MBE for Martin

dunstonh

Martin has provided a resource of information which much of the time allows people to save money. However, some of the time it costs people money too.

For example, there is a thread in the pensions section where someone is using the open market option to go directly to providers to find the best rate. They have thanked Martin for encouraging him to do that. So far so good. However, the impression this person got was that they shouldnt use an adviser as it would cost too much. Yet, annuity purchases made direct are no cheaper (as providers keep the money they pay the IFA for themselves) and it turns out that the individual buying the annuity has been ill and would qualify for enhanced rates that could see an income as much as double if an IFA was used.

Or there is the mortgage payment protection article that recommended a group of companies which were dirt cheap but had some pretty heavy exclusions in their coverage that explained why it was dirt cheap. Not very helpful if you had to claim and found out that the policy you had before would pay out but this newer cheap one didnt.

The focus on buying direct and thinking it saves you money is incorrect.
There is too much weight put on saving pennies in the short term at the expesnse of saving pounds in the long term.

There used to be an emphasis more on value for money but too many now are going for the cheapest possible without realising the consequences of buying cheap or thinking they are buying cheap.

So, whilst I think that Martin does an excellent job in promoting moneysaving. I do think that some people take it too far and I do think that there is often too much generalisation in some areas (which to be fair is difficult when writing or presenting articles and much of that attitude is in the forums more than the articles).

Rafter

Have to agree with dunston that chasing every last penny saving can be very false economy and with hindsight some people will be worse off not taking the proper advice.

This site has created a million better informed consumers who regularly pay less for goods and services and who exploit loopholes in poorly thought out marketing promotions.

There will be others who end up paying more though. Some of the more fervent moneysavers may also find themselves paying more for goods that were previously subsidised, such as bank accounts.

Should Martin get some recognition for what he has achieved?

I think so on balance.

He certainly deserves it more than the knights at the head of our banking industries who have made such a mess.

I don't think he deserves it for journalism though - there are more worthy candidates there. I also wish his style was more guardian and less daily mail sometimes but that is personal taste!

Services to the community maybe? I think on balance there are a lot of people on here who are more informed, less ripped off and better educated as a result of this site and the articles.

R.

Dan_Collins_2

LOL I think honors are a little OTT.

He has helped a lot of people, then again people think that the tv programs that tell you how to be a property tycoon are great until it all goes wrong.

He has provided a good service and he has made people think about things. I also agree with some of the comments made about losing free banking and wasting time. But we cant all be happy.