TONY HETHERINGTON: Lloyds comes up sparkling with the 'Elite' diamonds that weren't forever!  

TONY HETHERINGTON: Lloyds comes up sparkling over 'Elite' diamonds

Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Mrs A.B. writes: I read your recent article about Elite Gems. I too was taken for a ride by this company and its boss Ansar Ali, to the tune of £48,204. I bought six investment diamonds, but when I had them valued for insurance I was told their replacement value was only £21,300, and their wholesale value was just £9,250. I cannot sell them anywhere for a decent price.

I booked tickets for One Direction at the front of the stadium - so why have I been allocated seats at the back? 

I booked tickets for One Direction at the front of the stadium - so why have I been

I booked tickets for my daughter in the Yellow zone where all her friends planned to be. But when the tickets arrived they were for the Blue zone at the back of the arena. Why has Ticketmaster sent me different tickets to the ones I booked? It doesn't seem fair that my daughter has to sit at the back away from her friends - especially since we booked before some of the others who have been allocated the Yellow zone seats they requested.

How much will our earnings reduce the amount our son can borrow through his student loan? 

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I was shocked to be told that his student loan is affected by parents' income. How will we know how much he will getif it enough to cover his accommodation and living costs?

We're booking a £1,600 villa and the owners want half now and the rest before we arrive - how should we pay if we're worried about fraud?

HOLIDAY VILLA WITH POOL IN KEFALONIA, GREECE.

I am worried about transferring so much money to someone, even though the owners seem honest, how can we protect ourselves if they can't take credit card payments.

What would happen to my dogs if I passed away? How can I make sure they'd be well looked after? 

How many years of National Insurance do I need for the new flat rate state pension and can I buy extra credits?

Can I buy extra years National Insurance for new flat-rate state pension?

I will reach state pension age in a couple of years but I am worried that I will not have paid enough national insurance contributions to qualify for my state pension. How many years of work do I need to be eligible for the new single-tier state pension and can I buy extra credits?

Why are we being made to wait for the Marriage Allowance tax break promised by the Government? 

Bride and groom leaving their wedding by car - POSED BY MODELS.
A third of wedding guests admit to being over the limit when driving away from the reception, disturbing new research reveals. Risking tragedy, one in every 100 grooms also admitted to drink-driving BEFORE they got to the altar on their wedding day. A similar proportion said they did the same after taking their vows. No brides admitted to drink driving on the day of their marriage.

Apparently unless you have a current passport and new style photo driving license it is impossible to register online. It is not possible to register in any other way at the current time.

TONY HETHERINGTON: 'Dr Mr T, we are very sorry to hear that you are dead...'

Card Protection Plan wrote to my father-in-law, stating that he might be due compensation for his policy. He passed away - and it wrote the cheque out to him.

MONEY MORALS: I'm a student living with working housemates. They want me to pay council tax even though students are exempt. Is this fair? 

MONEY MORALS: I'm a student living with working housemates. Should I pay council tax?

In our Money Morals series we invite readers to help solve a dilemma. This week we ask, should a student living with professionals have to pay council tax? Students are exempt from paying. But the reader's flatmates say that if her room had been rented to someone in work, they would all have to pay less.

My husband was charged £1.85 to withdraw cash - are these machines still legal?

Person using a cash machine. A bank today announced plans to install hundreds of free-to-use cash machines in the UK's poorest communities. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday July 28, 2006. The Royal Bank of Scotland group, which also includes NatWest, said it recognised the reliance on the free dispensers by those of "limited financial means". See PA story MONEY Machines. Photo credit should read: Gareth Fuller/PA.

My husband popped into a small grocery store after a day out to get some emergency money from a cash machine located inside. Three days later, he spotted a £1.85 fee for withdrawing his £50.

My partner shares £90k in debt with his ex-wife and their house is being repossessed - will I or my credit rating be at risk if we get married?

DAKETT Bride and groom exchange wedding rings during the wedding ceremony.

My partner has been living with me for about four years. I would really like us to get married but he has debts from his previous marriage from credit cards with his ex wife amounting to about £90,000.

ASK TONY: Rubbish lorry dropped a bin on my car but its insurer won't pay out 

We contacted the firm, which eventually put us in touch with its insurance ­company, Davies Managed Systems.

My mum is not in my stepfather's will and he's left the house to his kids - can we challenge the inheritance after he dies? 

Last Will and Testament document with a Death Certificate, a pair of metal rimmed reading glasses and a fountain pen

My stepfather has always prevented her from contributing to the purchase of their homes. I have now learnt that when my stepfather dies the home has been left, in his will, to his two sons.

I think my block's managing agent is overcharging me, what happens if I refuse to pay service charges?

I think my block's managing agent is overcharging me, what happens if I refuse to pay?

I am convinced that the managing agent of the block in which I live is levying excessive service charges. We pay £2,000 a year, yet nothing seems to happen other than a broom being taken around the hallway and stairs once a month. What would happen if I refused to pay?

Children's Bond, Junior Isa or even shares - where's the best place to save for our granddaughter? 

11 month old baby holding a £50 note.
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fifty pound notes.

When my son had his first child four years ago we invested in Children's Bonds for our little granddaughter.  But are Children's Bonds still the right direction for their second child?

ASK TONY: Why can't I cash in a pension that pays just £9.82 per year?

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In April 2011, I asked Zurich Assurance whether I could take my pension pot of £913.32 as a lump sum. I was told this would not be possible.

Would I be better off selling my business on a DIY platform or through a broker?

Would I be better off using an online platform that lets me sell it myself, or should I go down the traditional route and use a broker?

I'm taking my pension but have started working again to top up my income - can I enrol in the company pension scheme? 

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I am 61 and drawing on a l pension already but have started a new job. I have been sent confirmation of 'auto-enrolment' in the company scheme. Do I opt out or continue?

TONY HETHERINGTON: Tesco knew 20,000 shoppers were at risk of points theft - but it didn't sound the alarm

TONY HETHERINGTON: Tesco knew 20,000 shoppers were at risk of points theft 

I went to Tesco in Southport before Christmas to take advantage of Clubcard points which I had saved since February last year. After choosing presents, I was told in front of a large queue that my points had already been redeemed, and I had to put back my shopping. I rang Clubcard and was surprised to hear a recorded message about what to do if someone had redeemed your vouchers, which suggests Tesco already knew it was an issue.

Money Morals: Where should you draw the line on avoiding tax?

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET
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From paying cash in hand to not declaring a bit of extra income, often in our personal lives we make this a grey area. Where do you draw the line?

Why does it cost twice as much to phone France and Spain on my BT landline as calling Russia and Brazil? 

BT is introducing new call charges, which will mean it costs 20p per minute to call a landline in Russia or Brazil, or 40p to call a landline in France or Spain.

ASK TONY: Why has my British Gas boiler and central heating policy gone up by 20%? 

A British Gas bill behind a burning hob.
British Gas's residential arm increased profits by 3.2% in the first half of this year.

File photo dated 00/00/00   PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday July 31, 2013. See PA story CITY Centrica. Photo credit should read: Lewis Whyld/PA Wire

I rang British Gas to ask why the cost of my boiler and central heating policy had risen by nearly 20 per cent to just over £30 a month, but I couldn't get a straight answer. Are you able to help?

I live off-grid and use Calor Gas for my heating. My bills are very high - are there any other companies I can switch to? 

CF575K Red and blue propane and butane calor gas containers.

I live in a semi-rural area with no gas main network and so we use Calor Gas for our heating. Are there any other companies that offer this and a way of comparing prices?

I have inherited half my dad's house but I don't want it, can I give it to my children instead without risking inheritance tax?

Can I give my share of my father's estate in his will to my children instead?

I live in an expensive area, so my home takes me over the inheritance tax threshold and I do not need the money from my dad's estate. I would rather that my children had it to help them buy their own homes or move. Can I turn down the bequest in the will, or do I have to accept it and pass it on myself?

