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Ask An Expert: Archive

Archive of previous Ask An Expert questions and answers

MSE Oli has answered some of your questions
Select one of the posts with an 'Ask An Expert: Answered' tag to watch Oli reply. Due to limited time, our experts aren't able to answer all the questions posted on this board. Luckily, there's a wealth of expertise among the Forumites on the Travel & Transport boards, so make sure to have a visit. Thanks for everyone who…
Ask An Expert | Rules, Info & Money Mantras
Welcome to the MSE Forum's second Ask An Expert event. This time, it's all about DEALS. - 🛍️ 💸 🛍️ 💸 🛍️ - Please post your questions by clicking the coral-red 'Ask Oli a question' button. As always, please keep it kind, clean and on-track (see the MSE Forum rules). * You've got from now until 4.30pm on Thursday to post your…
Black Friday or Christmas sales - which is best?
I'll get things started with the first question. Am I more likely to find a bigger discount during Black Friday OR the pre-Christmas sales?
How can I be sure a call or text is from my bank?
I'll kick things off with the first question. Sadly we often hear about scammers who call or text people, pretending to be their bank. How can I make sure a call or text that looks like it's from my bank really is?
Whats going on with Booking.com?
I am a holiday let owner using Booking.com to advertise my property. I've just had an email from Booking.com stating they are going to perform 'maintenance' to their finance system next month and will not be paying out to property owners from 28th June to 24th July. This is a busy time of year, and we still have to pqy our…
Travel Insurance for older people with pre-existing medical conditions
I am especially concerned about travel insurance for older people with medical issues. I recollect seeing on the site that a travel insurance company has a policy suitable for older travellers that adds on to EHIC (now GHIC) card. You have to use the card for medical treatment. This was a useful product if you had…
My Boots Advantage card points were stolen. Can I get them back or what can I do?
Hi Katie On 23rd December, over £600 of my Boots advantage card points were used in a store in a London, across 4 transactions and I have been left with £4. My Boots card was locked away at home (where no-one else was present) and I was out of the country on holiday for several weeks before and after this date. This…
Investment scams
Various versions of this on Facebook - what can be done to prevent he naive being caught out?
Already redeemed store bought Amazon gift card.
Hi Katie! My daughter recently bought her son a £50 gift card from Tesco which he found had already been redeemed when he tried to use it. He realised that the packaging had been tampered with. Daughter has been to Tesco more than once and they refuse a refund or to investigate as it is Amazons' problem, they say.....…
Buying air tickets from an agent.
Under what circumstances (if any) is it sensible to buy air tickets from an agent rather than directly from the airline, and when doing this how can one protect oneself? (As an example, the airlines in Turkey have websites that do not work when I try to use them. And of course sometimes agents offer fares that seem lower…
Are package holidays worth it?
Never booked a package holiday before - always done separate flight and accommodation. Are they worth it? And is it still worth it if you're booking alone, or are the savings in booking for 2+ people? Thanks.
Marketplace scam
I’ve been scammed on Marketplace. I’m resigned to the fact there probably nothing I can do but wondered if there is? Facebook have no way of reporting this that I can find. The seller is still listing and not responding to messages. Is there anything I can do?
Replacement of ordered goods online before delivery
I'm aware via various posts on your forum that there seems to be a growing number of instances where expensive goods such as laptops or iphones are ordered online, but when they arrive and the package is opened inside is something cheap of similar weight, such as a bag of rice. As it is then impossible to return the…
Text messages from family members who have supposedly lost their phone.
Every few weeks I get a text, supposedly that one of my kids has lost their phone. My classic reply is to ask “which one of you now?” To which there is often the reply “the elder one”. I doubt anyone would reply with anything other than their name. I know in the UK you are told to forward the message (or copy and paste) to…
Over 65s
Hi, what deals are available for the over 65 folk amongst us, please?
FLIGHT MISBOOKING
We booked a flight with Norwegian Airways from Riga to London Gatwick via Stockholm in January paying Booking .comWhen we were due to fly we were told by Norwegian Airways that the Riga to Stockholm flight schedule had been amended in January and the flight booked did not exist.They said it was Booking.com's error and they…
Can you take non UK airlines outside of CAA or any other regulatory body to small claims court?
Specifically in my case, Qatar Airways. Details summary - Flight from Maldives to Doha (for a connecting flight to London) did not take off due to technical difficulties (Boeing 777) , we sat on plane for c4 hours as they tried to fix it. They failed, we were disembarked, put up in hotel, came home on Airbus A350 24 hrs…
Travel Insurance after being referred to a Rheumatologist
Hi, I've been referred to a rheumatologist but apparently there's a 45 week waiting list and in the meantime I can't get travel insurance until I've been diagnosed, is there anything I can do
Overseas travel bank card for under 18's
My son is going to South Korea in July as part of the World Scout Jamboree. We're looking for a bank card he can use there that doesn't incur high or ideally any fees. Most we've looked at require the account holder to be over 18. Do you know any that may be compatible we can sign up to please?
Long stopover search tools
Are there any tools where you can search and buy tickets with a long stopover eg a couple of days? Would be a good way of combining two mini holidays in one. I've looked at multi-city options as well as booking two return trips, both of which are more expensive and the two returns option means separate tickets, which can…
Cruise Insurance
I’ve booked a cruise for 2025 how do I get insurance to cover the large deposit I have paid. I currently have European cover with my bank but it’s a world cruise so I know I need worldcruise cover but not sure how to get advanced insurance thanks
Cheapest
Im going to holland for a fortnight. Is it cheaper to send from my bank of scotland account euros to my dutch bank account or is it cheaper to use my chase debit card in holland? Both options will cost of course but what is the cheapest way?

