From avoiding online scams to bagging the right flat, our experts have all the advice you need
The dream team of Judge Rinder, Mel Hunter and Amanda Cable tell you how to spend your money and, more importantly, how to save it
Every Saturday, The Consumer Crew are here to solve your problems.
Mel Hunter will take on readers’ consumer issues, Amanda Cable will give you the best advice for buying your dream home and Judge Rinder will tackle your legal woes.
Judge Rinder - The Sun's legal expert
ALTHOUGH the internet age has brought us many advantages, such as online banking, ease of communication and the capacity to spend far too much far too easily, one of the downsides is that we are now much more vulnerable to frauds and scams.
Some of the scams that we have become familiar with are obvious to spot — the Nigerian prince called Nigel who wants to transfer £3,000,000 into our bank account, for example.
Or the bloke with the dodgy accent claiming to be from Microsoft who has detected a virus on your computer that you don’t even own.
But these aside, scammers and fraudsters are becoming ever more sophisticated. The most common frauds that target people directly are “phishing” emails.
These purport to come from such organisations as banks or HMRC, asking you to hand over your bank details or your passwords.
It’s a good idea to check your credit report.
It is also apparently relatively easy for criminals to hack into email accounts and pose as the builder you hired for an extension last year or the solicitor you are currently receiving advice from.
If you spot something untoward, tell your bank straight away.
They will monitor your account for you and stop any unauthorised transactions. They should refund any money that has been taken and may even be obliged to do so under the Payment Service Regulations.
It is important to be especially vigilant in situations where you are asked to hand over cash, as the bank could refuse to refund your money on the basis that you made the payment of your own volition.
It is also a good idea to check your credit report if anything looks suspicious, or to make sure you haven’t been adversely affected if you have been scammed. This can cost as little as £2, which is a small price to pay for peace of mind.
While we all dream of that unexpected windfall from a rich relative we never knew we had, or think we can win millions on the lottery without ever having entering it, the golden rule to remember is that if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is!
Summing up
MY grandson is fighting for access to his daughter. In September we had two barristers and witnesses at court for a final hearing.
It was supposed to be heard by a district judge but two magistrates turned up who weren’t qualified to deal with it. We are already struggling to fight the case financially.
Can we get our barristers’ fees compensated by the courts as it was a mistake on their part?
KEN, Peterborough
There is a concept in family proceedings called “wasted costs” but these can only be awarded against a legal representative who has acted improperly, unreasonably or negligently.
There is no provision to get your money back directly from the court for its mistake. You can, however, make a complaint to HM Courts and Tribunals Service on their website and apply for compensation for the administrative error.
If your claim is rejected, there is an appeal process and information on how to appeal should be provided with their decision. Failing that, the last resort would be to try to have your case referred to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman but you would need to get your MP involved in order to do this.
He can support your complaint by signing a form which is available online. Bureaucracy at its finest. Best of luck!
Mr Rinder regrets he cannot answer questions personally. Answers intended as general guidance, they do not constitute legal advice and are not a substitute for obtaining independent legal advice
Got a question for Judge Rinder? Email [email protected]
Amanda Cable - Property expert with the best advice for your home
FLAT-SHARING is about to become more like Friends and less like The Young Ones.
Essential Living — a firm bringing US-style renting to the UK — has launched Vantage Point in Highgate Hill, North London, where flatmates share equal-size bedrooms but get together in communal games rooms, libraries and BBQ areas.
Its £7million rooftop penthouse will be left empty so everyone can use it. For example, residents can pay £50 to hire it out for private dinner parties.
Rents start from £400 a week and two new complexes are coming soon — one in Maidenhead, Berks, and one in Bethnal Green, East London.
For more information, see .
Similar schemes are run by Moda Living in Manchester and Liverpool.
And Platform has rental buildings in towns including Bedford; Bracknell, Berks; Crawley, West Sussex; Exeter in Devon and Stevenage, Herts.