We missed our Ryanair flight to Germany because of a Stansted power cut. Why were we offered replacement flights to Holland?

We were due to go on a family Christmas break to Germany, but we missed our flight because a power outage meant there was no information about our flight's status.

We spent £6,000 on a new heating system and cover but - after 15 callouts - British Gas is refusing to admit the boiler is broken

Heating engineer tightens pipe joints to a new boiler

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Two out of three major parts have been replaced since but British Gas said they would not replace the boiler until they are sure that is what is at fault.

If my nephew goes for 'black box' telematic car insurance will his bad driving push up premiums next year?

30 Mar 2006, UK --- A young man drives a right-hand drive Smart car through a city. --- Image by © Martyn Goddard/Corbis

I'm worried about what happens if the insurer reviews the information on the box and decides the increase the premium. How likely is it that they will do this?

ASK TONY: 'Police fraud team' phoned and told me someone had taken £1,400 from my savings account

I had a phone call from a man claiming to be from a police fraud team. He told me that ­someone in London had taken £1,400 from my savings account.

Metro Bank lost our cash Isas, took eight months to get our statements right and now it's ignoring us...

Metro Bank lost our cash Isas, took eight months to get our statements right and now it's

My wife and I are having problems with Metro Bank regarding one-year cash Isa bonds. We reinvested our money in February 2014. We each received statements, but the amounts invested were not recorded - call centre staff could not tell us why.We each invested more money in April 2014 and, once again, the statements excluded the amounts invested.

My wife never paid any National Insurance contributions, will she retire with nothing?

A housewife cooking dinner and feeding the baby in its high chair. Original Publication: Picture Post - 8303 - Shadow Over The Small Farm - pub. 1958  (Photo by Bert Hardy/Picture Post/Getty Images)
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During our 40-year marriage she has never paid any National Insurance contributions. Do changes to the system mean she could now retire with nothing?

ASK TONY: I paid a tip for a meal twice, now I want my money back

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For eight of us, we paid more than £300 for a meal that cost almost a quarter less and feel cheated. Can I get this back?

What happens with power of attorney if I have no family or friends?

A MAN STROLLS THROUGH A PARK AT SUNSET IN LONDON...LON05:LONDON,12NOV97 - An elderly man makes his way down Primrose Hill in London as the sun sets November 12.  As the approaching Winter shortens daylight in Britain, many were out in the park making the most of the remaining daylight on a crisp and clear day.   kl/Photo by Kevin Lamarque  REUTERS...I...ODD
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I am a 69-year-old bachelor with no family or close friends. What happens should I get dementia and is there anything I can sensibly do before this occurs?

Monarch won't repay me for a delayed flight due because it's more than six years old - but I have been claiming since 2008!

Monarch Airlines. Aircraft flying over the clouds.

Monarch said they were awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court about whether they have to give compensation for flight delays caused by technical faults.

ASK TONY: Barclays wants to hike the interest rate on my mortgage for ten buy-to-let properties to 7.55%

ASK TONY: Barclays wants to hike rate on my mortgage for ten buy-to-let properties to

I have ten buy-to-let properties using a £600,000 interest-only loan from Barclays. At a meeting I was told the loan was for five years and was overdue - and Barclays did not intend to extend it. During a period of eight months I have had several letters asking me to agree to an increase in interest rate to 7.05 per cent above base rate i.e. 7.55 per cent.

Direct Line refuses to accept it undervalued our rare truck after an accident - even though similar models are going on eBay for much more

Somebody reversed into my Dad's rare Toyota Hilux. Direct Line has offered £1,800 but we don't feel it's fair, with others selling for far more on eBay. What can we do?

Why am I paying for the buildings insurance on my flat if the freeholder is the one who actually owns the property - and why is it so expensive?

An exterior view of a luxurious three-bedroom terrace house in Smith Terrace, Chelsea SW3 for sale.
£5.495 million (reduced by £200,000)




Smith Terrace, SW3, for sale through John D Wood & Co., exterior landscape.jpg
£5.495 million (reduced by £200,000)
A luxurious three-bedroom terrace house in Smith Terrace, Chelsea SW3.
http://zoopla.homesandproperty.co.uk/for-sale/details/32644843

The freeholder has just billed me and the other leaseholder £250 each for buildings insurance. Are we not being asked to insure a property that legally we don't actually own?

Do we have the right to ask for a dummy CCTV camera or alarm box for our rented home - and would it make it safer?

Is it worth installing dummy alarm or fake CCTV camera outside our home?

Last month, I had my car stolen from outside the rental house I live in with my partner. We have asked for our landlord to up security with a dummy camera or alarm - but he isn't keen on the idea. Is it unreasonable to ask a landlord to install one of these? What are the best dummy cameras and alarm boxes available? And are they worth getting?

Do we need a contract for our lottery syndicate - and will the taxman come after us if we don't have one? 

UK british national lottery lotto ticket with picks and twenty pound note.

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We have a syndicate of six people who play the National Lottery. Each week a different member buys the tickets with prize money being shared.

How big a pension pot do people buy an annuity for retirement with and what income will it buy them?

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What does an annuity deliver for those who still want one and how big a pension pot do people have to buy one? We reveal rates and the map of the biggest pots.

I made an error while transferring my fixed-rate cash Isa with Halifax and lost my tax-free allowance. Is there anything I can do?

Can I get back tax-free allowance after making cash Isa transfer mistake?

I clicked the box to transfer money from my four-year matured Isa account into my online cash Isa thinking that this was the right way as to not lose my tax free allowance. I have been told by my bank that I have lost my tax free allowance as I should only transferred between Isas via an Isa transfer as this is against HMRC regulations. What can I do?

I am in credit with my energy supplier and on a fixed tariff: so why does my direct debit keep going up?

Gas meter from 1960s and 1970s.
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I have just got my new bill and my provider npower wants to put up my monthly payments by £46 - despite me being on a fixed tariff until next April.

I have co-owned my mother's house since my father died - will I have to pay IHT on the whole value if she dies?  

Elderly couple in their garden, gardening.
COUPLE GARDEN FLOWER BEDS GARDENING EXPRESSIONS HAPPY CONTENT SMILING CONFIDENT SUCCESS CELEBRATION TRIUMPH JOY PLEASURE ENJOYMENT JOY FUN CONFIDENT CAREFREE FREEDOM EXPRESSIONS RETIREMENT HOLIDAYS LEISURE PENSION ASPIRATION HOPE HOBBY PASTIME ELDERLY SENIORS MAN FEMALE WOMAN MALE SUMMER SPRING FORMAT HORIZONTAL FUN TOGETHERNESS.
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My father passed away four years ago and my mother has put their house in my name as a co-owner with her. When the time comes, would I have to pay half the IHT?

My bank closed my current account when I moved to Thailand: can I open a new British account without a UK address and manage it from here?

My bank closed my account when I moved to Thailand - can I open a new UK account if I

I am an expat living in Thailand and because I have no address in the UK my bank has closed my account. Can you suggest a bank/account in the UK that offers internet banking and a debit card that would be suitable. I intend to open the account with £3,000 and will continue paying in but not every month.

Lloyds Bank ignored my warnings that fraudsters were trying to access my current account - and then £1,650 was stolen from it!

Fraud checks: Lloyds refunded money after fraudsters managed to get through security checks.

I received a message delivering telephone banking codes even though I had not requested the service. I rang Lloyds to alert them but still £1,650 was taken from my account.

Can we build an annexe on our property, sell it and use the proceeds to clear our interest-only mortgage?

Land grab: Is building an annexe a sensible way to clear a mortgage?

Our children don't want us to sell the property because of happy memories. Can we build a granny annexe and sell this part for £95,000 to pay off our mortgage?

