They use older systems, where you sometimes need to be delayed by 1hr+ to get anything. See firm-by-firm rules.

  3. Got a season ticket? Check if you're due even more at renewal, eg, 'I got £400+'. Most firms let you claim for each delay as above. But some let you claim a bulk extra if there's been a series of problems. BBC presenter Spencer Kelly tweeted Martin: "It's well worth asking the ticket office if you're due any refund due to service disruption - I just got a £438 windfall." See Season ticket help.

  4. Botched timetable victim? You may be due extra. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said on Monday that there'll be extra compensation for those hit by the timetable fiasco. Full info's yet to be announced - eg, which lines it'll apply to - but the Govt has confirmed it'll be ON TOP of anything you'd normally get. Full updates in Train hell latest.

  5. Awful onboard service, eg, dodgy loos, no seats? You can complain to train firms, quoting the Consumer Rights Act for delays or shocking service. Marjorie told us: "Complained about a member of staff and was given an open first-class ticket." See How to complain about poor service.
 

Last chance. Many Tesco Clubcard Rewards slashed after Sunday. For many you must act now (eg, Pizza Express/Zizzi), for some you should wait (eg, RedSpottedHanky). Full info and help in Tesco Clubcard overhaul

Free West End shows for kids (incl Aladdin & Wicked) with paying grown-up. The Annual Kids Week sale is back. Last year 100k+ tickets went in the first 24hrs. Aug-only, for age 16 or under. Full info incl when they're on sale in 'Free' kids' theatre.

Biggest petrol price rise in 18 years - how to fight back. As pump prices soared 6p/L in a month, our Cheap Petrol & Diesel guide can help drive costs back down, incl the clever tool that finds your nearest cheapest forecourt. 

Tesco Direct 'closing down' clearance sale, eg, £7.50 side table, £12.50 bookcase. Ltd stock. Tesco Direct

FREE £6ish Benefit mascara. When you recycle old ones from any brand. How to get free mascara.

Two cracking deals end this week (one only launched on Mon) and are far cheaper than most pay. They're for newbies ONLY on 18mth contracts. Here's quick info - links go to our Broadband Unbundled comparison tool, which checks if you're eligible and explains how they work to get the best price (eg, some include free cash via a prepaid Mastercard you need to claim).

Ends Thu. TalkTalk, avg 35Mb speed, equivalent to £18.34/mth
New. EE, avg 36Mb, equiv £20.45/mth
Ends Thu. BT, avg 50Mb, equiv £21.27/mth


 
 

Summer hols hack: 2 free airport lounge visits + £100 vch when back
Switch your normal UK spending to a new credit card to get away in style + a treat when you return
 

It's rare for a credit card to offer double freebies, but this Amex Preferred Rewards Gold card wins for travellers and shoppers. The two free airport lounge passes should come within 28 working days of you being approved for it - just in time for the summer getaway. And if you qualify for the £100 Amazon/M&S etc voucher, it'll arrive for most in late summer, Oct at the latest. Here's key info...

  • Two free airport lounge passes AND free £100 vch or 20,000 airline pts. Accepted new Amex Preferred Rewards Gold (eligibility calc / apply*) cardholders get two big perks:

    - Two free airport lounge passes. You get a membership card to the 'Lounge Club' scheme, usually within 28 working days of being approved. It comes with two free visits to its partner lounges (£15/person after), usable in most major UK airports. See full Amex airport lounge pass info.

    - £100 voucher or 20,000 airline points on a £2k+ spend. You get 1 Membership Reward point per £1 spent on the card. Yet spend £2,000+ in the first 3mths and you get a further 20,000pts, which can be converted into a £100 Amazon/M&S/House of Fraser etc voucher (exact stores can change) or 20,000 Avios/Virgin etc points. But only use it for normal spending - it's not an excuse to overspend. Amex promises the bonus points within a month of hitting the trigger but most usually get them the next day.
     
    Warning: There's a £140 annual fee from year two. Remember to cancel if you don't want to pay. And as it's a credit card, you must repay IN FULL each month to avoid the 22.9% APR interest - full info in Credit Card Rewards.

  • Bag the best airline seats, get £20 cashback on overseas spending, slash car-hire costs etc. We've loads more hacks and tricks to get the most from your holiday in 62 Overseas Travel Tips.
 

Martin's 5 urgent changes needed to fix student loans. Read his summary of our submission to the Govt's further education review. 5 student loan changes

99p photo-personalised Father's Day card. MSE Blagged. Card's free, just pay 99p delivery. Make dad's day

60+ FREE UK festivals... incl Ronan Keating, Gabrielle, Feeder & more. We've collated all the major ones and how to find those near you. Plus how to get into paid ones free. Festivals are best when you pay nothing at all. Related: Camping deals, incl £15 dome tent.

