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MOST RECENT ARTICLES FROM HELEN CRANE
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Why wasn't my pension lifestyled? I lost £8,500 in stock market downturn: CRANE ON THE CASE
24/04/25 06:00
I have a personal pension which I opened in the 1980s with Wesleyan Financial Services. In recent years, I received letters and emails suggesting my pension would be 'lifestyled' into a lower-risk fund five years ahead of my claim date, which was set to be when I turned 65 in March 2020. This did not happen and instead, my money remained in a fund rated moderate-high risk/high reward until March 2020. Had my pension been moved into a lower-risk fund in 2015, as Wesleyan said it would be in its letters, I believe I would not have lost as much money....read
Nationwide cuts mortgage rates and now offers best buy for home movers
22/04/25 02:25Nationwide has reduced its rates by up to 0.25 percentage points, with the deals available to both new and existing customers.
Is now a good time to buy a home? Only 17% of Britons think so due to three major reasons
22/04/25 11:09The proportion of people who felt confident to buy a home has dropped since stamp duty was hiked, according to a survey.
Our iPhones never arrived - but John Lewis and ID Mobile are still charging for them! CRANE ON THE CASE
17/04/25 07:45In recent months, the most common problem readers have been writing to me about is phones they have ordered being 'lost' in transit.
My son's Sports Direct jacket got lost: Has Evri charged me £53 for a phone call to sort it? CRANE ON THE CASE
03/04/25 06:00I returned the jacket in October, but haven't had my money back - and I was charged £53 for a phone call I made to chase up the refund.
London's poshest homes being sold at HUGE discounts not seen since 2009 thanks to non-dom tax changes
01/04/25 11:21The end of non-dom tax status and stamp duty hikes on second homes have put a dampener on the super-prime homes market, according to Savills.
My wife died and Crowne Plaza hotel rowed back on a £847 refund: CRANE ON THE CASE
27/03/25 06:00The hotel is claiming the offer to write off the bill was an error because the member of staff's first language was not English.
HMRC urges parents earning under £60,000 to claim child benefit - worth up to £2,212 for two children
21/03/25 12:44For a family with two children, the benefit is worth up to £2,212 per year, while if you have three children, it could be worth up to £3,094.
I'd be first in line for a new Topshop store, says HELEN CRANE - but here's why I don't think it'll happen
20/03/25 02:12The iconic brand returning to the high street would be the retail comeback of the century for millennials like me - but it's unlikely.
CRANE ON THE CASE: My £88,000 Land Rover won't LOCK... and it hasn't fixed it after SIX MONTHS
20/03/25 06:00I only bought the car a year ago, and in that time it has been away being repaired for more than three months. I don't think this is acceptable for such an expensive car.
'Ageist' digital banking and bills are making life harder, claim over-60s
18/03/25 12:01Age UK said the shift to 'digital first' has created significant barriers for older people who are not comfortable with using technology.
Britain's three newest million pound property markets revealed - is yours on the list?
17/03/25 01:36Only three areas met the criteria for entry this time - compared to 11 last year - thanks to higher mortgage rates which have led to flagging house prices.
Mega £5,000 cashback mortgages launched to offset stamp duty hike
14/03/25 10:29New mortgage deals with hefty cashback are on offer to help with rising stamp duty costs - but there are a few things buyers must be aware of before signing up.
Amazon revoked my £379 gift card saying it had been reported stolen: CRANE ON THE CASE
13/03/25 06:00Amazon told me the cards, which I received as a bonus from work, were revoked because they had been 'reported lost or stolen by the purchaser.'
Money owed on mortgages reaches RECORD high as lending to first-time buyers spikes
11/03/25 01:02The amount of new money being handed by banks to home buyers and owners is rising as borrowers adjust to the 'new normal' of higher interest rates.
Evri damaged my £540 Pokémon Red Game Boy game - but then said it was lost: CRANE ON THE CASE
06/03/25 06:00I kept the game from my childhood and it was in good condition - so it is very rare and hard to replace. I suspect it was stolen.
Leasehold ban: What does it mean for flat owners now - and in the future?
05/03/25 06:00We explain what commonhold is, how the proposals will affect future flat buyers and what those who already own leasehold properties need to know.
Sale of new leasehold flats to be banned under Labour plan to end 'feudal' system
03/03/25 10:00There are around five million leaseholders in England and Wales, and the system has come under increased criticism in recent years.
Your cheap and cheerful Ikea furniture from the 1970s could now be worth a fortune, expert says
01/03/25 07:00Vintage Ikea furniture, as well as other modestly-priced pieces, is becoming a 'new collectible category' according to an auction expert.
An eSim saved me hundreds on my holiday phone bill... HELEN CRANE explains how to use one
28/02/25 07:00Using the digital Sim seemed technical and daunting at first, but once I got used to it it was - mostly - smooth sailing. Here are my tips.