We're mortgage-free but considering getting one to release money to help our son get on the housing ladder - is that a good idea?

We are mortgage-free but are considering releasing equity to help our son get on the

We have paid off our mortgage and are now retired, but have watched our son struggle to save for a deposit for his own home as house prices continue to climb almost out of his reach. My wife and I want to help him and have talked about equity release to boost his deposit and lower the amount he would need for a mortgage.

My car sustained £300 of damage in a Tesco car park - is the supermarket not obliged to keep vehicles safe and liable for costs?

In early August, our Corsa was maliciously keyed in the Tesco Bedford car park, but so far all we have received from the supermarket giant is a bunch of flowers as a goodwill gesture.

Why is it taking so long for Interactive Investor to pay dividends from my funds after I moved my investments?

Why is it taking so long for Interactive Investor to pay dividends from my funds?

I transferred to Interactive Investor earlier this year. I have found it incredibly slow to pay dividends. Often they come weeks late. Why does it take so long to send me my own money?

My elderly grandmother may be caught by inheritance tax - can she use the nil rate bands of both her late husbands?

Can my Grandmother use the nil rate bands of both of her late husbands?

My Grandmother is now quite elderly and, as she owns a reasonably sized house in Surrey, my family and I are beginning to wonder whether her estate will be caught by inheritance tax. I understand that husbands and wives can pass their nil-rate band to their surviving spouses - but can they do this more than once?

I have a lot of Clubcard, Nectar points and airmiles. What will happen to unspent points when I die?

Accumulation: One reader asks what will happen to their loyalty points if the are not spent when they die

Over the years I have accumulated a lot of Clubcard and Nectar points and airmiles. Am I able to bequeath them in my will?

I want to buy my lottery ticket online this week because I'm on holiday in Spain. Will it be valid if I win?

UK british national lottery lotto ticket with picks and twenty pound note.

BRT4G8

I buy a ticket from my newsagent every week for the National Lottery. But I'm on holiday and forgot to buy one before I left so want to buy one online instead. Will it be valid?

ASK TONY: Why won't Axa pay for the rogue builder who flooded our kitchen?

Problems with the builder: At one stage he even smashed up the outside wall

We had a water leak, but Axa sent a loss adjuster, who said we were not covered as the builder of the extension should have lagged the pipes before the floor was put down.

My 84-year-old husband is in paid-for care but he wants to move to a nicer home. What are his rights?

Care home: Can you move to a different home and top up costs?

What are the rules on moving to a more expensive care home for those willing to pay to top up the cost? Tony Hazell investigates.

My kids and I had to depend on food banks after Child Support Agency demanded I pay £21k within two years

TONY HETHERINGTON: I had to depend on food banks after demand from CSA

I received a letter from the Child Support Agency saying I owed almost £21,000, which had to be paid back in two years. I returned to full-time employment in 2008, and at this time the CSA caught up with my ex. I began to receive random sums that they collected from his earnings. Now my CSA payments have stopped, though my ex is still paying them £1,000 a month and I still have two children at home.

I got an £80 parking ticket for staying longer than two hours in a shopping centre car park, do I have to pay it?

Spreading: Even fast food restaurants such as this McDonald's in Uxbridge, West London, now warn people they will be fined for parking too long.

I did not see any signs pointing out the restrictions clearly, but the parking firm has sent me photographs of a small sign attached to a post and some small print.

I've given up work and taken my pension even though I'm not 65 - will I pay National Insurance on my income?

Taxman: Will HMRC hit me with National Insurance charges on my pension?

Will I have to pay National Insurance on my pension given that I haven't reached state pension age but I've decided not to work?

TONY HETHERINGTON: Bogus T-Mobile phone contract ruined my credit rating and caused my bank to close three accounts

Tony Hetherington

Each time I contacted T-Mobile I was told it was sorry and that its fraud department would be in touch. Despite all this, my bank closed my three accounts.

Is SSE charging me twice for delivering gas? My bills say 24% of payments go on 'delivery costs' - but that is what the standing charge is for...

My gas bill says that 24% of the cost is 'to deliver the energy to my residence'. It also says I am charged 24.53p per day standing charge, to cover costs that include delivery. Am I being charged twice?

I booked a dream Thomas Cook holiday in Cuba but the hotel was hit by suspected food poisoning. Why must I pay £800 to move?

Hotel Playa Pesquero has been hit by a bug. Must I pay to change hotel?

I am due to fly to the Hotel Playa Pesquero in Cuba, but have just read that some guests are falling ill. I am worried about going now because I really don't want to get ill on my holiday. Thomas Cook wants to charge me for changing hotel. Is this fair? What are my rights?

I spent £30k that was paid into my online share trading account by mistake - and now they want it back

Windfall: Our reader missed £30,000 that was accidentally paid into his account - will he get to keep it?

It took TD several months to find the error, by which time I had already withdrawn the £30,000. I do not see why I should lose due to their negligence.

My friends want to buy a hot tub - how much will it cost them to run and will it boost or harm their house's price?

Popular addition: Hot tubs are popping up in gardens across the UK. Pictured, the cast of 2010 movie Hot Tub Time Machine, starring John Cusack

A friend of mine has recently come into a sum of money after a PPI pay out and says he wants to use the cash to install a hot tub.

We had to cancel our BA flights early as my wife fell ill - this was six weeks in advance so why have we been left so out of pocket?

We had to end our holiday early as my wife fell ill. We cancelled the return BA flights

My wife and I had to cancel our return flights with BA and return home early as m wife became ill. BA has said it will only give us £17 cashback, but are charging us a £50 penalty. After we spent £900 on the flights and with six weeks left for the seats to be resold is this really fair?

I have unopened tubes of 2p and 1p coins from 1971, could they be worth hundreds of pounds?

In the money? A reader asks whether their tubes of unused pennies and two-penny coins are worth anything

They all are still in the plastic tubes issued direct from a bank and have never been in circulation, so are in mint condition. Are they collectors items?

Money Morals: Should I take the lousy part-exchange offer on our car or take on the hassle of selling it myself?

Should I take the low part-exchange offer on our car or sell it myself?

I've checked our car's value on a number of websites and the price the dealer has come back with is almost £1,250 below the private selling price they quote. I had been hoping to part-exchange our car to save the hassle of selling it ourselves but I just can't see how I can justify accepting the dealer's low offer.

Money Morals: My son works for me but he's not pulling his weight. Should I sack him?

You're fired: Lord Alan Sugar, the star of BBC's The Apprentice, is famous for his sacking of contestants. His sons successfully work for family-connected businesses.

My son has been working for me for the past six years, unfortunately after a bright start he is slacking. What should I do? Have your say in Money Morals.

Money Morals: I'm 49 and have hardly saved anything for retirement. Should I just abandon the idea of a pension?

Broken spirits: If you've hardly saved anything for a looming retirement is the any point in putting money in a pension?

I have decided to rely on my house's value instead and don't plan on ever saving another penny into a pension. Is this the right thing to do?

Money Morals: Should I tell my children now that I intend to cut them out of my will?

Money Morals: Should I tell my children that I intend to cut them out of my will?

I have not been close to my children, both now in their 40's, for the past ten to fifteen years since divorcing their mother and marrying my second wife. Should I explain to my children now that I intend to cut them out of my will and do not want them to benefit?

Money Morals: I've always wanted a brand new car but my wife says it's a waste of money, should I buy one?

Trap or treat: A brand new car means splashing out and taking a hit on depreciation, but finance options make even a luxury vehicle like a Jaguar affordable.

I have never owned a brand new car and want to buy myself one as a treat. My wife, on the other hand, says I will simply be wasting money. Should I get one?

Money Morals: I lent a girlfriend £600 and now she won't pay it back claiming I gave it to her. What should I do?

