Latest news with #MartinLewis'
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
TUI, easyJet and other airline travellers could be owed '£520' for delayed flights
There are several ways to seek compensation for flight delays and compensation - here's everything you should know A travel enthusiast has revealed a tool that could help you claim compensation after facing flight delays. The Travel Mum took to TikTok to share her insights, claiming travellers with TUI, easyJet and any other airline could be owed as much as £520 in certain scenarios. "Is there anything worse than getting to the airport and finding out your flight has been delayed?" she asked her 417,000 followers. "Well, here is a little hack to make sure you get the compensation you are owed. "Most families don't realise they could be owed up to £520 per person after a delay. A huge 52% of valid claims get wrongly rejected by the airlines for all sorts of reasons." The Travel Mum pointed to AirHelp, an online platform that allows airline passengers to claim compensation for delays, cancellations, and overbookings effortlessly. The service is rated 4.6 stars on Trustpilot and claims to have already assisted 2.7 million travellers in successfully receiving compensation. While it offers a free compensation checker, allowing customers to easily view what they are owed online, claiming the money with AirHelp's assistance does have a cost. One payment model offered is a 'no win, no fee' deal, meaning a standard cost equal to 35% is typically deducted from any winnings. Conversely, you can also pay for an AirHelp+ annual membership from £34.99 per year, which means no fees are deducted from your winnings. But, regardless of your fee option, AirHelp will handle all the paperwork and negotiations for you, while paying for all legal costs. These can amount to £1,000 in the worst of cases. The Travel Mum continued: "AirHelp is great because they know what they are talking about, and they will handle the whole claims process for you. "They will even take the airline to court if they are denying you what you are owed." Despite this, note that travellers can make a compensation claim independently for free, and AirHelp is not required as part of that process. You can generally do this by contacting an airline directly - each airline will have a different compensation process. Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert also offers a wealth of advice and its own free online tool to help you make a complaint and keep track of it. However, before choosing this option, it's important to assess your eligibility. Travellers are only entitled to compensation in certain situations. For instance, if a flight was cancelled less than two weeks before take-off, if staff strikes occur, or if disruptions are the airline's fault, you may have a case on your hands. Yet, stormy weather, political issues, volcanic eruptions and security concerns aren't grounds for compensation. If you're flying from a UK or EU airport or onboard a UK or EU-based airline arriving in these zones, your flight should be covered by EU and UK compensation regulations, too. This is also true if you've booked through a travel agency or tour operator.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Martin Lewis' MSE issues warning to parents over new monthly fee
HyperJar is listed as a top-pick prepaid card for under-18s by MSE, meaning it is popular with parents - but the consumer rights website has explained a new fee is kicking in from today Martin Lewis' team has issued a warning over a new fee associated with a popular prepaid debit card. Hyperjar is introducing a new £3 a month inactivity fee. The fee kicks in if you don't use your account within a 12-month period. HyperJar is listed as a top-pick prepaid card for under-18s by MSE - meaning it is popular with parents. MSE said: 'HyperJar is our top-pick prepaid card for under-18s as it doesn't have a monthly account fee and offers a good combination of features to help manage children's spending. 'If you haven't used your HyperJar account in a while, but want to keep it, you can avoid the fee by doing any of the following.' MSE says you can avoid the fee by sending money to, or receiving money from, another bank or HyperJar account, or moving money within your HyperJar account from one 'jar' to another. You can also buy something using your HyperJar card, or buy a "Cashback Voucher" or "HyperVoucher" through the HyperJar app. Finally, if you don't use your HyperJar account, you may want to close it instead. It comes after MSE issued a separate alert for tens of thousands of households who could be due up to £1,000 compensation after they were forced onto an energy prepayment meter. The energy regulator Ofgem has announced that £5.6million will be paid out by eight energy companies to 40,000 customers in total, following a review. The suppliers will also write off a further £13million of energy debt. The payments start at £40 or £60, rising to £250, £500 and £1,000. The eight energy firms that are issuing the payments are: Scottish Power, EDF, Octopus, Utility Warehouse, Good Energy, Tru Energy and Ecotricity. It comes after Ofgem launched an investigation into often vulnerable customers being switched to prepayment meters after they fell behind on bills between January 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023. Ofgem has said the compensation will be paid automatically into energy accounts and added that some customers will have already been contacted by their supplier. The energy firms at the centre of the investigation have already paid out £55million in financial support. It comes after new stricter rules on forced prepayment meter installations were introduced by Ofgem in 2023, following an investigation by The Times which revealed how debt collectors had forced their way into homes to install prepayment meters.
