Is Martin Lewis really any good ?

[FrankCrank]

Only one thing worse than dying penniless - checking out with a shedload in the bank.

 

[slowmotion]

Only one thing worse than dying penniless - checking out with a shedload in the bank.

........and giving it to HMRC......

 

[steveindenmark]

I thought we were talking about George Gently. Then realised that is Martin Shaw. 😁😁

 

[Drago]

I wonder what Lara Lewington saw in the multi-millionaire Martin Lewis?

 

[Drago]

........and giving it to HMRC......

My Dad has set his affairs up so several charities benefit rather than give a penny to HMRC.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

His savings rate comparison site is quite handy for deciding where to put your savings and it's updated daily if you're a "rate tart". I go for one year fixed rate accounts which enable me to (a) be lazy and (b) stop me spending my stash.

My worry about such sites is what they miss off. I recently needed a new travel pre-paid debit card (safer and more reliable when travelling to some countries) and his site had a couple of "reviews" and they had very limited and more expensive options available. The company I selected with cheapest fees, best deal by far wasn't even included on his own site (ML's).

 

[T4tomo]

Only one thing worse than dying penniless - checking out with a shedload in the bank.

That rather depends on whether you have family or otherwise that you want to provide for after you've gone

 

[Bonefish Blues]

My worry about such sites is what they miss off. I recently needed a new travel pre-paid debit card (safer and more reliable when travelling to some countries) and his site had a couple of "reviews" and they had very limited and more expensive options available. The company I selected with cheapest fees, best deal by far wasn't even included on his own site (ML's).

If you're using one, you'll likely be using several though, as you may have done?

 

[presta]

Something that irritates me is the way he was encouraging everyone to get a broadband discount by threatening to leave a few years ago. Fine while it lasted, but now we're all lumbered with 18 month contracts, and closure penalties that cost the same as keeping it, a choice between £600 for 18 months broadband, or £600 for nothing. I see Gigaclear are fed up of it too, they now offer broadband that's free until your old contract expires.

I find his style difficult

He makes me wonder if he has Asperger's.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Gigaclear are putting my price up by more than 10%. That's making me fed up!

 

[wiggydiggy]

Something that irritates me is the way he was encouraging everyone to get a broadband discount by threatening to leave a few years ago. Fine while it lasted, but now we're all lumbered with 18 month contracts, and closure penalties that cost the same as keeping it, a choice between £600 for 18 months broadband, or £600 for nothing. I see Gigaclear are fed up of it too, they now offer broadband that's free until your old contract expires.


He makes me wonder if he has Asperger's.

As a home worker I prioritise reliability over price. Before I worked from home I was always chasing the cheapest deal, I remember using Tesco (rubbish) and The Post Office (beyond rubbish). Both were so bad home working would have been impossible. Post Office was so crap I got released from the contract.

 

[mistyoptic]

OK - Maybe it works differently now.
So when you sign up for a bank account with bundled travel insurance - you have to go through medical screening ? - I stand corrected if that's the case - but even then the quoted monthly fee may rise ?

Having suffered HA recently - I want to be pretty sure I was covered with a decent company - your looking at £30K min should you find yourself not covered for a cardiac event abroad.

I think that is now the case.

We've been with First Direct's package but the travel insurance will lapse as soon as I turn 70.

Looking at Nationwide's Flex Plus, which offers travel cover until 80 BUT the application is quite clear that you need to check with them to make sure you can be covered before you apply for the account. Implication is that cover may be available for an increased premium

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Fine while it lasted, but now we're all lumbered with 18 month contracts,

I don't understand this: aren't all broadband contracts either 18 or 24 months anyway?
If one gets a new deal with their present company after their contract expired that still means a new contract, or am I wrong?
Btw, I don't go the cheapest BB deal, I switch between Virgin and Sky every 18 months, because I like their reliability for what I need.

 

[presta]

I don't understand this: aren't all broadband contracts either 18 or 24 months anyway?

They used to be 12 months, and the penalty clauses for leaving didn't cost as much as keeping the contract.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I don't understand this: aren't all broadband contracts either 18 or 24 months anyway?
If one gets a new deal with their present company after their contract expired that still means a new contract, or am I wrong?
Btw, I don't go the cheapest BB deal, I switch between Virgin and Sky every 18 months, because I like their reliability for what I need.

No not always, there's several for me that are 12 months - Pop, 4th Utility, Rise, Cuckoo, Rebel, Orbus.

Now none of those I have heard of, but I hadn't heard of Octopus Energy either when I signed with them and they are now my fav supplier (after the sad loss of PurePlanet RIP).

Last time my BB expired I let it go onto a monthly rolling contract, only changed as a relative I care for was moving to EE and for convenience I like to be with the same provider as them for utilities.

Also if you don't want tradional broadband then a 4g/5g hotspot hub can be used, iMobile do a 12month unlimited data SIM.

Sky I used for a bit, they were quite good and I got some bundled TV as a bonus. Virgin were terrible - I download games a lot and they would throttle the connection.