Housing news

He said there are several bank accounts with “very exciting” offers

Martin Lewis has pointed bank account holders to some “very exciting and lucrative” deals. He explained how you could save hundreds of pounds with an account change. He also discussed one account which is “especially good” for pensioners and older people.

Speaking on his BBC podcast, the consumer champion urged people to shop around to see whether they could secure a better deal. He said now is the time to look at jumping ship as a number of banks are currently offering cash bonuses to customers who switch their current account. At the time of writing, these include £220 from HSBC, £200 offers from either First Direct, NatWest, Barclays, or £180 from Santander.

One exciting change in the switch offer market is that switching bonuses are currently available on certain packaged bank accounts, which rarely have such incentives.

‘Very exciting’

Mr Lewis described this as a “very exciting and lucrative” opportunity. Packaged bank accounts are current accounts that offer additional benefits, such as travel insurance or car breakdown cover for you or your family, though they do require paying a monthly fee.

Mr Lewis said: “For those who would be buying those insurances any way, they can be a really good deal. Right now, we do have a few packaged bank accounts that are paying you to switch.

“So the amount they are paying you effectively covers that fee, so you are effectively getting the insurances for free.” He explained that by taking advantage of one of these deals, you could potentially receive £500 or £600 worth of insurance at no cost.

This is because some bank switching incentives typically match or exceed a full year’s worth of the monthly account fee. He provided some figures to illustrate how these complimentary perks could save you a considerable sum.

For instance, worldwide family travel insurance would ordinarily set you back £70 to £100 annually. Household mobile phone cover available with these bank accounts would usually cost £75 to £100 per policy, while UK and European breakdown cover could run to £50 to £100.

Which packaged bank accounts currently offer switching incentives?

The deals presently available include the Santander Edge Explorer, which offers a £180 payment upon switching. The account carries a £17 monthly fee, meaning the switching bonus would cover this for an entire year.

Alternatively, there is the Co-Op Bank Everyday Extra account, which has a £12 monthly fee. New customers can receive up to £300 for switching, effectively covering the fee for more than two years.

A further option is the Nationwide Flex Plus, from Nationwide Building Society. The organisation is offering £175 to new switchers, covering the £18 monthly account fee for nine months.

A notable advantage of the Nationwide Flex Plus account is that its worldwide travel insurance carries no age restriction, unlike other packaged accounts offering switch deals, making it particularly appealing to older customers. One older couple wrote in to the show to share their positive experience with their Nationwide Flex Plus account.

‘Great deal’

They revealed that they are both in their 70s, and they pay extra to cover their health conditions, yet they still consider their account a “great deal”. They went on to explain that they also pay £40 to upgrade their cruise cover, to include cabin confinements and missed ports.

This proved invaluable recently when they embarked on a seven-day cruise, during which they missed two ports. The couple contacted the insurer and received £150 each for each of the two missed ports, with the £600 arriving in their account “very quickly” with no paperwork needed.

They said: “More than covered our additional premium. Highly recommend.” Mr Lewis was delighted to hear that the account had proved so worthwhile for the couple.

He said: “They do work, and I tend to find they are especially good in two cases. Family with lots of teens and smart phones, because you get all the mobile phones in; or travel insurance cover for older couples and families, because often that can get really expensive.

“Suddenly the cost of the packaged bank account is the same as you’d pay just for the travel insurance, never mind that you get the mobile phone cover and the breakdown cover on top.”

There are some key dates you need to get right

HMRC has provided an update on a tax charge that affects certain DWP claimants. A member of the public approached the group to get some help with working out their bill.

The customer had noted a discrepancy between two figures. They asked: “When using the Child Benefit tax calculator, it seems to provide a lower payment than my manual calculation. Which do I use? Is the calculator rounding down significantly? More than just the pence.” This relates to the fact that if you receive Child Benefit, you must repay an amount if your income rises above a particular threshold.

Who must pay the charge?

The policy is called the High Income Child Benefit Charge. The charge applies when an individual income within your household exceeds £60,000 annually, for either you or your partner.

You must repay 1 per cent of your Child Benefit entitlement for every £200 you earn beyond this level. This means once either you or your partner’s income hits £80,000, you must repay the entire amount.