I lent a girlfriend £600 and now she says I gave it to her

Despite the fact that we have fallen out, I still expected her to pay me back as while we had a heated argument about it her last text had said she would. In our Money Morals series we invite readers to help solve a dilemma. This week what should you do if you lent someone money and now they won't return it?

Money Morals: Should I lend my friend £5,000 and how much interest do I charge her?

Waiting on a friend: Should I lend £5,000 to a good friend who has asked for help and if so should I charge her interest?

She needs to clear debts on credit cards, overdrafts and payday loans, but has been quoted loan rates at 50%. I want to help but how much interest should I get her to pay?

Money Morals: Should we spend the kids' inheritance and enjoy our retirement?

Golden years: Should you enjoy retirement to the full or tray and save money for the kids?

We can't even really begin to discuss our plans properly without deciding what we have to spend - and that depends on what we want to leave for our kids.

Money Morals: Should we go all out to get the biggest mortgage possible and buy the best home we can?

Grand designs: Big houses don't come cheap, so should you borrow as much as you can to get one while interest rates are low?

We've previously made sure we didn't borrow as much as possible. Now, I'm thinking that we should change tactics and buy the biggest place possible in a good location.

Money Morals: My friend has run up crushing secret debts but just keeps spending, should I tell his wife?

Secret debt: My friend says he wants to get out of debt but instead of cutting up his cards he just keeps spending.

A friend of mine has run up large debts on credit cards and overdrafts but keeps on spending despite saying that he wants to do something about it.

My partner and I are middle-aged, employed and we already own two homes outright. So why are we not a mortgage lender's dream?

My partner and I are middle-aged, employed and we already own two homes outright. So why

My partner and I already own two properties outright, we hare both employed and we have a 40 per cent deposit. We want to buy a house to rent out, but our mortgage applications have been rejected because we supposedly still have a bad credit score. What can we do?

Noisy neighbour is making our life hell - how easy will it be to sell house we've lived in for just six weeks?

Fed up: Both of us are struggling to sleep and are contemplating selling the house and moving elsewhere. Picture posed by model

We moved into our dream first home. However, we have a noisy child neighbour who wakes up in the night and screams uncontrollably. How easy will it be to sell?

Estate agents fees are so high, how can I negotiate a good deal on the sale of my property?

House fees: After stamp duty the agent's fee is the most underestimated cost whether buying or selling

I am astonished at the fees some agents have quoted to sell especially as most of the marketing is just online. What do you recommend?

My husband and I are getting divorced, what are the chances of me keeping the family home - and what do we do if I can't?

I am getting divorced, what are the chances of keeping the family home?

I realise no divorce can be amicable but what are the chances of staying in the family home with my children? I am working and as I do not need to pay for childcare I would just about be able to afford the mortgage. Our experts consider the best way a reader can deal with her divorce.

My tenants are struggling to keep warm, can I get money back on my buy-to-let tax bill for replacing windows?

My tenants can't keep the house warm, can I get money back for replacing the windows

My tenants have complained that they have trouble keeping the house warm but I have already provided a new boiler and loft insulation. Will the taxman let me replace the windows in my buy-to-let property and claim against the tax I pay and if so how much can I claim? Our experts answer.

If I can repay my mortgage sooner than planned, why does the total I must pay stay the same?

If I am able to repay my mortgage sooner than planned, why does the total I have to pay

Why is it that, when you pay off your mortgage before the end of its original term, you don't get a reduction in the amount outstanding? Our experts help explain to a reader why paying off your mortgage early may mean that you save on future interest but doesn't mean that you get a discount on your debt.

We've been renting for 13 years and want to buy but we keep getting stalled because my husband's a freelancer. Could Help to Buy work?

Mortgage dilemma: Could help to Buy be the answer?

My husband and I are ready to buy a property after 13 years renting a house with our now 4 children. We have a low deposit - will new Government backing help?

My partner and I are middle-aged, employed and we already own two homes outright. So why are we not a mortgage lender's dream?

Rejected: A bad credit rating could effect your likelihood of being accepted for a mortgage even if you have a steady income and a a large deposit

My partner and I already own two properties outright, we hare both employed and we have a 40 per cent deposit so why have we been rejected for a buy-to-let mortgage.

We want a small mortgage advance on our Cumbrian house - but no one will give it to us because we live in Crete

Confusing outlook: The reader has ongoing expenses with their house in Cumbria (pictured)

We want an advance of less than £10,000 for ongoing expenses and give to our son who is getting married. But we are not eligible because we are expats.

Can I cover a big arrangement fee for my buy-to-let mortgage by claiming it back against tax?

To let: There are a lot of items you can offset against your tax bill when renting out a property

I can offset items such as mortgage interest, council tax and ground rent on my tax bill for a buy-to-let. But can I claim for the mortgage arrangement fee?

Should I save for a big deposit or just use Help to Buy to get on the property ladder as soon as possible?

Should I save for a big deposit or just use the Help to Buy scheme to get on the property

My partner and I have saved £13,000 for a deposit and are aiming to get to £40,000. Would you recommend waiting until we have a better deposit or move out as soon as possible while interest rates are low and property prices are climbing? Our experts answer

Can we rent our home to our daughter while we go travelling - and do we have to pay tax on the income if we do?

Can we rent our home to our daughter while we go travelling - and do we have to pay tax on

My wife and I are retired and want to spend a period travelling the world. Is it possible to give our house to my daughter as a rental purchase to enable us to travel and not leave the house empty? Would there be any restrictions, in terms of tax for example?

I want to buy my ex-husband's share of our home but he won't agree. What are my options?

Divided opinion: How do you solve a property dispute after a divorce?

Although my ex-husband and I got divorced two years ago we still jointly own the house. He wants to buy me out but I want his share too.

My landlady won't tell me if she has a mortgage on the property I am renting - how do I find out who owns my flat?

Helping Hand: The Land Registry can provide information on property ownership

I asked my landlady if the flat is mortgaged and she said no but wasn't very willing to answer how she became the owner

We're moving into a new rental property but our landlord refuses to change the locks on the back and front door - is this legal?

Should the landlord change locks on new tenancy?

I'm set to move into a new rental house and want the landlord to change the locks in case previous tenants still have keys and want to burgle us or trash the place. Is this an unreasonable request?

I'm 71, my interest-only mortgage has expired and the bank wants its money back, what can I do?

Locked out: Borrowers could face trouble when their interest-only mortgage comes to an end

My adviser told me he would help with my finances at the end of the deal, but he has closed down and the bank won't give me a new mortgage as I'm 71.

I earn more than my partner, should I contribute more to our joint mortgage or save for a rainy day?

Tension: The experts suggest to keep financial affairs separate until the relationship becomes long-term

I earn double the salary of my partner. We have lived together for just over a year but my boyfriend thinks I could contribute more to our joint mortgage.

Can I let my new house without telling my lender and having to switch to a more expensive buy-to-let mortgage?

Can I let my new house without telling my lender?

I have just bought a one-bed flat but now my girlfriend and I want to move in with each other and she has a two-bed house that she rents very cheaply from a friend. What are the risks and legal issues of me not informing my lender?

Can I claim back the council tax I will have to pay on my empty buy-to-let after I got stung by new rules?

Council Tax bills: New rules that came into effect from April 2013 will give local authorities much greater discretion over the discounts that they currently give to Council Tax payers

Even though my property has been empty for just two months while I carry out repairs and redecorting after my last tenants left I am liable to pay full council tax. Is there any way I can recoup some of this loss?

'We booked British Airways flights for short connection but BA has now rescheduled meaning a four-hour stopover: can it do this without compensation?'

British Airways has changed the time of our flights meaning a four-hour stopover. Is there

We booked the flights originally because of the short stopover. The new flight times mean hours spent at Heathrow on both the out-bound and return journey. Is there anything we can do? Should British Airways not pay us compensation at least?

Why did the RAC dump us at a local train station when our policy covers 'roadside rescue'?

