Money May

The initial PPI scandal, which cost banks and lenders £38 billion in compensation, came to an end in August 2019. Since then, a new wave of PPI claims (dubbed PPI 2), have emerged, allowing customers who have already received compensation or had their previous claim rejected to make a claim once more.

These new claims follow a 2017 decision by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which decided that banks and lenders should pay back customers any amount of undisclosed commission that was charged at over 50%, plus interest; in some cases, commission has been charged at over 90% of the initial PPI cost!

The FCA estimate that PPI 2 payouts could total more than £33bn, with the Financial Times also estimating there to be about 10 million outstanding PPI claims.

We realise that picking up the phone to speak about something as personal as finances and debt can be very daunting, so we’ve created a simple online tool that lets you find out which solutions are available to you, all without the need for a phone call. You’ll answer the same questions you would usually be asked on the phone, including filling out your income & expenditure.

If you need some time before you progress to the next step, you can save your progress and come back at a later point.

Advice Online is an easy and stress-free alternative to picking up the phone, but our expert Advisors at MoneyPlus Advice will always be here if you prefer to call.

We’ll be launching Advice Online next month on desktop and mobile, so keep an eye on your emails for more information!

1. If you have the space, try drying your clothes on a washing line instead of the tumble dryer. Energy experts say you add more than 60p to your electricity bill every time you turn on the tumble. Your clothes will smell great too!
   
2. Buy food with discounted yellow stickers on. Most supermarkets have a dedicated shelf and fridge for discounted items. Find out where it is and get first dibs.
   
3. Make your own popcorn. It’s ridiculously easy – and cheap. You can even add your own seasoning or flavourings; just put it all in a large bowl, settle back and enjoy.
   
4. Flog your fruit! Roll a lemon on a work surface before squeezing it. You’ll get twice as much juice. When you’ve finished with it, stick it in a bowl of hot water in the microwave for three minutes. It will steam-clean the inside and leave it smelling fresh.
   
5. Use scrunched up tin foil to clean oven trays rather than expensive scouring pads. The tin foil doesn’t even need to be clean. Use the piece you’ve used for cooking.
   
6. Cook in bulk. It takes minimal effort (and cost) to make twice as much lasagne. Then either take the other half to work for packed lunches or stick it in the freezer to enjoy another time. (Before you fling anything in the freezer, stick a label on it. It might look like a lasagne now, but when it’s frozen solid, it can be difficult to tell).
   
7. When you unpack food shopping, get in the habit of popping as much as possible into the freezer. Keep a sliced loaf in there and then just take out individual slices for toast and sandwiches.
   
8. Be sure you’re shopping based on price and quality, not branding. Try swapping a couple of your usuals for own-brand alternatives. Often, the stripped down version is produced in the same factory, and for cleaning products, medication, and cupboard staples like flour, salt and vinegar, the two are almost identical.
   
9. Petrol that is labelled as ‘premium unleaded’ on forecourt pumps – such as Shell Fuelsave – is actually standard petrol. When it comes to fuel, ‘super’ is more expensive than ‘premium’.
   
10. Dried pet food has a much longer shelf life so it’s worth stocking-up when it’s on special offer. If you shop online, most suppliers will offer good discounts and free delivery for bigger orders. Keep an eye out for special offers and freebies too.
    
11. Charge your mobile at work, rather than at home. Cheeky but cheaper!

Richard says: “I first joined MoneyPlus in 2017, and I’m currently head of our Financial Operations department, which services the Group in helping thousands of customers across the UK with their energy, finances, and legal claims.

My role as Head of Financial Operations is incredibly rewarding because I really enjoy the diversity of our product offering. Working to support the business across each of these products means I am continuously learning and developing new skills on an almost daily basis, it’s certainly never dull!

What sets MoneyPlus apart from the rest is our ability to always put our customers first. It’s a testament to our employees that they embrace that culture, but that could not be made possible without the support network that is provided by MoneyPlus to enable us provide the best possible service we can to our customers. I have never worked for an organisation that has invested so much in its employees, and I just feel incredibly lucky to be part of that team!“

Do you want to be in with a chance to win? Just follow these steps:

1. Like our Facebook page

2. Then share our latest Bloom & Wild post with the hashtag #12MonthsOfBloom.

Simple! (Don’t forget to set your shared post to ‘public’, otherwise we won’t be able to see who shares it!)

Winners will be announced at the beginning of next month, so stay tuned to our social to see if you’ve won.

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