The Government website features a Child Benefit calculator tool to help you in determining how much you will need to repay. In response to the puzzled customer, HMRC initially enquired why the person was attempting to obtain the figure.

General rule to remember

They clarified they needed to pay the charge. HMRC offered some general guidance in response: “If you’ve received the benefit for a whole year without changes, the calculator should give the correct value.”

In response to this, the claimant explained that they had begun claiming the benefit partway through the year, as their child is currently six months old. Upon hearing this, HMRC advised the parent: “Then your calculation may be more accurate if there was any backdating when you applied for the benefit.”

The customer noted that the calculator requests the total amount of Child Benefit received and that they had entered the precise figure. They asked directly whether the tool could “be relied on as accurate”.

‘You need the exact dates’

HMRC responded: “You should be able to rely on it. You do need the exact dates for it to work.” The tax authority further advised: “The calculator will give you the right figure, just make sure you’re using the same start date as we used to calculate your claim.”

The individual noted that in their particular situation, the calculator had apparently rounded down what they believed to be the exact figure by 0.68p. HMRC replied: “We don’t tax fractions of a pound, so that’s the right answer.”

How much can the High Income Child Benefit Charge be?

Child Benefit is currently worth £27.05 a week for your eldest or only child, or £1,406.60 a year, and then £17.90 for each other child, which works out at £930.80 a year. This means if you had two children and an individual income of £80,000 or more and had to pay back the whole amount, you would have to pay back £2,337.40 a year.

UK food prices continue to rise

UK residents are making drastic changes to their diets as the ongoing pressure on household finances continues to intensify, new research reveals.

Approximately one in four shoppers have either substantially cut the quantity of meat they purchase or turned vegetarian because they can no longer manage their previous grocery expenditure, while nearly one in five acknowledge they are consuming less or forgoing meals entirely. The survey of over 3,000 adults also discovered that the financial pressure is severely affecting mental health, with four in ten reporting they feel mentally drained by financial concerns every day or multiple times weekly.

Almost one in five (18%) reported they worry about finances daily, climbing to a third (33%) of households with incomes below £20,000 annually. The results emerge as families continue to wrestle with increased living expenses following years of high food inflation, with grocery shopping proving to be the most significant everyday financial worry.

Researchers for cashback shopping app tuck. discovered households currently spend an average of £94 on their weekly food shop – approximately £24 more than twelve months ago. When asked what single change would make the greatest impact on their finances, 61% cited lower grocery prices. The strain is compelling many households to make challenging compromises.

Nearly two-thirds (61%) reported they are purchasing fewer treats and snacks, while 19% confessed they have begun missing meals or consuming less due to rising food costs.

Women appear to be bearing the brunt, with 20% reporting they have skipped meals compared with 12% of men. Parents were equally likely to reduce their own food intake, with nearly one in four (24%) doing so, against 14% of adults without children.

Meanwhile, 28% said they had either turned vegetarian or considerably reduced their meat purchases in a bid to save money. The survey revealed women were significantly more likely than men to have cut back on or eliminated meat from their diets, while one in three parents had made the same change.

Financial concerns are also taking an ever-greater toll on mental health. In total, 40% said they feel mentally exhausted by money worries either daily or several times a week, with just 7% stating that finances cause them no anxiety whatsoever.

Women were marginally more likely than men to report feeling mentally drained by financial pressures, while those on the lowest incomes were nearly three times more likely to experience daily worry than households earning upwards of £50,000 per year.

The cost-conscious climate is reshaping shopping habits considerably. More than eight in ten (81%) said they have become increasingly focused on seeking out bargains, discounts and cashback deals over the past year as they search for ways to make their household budgets stretch further.

Neel Thakrar, chief executive of tuck., said: “Financial pressure doesn’t just affect people’s bank balances; it has a real impact on their wellbeing too, with the vast majority of people saying they feel mentally exhausted by managing their day-to-day finances.

“Our data shows that, on average, families are having to spend 34% more (£24) on the same weekly food shop compared to a year ago, and that is forcing them to make changes, like cutting down on treats, buying less meat and even skipping meals. Lower grocery costs is the single biggest factor that respondents say would ease their financial anxiety.”

The research was based on a survey of 3,291 UK adults carried out on behalf of tuck.

