Is Martin Lewis really any good ?

[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!

 

[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.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I am of the same view.

I would add though that it amazing to me how many people have no idea about how financial products work so just go with the flow.

Including most people that work in banks! 😉

 

[BoldonLad]

I have occasionally learnt something from him, but, generally (at the risk of sounding smug) I am already aware of most of the "tips". IMHO, the biggest problem is that the people who do watch him (like me) don't need to, and those who need to, don't watch him.

I find the 'style" of presentation annoying.

 

[Beebo]

If you have £50k+ to invest, then Martin isn’t the man to help you.
His target audience is the people who have very little left each month and have credit card debts.
He is doing a public service for people who need his help.
He is very middle of the road and vanilla. If he can save you a few hundred quid a year he’s done his job.

 

[Alex321]

It's not borderline neglect as the insurance will ask you, like any other insurance. It bumps the price up. Maybe it should have said if you have pre-existing conditions they may not be covered, but that's a well known fact about travel insurance, hence the proliferation of 'go-fund me' when granny insisted on going to Benidorm having recently had a heart attack..

That is if you are buying imsurance as a product.

I don't think the packaged bank accounts (which is what we are talking about here) do ask you about those things. They just expect you to read the T&C and raise it with them if you think you may need additional cover.

But I could be wrong, the last time I had pacakged insurance was when Nationwide still included it with their free flexaccount.

 

[Alex321]

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.

Some may be lumbered with such, but nowhere near all.