Latest news with #CostOfLiving
Scotsman
6 hours ago
- Business
- Scotsman
BT: £18m refund to EE, Plusnet customers after rule breach
You could be owed cash if you left your contract early 💷 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... BT has refunded £18 million to EE, Plusnet and BT customers after breaking contract rules Ofcom found over 1.3 million sales were made without clear pre-contract information At least 1.1 million customers may have been wrongly charged early exit fees Affected customers have been contacted, but some may still be owed money Where refunds weren't possible, BT donated £440,000 to 17 UK charities More than a million customers of multiple phone and internet providers could be due money back after a telecoms giant was forced to refund a massive £18 million — and you might be one of them. The payout to customers of EE, Plusnet and BT could follows an Ofcom investigation which found the latter broke consumer protection rules by failing to give customers key information about their contracts before signing up. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Since June 2022, telecom firms must provide clear details upfront — including contract length, speed, cost, and early exit fees — but BT failed to do so in at least 1.3 million sales. BT, which owns EE and Plusnet, was fined £2.8 million by Ofcom last year after breaching regulations designed to protect consumers and small businesses. (Photo: CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images At least 1.1 million customers were affected — and many may have been charged early exit fees unfairly after leaving contracts they never properly agreed to. The regulator demanded BT refund any customers who had paid such fees. Where refunds weren't possible — such as where the customer couldn't be contacted — BT was ordered to donate the equivalent to charity. So far, £440,000 has been given to 17 UK charities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A spokesperson for BT said: 'We're sorry that pre-contract information and contract summary documents were not available to some of our customers in a timely manner. 'We have proactively contacted affected customers and refunded them where appropriate.' BT added that it has worked with Ofcom to fix its sales processes and ensure compliance going forward. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How to find out if you're owed a refund If you were an EE or Plusnet customer between June 2022 and early 2023 — and left your contract early — you could be due a refund. BT says it has proactively contacted those affected, but if you think you've been missed: Contact your provider directly (BT, EE or Plusnet) Check past bank statements for early termination charges Ask for written confirmation of whether your contract met the legal requirements If you've since switched providers or changed contact details, it's especially worth following up, as BT may have struggled to reach you. Are you struggling to make ends meet as costs continue to rise? You can now send your stories to us online via YourWorld at It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
Scotsman
8 hours ago
- Scotsman
DWP scam: fake Winter Fuel Payment text tricking over-60s
Fraudsters are exploiting government confusion to steal bank details 🔒 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scammers are sending fake DWP texts about Winter Fuel Payments to trick pensioners Messages claim recipients must apply or miss out on a £300 'winter heating allowance' Links in the texts lead to fake websites requesting personal and bank details The DWP has confirmed it never sends texts or emails asking for bank info for this payment Only those newly eligible need to apply — most payments are made automatically Older people are being urged to stay alert as scammers exploit public confusion over recent changes to the Winter Fuel Payment with a convincing text message con trick. The fraudulent messages claim to be from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), warning that recipients haven't yet applied for this year's 'winter heating allowance' and risk missing out on a £300 payment if they don't act fast. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The message includes a link designed to look like an official site – but it's a trap. The warning comes just weeks after the Government reversed its stance on the one-off winter top-up, leading many to believe they may need to reapply for support. What do the scam text messages look like? (Photo: Pexels) | Pexels Scammers are banking on the recent headlines to add a false sense of urgency. Their messages appear to be from 'DWP' or 'Department for Work and Pensions', reference a 'winter heating allowance', and suggest recipients are at risk of missing out on £300. They also include a link resembling a genuine government web address, and claim there's a same-day deadline to act. Once clicked, the link takes you to a fake site asking for personal and financial details. In some cases, users are told to pay £1 on their card to 'verify' their identity – a tactic used to harvest payment details. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The official word from DWP The DWP has issued a firm warning, saying: 'We never send text messages or emails requesting your bank details for winter fuel payment purposes.' In most cases, Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically to those of state pension age who have received the payment before. Only those who've never had it – such as people newly eligible or who've deferred their state pension – need to apply. What to do if you receive a scam message? Ignore and delete any texts asking you to apply for the Winter Fuel Payment, and warn older family members or neighbours who may be more vulnerable. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Report scam messages by forwarding them to 7726 (a free reporting service). If you've fallen victim, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via their website.
