Latest news with #MartynJames
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Best and worst bag fees from shops revealed as we name retailers charging YOU more
Scroll down to find out how to save money on your weekly food shop FEE FURY Best and worst bag fees from shops revealed as we name retailers charging YOU more Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SHOPPERS are paying up to 566% extra for carrier bags based on where they shop. Research by The Sun has found differences are huge. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 We've researched how much retailers charge for single-use and longer-life bags Credit: PA While Home Bargains charges 15p for a reusable bag, some retailers including Iceland and Waitrose charge £1 - an 85p difference. Health retailers Superdrug and Boots also charge £1 for longer life carriers. Retailers sell two types of bags - single use and reusable. Some shops have ditched selling single-use bags entirely, while others do have cheaper options for shoppers. We found the cheapest long-life bags on offer from Sainsbury's, Lidl, Tesco and Aldi cost 30p - and 70p less than some of its rivals. Since 2021, by law retailers have had to charge 10p per single-use carrier bag in a bid to reduce waste and help the environment - known as the plastic bag charge. The government estimated that in 2013 supermarkets gave out over eight billion single-use carrier bags to shoppers across the UK. But by 2023/24, the reduction in these bags dropped by 98% compared to 2014. The drop off in single-use bags has seen take up of long life carriers surge. However, consumer expert Martyn James has said customers being charged more for longer-life bags hints at profiteering by retailers. Shopping discounts - How to make savings and find the best bargains He said: "When the plastic bag charge was introduced, some grumbled, but at 5p a pop, it didn't break the bank. "A decade or so on and plastic bags come in at 30p a pop or more and many people I speak to feel there is blatant profiteering going on." We looked at the major supermarkets and retailers to see how much they charge for single-use and long life bags. Here's what we found. How supermarket bag costs compare All the major supermarkets don't sell single-use carrier bags apart from Co-op and Aldi which sell 10p compostable carrier bags. Co-op's bag, once used, doubles-up as a waste food bin liner, which can then be thrown away. Prices for these same supermarkets' longer-life bag options can vary significantly. Asda's Bag For Life will set you back 40p while Morrisons' paper Bag For Life is also 40p. Morrisons also sells plastic Bags For Life for 60p, and replaces any which are damaged for free. Lidl, Sainsbury's and Tesco's Bags For Life cost 30p. Aldi sells an Eco-Loop carrier reusable bag for 30p while its Bag For Life is 65p. Waitrose doesn't offer shoppers Bags For Life, however they can get thicker reusable bags from £1. Frozen food specialist Iceland's woven reusable bags cost £1. How other major retailer prices compare Boots sells a variety of different size single-use paper bags. Small bags cost 10p, medium bags 12p and larger carriers 20p. Shoppers can also buy a medium Boots Bag For Life for £1 or large size for £1.20. Discounter Home Bargains only sells reusable carrier bags, which cost 15p in Great Britain and 20p in Northern Ireland. Fashion retailer New Look charges customers 30p for its Bag For Life. Poundland's reusable bags start at 50p while it also has Bags for Life which start priced at £1. Meanwhile, Primark's single-use paper bags, which were previously free of charge, cost 15p and its reusable sacks cost from 80p. Ikea's most popular "FRAKTA" reusable bag starts from 50p while shoppers can buy a larger size for 75p. Health and beauty retailer Superdrug charges 15p for its single-use paper bags. It also sells a foldable reusable tote bag for £1. A Primark spokesperson said: 'Like most retailers, we now have a small charge for our paper bags. "Reducing single-use paper is one small step we and our customers can make to reduce waste. "We hope this encourages more shoppers to switch to re-usable bags." A Boots spokesperson said: "A Boots bag for life costs £1 for a medium size and £1.20 for a large size. "The bags are reusable and are made from 100% recycled bottles." A Waitrose spokesperson said its longer life bags are a different design to traditional longer life bags. They added: "They are a durable long term option which our customers have bags of love for - and we want them to last years." We asked Iceland and Superdrug to comment. How to cut the cost of your grocery shop SAVING on your shop can make a big difference to your wallet. Here are some tips from comparison site about how you can cut the cost of your shopping bills: Write yourself a list – Only buy items that you need. If it isn't on your list, don't put it in the trolley Only buy items that you need. If it isn't on your list, don't put it in the trolley Create a budget – Work out a weekly budget for your food shopping – Work out a weekly budget for your food shopping Never shop hungry – you are far more likely to buy more food if your tummy is rumbling – you are far more likely to buy more food if your tummy is