Metro Bank has launched a new family-assisted mortgage

Parents and grandparents are being urged to take on greater responsibility amid Britain’s ongoing housing crisis.

Metro Bank has introduced a new mortgage product enabling purchasers to borrow up to 100% of a property’s value – on condition that a close relative agrees to share liability for the debt. The bank has launched a Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor mortgage targeted chiefly at first-time buyers who are struggling to accumulate a deposit, offering loans exceeding 95% and extending to the full value of a property.

However, there is a significant caveat. Purchasers must convince an immediate family member – such as a parent or grandparent – to sign on as a joint borrower, rendering them legally liable for the mortgage payments should the homeowner fall into arrears or experience deteriorating financial circumstances.

The development arrives as skyrocketing property prices and stricter affordability criteria continue to force many prospective homeowners to depend on the so-called ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ to secure a foothold on the property ladder.

Unlike a conventional joint mortgage, the family member will not acquire any ownership stake in the property. Rather, they serve as a financial guarantee, with the purchaser retaining sole legal ownership while both parties remain jointly liable for the mortgage debt.

Metro Bank confirmed the product is also open to existing homeowners, subject to eligibility checks. Charles Morley, Director of Mortgage Distribution at Metro Bank, said: “For many first-time buyers today, getting on the property ladder can feel impossible, and family members often want to do anything they can to help.

“Acting as a Joint Borrower provides a way for immediate family to be that support without watering down the ownership of the property or being asked to provide a deposit. At Metro Bank we understand the importance of lending responsibly while continuing to be innovative and challenging, and we’ve carefully developed our mortgage product with this in mind.”

All applicants will be provided with specialist mortgage guidance prior to taking out the loan, regardless of whether they apply directly or via a broker.

Metro Bank emphasised that both the primary borrower and the supporting family member will be thoroughly assessed under its affordability criteria and enhanced eligibility checks before any loan is sanctioned.

The joint borrower must be a direct family member, such as a spouse, parent, grandparent, child or grandchild, and is required to have their own earned income rather than depending solely on a pension or state benefits. The mortgages are offered as five-year fixed-rate deals with repayment terms ranging from five to 35 years. Neither product fees nor valuation fees apply.

However, the deal is unavailable on new-build properties or homes situated above commercial premises. The launch demonstrates increasing innovation amongst lenders as they seek methods to assist purchasers in overcoming one of the greatest obstacles to home ownership – securing a deposit while also satisfying increasingly stringent affordability assessments.

While 100% mortgages largely vanished following the financial crisis, lenders have progressively started reintroducing products aimed at helping creditworthy borrowers with minimal or no deposit, frequently by requesting family members to provide additional financial backing or guarantees.

Consumer experts suggest such schemes can offer a valuable pathway onto the property ladder, but families ought to carefully weigh up the risks before committing, as joint borrowers remain responsible for the debt if the homeowner fails to maintain repayments.

Lidl has launched a new item in-store this week, and shoppers are already praising it

Shoppers have spotted a new product on Lidl store shelves this week, and it could prove particularly popular with dog owners. The supermarket giant, which has 1,015 locations nationwide, is now stocking an item that pairs well with other budget-friendly purchases.

Lidl has long been a firm favourite amongst bargain hunters thanks to its extensive range of affordable groceries and homeware – but the retailer has recently been broadening its clothing and accessories offering. Its latest addition is a prime example of this, and shoppers appear to be embracing it wholeheartedly.

The new product is the Lidl Bum Bag, currently available in stores for just £4.99. If you fancy getting your hands on one, you can locate your nearest Lidl branch and check its opening hours via the supermarket’s online store finder.

Shoppers were quick to share their discovery in the BARGAIN LOVERS Facebook group, where one member posted a photograph of the product shortly after stumbling across it. The image shows the Lidl Bum Bag, available in blue and red, accompanied by the caption: “Who needs a Lidl Bum Bag? These are NEW in, so be fast!”.

Commenters flocked to share their thoughts on the new arrival. One wrote: “We are already proud owners of these, and we have the matching bucket hats, sliders and socks!”.

Another replied: “A new dog walking bag,” suggesting it could be used to carry treats, waste bags, keys and other essentials while out and about with a four-legged companion. A handful of shoppers, however, were rather less enthused.

“Nobody, who would wear one of those,” questioned one customer. Someone else admitted: “No thanks”.