Breakdown nightmares: You should always check the small print to make sure you are covered for vehicle recovery

I only found out my breakdown cover only extended to 10 miles recovery when the RAC dumped us at a train station and quoted us £425 to get the car back home.

The clutch on my son's VW Polo failed within six months of passing the dealership's own tests - yet the warranty won't pay

Clutch chaos: The car my son was driving broke down on the motorway. Why wouldn't the garage stump up under warranty. Pictured, a VW Polo similar to the one driven by Christian

We bought our son a car for him to use to drive to work. However, after driving just 5k miles, the clutch went but the garage said it wasn't covered.

I've switched from smoking cigarettes to e-cigarettes - will my health and life insurance premiums be cheaper?

I've switched from smoking cigarettes to e-cigarettes. Will my health and life insurance

E-cigarettes do not contain tobacco - so does this mean I'm no longer technically a smoker according to insurance companies? Do I have to tell my insurer I've switched from cigarettes to e-cigarettes?

We live in a flood risk area and worry we won't get insurance against flooding next year, making our home impossible to sell. Is that the case?

We live in a band H property in a flood risk area. Will it be insured?

We live in a flood risk part of Sussex in an old Rectory and are concerned that we may not be able to get insurance cover against flooding from next year. This is because only homes in council tax bands A to G will be covered by the new flood cover guarantee, which will come into effect in June 2015.

ASK TONY: My car's a write-off so why must I keep paying to insure it?

Ask Tony cartoon

Direct Line insisted the vehicle be scrapped after a crash, but the company is insisting that I pay the monthly premiums for the full year - nine more months!

We want to buy a cheap car for our son for his 18th. How do we find one which won't cost thousands to insure?

Pricey premiums: Young drivers spend a whopping £1,187 on their car insurance premiums according to the AA

We are buying a cheap runaround for our 18-year-old son. Should we look for a high-safety rating or a small engine to keep insurance costs down?

Money Morals: Should I pay £700 vet fees for my 15-year-old cat?

Money Morals: Should I pay £700 vet fees for my 15-year-old cat?

The vet says our cat's teeth are rotten and will need to be removed - at a cost of £700. If not treated, the condition could become life threatening. Should we pay? She has been part of our family for 15 years - but £700 is a lot of money to us and we know she cannot have many years left to live even if she is treated.

My backpack was stolen in Alicante five months ago - why hasn't my insurer paid out yet?

Insurance bother: My backpack was stolen at the airport but my insurer is dragging out my claim

The bag contained my camera, an Apple MacBook and passport. The insurer later asked for original receipts and whether I had other policies - but did not pay out.

My insurer can't find the van driver who crashed into me last year. Why must I pay because they can't close my claim?

Keeping track: Should you have to keep on top of any car insurance claims even though it is your insurer's job?

I want to cancel my insurance policy, but my insurer says i still have an outstanding claim on my policy so I have to pay up in full - and all because it could not find the driver who crashed into me last year.

My new home means I have to pay to fix the church! What is chancel repair liability and do I have to insure against it?

Repairs: Churches have been able to call on homeowners for repairs for centuries

My solicitor tells me the property I am buying is potentially liable to chancel repair costs. Do I need to take out insurance to cover chancel repairs?

ASK TONY: Hundreds were dying in Cairo but our travel agent said we had to go

Exceptional circumstances: But Voyages Jules Verne still refuses to refund the deposit

I booked a trip to Egypt, but with the growing unrest in the country, I inquired about getting my deposit back. I was told that if I did not pay the full balance, I would lose my deposit.

Can I carry make use of unused annual allowances so I can pay £100,000 into my pension this year?

Can you use unused allowances to pay £100k into pension

Can I carry forward unused pension allowances from previous years so I can make a £100,000 contribution to my pension scheme this year and still qualify for tax relief? I intend to do this, get the tax relief, and then take my 25 per cent tax-free lump sum next year.

I have a £50,000 pension fund and don't want to pay for financial advice - can I invest it myself?

Going it alone: Where can those looking to invest their pension savings for themselves go for information?

I want to invest £50,000 in a pension annuity or drawdown arrangement. How can I do this for myself?

I forgot about my pension when I left my job, now I've been told that my money has vanished

Pot emptied: I left my company, and then my pension pot disappeared, how can this happen?

I moved house after leaving my job and missed out on documentation from my former employer's pension scheme. I now want to transfer, but I've been told that my money has gone. Can you help?

Can I take one of my pension pots as a lump sum using flexible drawdown?

Lump sum: Can I take my money purchase pension wholly as a lump sum using flexible drawdown?

I draw two final salary pensions worth £19,800-a-year. If I use flexible drawdown, could I take the £40,000 I have in a money purchase pension as a lump sum?

If my parents give away £45,000 to their kids, will the council think they're avoiding care home fees?

Family gift: My parents want to give my siblings and I £15,000 each, can they do this without alerting the local authority?

My parents have recently downsized their house and have £90,000 cash left in the bank. If they give away half of this, would the local authority think they are trying to avoid future care home costs?

'I put my mother on the deeds of my family home and now she needs care. Will I have to sell my home to pay for it?'

Will I have to sell my home to pay for mother's care?

My mother lives with me and we were advised at the time we bought the house to include her on the title deeds. She has never paid anything towards the mortgage but there's now a question that she might require long-term care. I'm worried I'll have to sell my home to pay for this.

Can a company offering to unlock pension cash via an account in Belize solve my son's debt problems?

Alarm bells: A firm's offer to unlock pension cash by sending it via Belize is a sure sign that it's a dodgy deal.

My son is 31 and needs to release his frozen pension. The business in Portugal he ran with his friend recently failed and it cost him about £30,000. Can a firm offering to unlock cash from his £52,000 pension fund be the answer?

'Why won't my pension provider let me increase my contributions?': Scottish Life apologises after clerical error

Perplexing: Scottish Life stopped a reader from increasing their pension contributions.

I tried to increase my monthly pension contributions from £165 to £200, but Scottish Life told me I couldn't. Why have they done this?

Can I take care of my wife in retirement by giving her my personal pension pot so that she can buy an annuity?

Plans: How do I make sure my wife is taken care of in retirement?

I have a £30,000 private pension pot on top of my company pension. Can I transfer this to my wife for her to purchase an annuity?

I need to raise some money, can I take a one-off lump sum from my widower's pension?

Need cash: But can you take a lump sum from a widower's pension?

I am in receipt of the benefits from my late wife's final salary pension. I need to raise some capital, can I take a one-off payment from the pension or transfer these benefits?

'Will my wife and I qualify for the new flat-rate state pension? I've written to Iain Duncan Smith and even he couldn't explain!'

I am self-employed: will I qualify for the new flat-rate state pension?

I have been self-employed my whole life and am due to reach the state pension age on March 28, 2015. Will I get the new flat-rate pension worth £148-a-week? Or will I be stuck with the current basic state pension that is worth much less?

My husband died three years ago, why don't I get any of his annuity payments?

Nasty shock: Many spouses stand to receive nothing from their partner's annuity when they die because they haven't chosen a joint life product.

My husband took out an a Prudential with-profits annuity in 2002. He invested £35,892.88. He died in 2010. Does this die with him or is there any pay out to me as his wife?

Can I take my entire small pension pot as a tax free lump sum and leave my final salary scheme untouched?

Choices: This reader would prefer to leave her final salary pension untouched, but still wants a lump sum from her money purchase scheme.

Ideally I would like to take all my final salary pension as an income rather than a reduced pension and cash. Is there any way I could use my money purchase pension to cover the cash element I could have taken from the final salary pension?

'I'm saving everything I can into pension but have nothing left for anything else': Is it wise to have no cash savings?

Choice: Saving a lot into your pension now can reap rewards at retirement, but should you do it at the expense of shorter-term goals?

