MSE Discussion: MoneySavingExpert.com to join the MoneySupermarket.com group

freeasabird

I don't have a problem with Martin Lewis making money out of this website. I don't even have a problem with him making really serious money from his hard work.

I am however concerned about the possible conflicts of interest that might arise because I don't understand how Money Supermarket will be happy to have links and references to other comparision sites or how happy they will be if, for example; there is information on MSE that is contrary to what MS might have on their site.

Are MSE free to suggest that MS might not be the best comparison site to use? I don't think so.

I've found the MSE forums useful not only because I can get in touch with ordinary people who might have been through the same situation but also because I believe the advice they offer is independent.

I've written information on the forums that I wouldn't dare to write anywhere else because I thought that MSE wouldn't trawl through the site and pass those details to outside bodies.

Now, I will be very cautious about the information that I give out and that will be a pity because the best way to get help or to help others is to give accurate and detailed information about your circumstances.

I will continue to use the site but if there is a hint that MSE isn't looking after the interests of its users; I'll come off the forum and cancel my email subscription.

NeverInDebt

who's taking things at face value I mealy posted what BBC site stated. Do you take Martins comments as face value? do you think this site can remain independent? MS wouldn't buy this site if it wasn't something in it for them thats a fact, MS is a commercial site and makes a profit to its shareholders, basic economics

ScarletBea wrote: »

Gosh, do people really take things at face value then? And just click everywhere from here?
:think:

GlynD

NeverInDebt wrote: »

Some of that is shares

"Under the terms of the deal, Mr Lewis, who started his website in 2003, will receive an initial £35m plus shares in MoneySupermarket.com worth £25m.

After three years he may receive a further £27m in cash and shares"


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18295587

£35m is better than a kick in the nethers.

Anybody want to buy my website? :cool:

thelawnet

Why are you all whining?

This has been a commercial site turning over millions for years.

If you hadn't noticed that well you should have been paying more attention.

OnAndUp

OMG!!......Flippin eck....................is it just me.........never saw that one coming!!! :eek:

I just feel a bit shocked really, I'm not stupid I know that most things are a business. But having been a user of this site and seeing it grow since 2004, I felt more part of a community led by Martin! It is the users that have made this site what it is today, people giving their time to help / advise or just pass on a bargain to others.

Not that Martin doesn't deserve the money for all his hard work and re-educating people on how to manage /spend money his work will have touched the lives of millions of people. I knew that he would have been making a LOT of money recently from MSE which was fine by me. BUT this really does feel like a sell out.

Anyone remember when the masthead was being changed and people didn't like it because they thought it was more corporate and very much like moneysupermarket's one!! Oh the irony......must have been in the pipeline!! :rotfl::rotfl:

Personally I will be staying, but really not sure of MSE's future now?

Congrats on the MSE baby too! He / she's gonna have a posh pram now!!

ljonski

Apart from the almost £16M it turned over in the past year?

59% paied by MS itself

StaffsSW

meher wrote: »

Moneysavingsupermarket is going to pinch this sites' articles; they better pay decent royalties. Each time anyone clicks and gets to mse through that site, they should pay. Actually it is this site which should've bought that insignficant little site. Now that's something I'd class as shrewd. Isn't that just a comparison site? Is there anything else on it? Genuine uestion. Really, there's someone shrewd in their team. May be we should find who it is and woo them to mse and rid off the spare parts here and dissolve from this partnership.

You really don't understand what the £87m deal is all about, do you?

And " just a comparison site?" It is one of the highest earning website in the UK, because it gets paid by companies to put their products up for comparison, just how Martin gets paid by recommending products in his articles.

By his own admission, ML is a financial journalist and internet marketer, he is not a financial advisor, and has never claimed otherwise.

london2008

Is my personal email address (for the weekly newsletter) also being sold to MoneySupermarket? If so, I'm unsubscribing from the newsletter as I have no respect for your new Parent Company, just like I have no respect for Santander and refuse to bank with them.

Enjoy the cash Martin, MoneySupermarket is getting none of mine!

reddonna

Well done Martin!!!!! You got the ultimate GRABBIT! I am very pleased for you and grateful for all the money I have saved over the years - although my does not quite add up to £87M.

:beer:

Catriona_P

Personally I'm just feeling a bit insecure now - this is the ONLY place where I've been totally honest about my financial difficulties. My husband, my family, my friends and so on are unaware and I want to keep it that way tbh. I'll be very careful about what information I divulge here from now on. Such a shame

Disappointed but can't really blame Martin for his steps, I'd probably have done the same if I was in such a position.