Bum bags are designed to keep everyday essentials within easy reach while keeping your hands free. Traditionally fastened around the waist, they can also be worn across the chest or over the shoulder, and are widely used to carry items such as phones, wallets, keys, dog treats and waste bags, making them a firm favourite for walking, travelling and festivals.

The bum bag joins Lidl’s ever-expanding range of branded clothing and accessories, which has grown considerably in popularity amongst shoppers in recent years. Previous releases have featured the retailer’s distinctive blue, yellow and red trainers, sliders, socks, T-shirts, hoodies, bucket hats, Christmas jumpers and even matching pet accessories, with numerous items selling out rapidly upon hitting the shelves.

He shared a list of key documents you should keep

Martin Lewis has issued a stark warning about keeping your financial records in order. He warned his fans that failing to maintain the necessary paperwork could land you in serious trouble with HMRC.

A listener to his BBC podcast raised the issue as they sent in a question about digitising their documents. They wanted to know for which contracts and financial products they should keep an original paper copy for future reference. In his response, Mr Lewis began by outlining a general timeframe to bear in mind. He said: “The conventional wisdom is you only need to keep bank, credit card and other personal finance documents for six years, because HMRC – the tax office – is said to only be able to ask you to go back that far.”

‘There is nothing worse’

He went on to explain that you can be more relaxed in certain cases — but you may still want to err on the side of caution. The consumer expert said: “HMRC only requires tax records to be kept for most people doing self assessment for 22 months after the end of the tax year.

“Limited companies must generally keep accounting records for at least six years. But I would probably go for the six years anyway for safety just in case you have a tax investigation.”

He doubled down on the importance of having everything in order should HMRC come calling. Mr Lewis said: “There is nothing worse than a tax investigation. They have huge powers, it can be very distressing.”

HMRC holds sweeping authority to instruct businesses and other organisations to hand over information regarding their financial affairs, including details of their records and transactions. In individual cases, they can compel your bank to release information when deemed appropriate, or contact a person’s employer to obtain the details required.

Speaking more broadly about how long financial documents should be retained, Mr Lewis cited a blog post he had previously written on the subject.

‘Could be many decades’

He said previously: “Evidence of systemic mis-selling often takes years to work through the system. If it’s related to a pension, it could be many decades, so it’s impossible now to what you may need the paperwork of in a few years’ time.

“Therefore for safety, keeping all documents for as long as you can, even for now closed products, is a reasonable precaution.” Mr Lewis said that this principle had recently been proved to be worth its salt, given the ongoing car finance scandal and the forthcoming compensation scheme.

This relates to mis-sold car finance deals between April 6, 2007 and November 1, 2024. So if you arranged a deal during that period, you’d be glad to have held on to your paperwork if you want to file a complaint now.

The average typical compensation payout per claim is thought to be £83, though payments are unlikely to be made before at least 2027. Given the potential for a historical problem such as this, Mr Lewis had some clear advice. He said: “You don’t want to keeping a record of every payment you’ve ever made, but for most major transactions, products or services, I would want to keep my sign up documents, any upgrade documents and any closure documents, which detail what was paid, what wasn’t paid and what the terms were.”

List of key documents

He provided a list of the types of financial products you may wish to retain these essential documents for:

• Loans
• Credit cards
• Mortgages
• Car finance hire purchase
• Two bank statements for each year showing interest, fees and add-ons, including downloading key statements before switching or closing accounts, such as for package bank accounts or savings accounts
• Booking confirmations for flights or costly travel
• Other costly purchases, including any warranty or guarantees.

Mr Lewis concluded: “Anything that’s enough to prove what you had, is where I would go with this.”

Tories say ‘it cannot make sense for this amount of money to be going out in benefits’ as damning Personal Independence Payment report is published

Calls have been made for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) to be drastically reduced for anxiety, low mood, mild depression and ADHD. The call was made after a report was published today which said the disability benefit system needs “fundamental change”, a minister leading a review has said as he insisted it must be made “financially sustainable”.

Sir Stephen Timms said people would have to “wait and see” what his team’s final report into PIP said this autumn when asked whether it might include cuts to the numbers of people claiming the benefit. Spending on PIP was around £15 billion in 2019/20, had risen to around £26 billion by 2024/25 and, by spring 2026, was forecast to rise to more than £41 billion by the end of the decade.

