All the latest insight and commentary from James Daley and the Fairer Finance team.
Blog
2 December 2014
How to play insurers at their own game
When you're buying insurance through a comparison site, don't be afraid to experiment with your answers. There can be big rewards, and it's perfectly legal.
Blog
24 November 2014
Who’s reviews can you trust?
Customer reviews are all the rage. Whether you're getting a take away, buying some new shoes or taking out a new credit card, there's likely to be a star rating to help you choose. But don't be fooled into thinking they're a fair reflection of what you're getting.
Blog
18 November 2014
Virgin Money execs struggle to show restraint
Virgin Money's chief executive cashed in 2m of shares as her company came to market last week - and is sitting on another 6m of stock. It sends the wrong message to its customers.
Blog
12 November 2014
Even the Rolling Stones are not immune from the wolves of the insurance industry
The Rolling Stones have had their £8m insurance claim for cancelled show rejected. It's a common story - and there are lessons for the rest of us mere mortals.
Blog
11 November 2014
The FCA bares its teeth
The FCA's price cap on the payday lending industry is the heaviest piece of regulation the UK financial services industry has seen. There are plenty of other markets that could benefit from a similarly tough approach.
Blog
7 November 2014
Insurers putting their customers in handcuffs
Insurers often make the penalties for exiting their products too steep. If you've not made a claim on your policy, you should be given the choice to exit penalty free, and be given a pro-rata refund.
Blog
6 November 2014
Barclays and HSBC say no thanks to competition inquiry
The Competition & Markets Authority has confirmed it will launch an investigation into the UK banking sector. The negative responses from some banks are perhaps the clearest indication that reform is needed.
Blog
4 November 2014
Banks and insurers that fail to invest in technology should be fined
Years of under-investment in IT systems causes misery for banking and insurance customers every day. It's up to the regulator to ensure that banks and insurers don't slip behind again.
Blog
3 November 2014
Are mortgages designed to confuse customers?
New Which? research shows that 97% of people can't pick the best deal when faced with a choice of mortgages. Do lenders make products more complex on purpose?
Blog
31 October 2014
Insurers fail the compassion test over terminal illnesses
Most insurers will pay out your life insurance policy early if you're diagnosed with a terminal illness. But if you're given more than a year to live they won't. For the small number of people who are affected, its heart breaking.