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MSE News

Bank of England cuts base rate to 4.25% – here's what it means for your mortgage and savings
The base rate has been cut to 4.25% from 4.5% by the Bank of England. This rate is used by the central bank to charge other banks and lenders when they borrow money, so the move can impact mortgage and savings rates.
Is now a good time to fix your mortgage or should you wait? Brokers answer as rates continue to fall ahead of expected Base Rate cut
Interest rates on fixed mortgage deals have continued to be cut ahead of this week's decision by the Bank of England on whether to change the Base Rate. But will fixed rates move much further – and should you fix now or wait?
Fixed-rate mortgages continue to fall ahead of expected Base Rate cut – so do brokers think now is a good time to fix?
Interest rates on fixed mortgage deals have continued to be cut ahead of this week's decision by the Bank of England on whether to change the Base Rate. But will fixed rates move much further?
Martin Lewis: How to call your bank by dialling just three numbers
How to call your bank by dialling just three numbers… simply dial 1-5-9. Then you know it's legit. Watch MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis' video below, which explains it. And please share – the more people know, the fewer will be scammed.
Martin Lewis: How to call your bank by dialling just three numbers – as 'anti-scam' phone number called over a million times
One million calls have been made to the '159' anti-scam phone number since its launch in 2021, new figures reveal today (Wednesday 30 April). MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis – one of the well-known faces most used in scams – explains how to call your bank by dialling just these three numbers.
Martin Lewis: How to call your bank with just three digits – as 'anti-scam' phone number called over a million times
One million calls have been made to the '159' anti-scam phone number since its launch in 2021, new figures reveal today (Wednesday 30 April). MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis – one of the well-known faces most used in scams – explains how to call your bank by dialling just these three numbers.
Revealed: Holland & Barrett's supposedly cheaper 'Subscribe & Save' often costs more – it's promised a review after our investigation
Holland & Barrett's 'Subscribe & Save' scheme claims to offer regular shoppers "the best value" – but it failed to do so in the majority of cases MoneySavingExpert.com checked over a five month period. The retailer has now promised to review the scheme after our research found it was often more expensive.
Don't get your passport by post – 360,000 paid more than needed last year
If your passport is due for renewal, apply online if you can – it'll save you £12.50. More than 7 million Brits did just that last year – but over 360,000 missed out on savings by using a paper form instead, MoneySavingExpert.com can reveal.
Sainsbury’s Bank customer? NatWest takes over this week – here's what it means for savers and borrowers
Sainsbury's Bank's savings, credit cards and loans will be taken over by NatWest from Thursday 1 May. For most, this means little will change for now as the Sainsbury's Bank brand will remain, though it's expected to be phased out towards the end of this year. However, if you've over £85,000 saved across both banks, it's worth considering moving any excess elsewhere to ensure your cash remains protected.

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