rumbling Don't buy pre-chopped veggies or fruit – The extra they'll charge for chopping can be eye watering – The extra they'll charge for chopping can be eye watering Use social media – follow your favourite retailers to find out about the latest deals – follow your favourite retailers to find out about the latest deals Be disloyal – You may want to go to different stores to find the best bargains – You may want to go to different stores to find the best bargains Check the small print – It's always worth checking the price per kg/lb/litre when comparing offers so you're making a like for like decision as a bigger box won't necessarily mean you get more – It's always worth checking the price per kg/lb/litre when comparing offers so you're making a like for like decision as a bigger box won't necessarily mean you get more Use your loyalty cards – Don't be afraid to sign up to them all. They all work slightly differently – work out what bonus suits you better and remember to trade in your points for additional rewards Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Best and worst bag fees from shops revealed as we name retailers charging YOU more
SHOPPERS are paying up to 566% extra for carrier bags based on where they shop. Research by The Sun has found differences are huge. 1 While Home Bargains charges 15p for a reusable bag, some retailers including Iceland and Waitrose charge £1 - an 85p difference. Health retailers Superdrug and Boots also charge £1 for longer life carriers. Retailers sell two types of bags - single use and reusable. Some shops have ditched selling single-use bags entirely, while others do have cheaper options for shoppers. We found the cheapest long-life bags on offer from Sainsbury's, Lidl, Tesco and Aldi cost 30p - and 70p less than some of its rivals. Since 2021, by law retailers have had to charge 10p per single-use carrier bag in a bid to reduce waste and help the environment - known as the plastic bag charge. The government estimated that in 2013 supermarkets gave out over eight billion single-use carrier bags to shoppers across the UK. But by 2023/24, the reduction in these bags dropped by 98% compared to 2014. The drop off in single-use bags has seen take up of long life carriers surge. However, consumer expert Martyn James has said customers being charged more for longer-life bags hints at profiteering by retailers. Shopping discounts - How to make savings and find the best bargains He said: "When the plastic bag charge was introduced, some grumbled, but at 5p a pop, it didn't break the bank. "A decade or so on and plastic bags come in at 30p a pop or more and many people I speak to feel there is blatant profiteering going on." We looked at the major supermarkets and retailers to see how much they charge for single-use and long life bags. Here's what we found. How supermarket bag costs compare All the major supermarkets don't sell single-use carrier bags apart from Co-op and Aldi which sell 10p compostable carrier bags. Co-op's bag, once used, doubles-up as a waste food bin liner, which can then be thrown away. Prices for these same supermarkets' longer-life bag options can vary significantly. Asda 's Bag For Life will set you back 40p while Morrisons ' paper Bag For Life is also 40p. Morrisons also sells plastic Bags For Life for 60p, and replaces any which are damaged for free. Lidl, Sainsbury's and Tesco 's Bags For Life cost 30p. Aldi sells an Eco-Loop carrier reusable bag for 30p while its Bag For Life is 65p. Waitrose doesn't offer shoppers Bags For Life, however they can get thicker reusable bags from £1. Frozen food specialist Iceland's woven reusable bags cost £1. How other major retailer prices compare Boots sells a variety of different size single-use paper bags. Small bags cost 10p, medium bags 12p and larger carriers 20p. Shoppers can also buy a medium Boots Bag For Life for £1 or large size for £1.20. Discounter Home Bargains only sells reusable carrier bags, which cost 15p in Great Britain and 20p in Northern Ireland. Fashion retailer New Look charges customers 30p for its Bag For Life. Poundland 's reusable bags start at 50p while it also has Bags for Life which start priced at £1. Meanwhile, Primark's single-use paper bags, which were previously free of charge, cost 15p and its reusable sacks cost from 80p. Ikea 's most popular "FRAKTA" reusable bag starts from 50p while shoppers can buy a larger size for 75p. Health and beauty retailer Superdrug charges 15p for its single-use paper bags. It also sells a foldable reusable tote bag for £1. A Primark spokesperson said: 'Like most retailers, we now have a small charge for our paper bags. "Reducing single-use paper is one small step we and our customers can make to reduce waste. "We hope this encourages more shoppers to switch to re-usable bags." A Boots spokesperson said: "A Boots bag for life costs £1 for a medium size and £1.20 for a large size. "The bags are reusable and are made from 100% recycled bottles." A Waitrose spokesperson said its longer life bags are a different design to traditional longer life bags. They added: "They are a durable long term option which our customers have bags of love for - and we want them to last years." We asked Iceland and Superdrug to comment. .