I'm 29 and am contributing 12% of my £25,000 salary towards my pension. I have little left over for other saving, so should I reduce my pension contributions?

Will victims of the floods be forced to pay standing charges on energy bills even though they have to leave their home?

Will victims of the floods be forced to pay their energy bills even though they are not

Will energy providers step up? Will energy suppliers still force families forced out of their homes by the devastation caused by rising flood waters to pay the standing charge on their energy bills - even though they have not got access to power?

ASK TONY: I paid £79 for a duty-free watch I never wanted and I can't get my money back

Unwanted watch: The reader did not want to buy the watch and Barclays has eventually refunded the money

A Swatch watch worth 90 was added to my duty-free purchase at Alicante Airport by mistake, but when I contacted Barclaycard I was told that I had approved it.

ASK TONY: How did Google let my son run up a £2,500 bill on a game?

Plenty of jewels: Our reader received bills for almost £2,500 for charges from a Google Play App

I received bills for almost £2,500 for charges from a Google Play App on my 12-year-old son's phone. An initial bill of £1,050 was built up in just five days.

ASK TONY: I got an £867 bill for someone who shares my name

Building up: Late payment charges and interest far exceeded the value of the items purchased

Someone with my name, or using my name, bought an item for £30 from J. D. Williams and didn't pay for it. But now Capquest is demanding £867.23 from me.

My random 'lucky dip' Lotto tickets gave me two rows with three of the same numbers - coincidence or something else?

What are the chances?: Our experts help explain the coincidence of our reader's lotto ticket.

I noticed that my last set of tickets included two tickets that had three numbers in common - have I been a victim of a glitch in system?

ASK THE EXPERTS: Could insulating paint really help lower my heating bills or is it just an elaborate hoax?

Will insulation paint lower my bills or is it a hoax?

I have heard that special paint can help insulate my home. I can't seem to find much information on how effective it actually is. Is it a hoax or could it actually make my house warmer and save me money on my heating bills?

Can debt collectors chase me for a British Gas bill I paid 5 years ago but no longer have paperwork for?

Bill paid: Debt collectors can chase for unpaid bills for up to six years

Unfortunately I do not have the final letter or any records of bills/meter readings from this time, it was five years and two house moves ago and I usually only keep things for about three years.

'LA Fitness wants to up my monthly fee by almost £30 because I moved home - but I can't pay that much'

Dilemma: Natalie was asked to increase her membership fee if she wanted to use a gym near her new home

I moved from the Midlands to London and LA Fitness said I must transfer to another branch because I am within a ten-mile radius. But the fee is almost double.

I thought my energy tariff with Npower was fixed... so why are my bills going up 14.3%?

I thought my Npower tariff was fixed - so why are my bills going up 14.3%?

I am on a tariff called Energy Online August 2014, which I thought was fixed until this time. But Npower has just told me my bills are going up. If I'm on a variable tariff, why does it have 'August 2014' in the name? If I had realised it was variable I would have switched weeks ago before the best deals were withdrawn from the market.

'My home was left without a working house alarm for weeks because BT disconnected it without telling me - why?!'

Subscribing: BT said it is only in certain circumstances that other phone lines are disconnected when Infinity is installed

The engineer disconnected all the other phone lines in the house - including the one used by the house alarm. He didn't tell me or ask permission.

I'm suffering with anxiety and family problems and can't cope with the gym: why won't LA Fitness let me cancel?

The reader cancelled the direct debit for her gym membership without informing them first (Posed by model)

My doctor wrote a letter to them advising of my situation, however as the letter did not say I was unable to exercise they refused to accept it.

I got an email from Channel 4 wanting a copy of my passport after I won a competition, is this safe?

Winner: The reader won a Blu-ray box set of the second season of American smash hit show Homeland.

I won a competition with Channel 4, who then told me to send in a copy of my passport or driving licence. I am uneasy that I was asked this, is it a genuine request?

Insure and Go won't pay out for stolen holiday cash even though I left it locked in my room. So do I have to carry it with me at all times?

Vacation: Bruce Weir and family were staying with friends in France when the house was burgled and their holiday cash taken

The money that was stolen had been locked securely in a dresser in the bedroom and the house was locked and secure when we went out.

I signed up for a First Utility 18-month energy deal a year ago. Can I dodge future hikes and switch to one of its longer fixes now?

Can I switch my First Utility energy fix to one of its longer fixes?

I have seen a new deal on the First Utility website, fixed for just over two years. Can I switch to a longer fix now, even though there is still six months left on my current tariff and is this a good idea?

My boiler is broken but my landlord doesn't seem to care! What are my rights?

Boiler woe: what rights do you have as a tenant

My boiler needs changing but my landlord refuses to do anything about it. What are my rights?

ASK TONY: We owe O2 £490 for a 15-hour call we could not end. What are our options?

Under investigation: The couple received a sky-high bill due to a dodgy Samsung Galaxy mobile phone that stopped them from ending calls, despite this O2 said they had to pay up

O2 sent us a £490 bill for a 15-hour phone call caused because we were unable to cut calls on our Samsung Galaxy. After investigation, O2 said we had to pay.

'My husband left me everything in his will. Now his daughters say I've stolen their inheritance and are threatening legal action'

My husband left everything now his daughters say I stole their inheritance

My husband years recently passed away leaving me as the sole inheritor. His daughters are now accusing me of cheating them out of their inheritance and are threatening legal action if I don't hand over his savings and sell our house. Where do I stand?

Will my motor end up on the scrapheap?: Garage has warned that my car may fail its MoT due to new EU tests

MoT changes: Older cars now face more stringent tests

My Vauxhall is due for MoT next month but my regular garage has warned me already that it may fail as there are some new tests that it has to pass under EU laws.

Someone keeps setting up direct debits on our account - why can't our bank stop it?

Investigating: Santander is looking into the direct debit issue

Our bank, Santander, refunds the money but refuses to do anything about it except change the account. Surely they can put a stop to this?

'EBay have come after my son with the heavy mob for £75 even though we can prove buyer received the item'

ASK TONY: eBay said my son owed £75 - then sent in the heavy mob

My son sold an exhaust system on eBay, but the buyer says he did not receive it and eBay is claiming the £75.71 back. I have supplied all the relevant paperwork from the carrier, Parcel Force, with tracking details and the recipient's signature acknowledging receipt, but eBay is using an aggressive debt collector.

ASK TONY: Mum paid British Gas £7,000 for a boiler that is always on the blink

broken boiler

Last year my mother was charged almost £7,000 for a replacement boiler by British Gas. Now she has been advised that the guarantee expired in April - but Worcester Bosch says it provides a two-year guarantee.

'I joined LA Fitness specifically because they had a creche and now they've closed it they won't let me leave!'

Membership struggle: Rebecca Ellis, pictured with her one-year-old daughter Connie, was told she could not cancel her contract

I signed a contract with an LA Fitness gym because it had a creche. But now it has shut and I can't use my membership, but they won't let me cancel.

Why won't BT remove £89 charge for an 18 hour phone call I didn't make? I reckon that it actually called me!

BT: Why won't it refund this call?

I am in dispute with BT regarding a call supposedly lasting 18 hours and 38 minutes and costing £89.07 - and I believe it was from a phonecall from BT.

I'm 59, our kids have moved out and we're thinking of getting a divorce, but what will happen to my finances?

Silver splitters: What happens when couples decide their marriage is no longer working just before the retirement years?

I could be financially independent and regain some joy in my life with a separation but should I close all the doors to financial claims in the future? Our experts take a look.

What happens to money held in an Isa when the owner dies - can their estate still benefit from a fixed-term interest rate?

What happens to money held in an Isa when the owner dies - can their estate still benefit

Have you ever looked into the treatment of cash or non-cash ISAs when a personal investor dies? Do tax rules on ISAs require a bank or building society to close the account or to merely stop applying interest on a gross of tax basis?