Visa meltdown - can you get compensation? After millions of cards stopped working on Fri, some customers incurred charges - eg, extra fees abroad. See your rights (you don't have many, but there are a few) in Can I get a Visa refund?

Free £20-£25 eye tests at Boots, Optical Express & Specsavers. Full info: Free Eye Tests.

£6 for 10 tomato plants, norm £20. MSE Blagged. For cheap tomatoes this summer. Fruity

 
 

Tell your friends about us

They can get this email free every week

 
 

AT A GLANCE BEST BUYS

Longest 0%: MBNA* up to 36mths 0%, 1.99% fee (19.9% rep APR)
No-fee 0%: Santander* 27mths 0%, no fee (18.9% rep APR)

Get comparison site quotes in this order:

  1. MoneySupermarket.com*
  2. Confused.com*
  3. Compare The Market*
  4. Gocompare*

Then check insurers they miss: 
Direct Line (+ £40 Amazon vch)
Aviva*

Cheapest for £5,000-£7,499: Admiral* 3.3% rep APR
Cheapest £7.5k-£15k: Sainsbury's Bank* 2.7% rep APR (Nectar custs, 1-3 yrs)

Standard b'band & line rent: TalkTalk equiv £12/mth
Fibre b'band & line rent: 
TalkTalk equiv £18.34/mth

£150 to switch + £50 if you stay a year: HSBC
5% interest fixed for a year:
Nationwide FlexDirect

 

 Tell me-ow to find cheep pet insurance

Land on your feet checking comparison sites, then adding hot off-furs they miss, eg, £50 M&S vch

If your four-legged friend's feeling poorly, vet bills could leave you with your tail between your legs. The average pet insurance claim is now a staggering £757, and without cover, complicated surgery could saddle you with massive bills - we've seen 'em as high as £30,000. Yet up to 12.4 million cats and dogs are still uninsured, according to the Association of British Insurers, so owners risk hefty fees. To avoid being bitten, see our Cheap Pet Insurance guide for full help - here's a litter of quick tips:

  • Step 1. Check comparison sites to benchmark the cheep-est prices: 
    - One cat or dog? Combine Gocompare* and Compare The Market* for a range of quotes.
    - Multiple cats and/or dogs? Confused.com* and MoneySupermarket* give quotes for several pets.

    For other animals, check the following:
    - Horses and ponies: Try SEIB, Petplan Equine* and NFU Mutual.
    - Parrots, snakes, lizards etc: Exotic Direct*.
    - Rabbits, budgies, chinchillas: Exotic Direct* or, for rabbits only, Quotezone* and Petplan*.

  • Step 2. Check if you can get it even cheaper with off-furs comparison sites miss (cats/dogs only)Insurers such as Aviva* and Direct Line* aren't on comparisons, and their multi-pet discounts can be decent. Plus we've blagged a £50 M&S gift card when you buy a Legal & General* policy using code MSE6 before Sun 24 Jun.

  • Paws to check our pet insurance golden rules: Let's trot though them - full info, incl policy types and extra cashback, in Cheap Pet Insurance.
     
    1) Need cover but can't afford it? If you're on certain benefits, charities such as the PDSA may help with vets' bills.
    2) You're liable for your dog's behaviour, not your cat's. Cats are legally 'free spirits', dogs aren't - if they injure someone or damage property, you're liable. So check your policy has third-party cover.
    3) Could you self-insure? For smaller animals you could put cash in savings to cover fees. Self-insuring
    4) If your pet's been treated, beware switching provider. Pre-existing conditions help
    5) Don't forget routine jabs. Otherwise it could invalidate your insurance. See Annual injections help.
 

FREE £10 Deliveroo credit for picking litter off the beach. At different locations every week for the next four weeks. Eg, this weekend it's Bournemouth. Seas the day

COUNCIL TAX REBAND WIN - SUCCESS OF THE WEEK:
"I followed your tip and challenged my mother-in-law's council tax band and got it reduced. The saving was backdated 23 years, equalling £4,250. I'm now the favourite son-in-law. Cheers."
(Send us yours on this or any topic.)

Free entry to 300+ farms this Sunday - meet the animals, ride a tractor & wang your welly. We gave you a heads-up last week - here's a reminder to get moo-ving. Open Farm Sunday

 

CAMPAIGN OF THE WEEK

Is the Bank of England's interest rate info easy to understand? The Bank wants feedback on how it communicates its decisions relating to its official borrowing rate, the base rate. Is the Bank's Inflation Report - which explains the decision - crystal clear, or does it leave you bamboozled? Take its short survey to have your say.

