Petar Lekarski

Assistant Editor – News & Investigations

Petar joined MoneySavingExpert in 2019, but his passion for all things MoneySaving goes back much further – as evidenced by his 'Part of the furniture' badge on the MSE Forum.

He developed his in-depth knowledge of bank accounts, credit cards, loans and savings in the Money team before moving across to MSE News. He has written about a wide range of personal finance topics, covering everything from mobile roaming charges to supermarket loyalty schemes to railcards.

In 2021, Petar researched and wrote MSE's comprehensive and massively popular guide to diesel emissions legal claims, and he continues to maintain it as the cases progress.

Petar has also worked directly with Martin Lewis as his researcher, supporting the MoneySavingExpert with his eponymous ITV show and other media appearances over a period of 18 months.

When he's not polishing prose or crunching numbers, you'll find Petar at the cinema, eating spicy food or cycling around London on a rented bike. He also enjoys playing video games, bouldering and lists of three.

Latest from Petar Lekarski

If you get a text message from the Metropolitan Police in the next 48 hours asking for help fighting fraud, don't ignore it. The organisation is sending text messages to 70,000 people who may have been targeted by fraudsters using a sophisticated online tool to spoof the phone numbers of legitimate companies such as banks.

24 November 2022

Motorists are missing out on cheaper petrol because major supermarkets, which are the UK's biggest fuel retailers, aren't lowering their forecourt prices to reflect far lower wholesale costs, according to motoring organisation the RAC.

22 November 2022

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has today (17 November) announced tax changes, state pension rises and further cost of living help. The measures come as part of today's Autumn Statement, which also contains major changes to the Government's energy support package. Below we analyse what's changing – you can also watch MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis's instant reaction.

17 November 2022

Before giving gifts this holiday season, first ask yourself honestly if they're going to be a help or a hindrance for the people receiving them. That's the message from MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis in the special Christmas preparation episode of the latest series of ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.

16 November 2022

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If you're struggling to pay your energy bills and have built up a debt on your account, your supplier may want to move you onto a prepayment meter so they can collect repayments over time. But prepay is about £70 a year more expensive than direct debit (on typical dual-fuel use), and there's an added risk of being cut off from heat or power if you run out of credit. Below, we explain your rights to refuse prepayment.

15 November 2022

PCF Bank has stopped offering personal savings accounts and loans to new customers, and plans to exit the UK banking market – but there's no immediate change for existing savers or borrowers.

11 November 2022

Student loan interest rates will rise for many university leavers next month. But this WON'T make a difference to your monthly repayments. Here's what you need to know.

10 November 2022

Virgin Media has cut the cost of its 'Essential' broadband tariff for households on universal credit, from £15 a month to £12.50 a month – making it the cheapest social tariff on the market. The price drop is effective immediately for both new and existing customers. The provider has also launched a new faster plan, available from today (10 November), which costs £20 a month.

10 November 2022

Two of the largest energy firms in Britain, British Gas and Ovo, are still unable to confirm they'll let smart prepay customers use their £400 energy support payments on both electricity AND gas – despite gas being crucial for many people's heating this winter. As the second Government payment of £66 starts hitting meters, MoneySavingExpert.com is once again calling on these firms to let their customers decide how best to use it.

8 November 2022

Second benefits cost of living payment to start on 8 November

About eight million of the UK's poorest households will start to receive the second half of their £650 cost of living payment from today (Tuesday 8 November). Here's all you need to know on whether you're eligible and when you'll get your payment.

8 November 2022

If you're not paying tax on your savings interest, cash ISAs have no benefit – so many should ditch them for higher-paying standard accounts. That's the message from MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis in the third episode of the latest series of ITV's The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.

2 November 2022

A new, greener type of unleaded petrol called E10 is being rolled out across forecourts in Northern Ireland by Tuesday 1 November, following its introduction across England, Scotland and Wales last year. But around 5% of cars, mainly older ones, aren't compatible with it, so will need to use pricier fuel. Plus, even if your vehicle can take it, you may have to fill up more often because it's less efficient.

25 October 2022

You've now got just 100 days to use any non-barcoded everyday stamps – those with the Queen's profile on – before they become worthless on 31 January 2023. Alternatively, you can swap them for barcoded versions for free through Royal Mail's scheme. We take you through what you need to know below.

23 October 2022

MoneySavingExpert.com is calling on some of the biggest energy firms to make it possible for prepay customers with smart meters to use their £400 energy support payments on both electricity AND gas, as it's the gas meter that's crucial for many people's heating this winter. It is unfair – and potentially unsafe – not to let smart prepay users decide how to use the payment. See our round-up of what each company allows below.

17 October 2022

Chase, the app-based bank account, is boosting the interest rate on its linked easy-access savings account to 2.1% – its first rate rise since the bank's launch last year. New and existing savers will automatically get the new rate from Monday 24 October – but you can already get higher easy-access rates elsewhere.

16 October 2022

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Thousands more local businesses across the UK will now let shoppers withdraw from 1p to £100 in cash for free – without them having to buy anything – as part of a new initiative by high street bank Barclays. And you DON'T need to bank with Barclays to benefit.

9 October 2022