2023

Savers with accounts that pay low or no interest will soon be prompted to consider alternatives under a crackdown by the regulator. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced a raft of measures designed to better protect savers amid concerns they're being ripped off.

"Incorrect and likely misleading" information about maintenance loans in England on Gov.uk could lead to a material number of students not getting the full amount they're entitled to. That's why MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis has written to the chief executive of the Student Loans Company – the body responsible for the relevant pages – urging it to fix the errors. 

The Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, Claire Coutinho MP, has rejected Martin Lewis' call to do more to help 80,000 teens with special educational needs or disabilities unlock their Child Trust Fund money. The MoneySavingExpert.com founder wrote to the Minister about the problem but she's written back... and effectively said no.

Spotify subscribers who use its Premium subscription will see prices rise by £1 a month (or £12 a year) in a month's time, the music streaming service has announced. The cost of its Duo and Family subscriptions will also increase by the same amount. But if you're unhappy about the shake-up, you can cancel penalty-free.  

If you're heading to Europe this summer, check your mobile provider's roaming policy before you go – or you could get stung with unexpected charges. New MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) research reveals how some networks limit the amount of data you can use for free when travelling – even if you have roaming as part of your bundle – and not all providers make it clear that they do this. 

Virgin Money will close another 39 bank branches this year, almost a third of its network, with the firm claiming that more customers are choosing online banking over in-person visits. Below we list the branches disappearing and what the alternatives are if you still want face-to-face banking.

Mobile providers will be forced to send mandatory roaming alerts to travellers under new plans outlined by telecoms regulator Ofcom today. MoneySavingExpert.com has repeatedly called for consumers' roaming rights to be increased after protections ended following Brexit – and we now want to see these new rules brought in as quickly as possible.

Netflix has axed its cheapest 'Basic' advert-free plan for new and rejoining subscribers. It means they'll now have to pay £4 more a month (£48 a year) to watch with no adverts at the lowest price. The alternative is to pay less but to put up with adverts. Below we've got everything both new and existing users need to know. 

Energy Secretary Grant Shapps has been questioned by MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis about his lack of action to bring down standing charges and why he's yet to introduce an energy social tariff. On ITV's Good Morning Britain (on 19 July), Martin also grilled the minister on whether more support would be offered to vulnerable people this coming winter.

More joined-up mental health and debt support, especially during the cost of living crisis, has been called for by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute and its chair and founder Martin Lewis. Providing money advice alongside mental health support could double recovery rates for people struggling with debt and depression and help an extra 27,000 people each year, according to the charity.