ASK TONY: Bungling Santander lost my £3,000 - then sent in the heavies

Lost money: But Santander behaved in a cheap manner by offering just £400

I paid £3,000 towards my credit card bill. Santander lost my money and denied all knowledge of it for two years, even sending debt collectors to demand more from me.

First Direct can't find £550 cash I paid in and credited my £1,200 in the wrong account - but is now threatening me with court action

Good customer service: But this time something went wrong and First Direct settled the outstanding debt

I have spent 14 months trying to get them to trace my lost £550, but they just demand the £1,200. I have paid £650 but have recently received a court order.

Blundering bank staff at Lloyds TSB ruined by credit rating. Help!

Blundering bank staff at Lloyds TSB ruined by credit rating. Help!

Reader champion Tony Hetherington get to the bottom of an 'Arrangement to Pay' notice on a credit check.

A financial adviser sold us investments that come with hefty commission. Can I change them and keep my tax-free Isa status?

Confused: The reader is unsure about the complex investments they've been sold.

Our Isa investments are subject to commission charges, as I took them out through a financial adviser six years ago. Can I change them while retaining the tax-free Isa status?

ASK TONY: We spent our £88,000 inheritance - then were told to pay it all back

Mistake: Yorkshire wrote to say it had paid the money by mistake and it actually belonged to another customer of the same name, demanding to return the whole amount

I discovered a certificate for an Egg investment account with £87,933.91 invested. I spent the money but now Yorkshire is demanding I return the whole amount.

How much are the 40-year-old stamps that my late father collected worth?

Valuable? My dad was sold some stamps in error 40 years ago, are they worth anything?

My father was sold some European Communities 1973 stamps the day before they were due to be issued and posted them immediately. Are they worth anything?

I'm moving to Australia to work for a year - how simple is to take my current account with me?

I'm moving to Australia for work - how do I move current account?

I am moving to Sydney, Australia to work for a year from November. My current account is with HSBC and I want to get my wages when I start my new job paid into my account like I do in the UK. Is it simple to notify HSBC and is it easy to switch it to an 'Australian' current account?

ASK TONY: What has happened to my £12,500 lost in an Indian bank?

Lost money: ICICI, whose base is in India, has had a UK presence for just over ten years now

I am having great difficulty getting some money returned by ICICI Bank. Can you help me get my money back?

ASK TONY: Why is Vodafone fining me for moving to a new bank?

'I chose a day to swap that did not conflict with any of my direct debits, but when I got my next Vodafone bill, it had charged me £3.50 for a 'non-direct debit administration fee'

I recently switched my bank account from Lloyds to Santander, when I got my next Vodafone bill, I was charged £3.50 for a 'non-direct debit administration fee'.

We've just had our first child and want to start saving for her - should we go for a Junior Isa, or a Children's Bond from NS&I;?

We've just had our first child and want to start saving for her - should we go for a

We've just had our first child and want to start a savings account for her. We'll contribute but want other friends and family to be able to too. I understand I can open a Junior Isa, but would it be better to go for a child bond from NS&I;?

Help! I'm a Vodafone shareholder waiting for my bumper payout from the Verizon deal but the tax is baffling me

Rejoicing: Vodafone investors are line for a bumper payout from its Verizon mega-deal

I am a small investor with 2,000 shares in Vodafone and expect to get a cash return from the sale of Verizon Wireless. I could do with a bit of help and time is short.

'I'm a Vodafone investor - why is HSBC leaving me dangling over whether I can hold Verizon shares on its broking service?'

Bonanza: Vodafone shareholders are in line for a bumper payout of £50billion

I have been pressing my broker, HSBC InvestDirect, to provide details of the options it will offer investors over the Verizon disposal - and now the deadline is very close.

What does a broker's target price for a share mean and how long should I wait for it to be hit?

Bullseye: What does a brokers target price for shares mean?

Is a target price set for the long term or short term and what sort of period is reasonable to expect the target to be achieved in?

How do I buy overseas shares? I'm keen to get hold of some Facebook stock but don't know how to trade outside the UK

Lower your risk: It might be better to get exposure to Facebook through an investment fund or trust which holds a wider pool of similar assets

Think WhatsApp was a good buy and have strong faith in Facebook's potential? Investing expert Russ Mould of AJ Bell Youinvest explains how to trade overseas shares.

My bitcoins have increased in value considerably. Will I have to pay any tax when I sell them?

Do bitcoins have a tax liability?

Since they're a 'virtual currency' are they liable for income tax or capital gains tax when I sell them? Can I shelter them in an Isa? Rachel Rickard Straus of This is Money says: 'The verdict is still out over bitcoins. Are they the latest internet bubble waiting to burst or a new currency that's here to stay?'

I feel discriminated against by Hargreaves Lansdown because I am not online. What can I do?

Offline: Some people prefer their correspondence by letter

I am a small DIY investor with Hargreaves Lansdown and recently had to pay £20, plus VAT, for two statements. I feel discriminated against because I am not online.

I want to cash in my large share portfolio: what's the cheapest way to do it and how do I avoid a big tax bill?

Trader: Gordon Gekko demonstrated the travails of trading in the film Wall Street

I have a portfolio of shares I want to offload. How much can I sell without paying capital gains tax? What company will sell them for me at the cheapest rate?

ASK TONY: Is our investments adviser bleeding us dry with his £11,500 fee?

ASK TONY: Is our investments adviser bleeding us dry with his £11,500 fee?

We have £300,000 to invest, but this money has to last us for the rest of our lives. A financial adviser has suggested investing in five different funds with a £11,500 initial charge to set up the fund. Our adviser is a very nice man who works for a BS who has said that we can make more than £81,000 in total if we keep the investments for ten years. Can I trust his advice?

We have £250k spare after selling our homes. Should we invest it and where?

Investing tips: Where should you be putting your money?

My partner and I have just sold both our houses. After we pay off our mortgage we will have £250,000. What are the best options for the short and longer term?

Where is best to invest long-term for my daughter?

Poor rates: returns on children's savings have reached pitiful levels

I have been struggling for the past five years to find decent returns on children's savings accounts. Where is best for me to invest money for my daughter?

Why am I still paying for fraud protection on a Sainsbury's credit card I've cancelled?

Why am I still paying for fraud protection on a card I've cancelled?

I took a Card Care policy in 2005 when I had a Sainsbury's credit card. Although I cancelled the credit card, the Card Care policy is still taking money by direct debit, stating that it is covering all my cards. Can I claim back my premiums?

My dad lent his neighbour £60k. A year has gone by but he still hasn't paid back a penny - what can we do?

My Dad lent his neighbour £60k - Can he get away with refusing to repay the money?

My dad's neighbour has now moved away and is claiming that he has no money to repay the loan, and won't be able to for a while. It has now been a year and not a single penny has been repaid. How can we get the money back?

My boyfriend is bad with money, will my credit score be affected if he uses my address for credit applications?

Card conundrum: Will my boyfriend's poor record with money affect my credit rating?

My partner, who lives in my home, has been getting credit cards using my address. He isn't in secure work and doesn't have a good credit history. Will my credit rating be affected because he is using my address?

TONY HETHERINGTON: They want my money ... is there trouble in store? Desperate sales pitch sets off the alarm bells

'Remarkable investment': Motoring writer Quentin Willson promotes Store First Limited on a DVD

Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator. This week he looks at a company, promoted by Quentin Wilson, offering storage 'pods'.

Orange charged me £17 a month for FIVE YEARS for a phone line I didn't know I had and never used. How has this happened?

Orange charged me £17 a month for FIVE YEARS for a phone line I didn't know I had and

My father went into an Orange store to update his contract in 2007 and walked out with another phone line that he claims he didn't know he had. How can Orange not have noticed the account was dormant for five years? My father just pays by direct debit every month without checking the details of his bill.