The number of claimants classed as having autistic spectrum disorders has more than doubled in six years, as has the number with mixed anxiety and depressive disorders, while the number with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) has almost quadrupled.

Speaking on Times Radio this morning, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately said:” I think the government should be acting more quickly on this. There are certain set of conditions for which we’re seeing a very rapid increase in people claiming PIP for most specifically anxiety, low mood, mild depression and ADHD where it cannot make sense for this amount of money to be going out in benefits and we should be supporting people to work.

“If somebody who doesn’t have a serious disability has, for instance, gone onto the internet and used AI and used social media to identify how they can claim benefits that they actually shouldn’t be entitled to. That is clearly a wrong thing to do and they’re taking money from taxpayers who are working hard to earn that money and may be struggling to pay the bills themselves. And if somebody is gaming the system like that to get a benefit they shouldn’t have, they should be ashamed and that is a wrong thing to do.

“And that is something which is one of the things that is wrong with our system at the moment and that system at the moment is allowing them to do that. I mean it is allowing that people are going through the system and they are answering the questions and they are getting the benefit. “

On the issue of means testing, she said: “That’s not a particular angle that I’m looking at. So three weeks ago I launched the Conservatives’ review of the sickness benefit system of which PIP is the major benefit and that is a very comprehensive review and what we’re looking at is who should be getting the benefit for know what sort of conditions how do you assess people what form should the help take which at the moment it’s in cash but are there times where it should be support instead should it be equipment for instance things that would enable people to live life to the full and then how do we actually put a limit on the amount.”

PIP is intended to help with everyday tasks and extra living costs if someone has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability.

The Timms review was launched last year after ministers were forced to climb down on plans to reform disability benefits, including for those with mental health conditions, in the face of backbench Labour opposition.

Sir Stephen, speaking about his interim report published on Thursday, said his team wants to “come up with a better process”, adding that “for many people, PIP has become a barrier to participation, which is the opposite of what’s intended”.

He told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme: “Because people worry that if they do participate, DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) will come along and say, ‘So you can do things after all’, and take their benefit away.”

The review noted that while PIP “enables many people to stay in work” through covering extra costs of disability, research also “demonstrates that some people on Pip are scared to participate, either in physical activities or employment, as this could be seen as evidence that their functional ability has improved”.

Sir Stephen told Today the system “hasn’t kept up with our changing understanding of disability and ill health over the 13 years since it was first introduced, so we do think fundamental change is needed and we’ll be making our recommendations for change in the autumn”.

Asked if his team would come up with recommendations which would cut the number of people on PIP, Sir Stephen said: “Well, we’ll need to wait and see what our recommendations are.”

Explaining what he meant by the term “financially sustainable”, Sir Stephen said: “My view is the current level of spending is not a great concern.

“What would be a concern would be if it carried on going up forever more, and that we have to address, and we will be doing so.”

Ms Whately has accused Labour of being “in denial about the seriousness of the situation with our welfare system and the fact that we have to make savings”.

Sir Stephen said his team’s terms of reference “do require us to stick within the currently projected envelope for spending on Pip”, but “don’t require us to make savings”.

He said: “Financial sustainability of the system is a concern. It’s a concern to our steering group. We want the vital support that Pip provides to be there for the long term, and it won’t be if it gets more and more expensive inexorably.”

The Timms report said PIP claimants often find the system to apply for the benefit “dehumanising”, “soul destroying” and “degrading”.

The review team said the recommendations will be “bold in nature and bold in recognition of the wider environment in which disabled people in the UK are living” as it concluded “while Pip is widely valued as a benefit, it is no longer fit for purpose”.

The team, which includes Sharon Brennan and Dr Clenton Farquharson, who have lived experience of disability, said feedback from almost 40,000 people and organisations had found more than 90% described negative experiences of the process of claiming the benefit.

Asked this week about the rise in claimants with conditions such as ADHD, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said he had told the Timms review panel it must consider “whether the assessment process is today really fit for the range of conditions, and the rise in the reports of some conditions that have been reported compared to when it was conceived 13 years ago”.

He added that he had suggested the panellists should be “ambitious” in their recommendations, and that he is “pretty confident that that whole question of the assessment and different conditions will be quite central to their work”.