SELF-BUILD & Design East will be heading to Peterborough Arena on March 4 and 5 to help anyone planning to construct their own home or extend their existing one.
The show includes seminars on plot-finding and eco-building.
Tickets cost £12 on the day or are half price in advance on the website. For more details, see .
SLOW broadband speed is the most annoying bugbear for people who move into a new home.
In fact, 39 per cent of buyers and 48 per cent of renters would avoid a property if they had known it had poor peak-time broadband speeds, according to a survey of 3,000 Brits.
The study, by broadband provider found that poor mobile phone signal would worry a further 18 per cent of movers, while just six per cent would be worried about noisy neighbours.
WE know it as a cheap material you find on building sites but chipboard is now a must-have for trendy contemporary interiors.
A new range of porcelain tiles combine the industrial look of exposed chipboard with porcelain.
Designers describe The Chipboard range as “understated sexy”, which is a new one for chipboard.
But it looks great – especially with stripes for the bedroom or grey for the bathroom.
You can view the full collection online at .
WATER bargain! This beautiful Grade II-listed Victorian water tower in Dereham, Norfolk, is on sale with a guide price of just £190,000.
It was built in the 1880s in an ornate Italian Gothic style, despite protests from some locals who thought it was too pricey. Now it is ripe for conversion into a four-storey home with lift.
See or .
Mel Hunter - Readers' champion on fighting for your rights
Question: I USED a private car park in Sheffield in October 2015. The end time on the ticket was 4.34pm. I left the car park at 4.11pm.
I was surprised to receive a parking fine from the operator, ParkingEye, a few days later.
After looking into it further, I found that the time on the parking machine had not been changed for the clocks going back earlier that day.
I feel the car park company is at fault for not changing the clock. My appeal has been rejected and I have been sent letters asking for £160 and threatening me with court action.
MEL ROBERTS, Retford, Notts
Answer: You overstayed your parking but ParkingEye has to accept responsibility as well. With the equipment in the car park giving the incorrect time, drivers like you were going to be misled.
I asked ParkingEye to reconsider your case. They told me you received the charge because you stayed in the car park longer than the time you paid for, which you don’t deny, but they saw sense and cancelled the charge.
For more about parking rules, go to .
Question: TO celebrate our 25th anniversary, my wife and I booked a £3,800 dream holiday at an all-inclusive resort on the Caribbean isle of Aruba.
When we arrived, we were taken to a sister resort which did not resemble what we booked. We went to reception to complain but they said that was what our booking reflected.
We were told there were no rooms available in our chosen hotel and that if we wanted to move, we would have to pay $280 (£225) to upgrade.
A Thomson rep on site told us there appeared to be a mistake with the booking and we should contact the company when we got home.
We’ve now been offered the $280 back but also feel we should be compensated for the upset.
PHILLIP BUSBY, Walsall
Answer: You were able to sort this mess out but only by paying for an upgrade you had no idea if you’d get back. Naturally this cast a shadow over the trip.
Once you got back, you learned you could get a refund but still wanted answers. Thomson admits there was a system error which it has apologised for and has offered you a £500 voucher.
Above all, you were glad the upset caused on such a special occasion had been acknowledged.
WITH Lent starting on Wednesday, ditch bad consumer habits:
- Making late payments: If you miss a payment, you’ll face a fee and it may affect your credit score. Set up standing orders and create bill reminders on your phone.
- Online impulse buying: Remove your card details from your favourite websites so you have to stop and think before buying.
- Signing up for subscriptions: It may only be only £5 a month but those clubs, memberships and mags all add up. Cull any you don’t use often.
- Exceeding your phone allowance: Use your mobile provider’s app to check your data usage and stop before you go over your limit. If you often exceed it, a new tariff should save you money.
- Ignoring your bills: Set up an admin file for statements emailed to you, and check them before you file them.
Do you have a consumer issue? Email [email protected]
Maddy Tooke - Coupon Queen finding you the best bargains
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Five top freebies
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Have you got any money-saving tips? Email