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Evri confirms big change to parcel returns and customers will be divided
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EVRI has confirmed it's making a big change that will impact shoppers sending off or returning parcels. The delivery company will be switching from paper receipts to email receipts. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Evri will be changing to only digital receipts - meaning paper ones are gone for good Credit: Alamy That means that when you go to drop off a package at your local ParcelShop, you'll no longer receive a blue slip. Instead your receipt will be sent to your email address and it will have a date and time stamp on it for when you sent the parcel. The email will also include a direct link to track your package. The move initially had a trial run but it's now being brought in at ParcelShops across the country. Evri has said it's "excited" to be rolling out the change soon and that it's listened to customer feedback saying shoppers would prefer a move to digital receipts. "This will improve the customer experience with quick access to tracking, reduce the millions of paper receipt cards printed each year, and drive us towards our net-zero target," it said. But concerns have been raised previously that companies moving entirely to digital processes could shut out some customers. For example, numerous banking giants have closed down branches in recent years as more people move to online banking. There have been fears this could leave older or vulnerable people unable to access services properly. Consumer rights expert Martyn James also raised concerns about Evri's move to digital receipts. I'm an Evri delivery driver - people always ask me the same questions... no we don't get our petrol paid for, and yes, I do think it's worth it "Of all the business sectors in the UK, package delivery is the most complained about and reviled by the public," he said. "There's little doubt that the sector is already far too overly reliant on digitisation - to the point where it's impossible to speak to a person at many businesses. "So given the lack of faith from the public about the service provided by package delivery companies, digital receipts will go down very badly indeed." Meanwhile some convenience shop owners warned it could take much longer for their workers to process parcel returns. Premier retailer Suril Patel told The Grocer: "It's a long process already compared to Yodel, and now they're putting that extra step in which is going to take more of my staff's time and cause longer queues." Nisa retailer Sukh Gill added: "I can foresee instances where details get misheard or the staff member cannot understand the email address correctly or inadvertently makes an error, which will then cause customers to come back into stores because they have not received their email receipt." Neither of these retailers were involved in the trial but believe they will be affected by the change. Evri says the switch won't impact how long it takes for convenience shop workers to scan through parcels as email addresses will be auto-filled where possible. The move could also make things easier for some customers as they will no longer have to keep a paper receipt to hand and they won't be able to lose it. Plus, they will have a quick way to track their parcel online. Some retailers already give shoppers the option of receiving email receipts instead of paper ones. Zara, H&M and New Look are among the shops that offer email receipts. Evri made another change to its delivery services earlier this year. Vinted sellers were left frustrated after realising they could no longer drop their Evri parcels into selected InPost lockers. The change meant sellers had fewer options to drop off deliveries as they can now only go to Evri ParcelShops or specific Evri lockers. Evri rated 'worst parcel company' Last year, the watchdog found Evri is the worst parcel company for helping its customers. It received just a 32% satisfaction rating in 2024, according to Ofcom's Post Monitoring Report. This was marginally better than in 2023 and the regulator said there were "early signs of improvement". Rival Yodel was rated second-worst at 38%.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Evri confirms big change to parcel returns and customers will be divided
EVRI has confirmed it's making a big change that will impact shoppers sending off or returning parcels. The delivery company will be switching from paper receipts to email receipts. 1 That means that when you go to drop off a package at your local ParcelShop, you'll no longer receive a blue slip. Instead your receipt will be sent to your email address and it will have a date and time stamp on it for when you sent the parcel. The email will also include a direct link to track your package. The move initially had a trial run but it's now being brought in at ParcelShops across the country. Evri has said it's "excited" to be rolling out the change soon and that it's listened to customer feedback saying shoppers would prefer a move to digital receipts. "This will improve the customer experience with quick access to tracking, reduce the millions of paper receipt cards printed each year, and drive us towards our net-zero target," it said. But concerns have been raised previously that companies moving entirely to digital processes could shut out some customers. For example, numerous banking giants have closed down branches in recent years as more people move to online banking. There have been fears this could leave older or vulnerable people unable to access services properly. Consumer rights expert Martyn James also raised concerns about Evri's move to digital receipts. I'm an Evri delivery driver - people always ask me the same questions... no we don't get our petrol paid for, and yes, I do think it's worth it "Of all the business sectors in the UK, package delivery is the most complained about and reviled by the public," he said. "There's little doubt that the sector is already far too overly reliant on digitisation - to the point where it's impossible to speak to a person at many businesses. "So