Calor delivered 400 litres of gas I didn't want, now it's chasing a £437 payment: CRANE ON THE CASE
27/02/25 06:00I switched LPG supplier more than two years ago and have no idea why the gas turned up. I don't think I should pay as I didn't order it. Do I have to?
'I'm trying not to turn the heating on': The pensioner leaseholders seeing service charges rise by up to 2,500%
18/02/25 06:00We have spoken to older leaseholders, including a 96-year-old who has seen her charge rise 223% since 2010 to £4,200 and another who has seen a 2,500% rise.
Labour to make landlords meet green energy targets by 2030
07/02/25 01:11Labour said the plan could reduce average tenant's energy bill by £240 per year - but there are concerns that landlords will sell properties instead of paying to improve them.
Why is Santander blocking my £25k endowment payout? I paid off the mortgage 25 YEARS ago: CRANE ON THE CASE
06/02/25 07:25The investment vehicle was set to pay out at the end of the 35-year term in 2024 - but Santander needs to confirm I paid off the mortgage and says it no longer has the records.
We're still awaiting £4,664 covid holiday refund FIVE years after we booked an Orlando trip: CRANE ON THE CASE
30/01/25 06:00I paid £4,664 for a trip to Orlando but haven't seen the money back from the now-defunct Teletext Holidays or the Travel Trust Association.
Rents fell at end of 2024 for first time in FIVE years as tenants avoid moving home to save cash
28/01/25 12:01Typical asking rents outside of London have gone down rather than up for the first time in 19 consecutive quarters, the property portal said.
I ordered an iPhone 14 from Tesco Mobile... but received a TOY version instead: CRANE ON THE CASE
23/01/25 06:01When I removed it from the box I realised it was not a real phone. All of the ports are moulded shut and it has no slot for a charger or sim card.
I had 181,000 Avios stolen by a hacker: Will I get them back? CRANE ON THE CASE
16/01/25 06:00My email account was compromised - then I later saw my 180,800 Avios had been transferred to someone else and my three companion vouchers had disappeared.
John Lewis wouldn't swap my free breakfast bap for a vegan alternative
11/01/25 09:47I'm vegan, so I contacted John Lewis customer services to ask if I could swap it for a vegan item of similar value - but was surprised that it said no.
We downsized and got a smart meter… why have our Octopus energy bills rocketed? CRANE ON THE CASE
09/01/25 06:00In our three-bed house we paid £90 per month, but now in our two-bed flat we have been asked to pay £430.
I've won back £1.4m for readers - these were their biggest money gripes of 2024: CRANE ON THE CASE
30/12/24 07:00Over the past 12 months, I have put many firms under the spotlight. From banks to retailers and energy firms to insurers, here are some of the highlights.
Dog rescue charity faces closure after receiving £51k energy bill
28/12/24 07:00The organisation has launched a charity calendar in a bid to reduce the debt to SSE, which its founder says will force it to close its doors.
I discovered my husband's pension 11 years after he died - a year on, I'm still waiting to get it: CRANE ON THE CASE
19/12/24 06:00My husband, Jim died in 2012. In December 2023, I was contacted out of the blue by an heir tracing firm and asked if I was his next of kin.
I sent my £240 Dyson hairdryer to be repaired but it RECYCLED it: CRANE ON THE CASE
12/12/24 06:00My hairdryer was not broken, just needed an inexpensive replacement part - so I think the offer of selling me a new one in its place is sharp practice by Dyson.
Aer Lingus said my bag was too big to carry on... but I'd taken it on NINE other flights with the same airline this year
08/12/24 07:00In September I was asked to measure my carry-on suitcase when boarding at Southampton, then told it was too large and to pay a £35 charge.
I paid Opodo for refundable flights, so where's my refund - and have I paid for a 'membership'? CRANE ON THE CASE
05/12/24 06:00The trip had to be cancelled days before departure because my wife was unwell, and we should have got a £459 refund - but but the online travel agent fobs me off with excuses.
My coffee machine refund went to an empty Love2Shop voucher I'd binned: CRANE ON THE CASE
21/11/24 01:08I assumed it wasn't possible to refund money back on to a voucher - now I can't get my cash back unless I come up with the serial numbers from the cards.
I asked for my pension early as I have motor neurone disease - but Railpen has made me wait a year: CRANE ON THE CASE
14/11/24 06:00I uncovered a forgotten defined benefit pension from when I was an apprentice in the 1970s - but I have been trying to claim it for a long time and gotten nowhere.
Halfords sold me a £135 van battery I didn't need... then I broke down: CRANE ON THE CASE
07/11/24 06:00I asked for an alternator test but wasn't given one - and then I broke down, costing me £610 in recovery and repairs.
