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MSE Poll: Energy smart meters: what's your view?
Poll started 5 April 2022Over 26 million smart meters have been installed across England, Scotland and Wales. They come with in-home displays showing you information about your energy usage in real time, so can help you identify where you can cut back – especially important right now. Plus they automatically send meter…
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How much has your energy direct debit increased by in the last two months?
Up until April 2022 I was paying £105 per month for my gas and electricity bill by direct debit to Shell. They have just put it up to £423 per month. I stopped the direct debit so I wouldn't have to fight to get the money back, and I asked to be billed monthly in arrears only for the energy I have used and for which I…
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Shell increase
My DD has increased from £75's a month to £176's a month. I'm in Band E on a pension and will get no help. I suspect that it is the daily standing charge which has increased as well as the actual cost of energy used. I can do nothing about the daily standing charges.
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MPR
My DD with energy co OTM more than doubled but I was on a good deal and in credit. I’m now paying £199. More importantly I believe are the rates OTM wanted to charge me which totalled more that their declared figure of £1971. After a number of emails and excuses they seemed to accept their error and change the rates (no…
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MSE Poll: Energy smart meters – Great tech or a pain in the neck?
Poll started 23 June 2020The smart meter roll-out is resuming as the UK's lockdown gradually eases, with over 21 million meters installed since 2011. They automatically send meter readings to your supplier so you don't have to. Yet they're not without issues – for example, some will still revert to being 'dumb' if you…
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MSE Poll: Have you ever asked for a pay rise?
Poll started 29 March 2022The jump in the cost of living has hit hard, with fuel, energy and food costs rocketing. Yet, for many, wages haven't increased nearly enough to cover these additional costs. While it won't always be possible, asking for a pay rise could help alleviate some of the financial strain. This week, we…
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MSE Poll: What proportion of your income is spent on your mortgage/rent?
Poll started 22 March 2022Take what you pay on your mortgage or rent (including any service charges or ground rent but NOT council tax, insurance or other bills), and let us know roughly what percentage of your monthly take-home pay/income it is. If you have joint finances, please give your costs as a proportion of your…
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MSE Poll: How much are your typical monthly bills?
Poll started 15 March 2022Life in the UK is getting far harder to afford, with household bills spiking in recent months. And the cost of living is only going to increase further from April as the price of energy soars. So this week, we want to know how much you spend on household bills each month. Click here to vote in the…
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MSE Poll: When did you last make a call on your home landline?
Poll started 22 February 2022To get broadband at home, you often need to have a landline as well. But with many increasingly turning to other methods of communication, from video calls to group messaging, this week we want to know when you last used your landline to make or receive a call. Click here to vote in the poll…
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MSE Poll: What items do you buy second-hand?
Poll started 8 March 2022It's cheap and environmentally friendly, yet some people think only new will do. So this week, we want to know what items are you happy to buy second-hand? Click here to vote in the poll Did you vote? Are you surprised at the results so far? Have your say below. If you haven't already, join the…
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MSE Poll: Do you have a will? If not, why not?
Poll started 1 March 2022If you want to dictate where your assets go when you die, you need a will – a legal document telling everyone what should happen to your money, possessions and property. Wills can be made cheaply, and sometimes for free (see our Cheap Wills guide). But do you have a will, and if not, why not? Click…
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MSE Poll: How do you rate your broadband provider?
Poll started 1 February 2022We can tell you which are the cheapest broadband providers, but to keep our customer service ratings updated, we need your help. Please rate your BROADBAND provider on customer service (not price) over the past SIX MONTHS. Click here to vote in the poll Did you vote? Are you surprised at the…
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MSE Poll: Is it OK to use a 2for1 voucher on a first date?
Poll started 15 February 2022With Valentine's Day having just passed, many will have been out for dinner on a nerve-wracking first date. So it's the perfect time for our traditional poll – is it acceptable to use a 2for1 restaurant voucher on a first date? We've asked this in previous years – so let's see if attitudes have…
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MSE Poll: How much mobile data do you use in a month?
Poll started 25 January 2022Smartphones are an essential part of everyday life for many, with streaming, gaming, social networking and more all increasingly done on data-hungry mobiles. With many of us returning to the office after a long period of working from home (often on Wi-Fi), we want to see how much mobile data you…
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MSE Poll: Have you got a summer holiday booked?
Poll started 18 January 2022With signs of travel restrictions easing, holiday bookings are booming. So this week, we want to know if you've got a summer getaway booked and, if so, whether you expect it to go ahead as planned. Tell us if you've got a summer holiday booked. Click here to vote in the poll Did you vote? Are…
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MSE Poll: How do you rate your bank account's service?
Poll started 11 January 2022Every six months, we ask for your help to track the quality of customer service provided by banks. By comparing your answers with last time, we can see which have got better or worse. Click here to vote in the poll Did you vote? Are you surprised at the results so far? Have your say below. If…
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MSE Poll: Are you part of the cashless society? How often do you use cash?
Poll started 21 September 2021During the pandemic we saw a decline in the use of cash, with people favouring other methods of payment, such as contactless. With the government planning to increase the contactless limit again next month – up to £100 – we want to find out how cashless our society is now, and how many still…
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MSE Poll: What's your favourite and least favourite part of Christmas dinner?
Poll started 29 December 2021Whether you go silly for sprouts, potty for potatoes, or think turkey trumps all, there's usually something you love the most on your festive meal. On the flip side, whether you cringe at carrots, gag at the gravy, or want to bin the bread sauce, we also want to know what you don't enjoy. So…
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MSE Poll: How much is a £100 voucher at Amazon, M&S, Halfords and more really worth to you?
Poll started 14 December 2021These days, many short-lived promotional deals are discounted via store-specific vouchers, not cash. So we wanted to test which you found the most valuable in general, which are most appealing. To do that, we want to value how much cash you'd buy the voucher for if you could. Click here to vote…
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MSE Poll: What have you switched in 2021?
Poll started 21 December 2021Sadly, the best deals rarely come to loyal customers. Moving to a new, hot promotional deal is often (not always) the way to slash costs or boost earnings. So tell us, what have you switched in 2021? Click here to vote in the poll Did you vote? Are you surprised at the results so far? Have your…