given the lack of faith from the public about the service provided by package delivery companies, digital receipts will go down very badly indeed." Meanwhile some convenience shop owners warned it could take much longer for their workers to process parcel returns. Premier retailer Suril Patel told The Grocer: "It's a long process already compared to Yodel, and now they're putting that extra step in which is going to take more of my staff's time and cause longer queues." Nisa retailer Sukh Gill added: "I can foresee instances where details get misheard or the staff member cannot understand the email address correctly or inadvertently makes an error, which will then cause customers to come back into stores because they have not received their email receipt." Neither of these retailers were involved in the trial but believe they will be affected by the change. Evri says the switch won't impact how long it takes for convenience shop workers to scan through parcels as email addresses will be auto-filled where possible. The move could also make things easier for some customers as they will no longer have to keep a paper receipt to hand and they won't be able to lose it. Plus, they will have a quick way to track their parcel online. Some retailers already give shoppers the option of receiving email receipts instead of paper ones. Zara, H&M and New Look are among the shops that offer email receipts. Evri made another change to its delivery services earlier this year. Vinted sellers were left frustrated after realising they could no longer drop their Evri parcels into selected InPost lockers. The change meant sellers had fewer options to drop off deliveries as they can now only go to Evri ParcelShops or specific Evri lockers. Evri rated 'worst parcel company' Last year, the watchdog found Evri is the . It received just a 32% satisfaction rating in 2024, according to Ofcom 's Post Monitoring Report. This was marginally better than in 2023 and the regulator said there were "early signs of improvement". Rival Yodel was rated second-worst at 38%.
Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Travel mistake millions of people make every year - it could cost you a fortune
Consumer rights expert Martyn James explains everything you need to know about travel insurance and why millions of people are putting themselves at risk if something goes wrong Who doesn't love a holiday?! We save all year for a few weeks in the sun, or the chance to explore the cities and wild regions of the earth. The Office of National Statistics found that UK citizens made over 86 million trips abroad in 2023. But a lot can go wrong on a holiday, which is why you need the best travel insurance you can buy… …You'd think, wouldn't you? Yet according to various polls, between a quarter to half of all Brits take a punt on a holiday abroad with no insurance whatsoever. On top of that, recently found that only 4.6 million GHIC cards were issued last year, down 18%. The GHIC gets you some free hospital treatments in the European Economic Area (EEA), and some other countries too (apply here). Terrifyingly, millions of people are going abroad without any means of support when things go wrong. The irony of this is travel insurance is very much affordable. So here's my guide on how it works, what to look for in a policy. Single trip or annual policy? There are two main types of travel insurance policy, though you'll find a lot of variety out there with each type. Single trip insurance does just what it says on the tin. It's often cheap and cheerful and often sold alongside travel holiday packages, flights or at airports. Annual policies are worth it if you're taking a few holidays in a year and it's useful if you want to take advantage of those last-minute travel bargains, knowing you'll be covered. It's better for long-haul trips too and what it covers can be more extensive. Get the best deals and tips from Mirror Money WHATSAPP GROUP: 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. What's cancellation cover? If something unexpected happens in the run up to the holiday (like the death of a close relative, illness, a significant or unexpected event) then cancellation cover will pay out a sum towards the costs of not being able to travel. This clause will allow you to reclaim the cost of your holiday, though the maximum limit will be capped, so always check what that limit is. Cheap policies can exclude cancellation cover or have very restrictive conditions, so never assume you're fully covered. Cancellation cover isn't for every eventuality either. You'll find you can only claim for incidents affecting you or your immediate family, for example. If you've got a pre-existing medical condition that might affect your ability to travel, you'll need to disclose this when you take out the policy – or if you have an annual one, when the condition is diagnosed. If you don't do this, then your claim might get turned down. Do I really need to read the terms and conditions? Of all types of insurance, travel insurance is notorious for having exceptionally long terms and conditions. The good news these have reduced dramatically in recent years, but policy T&Cs that cover over 40 pages are not uncommon. In some ways this is inevitable, as travel insurance covers you for many more scenarios than other insurance policies might. You can skim the main T&Cs if you know what to look for (see below). However, there is one thing you absolutely should read. You should get a 'key facts' booklet that tells you the most important things in the contract, like excess levels, significant exclusions, policy limits and how to claim. These days, the insurance company might send you the key facts booklet by email. Click on the link, read it and save the document, just in case. What is an excess fee and policy limit? An excess fee is the amount of money that you have to pay when you make an insurance claim, except it's usually deducted from your settlement figure. A policy limit is the maximum amount your insurance policy will pay out when you claim for specific situations and losses. Here's how it works in practice: You might have to pay the first £200 of a claim for a cancelled