Scotsman
8 hours ago
- Scotsman
DWP scam: fake Winter Fuel Payment text tricking over-60s
Fraudsters are exploiting government confusion to steal bank details 🔒 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scammers are sending fake DWP texts about Winter Fuel Payments to trick pensioners Messages claim recipients must apply or miss out on a £300 'winter heating allowance' Links in the texts lead to fake websites requesting personal and bank details The DWP has confirmed it never sends texts or emails asking for bank info for this payment Only those newly eligible need to apply — most payments are made automatically Older people are being urged to stay alert as scammers exploit public confusion over recent changes to the Winter Fuel Payment with a convincing text message con trick. The fraudulent messages claim to be from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), warning that recipients haven't yet applied for this year's 'winter heating allowance' and risk missing out on a £300 payment if they don't act fast. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The message includes a link designed to look like an official site – but it's a trap. The warning comes just weeks after the Government reversed its stance on the one-off winter top-up, leading many to believe they may need to reapply for support. What do the scam text messages look like? (Photo: Pexels) | Pexels Scammers are banking on the recent headlines to add a false sense of urgency. Their messages appear to be from 'DWP' or 'Department for Work and Pensions', reference a 'winter heating allowance', and suggest recipients are at risk of missing out on £300. They also include a link resembling a genuine government web address, and claim there's a same-day deadline to act. Once clicked, the link takes you to a fake site asking for personal and financial details. In some cases, users are told to pay £1 on their card to 'verify' their identity – a tactic used to harvest payment details. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The official word from DWP The DWP has issued a firm warning, saying: 'We never send text messages or emails requesting your bank details for winter fuel payment purposes.' In most cases, Winter Fuel Payments are made automatically to those of state pension age who have received the payment before. Only those who've never had it – such as people newly eligible or who've deferred their state pension – need to apply. What to do if you receive a scam message? Ignore and delete any texts asking you to apply for the Winter Fuel Payment, and warn older family members or neighbours who may be more vulnerable. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Report scam messages by forwarding them to 7726 (a free reporting service). If you've fallen victim, contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via their website. Are you struggling to make ends meet as costs continue to rise? You can now send your stories to us online via YourWorld at It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
Scotsman
9 hours ago
- General
- Scotsman
Home Responsibilities Protection: error may owe thousands
Thousands risk missing out on State Pension top-ups due to a government error 👀 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... People who took time off work to care for children or family between 1978 and 2010 may be owed thousands in missing State Pension payments A government error meant many didn't receive Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) credits, reducing their National Insurance record and pension amount Martin Lewis warns the government has stopped proactively contacting those affected On average, underpayments are worth around £5,000, but some have received backpayments exceeding £30,000 Those who suspect they're affected should check their State Pension forecast on People who took time off work to care for children or family between 1978 and 2010 are being urged by Martin Lewis to check if they're owed thousands in missing State Pension payments — with some reclaiming more than £30,000 in backpay. The MoneySavingExpert founder has warned that a government error, which went unnoticed for decades, could be depriving hundreds of thousands of a State Pension boost worth an average of £5,000. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But most of those affected haven't been contacted, and time is running out to claim what they're owed. What's the issue? The error centres on Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP), a government scheme that ran from 1978 to 2010. It was supposed to protect the State Pensions of people — mostly mothers — who claimed Child Benefit or cared for someone long-term ill or disabled. HRP gave people National Insurance (NI) 'credits' for the years they weren't working due to caring duties. These credits count towards their State Pension entitlement. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But due to government record-keeping failures, around 194,000 people never received those credits, meaning their NI records are incomplete and their State Pensions lower than they should be. Speaking on his podcast, Martin Lewis gave a blunt warning: 'This is an important heads-up for women aged 40 to 90, particularly those in their 60s and 70s. 