There were 4.01 million PIP claimants in April 2026, according to DWP data published in June, up 7% in a year and roughly double the number since comparable figures began seven years ago in January 2019, when the total was 2.05 million.

Of those, 1.56 million – or 39% – were listed as having psychiatric disorders, the highest proportion for any type of disability. Some 258,539 claimants were classed as having autistic spectrum disorders, more than double the 103,414 in April 2020, according to PA analysis.

A further 435,330 claimants had mixed anxiety and depressive disorders, up from 214,119 in April 2020, while 100,207 had the hyperkinetic disorders ADHD or ADD, up from 28,740.

The second most common type of disability among claimants was general musculoskeletal diseases, which applied to 752,799 people, or 19% of the total.

The Timms report noted that numbers reporting mental health conditions and autism have “increased significantly” since 2009, covering the period pre-2013 before disability living allowance (DLA) was replaced by PIP.

It said in contrast to this rise, the number of people reporting the two main musculoskeletal conditions of back pain and arthritis had risen “only slowly”, likely to have been driven by an ageing society and broader demographic changes. But the report said demographics “do not obviously explain the trends in the mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions”.

Teenagers and young adults continue to account for a growing proportion of those receiving Pip, with 16.6% of claimants in April aged 16-29, up from 14.3% in April 2020.

While there has been a similar rise for the 30-44 age group – which accounted for 20.9% in April, up from 18.7% in 2020 – there has been a fall in the proportion of claimants aged 45 to 59, at 28.9% of claimants in April, down from 36.0%. The figure for 60 to 74-year-olds was 31.1%, broadly unchanged from 31.0% in 2020.

The Rethink Mental Illness charity agreed that “radical reform is needed”, but added this must “focus on building a fairer, more compassionate system, rather than resorting to harsher sanctions and conditionality that will hurt rather than help”.

Charlotte Gill, head of campaigns at the MS Society, said the review was a chance to “build a PIP system that acknowledges invisible and fluctuating symptoms, ends unnecessary reassessments, and works for everyone”.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, welcomed the fact the review team had listened to and worked with disability campaigners and said this approach “should continue so that future recommendations are practical, deliverable and do not harm disabled people”.

End-of-life charity Marie Curie called for an end to reassessments and an introduction of lifetime awards for people with terminal and progressive, life-limiting conditions which it said “would create a fairer, more compassionate system that treats people with dignity”.

The Carers Trust said there is a “complete lack of trust in the system, with many carers describing it as trying to ‘catch them, or the person they care for, out’”.

Ofgem has issued fresh guidance reminding customers of the rules and how they are meant to protect consumers

Millions of households have been urged to check their rights following an alert from the energy regulator.

Ofgem has published updated guidance reminding consumers that stringent regulations exist ‘to protect you’ from being billed for historical energy consumption in many cases, after concerns emerged that some households are still receiving unanticipated demands. A back bill is issued when a gas or electricity provider has failed to bill a customer accurately, frequently due to an administrative error or meter faults.

While customers are required to settle a correct bill, Ofgem states that suppliers are typically prohibited from billing for energy consumed more than 12 months previously if the customer had not been properly invoiced or notified about the outstanding amount.

Who is protected?

According to Ofgem’s back-billing regulations, households ordinarily do not need to pay for energy used over a year ago if:

• they have never been issued with an accurate bill for that energy.
• they have not previously been informed what they owed via a statement of account.
• their Direct Debit had been set too low due to the supplier’s error.

Nevertheless, the protection does not extend to situations where a customer has “acted unreasonably” – for instance by obstructing meter readings, consistently disregarding requests for information or payment, or committing theft of gas or electricity. Martin Lewis calls for tougher rules.

The latest reminder follows consumer champion Martin Lewis telling MPs the current safeguards are not robust enough. Providing evidence to Parliament’s Energy Security Committee earlier this year, Mr Lewis stated thousands of consumers were still being sent bills they should not be liable for, despite the existing regulations.

He contended that the definition of customers who have “unreasonably obstructed” suppliers is too ambiguous, making it simpler for companies to challenge complaints. He also pressed Ofgem to mandate that suppliers must clearly outline customers’ rights whenever a back bill is sent out.