South Wales Argus
29-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
What is Pick My Postcode? Martin Lewis explains free lottery
Pick My Postcode, which used to be called Free Postcode Lottery, allows people to win money for free, as long as their postcode is drawn. On its website, the lottery organisers said: 'We believe everyone should have the chance to win something for free. At Pick My Postcode all you need is a postcode and a minute each day to check if you've won.' With 42,033 prizes given out in the UK so far, you might be wondering how you could be one of them. From why the lottery is free to take part in to how to claim your prize, here's what we know about Pick My Postcode. What is Pick My Postcode and how can you win money for free? Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert (MSE) website explains: 'Pick My Postcode is a fun competition that's been running daily since 2011. 'It has several completely free draws each day – some you can win £5 to £100, while the main daily jackpot draw is currently £200, which will roll over if it isn't claimed. It sounds too good to be true, but it's legit. 'So far, over £3 million has been won, with almost a third of that going to MoneySavingExpert users.' To use Pick My Postcode, you'll need to be over 18 and register your postcode and make an account for free. At midday each day, the lottery will draw a postcode randomly with a £200 jackpot up for grabs. Who is Martin Lewis? To claim it, you'll need to make sure you check the website for the winning postcode before midday the next day and claim it if it's your postcode that is drawn. If a £200 prize is unclaimed, the prize fund will increase by £200 every day until claimed. If there are multiple winners with the same postcode, the money will be split between each winner. MSE explained: 'The biggest prize claimed since the site started is £8,660.21. Before that it was £3,794.79, which was won by an MSE Weekly email reader. We also heard from another MoneySaver who won £2,500 – see their quote further down.' While it might sound like there's a catch, MSE explains: 'Pick My Postcode is funded by ads, which appear all over the site, along with links to other freebies and surveys. 'You don't have to click them, they make it money just by being there.' How to earn extra bonus money When checking the site, you can get an extra 3p each day, which will be added to your winnings, but you will only claim this if your postcode wins. You can also play smaller games, including the £50 Survey Draw (you'll need to answer a question to be entered) and the Stackpot – you could win £10 if your postcode appears in a list which is updated twice every day. Recommended reading: What to do if your postcode wins If you check the site and your postcode comes up in the main draw on that day, you'll need to press the collect button. Pressing the button will mean your winnings will be paid into a PayPal account or you can have your winnings loaded onto a gift card. Winners can also choose to double and donate their winnings to a charity. Good luck!
North Wales Chronicle
28-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
What is Pick My Postcode? Martin Lewis explains free lottery
Pick My Postcode, which used to be called Free Postcode Lottery, allows people to win money for free, as long as their postcode is drawn. On its website, the lottery organisers said: 'We believe everyone should have the chance to win something for free. At Pick My Postcode all you need is a postcode and a minute each day to check if you've won.' With 42,033 prizes given out in the UK so far, you might be wondering how you could be one of them. A post shared by (@realpickmypostcode) From why the lottery is free to take part in to how to claim your prize, here's what we know about Pick My Postcode. Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert (MSE) website explains: 'Pick My Postcode is a fun competition that's been running daily since 2011. 'It has several completely free draws each day – some you can win £5 to £100, while the main daily jackpot draw is currently £200, which will roll over if it isn't claimed. It sounds too good to be true, but it's legit. 'So far, over £3 million has been won, with almost a third of that going to MoneySavingExpert users.' To use Pick My Postcode, you'll need to be over 18 and register your postcode and make an account for free. At midday each day, the lottery will draw a postcode randomly with a £200 jackpot up for grabs. To claim it, you'll need to make sure you check the website for the winning postcode before midday the next day and claim it if it's your postcode that is drawn. If a £200 prize is unclaimed, the prize fund will increase by £200 every day until claimed. If there are multiple winners with the same postcode, the money will be split between each winner. MSE explained: 'The biggest prize claimed since the site started is £8,660.21. Before that it was £3,794.79, which was won by an MSE Weekly email reader. We also heard from another MoneySaver who won £2,500 – see their quote further down.' While it might sound like there's a catch, MSE explains: 'Pick My Postcode is funded by ads, which appear all over the site, along with links to other freebies and surveys. 'You don't have to click them, they make it money just by being there.' When checking the site, you can get an extra 3p each day, which will be added to your winnings, but you will only claim this if your postcode wins. A post shared by (@realpickmypostcode) You can also play smaller games, including the £50 Survey Draw (you'll need to answer a question to be entered) and the Stackpot – you could win £10 if your postcode appears in a list which is updated twice every day. Recommended reading: Martin Lewis 'three crucial alerts' warning for summer holiday travel Martin Lewis 'very pleased' at Winter Fuel Payments changes for pensioners How to claim a free coffee from Costa, Starbucks, Caffe Nero or Greggs this week If you check the site and your postcode comes up in the main draw on that day, you'll need to press the collect button. Pressing the button will mean your winnings will be paid into a PayPal account or you can have your winnings loaded onto a gift card. Winners can also choose to double and donate their winnings to a charity. Good luck!