My mum's boyfriend GAVE me £7k. Now he claims it was a loan and threatens court if I can't repay

Do I have to pay my mum's boyfriend back if he GAVE me £7,000?

Help! My mum's ex is threatening me with legal action if I don't keep up my repayments. Do I have to give it back?

Could I have won the lottery but not been told? I play by direct debit every week but never check my numbers

Could it be me? A reader asks whether they may have won the lottery and not know it

You read so much about IT glitches these days, is it not within the realms of possibility that at some point I could have had winning numbers that were not spotted by the system or reported correctly?

Living abroad has wiped out our credit history and now we can't move back home? What can we do?

Returning home: How can you build up a positive credit history while living abroad.

My partner and I have lived in Europe for 11 years. We want to move back and buy a house but the banks say they won't help without a 'credit check'. What can we do?

My civil partnership has ended and my ex-partner owes my £40,000 - how can I get my money back?

Breaking up is hard to do: Amicable resolutions will cost less than legal battles.

I have recently divorced my civil partner, with him owing me more than £40,000 and wondered what the best way is to go ahead and sue/claim that back.

My ex loaned me £12,000 before we split up. I have repaid most of it. Am I still liable for the full amount?

Do I have to repay the loan from my ex now that we have split up?

Am I still liable for repaying my ex partner the full £18,000 she lent me? I have now paid her back more than both the original sum and more than the £12k is worth at today's index. The extra money was meant to be used a savings tactic for our life together, so do can I stop paying? Our experts answer

I took out a 22-month 0% balance transfer card with Tesco Bank, but started getting charged interest just nine months later.

Shock: Our reader received a shock when she got her balance transfer card bill.

I was charged £70 interest on my balance transfer card in December, despite taking out a 22-month 0% deal last January. Why did Tesco Bank do this?

I gave my relatives money to improve their career prospects, and now I'm being crushed by debt repayments

One good turn: I used credit cards to help two family members pay for university courses, now I'm struggling to pay it back.

I am an aged widower in good health with credit card debt as a result of helping two members of my family get new degrees as mature students. How can I come to some sort of deal to pay off this debt?

I haven't been earning anything on money I have overseas, so do I still have to tell the taxman about it?

I've earned nothing on money overseas, do I still have to declare it to the taxman?

I live in Britain and have some money in an overseas bank account earning no interest and so I have not had anything to declare to the taxman. I have read about HMRC cracking down on overseas assets but surely if there is no tax to pay, I don't have to tell them anything?

I don't know how much I owe the taxman for child benefit. How can I find out what I need to pay?

Child benefit

We are a married couple with one child. I earn more than £50k and am conscious I will need to pay an amount of tax back to HMRC at the end of the year for child benefit.

'The taxman gave me a £783 rebate: now HMRC is demanding that I pay it back PLUS interest'

HMRC: The Taxman charges interest on any tax or money due as a result of a taxpayer's mistake - backdated to the previous January.

I was delighted when last year HMRC awarded me a rebate for overpaying tax worth £783, but now it says I need to repay the cash plus £20 interest.

My wife and I do not receive enough income to pay tax. Is it still worth us taking out a cash ISAs?

Tax-free wrapper: Although an ISAs will not have any extra benefit if you are a non-taxpayer, they might still offer a better interest rate

My wife and I do not earn enough to pay income tax. Is it worth us taking out an ISA for our savings? If not, how do we stop any interest from a standard savings account being taxed?

HMRC says I didn't pay enough tax last year and so set up a repayment plan - but now it's threatening debt collectors

Tax troubles: Why is HMRC threatening me with debt collection agency when we've agreed a repayment plan?

HMRC say that I have not paid enough tax for last year so set up a repayment plan and they agreed to take the overdue amount each month again from taxed income this year.

Will money we give to our daughters for weddings and houses be subject to inheritance tax?

Will the money we are to give to our daughters for their weddings and house purchases

If we died before the seven-year tax-free limit expires after giving them the money, would lump sums we gave them in preceding years be subject to inheritance tax?

Help! I have been given the wrong tax code and the taxman keeps raiding my pay cheque

Pay problems: Tax doesn't have to be taxing but it very often is.

I have noticed recently that I am getting taxed a huge amount each month. How can I check if my code is correct and apply for a refund?

TONY HETHERINGTON: Taxman brings old soldier to his knees

Tony Hetherington, Financial Mail on Sunday

As a pensioner with more than one source of income, I informed my tax office of my circumstances but it now denies all knowledge of this and is demanding for £1,313.

How can we get our street food business going - can we patent our recipes and which certificates do we need?

We want to sell our unique food at a market - how do we get a pitch?

My friend and I want to start selling a recipe (which is top secret) at a local food market but have no idea where to start. The recipe has come from his mother and as far as we are aware, nothing like it is currently being sold elsewhere in Britain. She is keen for us to get it out there - we really believe it will be a hit and have tested it on friends who agree.

I have been freelancing for a company for just over a year but have never signed a contract. Do I have any maternity rights?

Worries: A reader is concerned she may not have rights to maternity benefits at the company for whom she freelances

I've never signed an employment contract, but I am paid through PAYE and receive a small pension, holiday pay and work the same four shifts every week.

I sold my business and now I have £3m - where can I put it so my money is safe and I get competitive interest?

Safe haven: Is it possible to get decent returns and protect large sums of money?

I've just sold a business and have nearly £3m on deposit. I want the best interest rate I can get, and obviously for it to be held as safely as possible.

There are rumours of redundancies at work so I am thinking of getting income insurance - but will the insurer reject a claim because my job was already under threat?

Can you insure your income even after you know your job is under threat?

I'm afraid I might get made redundant some time in the next year, as there have been rumours going around our offices. Can I get this insurance if there is already a threat I could lose my job? Nothing is definite yet but will the insurer say I knew about the job cuts before starting the policy, and therefore get out of paying up?

Does my small business get any incentives or rewards for taking on an apprentice?

Skills: Up to 40,000 Apprenticeship Grants are now on offer to companies employing fewer than 250 employees

I run a small plumbing company. A friend has asked if I would give an apprenticeship to his young son. Are there any incentives that I should be aware of?

I am a casual worker, will I get paid for the day I could not get to work because of the snow?

Snow disruption: Will my employer pay me even though I couldn't make it to work because of the weather?

My son's school closed because of the huge amount of snow we had at the weekend and I couldn't even get my car up the hill. I am a casual employee so I'm not sure if I will get paid. What do you think?

I've been offered a company car, but how do I work out if it is worth taking?

How do I work out if a company car is worth taking?

I have been offered a company car but I keep hearing about BIK bands and P11D values. What does it mean? Would this have any bearing on the make and model of car that I go for? Could I choose a sports car or is it better financially to look for a 'greener' model? Our experts answer

My recycled craft nick-nacks are selling like hot cakes. How can I turn my hobby sideline into a proper business?

Could you make a successful business out of old rubbish? Recycled crafts are becoming increasingly popular

My sister and I set up a small online business selling recycled crafts made in our garage. Things have really taken off- can we register as a company?

I have four days holiday to use by the end of the year but can't take them. Can I make my boss let me carry them over?

Humbug: RP is unlikely to be able to take their remaining leave before the end of the year

I will not be able to take my holiday days because we are so busy in the office. Will I have to accept them as lost days or can I ask for the money instead?

My grandson has arm pain from heavy lifting but was threatened with the sack if he can't do his job. What can he do?

Grandson threatened with the sack if he can't keep lifting carcasses

My grandson's developed severe pain in his arm from carrying 100kg carcasses in his job as a meat delivery driver and it was intimated when he mentioned it to his bosses that he would be laid off if he was unable to carry out his work. Do we have a case against the employer?

   

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Cruise operator Asamara gave us £1,000 vouchers after my wife cracked two ribs on a trip. But when we went to book, travel agent Cruise Club UK would not accept the certificates.

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