Consumeradvice

Finance

Cost-of-Living – Making the Most of Our Energy & the Support Available

Increases to prices and the cost-of-living are affecting us all. With energy costs soaring and inflation making everyday items increasingly expensive, it’s more important now than ever to understand the ways we can reduce our outgoings, and to be aware of the sources of support that are available that can help. It’s not always easy …

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I have invested money into cryptocurrency and cannot get in contact with the company that I paid to handle my investment. I found them through social media channels, and the profile has been deleted. I think I have been scammed. Can you help?

Scottish citizens are being targeted by crypto asset-related investment scams on a more regular basis. This is in part due to the way that scammers latch on to current events, trending topics, and the latest fads. Some crypt assets, including Bitcoin and Ether, sometimes referred to as ‘cryptocurrencies’ are not regulated in the UK, meaning …

I have invested money into cryptocurrency and cannot get in contact with the company that I paid to handle my investment. I found them through social media channels, and the profile has been deleted. I think I have been scammed. Can you help? Read More »

Energy Bills – Demystifying the Jargon & Sources of Support

With all the recent news about energy increases, price hikes, and everything else that is going on in the world, it’s easy to get bogged down and confused by the jargon being used. When it comes to how we spend our money, being in the know and understanding where it is going is more important …

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I bought a car from a private individual and have received contact saying that there is outstanding finance on the vehicle. I am worried that the car may be taken away. Can you help?

If you’ve bought a used car from a private seller, they should always have what is known as ‘legal title’, essentially meaning that the seller should have the legal right to sell the vehicle. If you have discovered that the car has outstanding finance attached to it, it is likely that it may have been …

I bought a car from a private individual and have received contact saying that there is outstanding finance on the vehicle. I am worried that the car may be taken away. Can you help? Read More »

Making the Most of What We Have: New Year Planning 2021

We all do it. Well, I know I do. We make that list in the week between Christmas and New Year of all the things that we promise ourselves that we will do over the course of the next 12 months that will fix our lives, make us more financially stable and let us save …

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Contactless Fraud: Changing Payment Methods Mean Increased Risks

We have seen many changes in retail since the start of the year. The coronavirus pandemic has meant that shopping looks and feels very different for most of us. Limits to the numbers of shoppers allowed in store, as well as one-way systems and rules about spacing have had an impact on the retail store …

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Ofgem Announcement – Assistance for consumers struggling with energy bills

On 19th October 2020, Ofgem (the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets) announced plans to strengthen protections for energy customers who are struggling to pay their energy bills. From the 15th of December, these proposed new protections will be in place for energy customers. These will come in the form of new licence rules for …

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Brighthouse Collapse – What Does This Mean For Consumers?

This afternoon (30th March 2020), the announcement was made that Brighthouse (the biggest rent-to-own operator in the UK) had collapsed, raising questions for many consumers with regards to their rights under prior hire purchase agreements. ‘Hire-purchase’, ‘conditional sale agreement’ or ‘rent-to-own’ are all generally used to refer to an agreement between a lender (in this case Brighthouse) and a …

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Coronavirus and Employment – Government Intervention

The beginning of 2020 demonstrated positive figures for employment in the UK, with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimating that between November 2019 and January 2020, 32.99 million people aged 16 years and over were in employment, demonstrating a growth of 271,000 more citizens than just one year prior. However, with the introduction of …

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Gizmos and Gadgets – Avoiding Impulse Purchases and Understanding Consumer Psychology

For most of us, the purchase of a new gadget is exciting.  Opening the box and holding something which feels and looks shiny and new can be a great feeling. This interaction between the shiny new item, the act of opening the packaging and the anticipation of the experience is an important driver in encouraging …

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