'If you looked after children or a disabled person between 1978 and 2010, you were likely meant to get HRP. But many didn't — and while the government was trying to contact people, it's now stopped doing so.' Although HMRC sent over 370,000 letters to people it believed could be affected, uptake was poor. According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), only 12,379 underpayments were corrected in 2024/25. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Due to the low response rate and 'challenging' nature of correcting the error, the Government has scaled back the compensation programme. Originally, it earmarked £1.2 billion to repay affected pensioners — but this has now been slashed to just £29.8 million, suggesting most people may never see the money they're owed. Former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb has criticised the DWP's failure to fix the problem, calling the campaign a 'dismal failure'. 'The vast majority affected are women — some underpaid for decades or who even died before being paid the correct pension,' he said. 'The government's admission that most won't get their money is shameful.' How to check if you're owed money You could be eligible if: You were born between roughly 1930 and 1970 (aged 50+ now) You claimed Child Benefit or cared for someone full-time between 1978 and 2010 You have gaps in your National Insurance record You're getting less than the full State Pension (currently £221.20 a week) To find out: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Visit to view your forecast Check if you have gaps in your NI contributions See if those gaps fall between 1978–2010, when you were a stay-at-home parent or unpaid carer If so, you can apply to backdate your HRP credits You can also contact the HMRC National Insurance helpline on 0300 200 3500. Are you struggling to make ends meet as costs continue to rise? You can now send your stories to us online via YourWorld at It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
Scotsman
10 hours ago
- Business
- Scotsman
BT: £18m refund to EE, Plusnet customers after rule breach
You could be owed cash if you left your contract early 💷 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... BT has refunded £18 million to EE, Plusnet and BT customers after breaking contract rules Ofcom found over 1.3 million sales were made without clear pre-contract information At least 1.1 million customers may have been wrongly charged early exit fees Affected customers have been contacted, but some may still be owed money Where refunds weren't possible, BT donated £440,000 to 17 UK charities More than a million customers of multiple phone and internet providers could be due money back after a telecoms giant was forced to refund a massive £18 million — and you might be one of them. The payout to customers of EE, Plusnet and BT could follows an Ofcom investigation which found the latter broke consumer protection rules by failing to give customers key information about their contracts before signing up. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Since June 2022, telecom firms must provide clear details upfront — including contract length, speed, cost, and early exit fees — but BT failed to do so in at least 1.3 million sales. BT, which owns EE and Plusnet, was fined £2.8 million by Ofcom last year after breaching regulations designed to protect consumers and small businesses. (Photo: CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images At least 1.1 million customers were affected — and many may have been charged early exit fees unfairly after leaving contracts they never properly agreed to. The regulator demanded BT refund any customers who had paid such fees. Where refunds weren't possible — such as where the customer couldn't be contacted — BT was ordered to donate the equivalent to charity. So far, £440,000 has been given to 17 UK charities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A spokesperson for BT said: 'We're sorry that pre-contract information and contract summary documents were not available to some of our customers in a timely manner. 'We have proactively contacted affected customers and refunded them where appropriate.' BT added that it has worked with Ofcom to fix its sales processes and ensure compliance going forward. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How to find out if you're owed a refund If you were an EE or Plusnet customer between June 2022 and early 2023 — and left your contract early — you could be due a refund. BT says it has proactively contacted those affected, but if you think you've been missed: Contact your provider directly (BT, EE or Plusnet) Check past bank statements for early termination charges Ask for written confirmation of whether your contract met the legal requirements If you've since switched providers or changed contact details, it's especially worth following up, as BT may have struggled to reach you.