holiday (excess fee). In addition, the maximum policy limit could be £2,000. So if you make a successful claim for a cancelled holiday, the most you could claim for with this policy is £1,800, no matter how much you've spent on the trip. Because there are lots of potential claims that you could make, there are lots of policy limits (or excess fees) to check when you take out your policy. You may be able to pay a little more to extend the limits or reduce the excess fees, so it's worthwhile familiarising yourself with them. I'd suggest looking at policies that cover you for at least £2 million for medical expenses/repatriation. This sounds a lot. However, if you need treatment in America, you may find you need even more than that, depending on what has happened. Consider £2,000 to £3,000 for cancellation, £1,500 for lost or damaged luggage and £1 million for personal liability (in case you get sued for damage you cause to you, property or other people by accident). You'll find that payouts for things like your travel cash are low, so keep your currency safe. Am I too much of a high risk to get travel insurance? There are a few things that can make getting insurance harder or more expensive: Being older (over 70) Being pregnant Having a serious medical condition (even if it's treatable) Going somewhere where travel is dangerous Taking part in (legal) high-risk activities Don't give up. There are brokers, charities and specialist insurers who can help you find cover. Get in touch if you need details of who to contact for free. You may find making some compromises reduces the cost of insurance, depending on what you're willing to accept. If you've been treated for cancer and are in remission, an insurer may only offer you a policy that excludes medical treatment abroad in relation to cancer, but covers you for all other medical emergencies. Speak to your doctor and make a decision about whether you are willing to accept a risk like this. Can I get a family insurance policy? There are lots of family insurance policies to protect you and your loved ones. If you're going away with the kids, it's worth opting for one. However, if your children are going to be out of your sight while on holiday, like at a holiday club or taking part in an activity, check to ensure this is regulated and involves full supervision, which will be required by your insurance policy. Family cover will also usually allow you to stay with a sick child in hospital or travel home with them if necessary – but often this only covers one parent. This can be distressing for parents when they discover this, but it's pretty standard in policies. Adrenaline junkie? You'll need special cover If you're planning on doing something wild on holiday, make sure you've added adventure sports cover – or winter sports cover - to your policy. These 'add on' policies or upgrades protect you for a wide range of activities, based on a scale of risk. Adventure sports cover includes obvious things like bungee jumping, sky dives, quad bike riding and even horse riding. A huge number of people fall off bikes while on holiday (motor or pedal) so don't hire one without the extra cover. Yet more sedate activates like off-trail hiking might require this additional cover too. If you're taking part in any activity on holiday with an element of risk, make sure that the service provider also has liability insurance and is trained and authorised to provide the service. You can check this on their website. What if you need to come home early? There are times when you might need to come home from holiday after a family event at home, or an injury abroad. This is known as 'curtailment'. Check what your policy covers you for (replacing tickets, getting you to the airport, medical support, what happens when you're at home). If you break a limb, you might find you have to wait for a flight that can fit you on it, so keep in touch with your insurer about how they can help you. Valuables and the cost of what's in your travel bag It's a common assumption that you'll be covered for all your personal possessions by your travel insurance policy but this isn't the case. Most policies only have relatively limited payouts for valuables and you'll usually have to pay an extra premium if you want to cover more items when you travel. Back in more innocent times, people would cart around a tattered paperback and some local currency on holiday. But now we have smartphones, tablet computers, gaming systems, laptops, smart watches, expensive jewelry and more. Can you afford to lose them? If not, then think carefully about what you take away with you. Make sure you use a safe if the hotel has one – most insurance policies will require you to do this. You won't be covered if you leave items unattended. This includes in your hotel room, on a sun lounger and even in the luggage store at the hotel. What if you need to make a claim? I recommend photographing your insurance documents and/or saving them on a smartphone or emailing them to yourself. I'd also save your insurer's emergency telephone number in your phone too, just in case you need it in the case of a medical emergency. No matter what the situation is that has given rise to a claim, you'll need to contact the insurance company as soon as possible after the incident has occurred. These time limits can be very tight so don't delay. If you are a victim of a crime, you'll be required to file a police report. If you're in a hospital, then there'll be a special team on the emergency line who are there to help with medical issues. Get in touch with them and they'll talk you through your options. The hospital may want to know if you're insured before they continue treatment, especially if it is a private facility. Hold on to any documents that might be useful for the claim and send copies when you're home. Travel safely, knowing you are covered Despite the best efforts of Icelandic volcanoes, striking air traffic controllers, handbag snatchers and hurricanes, the vast majority of us will have a fabulous, trouble-free time on holiday. But knowing you're covered while abroad frees you up to relax and have a good time. So buy today, don't delay!
