Money explainers

Hiring a car is something that millions of people do every year. But the industry also has a terrible reputation for treating people unfairly and overcharging innocent travellers. Admittedly, not all car hire companies are terrible – but there are a few things you need to know to ensure you're not hit by any nasty surprises on or after your holiday. Firstly, ever wondered why you need to have a credit card to book a hire car? Or why it has to be in the driver’s name? It’s all down to liability if something goes wrong. The credit card you use will need to have a set amount of credit on it before the car hire company will even let you leave with the vehicle – and they’ll check you've got it too. This is because the company will automatically debit your account for any damage or contract dispute costs as soon as it concludes you’re liable. The money comes off your credit card without you having the right to argue – and then you’re stuck … [Read more...] about Car hire cons that will leave you out of pocket on holiday – and how to avoid them

Temperatures are set to hit 37 degrees in parts of the UK this week, with the all-time record for hottest day in July under threat. But how hot does it have to get before you can go home from work? "Hot workplaces are more than just an issue about comfort," the TUC warned. "High temperatures mean workers are at risk of dizziness, fainting, or even heat cramps." There's also "an increase in the likelihood of accidents due to reduced concentration, slippery, sweaty palms or people ditching uncomfortable safety gear", the TUC added. And that's before we get to a loss of concentration and increased tiredness. So what are your rights? There's a recommended minimum temperature for a workplace - 16ºC or 13ºC if employees are doing physical work - but things get a bit messier when it comes to a maximum. The TUC wants to make it illegal to keep people at work indoors if the temperature is above 30°C and protection in place for people working outside or driving … [Read more...] about Just how hot it has to be before you can leave work early

School’s out, summer is here and dream breaks can turn into holidays from hell if you muck up a booking. Grabbing online deals can be so tempting when cash is tight. But if you don’t go through a trusted tour operator that is a member of ABTA or ATOL, you can end up in a world of trouble. Readers Charlie and Jessica from Cardiff wrote to me this week about their break to Mexico. Jessica searched online last November for a bargain and came across a company in Mexico ­advertising cheap holidays there. She searched through the site and found the holiday she wanted. It included flights between Gatwick and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico plus two weeks in a hotel. The hotel was advertised as four-star with a swimming pool, sea view, two restaurants and a spa. After paying for the holiday in full, Jessica started to worry that she had not received any specific details of the flight. She kept chasing and finally received an itinerary and online check in instructions on May 10, one … [Read more...] about An awful flight and worse when they landed – your rights when holidays go wrong

Households in Britain face picking up a £172million tab after the collapse of more than a dozen small energy firms. The worrying figure comes ahead of a reduction in the energy price cap - which limits how much suppliers can charge customers on their most expensive tariffs. It also follows the collapse of challenger supplier Solarplicity, which crashed after failing to improve satisfaction scores following a ban from Ofgem earlier in the year. And it's not alone. Brilliant Energy, Our Power, Economy Energy, One Select and many more have fallen at the hands of customers in the past 18 months. In fact, while the Big Six have (admittedly) been slapped with fines for breaking rules and poor customer service, it's the smaller firms that have actually folded, leaving households on price plans they never signed up to. It's left people wondering whether the risk for a cheaper bill is even worth the hassle. Famed for their rock bottom rates, challenger energy firms are largely eco-friendly … [Read more...] about Are small energy suppliers safe to use? We’ve taken a closer look

Payday lender Wonga is reportedly on the brink of collapse after a surge in complaints and payouts over historical loans. The company has lined up administrators and said it's "considering all options" after reporting a rise in compensation claims relating to unethical lending in 2014. It comes just weeks after shareholders pumped £10 million in a bid to save the payday business from going bust. Wonga has faced a barrage of criticism over the high interest it charges on its loans over the past few years, with the firm being accused of targeting those who are especially vulnerable. One man told us his friend took his own life after the firm emptied the 18-year-old's bank account leaving him penniless in 2013. The problem with payday lenders Payday lenders have long been controversial over the methods they use to promote, hand out and recoup unsecured loans which are typically designed to be repaid on person's next payday. The problem is that interest rates are often so high that … [Read more...] about Wonga compensation – how to find out if a lender has broken the rules and your refund rights