Mr Lewis also stated the 12-month limit should be reduced to six months, telling MPs: “We live in a modern digital age… Why should a firm take over six months to give you a correct bill? I can’t see any reason for that.”

What to do if you receive a back bill

Ofgem advises anyone who gets a back bill should first verify whether the supplier has adhered to the rules. If you think the demand covers energy that falls outside the allowed timeframe, you should contact your supplier straight away. If the supplier has taken money incorrectly, it should issue a refund.

Consumers finding it difficult to pay, or who think they should not have been sent the bill at all, are also urged to contact their supplier as quickly as possible. If the disagreement cannot be settled, customers can submit a formal complaint.

The watchdog also notes that additional assistance could be on offer for households concerned about meeting their energy bills. Further information is available here.

Among those who could stop work are teaching assistants, social workers, waste collection staff, trading standards teams, housing officers and librarians

Around 200,000 council and school workers across England and Wales are to begin voting on whether to strike over pay. The ballot of Unison members follows the union’s rejection of a 3.3% pay offer from local government employers.

Unison said the offer fell short of restoring the value of staff pay after years of decline. Among those being balloted on Thursday are teaching assistants, social workers, waste collection staff, trading standards teams, housing officers and librarians.

The ballot closes in early August and if workers back industrial action, walkouts could begin early in the autumn. Unison said low pay was making it harder for councils and schools to recruit and retain staff.

General secretary Andrea Egan said: “Council and school workers kept vital services running through years of brutal austerity, with rising demand and relentless pressure. They deserve far better than another pay offer leaving them falling ever further behind.

“This huge ballot is the direct consequence of employers expecting staff to accept less while delivering more, year after year. That’s taken a growing toll on workers, on local services and on the communities depending on them. No one chooses lightly to take strike action and there’s still time for employers to improve this pay offer and avoid a dispute.

“Failing that, it should come as no surprise if workers decide the only way left to secure the fair pay and respect they deserve is to walk out.”

Money saving expert Martin Lewis has shared how customers who switch to Santander could get £180 and a bonus £45 Amazon voucher by signing up for a new account

Everybody enjoys a freebie, especially when that freebie is money. Banks across the UK have a tendency to offer customers upfront cash for switching accounts and at the moment there is one deal which could get you up to £250 for making the change.

Money saving expert Martin Lewis has shared how customers who switch to Santander could get £180 and a bonus £45 Amazon voucher by signing up for a new account. There are several options to choose from which include joint accounts and everyday accounts among others.

So, here is how you can benefit from the switch. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here

The financial journalist shared in his Money Saving Expert newsletter that those who sign up for Santander Edge could get a free £180, £45 Amazon voucher, 1% cashback on bills, 6% easy-access saving and top debit card overseas.

The newsletter said it’s a “strong pick if you want upfront cash and ongoing bills cashback – especially for households.”

Although, there is a catch for those who make the switch – they will have to pay £3 a month fee to receive the perks of the account. For the £3 a month fee Santander Edge offers:

• 1% cashback up to £10/month on Council Tax, energy, water, mobile & home phone, broadband & paid TV bills you pay from it by Direct Debit.
• Linked saver paying 6% variable for a year on up to £4,000.
• Top debit card for spending overseas with near-perfect exchange rates.
• 8% variable regular saver you can put up to £200/month in for a year.

Additionally, those who switch to Edge Up, Explorer or Everyday accounts also get the sign-up cash bonus – in fact signing up for the £17 a month Edge Explorer will also earn you an impressive £150 hotel voucher instead of the £45 Amazon voucher. You can read more about that here.

Of course, like any good thing that seems too good to be true, there are terms and conditions.

To get the £180 bonus you must open an account online or in branch within 60 days. Then switch in an account, pay in £1,500 or more and have more than two active household Direct Debits (eg, Council Tax, energy.)

Then you’re £180 will be payed in 60 to 90 days.

To be eligible for the Amazon Gift Card you must have been accepted for and activated a Santander Edge, Edge Up or Everyday Current Account. Then you must complete a full switch – this means setting up two household Direct Debits and paying £1,500 in to the account within 60 days, and open a Santander Regular Saver and fund the Regular Saver account with £200 within 30 days.

Then you will be emailed a link to claim a voucher after September 30, to be claimed within 30 days.