I missed CarFest due to voucher tech trouble: Why won't Virgin Experience Days refund me? CRANE ON THE CASE
24/10/24 05:00The link I was sent to exchange the voucher for the festival tickets didn't work, and I couldn't get any help - but now Virgin says it was 'used' and won't pay me back.
I've waited six months for L&G to pay £65k critical illness claim after my stroke: CRANE ON THE CASE
17/10/24 05:00It took L&G six weeks to find my policy, and after that documents I sent have been lost, medical contacts I provided not followed up, and email addressed mis-spelled.
How did thieves get into my Binance app... and why won't it pay me back £11k of stolen crypto? CRANE ON THE CASE
03/10/24 05:00I had my phone stolen and the thief got hold of £11,300 in cryptocurrency - even though I had all kinds of security measures on my account.
I'm still paying Amex fees for a card I cancelled 17 YEARS ago: CRANE ON THE CASE
26/09/24 08:33I recently discovered my Gold card was never cancelled, and I have been charged the annual membership fee since 2007.
Interest rates held at 5%: What it means for your mortgage and savings
19/09/24 11:01We explain what the Bank of England's decision to stick at 5% means for your finances - and whether rates will be cut again soon.
Our £200 pushchair was broken on a Ryanair flight - but I can't claim as I 'don't have the right form': CRANE ON THE CASE
19/09/24 05:00I reported the broken buggy at the airport, yet now I've been told I was given the wrong information and should have filled out an online form too.
We take a tour with the reality star billionaire who bought Lympne Castle in Kent
07/09/24 05:00I visited the Grade I listed Lympne Castle, parts of which date back to 1080, to meet Real Housewife Ann Kaplan Mulholland and hear about her plans.
Bank of Dave on what you MUST do to keep your phone safe - as he goes 'catching baddies' with London police
06/09/24 05:00Dave hit the streets with Sergeant Stu Ford, part of the team that this year apprehended Sonny Stringer - one of the most notorious London phone thieves.
O2 is chasing my 86-year-old dad for £169 debt after he was scammed: CRANE ON THE CASE
05/09/24 05:00He was told to cancel his direct debit until the fraud was resolved - but now O2 says he has disappeared from its computer system and we can't pay the bill.
My Evri parcel went AWOL... but it's a rare item: Can I make the firm keep looking for it? CRANE ON THE CASE
29/08/24 09:33Evri said it couldn't deliver the parcel because the buyer's house was on an 'unmade track'... but then the £365 vintage sign just went missing somewhere in its network.
Booking.com scam: Spike in reports over summer as some holidaymakers conned out of THOUSANDS
23/08/24 05:00Customers like Mick Thomas (pictured) are still being tricked into handing over cash to fraudsters who have infiltrated Booking.com's platform.
My mother-in-law's debit card was stolen in the supermarket and thieves took out cash: CRANE ON THE CASE
22/08/24 05:00I think Halifax has acted unfairly and should pay her back, as this wasn't her fault. She was saving for a holiday and now can't go
The advice Molly-Mae and Tommy need to read as splitting cohabitees
17/08/24 07:10The influencer and boxer are breaking up after five years - but as a cohabiting couple their rights are very different to those who are married. We explain what the law says.
Our British Airways-booked airport transfer was late and we missed our flight: CRANE ON THE CASE
15/08/24 05:00We paid £432 for a 'private premium car transfer service' but it didn't get us to the airport on time. It was booked on the BA website, but BA won't help as the car firm is a third party.
More mortgage rate reductions as Nationwide offers 3.83%
13/08/24 02:43Major lenders continue to reduce their mortgage rates on a daily basis, with Nationwide set to launch a new market best-buy tomorrow.
Mortgage rate cuts: NatWest launches best buys for new customers from tomorrow
12/08/24 12:18New rates include best-buys for both first-time buyers and those remortgaging with large amounts of equity.
NCP charged me £300 for losing my car park ticket: CRANE ON THE CASE
08/08/24 06:00I parked at the train station while on a weekend away - and when returned I was slapped with a £100 per day 'lost ticket fee'.
Roofer charged me then never turned up... why can't I use Checkatrade's guarantee? CRANE ON THE CASE
25/07/24 05:00The roofer has been banned from Checkatrade, but I've been told I don't qualify for its compensation scheme.
Our Octopus smart meter went dumb, now our bills are rising: CRANE ON THE CASE
18/07/24 05:00I already complained to the Energy Ombudsman and Octopus promised to send a meter reader every three months, but that hasn't happened.
Equity release borrowers pile more cash into paying off interest in their lifetime
16/07/24 06:00A typical borrower could slash their interest costs by £50,000, by paying off just £100 per month - leaving more money for their friends and family.