 

THIS WEEK'S POLL

How do you rate your banks' apps? More and more of us now bank by app, so we want you to rate yours. Please vote for ALL THE APPS that you've used. Rate your apps

Almost a third of you DON'T have travel insurance. Last week, we asked if you thought travel insurance was a must-buy when going away. More than 6,200 voted and worryingly, despite us always saying you should get insurance as soon as you've booked, a hefty 32% with a holiday booked didn't have it. See full travel insurance poll results.

 
 

MONEY MORAL DILEMMA

Should I charge my tenant for damage to a hob that I didn't show her how to use? I rent out a room to a student. In our kitchen each ring on the hob has a cap you need to remove before using. I never showed her the cap and she has damaged it. Should I withhold some of her deposit? Enter the Money Moral Maze: Should I charge my tenant for hob damage? | Suggest an MMD | View past MMDs

THE QUICKIES

- Debt-Free Wannabe chat of the week: Bring your lunch to work in June
- Competitions thread of the week: Win a bottle of Old Pulteney whisky
- Old-Style board thread of the week: Grocery Challenge June 2018
- Family, marriage, relationships chat: Do I have a right to see my grandchildren?
- Discussion of the week: Will the big banks ever get with the times?

 

SpeckyFourEyes - £10-£30 specs incl Oasis and Superdry
Krispy Kreme - buy one get one free milkshakes
Feel Unique - free five beauty samples (just pay £3.95 delivery)
M&S - £5 off £35 when you recycle clothes
Lego - free £5 Lego for kids every month in-store

Beefeater - 33% off food bill
Frankie & Benny's - main and drink £6
Prezzo - 40% off mains
Domino's - 25% off £20 spend
Café Rouge - 40% off mains

Gruum - £15 beard and skincare kit (norm £40ish)
Harvester - 'free' main on Father's Day
Morrisons - £6 'Big Daddy' 19-piece breakfast
Beefeater - 'free' steak for dads on Father's Day
Virgin Wines - 10 bottles of wine for £61 delivered

Quick Forum Tips

£2 Gillette Fusion ProGlide razor. Smooth move
Ikea sale starts this week. Enjoy your shelf
Fiorelli 50% off sale & extra 20% off code. 50 purse-ent off

 
 

MARTIN'S APPEARANCES (WED 6 JUN ONWARDS)

Thu 7 Jun - Good Morning Britain, ITV, Deals of the Week, 7.40am
Fri 8 Jun - This Morning, ITV, Martin's Quick Deals, from 10.30am
Mon 11 Jun - This Morning, ITV, from 10.30am. See previous
Mon 11 Jun - BBC Radio 5 Live, Lunch Money Martin, noon. Listen again
Tue 12 Jun - The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, ITV, 8pm

MSE TEAM APPEARANCES (SUBJECTS TBC)

Wed 6 Jun - BBC Cumbria, Money Talks with Helen Millican, from 6pm
Fri 8 Jun 
- BBC South West stations, Good Morning with Joe Lemer, from 5am
Mon 11 Jun - TalkRadio, Breakfast with Julia Hartley-Brewer, 9.45am
Tue 12 Jun - BBC Radio Cambridgeshire with Jeremy Sallis, 2.20pm

 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Q: What's the best way to use a mobile in the USA to avoid rip-off £1/min charges? Paul, via email.

MSE Weleid's A: First, check what your mobile provider offers - eg, EE, Three and Vodafone allow you to pay a daily or monthly fee to use your UK allowance in certain countries, including the US - while some of their plans include this as standard. Or, if out of contract, consider switching to one of the trio above, though only if it's a good overall deal taking into account use at home and abroad. 

Another trick is to get a free 'Advanced' pay-as-you-go Sim from Three as a second line, as long as your phone is unlocked or locked to Three. Top it up with anything between £5 and £35 and you can roam at no extra charge in the US. The downside is you'll have a different number. See our US Roaming and Cheap Mobile Roaming guides for full help. 

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

 

HELP STOP THE SNEEZING AND RED EYES AT MSE TOWERS

That's all for this week, but before we go... we often show you how to save on hay fever meds using generic tablets, but now we want your help. We're looking for your DIY hay fever remedies, not only to help millions of users but also the many hay fever sufferers at MSE Towers - on Monday it seemed half the office had come to work on a 'red eye' flight. Whether it's showering when you get home or keeping windows closed, tell us what works for you in the DIY hay fever remedies Facebook post.

We hope you save some money,
The MSE team

 

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