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Mastercard compensation explained - including how to claim and the exact payout
Mastercard is set to pay out £200million in compensation to customers - but what does this mean? and who is set for the payout? Last week, the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled that consumers had "lost out" because of Mastercard's "unlawfully high" card fees. According to the announcement, millions of Brits could be eligible for a compensation payment worth up to £70. However, at the moment things are a bit up in the air as Mastercard works to implement how it will pay the compensation. Here we explain exactly what happened, who is eligible for the compensation, and how you can get the cash. The case was first brought forward nearly 10 years ago in 2016 by former financial ombudsman Walter Merricks. He argued that millions of shoppers were "ripped off" after fees were wrongly levied on card transactions. Companies such as Mastercard provide the services and technology for companies to take card payments from the public. Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert (MSE) website describes them as the "middle man" between banks, businesses, and consumers. Because of this, Mastercard charges a fee on each transaction. These fees, known as "interchange fees," were at the centre of this legal case. Merricks claimed Mastercard raised these fees too high between 1992 and 2008. Businesses and retailers passed these extra costs onto the consumer in the form of higher prices. These hiked prices were passed on to all consumers, not just Mastercard customers. The case was finally settled last week after a year-long negotiation process on the overall settlement amount. The tribunal's decision was based on this settlement and not Mastercard's fee. Mastercard has not admitted any liability in the case and declined to comment when approached last week. For all you savvy savers and bargain hunters out there, there's a golden opportunity to stretch your pounds further. The Money Saving Club newsletter, a favourite among thousands who thrive on catching the best deals, is stepping up its game. Simply follow the link and select one or more of the following topics to get all the latest deals and advice on: Travel; Property; Pets, family and home; Personal finance; Shopping and discounts; Utilities. As the price hikes were placed on a wide range of goods and services - it means all card users were affected and could be eligible for a payout from Mastercard. However, there are - of course - some caveats and not everyone will be able to claim. Firstly, you can only claim if you lived in the UK for at least three months between 1997 and 2008. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the exact period is between June 20, 1997, and June 21, 2008. For Scotland, the period stems from May 22, 1992 and June 21, 2008. MSE says the period is longer in Scotland as it has different legal rules around time limits for claims. You can only be eligible if you were over the age of 16 years during the three months of living here. This age requirement was put in place as it was decided that those of working age were considered "more likely to have suffered loss on their own account". This age limit means anyone born on or after March 22, 1992 is not eligible to put in a claim. During this same period, you will have needed to have bought goods or services for personal use from a firm selling in the UK. No proof of purchase will be needed for this payment - so you do not need to provide an old receipt - and you did not need to have paid with a card. This means you can claim even if you didn't have a Mastercard card. Finally, you will need to have been living in the UK on September 6, 2016 - the date when the legal claim was filed in the courts. It's important to note that you can't claim if you have already opted out of the claim. Everyone who has met the criteria was automatically "opted in". To opt out, you needed to fill out a form or contacted the law firm in this case directly. Get money news and top deals straight to your phone by joining our Money WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Or sign up to the Mirror's Money newsletter here for all the best advice and shopping deals straight to your inbox. The headline compensation figure for this case is £70, however, Martin's MSE team warned that the payout is expected to be a lot less. As mentioned before, the overall settlement sits at £200million, although not all of this will go to consumer compensation. Mastercard will use some of the money to pay legal and court fees. Finally, the exact amount you will get will depend on how many people put forward a claim. The more people that do, the less you will get. It is expected that around 2.2million people will put forward a claim for compensation. If this estimate is correct, the payment will sit at £45 per person. If fewer people put forward a claim, then £70 will be paid to each individual. Any remaining funds will go to the Access to Justice Foundation charity. This is due to a cap being put in place to avoid "disproportionate payouts" compared to the alleged loss people actually suffered. The compensation process is still in its very early days, and things have not been entirely ironed out yet. According to the website, an online claims portal is set to launch in the "coming weeks". The claims process is being administered by the legal service firm Epiq. The group is not the same as the solicitors - Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP - who worked on the case. Based on similar settlement cases, you will need to provide a range of personal information, including your name, date of birth, home address, email address, telephone number, and banking details. This final detail is needed so the money can be paid to you. As mentioned before, you will not need to submit any proof to make a claim, but you will need to self-certify that you meet the criteria. The claims administrator may do random anti-fraud spot checks on claims being put forward. Once the online claims form is live, it is likely to stay up for a few months, with the compensation payments set to be paid out by the end of the year. With these types of claims, it's important to be cautious and wary of scammers. You cannot yet claim the money, and any advertisements, online posts, texts, or emails suggesting otherwise are likely scams. If you're unsure about anything you see or hear regarding the claim or want to know all updates regarding it - always check the official website. This is as follows: From universal credit to furlough, employment rights, travel updates and emergency financial aid - we've got all of the big financial stories you need to know about right now. Sign up to our Mirror Money newsletter here.