Al Pacino event was axed and we never got refund - now we see organiser was jailed for fraud: CRANE ON THE CASE
11/07/24 05:00It has been more than a year, and organiser An Experience With hasn't given us a new date - or refunded the £485 we paid.
What does a Labour Government mean for house prices?
05/07/24 06:07Under the last Labour government, the housing market had a rollercoaster ride. What could happen this time around?
I ordered a DFS sofa 18 months ago and STILL don't have all the right parts: CRANE ON THE CASE
04/07/24 06:00My front room is now littered with unsuitable sofa parts I have been sent, and I still haven't got the sofa I wanted - despite placing my order in January 2023.
House prices rise in the North but fall down South as mortgage squeeze hits expensive homes
01/07/24 09:55House prices rose fastest in more affordable areas in the North and the Midlands, which saw combined growth of 2.4% year on year.
Homes are 8% too expensive - but prices will be 'fair' by end of year says Zoopla
27/06/24 11:01House prices will go up 1.5% or £3,900 this year, but wages are set to go up to meet them according to the property website.
My husband lost access to £100k Barclays savings after recovering from a stroke: CRANE ON THE CASE
27/06/24 06:00Myself and my son became deputies after the stroke, but my husband recovered better than expected and the deputyship was removed.
My home is part leasehold - but I only found out after owning it for 17 years...
27/06/24 06:00When I bought the home in 2006, my conveyancer failed to notice the details of the leasehold land in the property title - and this error has cost me £40,000.
You make HOW much? Bank of Dave lifts lid on phone swiping epidemic in shocking gang interview
24/06/24 11:01The secrets of the phone thieves terrorising Britain's streets have been revealed in an interview between a gang leader and Dave Fishwick.
House prices stayed flat in June, as asking prices stall while property market shrugs off election uncertainty
16/06/24 11:01Average asking prices hardly moved this month, though cheaper areas in the North of England saw bigger growth.
Lifetime Isa penalty: More than 185,000 savers fined for taking their OWN money
13/06/24 08:01The proportion of account holders fined for making 'unauthorised withdrawals' has more than doubled in just three years as house prices rise.
A burst pipe flooded our home: Why is the insurer's payout £4,942 lower than our quote to fix it? CRANE ON THE CASE
13/06/24 05:00I quoted £9,553 for repairs, but insurer Policy Expert only wants to pay £4,611. How can the difference be that much, and can we challenge it?
Mortgage arrears surge 45% in a year as reality of rate hikes sets in
11/06/24 11:31Homeowners coming to the end of fixed-term deals agreed when rates were much cheaper continue to face payment spikes, as the extent of rate increases is revealed.
Vinted won't let me have my £1,500 unless I have a valid passport
08/06/24 06:00Is photo ID really needed for selling old clothes online, and is Vinted allowed to keep hold of my money if I don't provide it?
House prices continue to rise annually, says Halifax... but many buyers are waiting for an interest rate cut to make their move
07/06/24 09:29Experts said buyers and sellers were still anticipating a cut in the Bank of England's base rate, and predicted a bigger bounce in the market after that.
Average rent FELL in these six cities at start of this year, Zoopla says...
06/06/24 11:01Rents fell in several cities in the first three months of this year according to new data, which will come as welcome news to tenants following years of constant rises.
Three handed my new phone Sim to a fraudster and they took £3,235 from my Coinbase: CRANE ON THE CASE
06/06/24 05:00I lost signal on my mobile phone and the next thing I knew a scammer had rinsed my crypto account. How was he allowed to order a replacement Sim for my phone number?
I'm a consumer champion and have won £1.2m back for readers: Here's how to complain... and WIN
30/05/24 05:01Since 2022, I've had the privilege of helping our readers fight for financial justice in Crane on the Case, which is now on its 100th column. These are my six tips for getting YOUR problems sorted.
My father-in-law had £5,523 stolen but HSBC says he went on a jewellery spending spree: CRANE ON THE CASE
30/05/24 05:00He has dementia and his recollection of events is unclear - but the spending happened two hours away and was nothing like his usual activity.
BT digital landline: It tried to make me upgrade and pay £85 when I asked for emergency backup
24/05/24 05:00I wear a medical pendant, which has a button I would press to call 999 in an emergency. When I switch to Digital Voice, it won't work if there is no power.
I want to move my £20k work pension - why am I still stuck waiting nearly a year later? CRANE ON THE CASE
23/05/24 05:00The Lifesight and Nest pension schemes are pointing fingers at each other and saying it's the other's fault, leaving me completely stuck in limbo.
Property asking prices edge up AGAIN to reach record, says Rightmove - but buyers are being stretched
19/05/24 11:01Sales are up thanks to the traditional seasonal uptick, but affordability is still 'stretched' for many buyers, the property portal said.
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