Our Thomson flight from Ibiza to Bristol was delayed by seven hours. I completed a claim and had an automatic reply saying Thomson would be in touch within 56 days. After 60 days, I phoned Thomson and was told that due to high demand it would now take 90 days to deal with the claim.

Like many parents, Eric and Muriel Fisher were keen to help their children buy their first homes. So in 2005, they borrowed £92,000 from Halifax to provide deposits and assistance to their five offspring. The mortgage they took out was interest-only. Yet the couple have been told the loan must be repaid next year when Mr Fisher turns 75.

Crowdfunding involves many individuals handing chunks of money to start-ups in need of cash. So is it just a fad or is it worth your time? In December, designer label Crumpet Cashmere collapsed for a second time. The clothing firm, which had celebrity customers including Pippa Middleton, secured £163,000 from 112 crowdfunders in 2014. Some savers put in £20,000.

Investors have suffered a turbulent start to the year. Stock market volatility continues as oil prices fall and the fragility of global markets like China is exposed. Now, more than ever, it is essential to take steps to ensure your investment portfolio is the strongest it can be. Investing can be much more straightforward than many believe. By following a simple set of rules and avoiding the pitfalls even the most inexperienced investor could become a successful investor.

Classic cars make a great investment, but it's not just sought-after collectibles that are providing strong financial returns .Porsche's Macan is in such demand that used prices are £5k more expensive than buying one of the SUVs new.

Since King John signed the Magna Carta back in 1215 all manner of laws have slipped onto the statute books. Some are good, others less so, and then there are the downright peculiar. Lurking out there are plenty of obscure laws that could cost you money thanks to a fine or affect you as a consumer, but seem unlikely to ever be enforced.

Ruth Dunn's claim was rejected as her insurance company ruled that she had failed to disclose a previous neurological check-up. However both her GP and a neurologist claim that there is no connection between her previous symptoms and the brain tumour whatsoever.

Cambian warned that 2015 earnings would come in at £46million, which was 6 per cent below the 'not less than £49m' guidance given at the time of the last earnings alert on October 22. Shareholders can also sing for a dividend in 2015. Net debt of £242million is in line with expectations but worryingly the group has entered into discussions with its banks to agree revised future covenants.

Big stones are marketable, as DiamondCorp's larger peer Petra has demonstrated only too clearly in recent years, and it's nice to have something to take into town - the 22.1 carat stone has already been sold for $5,000 per carat. But beyond the glitz of the big stones in DiamondCorp's January release lies the real nub of where the company is now likely to add value as the ramp-up continues.

With pay rises expected to stall at just two per cent for the third year in a row in 2016, it is time to squeeze extra value from your workplace perks. Rachel Webster (pictured) cashed in a special work savings pot in May and with the proceeds could afford the down payment on a three-bedroom terraced home.

Our renewed love affair with vinyl has created a huge growth in the value of collectable old records. Vinyl records previously viewed as junk quietly gathering dust in the attic or at the back of garages are now shrewd investments worth hundreds of pounds. Brigid Harrison-Draper (pictured), a vinyl collector and contributor to magazine Record Collector, says: 'There is no substitute for vinyl.

Small and medium-sized companies are struggling to survive under the burden of a huge rise in business rates while the Treasury's income from corporation tax has fallen, according to the Confederation of British Industry. The organisation representing bosses has urged Chancellor George Osborne to reform business rates in his imminent Budget - due in just over a month's time - and has called on him to scrap the tax altogether for more than a million small firms.

Millions of household bill-payers are routinely bamboozled by 'confusion pricing' used to promote broadband deals. But media watchdogs are gearing up to scrap the practice. Burying landline rental fees in contract small print often baffles customers, according to new research. Self-employed audio transcriber Lisette Davidson (pictured) is reluctant to switch broadband provider because she feels the process of comparing deals is deliberately puzzling.

The company made its name as an adviser to firms with big redundancy programmes, helping staff to find other jobs or, at the very least, leave with dignity. Over the past two to three years, however, it has branched into specialised recruitment and training. It is also helping the Metropolitan Police create a more ethnically diverse workforce.

Historically banks were a popular investment with savers. They were strong, FTSE 100 companies that made large profits and paid a reliable dividend. The financial crisis changed that. But for those who believe the banks have cleaned up their acts, now may be the time to heed that old advice of buying when people are fearful and take advantage of cheaper share prices.

Those looking to join the exodus are finding that many traditional commuter towns have seen their own surge in prices as the ripple effect works its way outwards from central London. So where should people look to buy within commuting distance of London, but ruling out hotspots such as Oxford, Winchester and Banbury, where prices are sky-high?

Kia's Sportage has become a common sight on UK roads, as drivers have taken its SUV style to their hearts. UK Sportage sales in 1995 were a mere 680. But a record 23,010 were sold last year. A new version is now hitting the showrooms, Ray Massey puts it to the test.

To clear the average national household debt of ?13,000 at 6% interest with a monthly repayment of ?100 will take around 17 years. There are, however, plenty of simple ways to make significant savings on your regular spending that could clear your debt - or boost your savings - in less than a year. This is Money's top 50 - updated - money-saving tips may appear light-hearted but are deadly serious.

Choosing the right DIY platform is crucial but a wealth of choice and changes to charges have left many investors scratching their heads. We pick some of the best. We also highlight why investing in an Isa makes sense, as it should protect your hopefully growing investments from tax forever.

Interest rates are set to remain at their record lows well into 2017, commentators suggested after the Bank of England held rates by a vote of 9-0 and lowered its growth forecasts. The quarterly inflation report said that outlook for global growth had weakened further since the previous report in November and that the latest data suggest a softer picture for UK activity in 2015 than previously assumed.

For many buy-to-let looks an attractive income investment in a time of low rates and stock market volatility. Climbing house prices, rising rents and improving mortgage deals are tempting investors - although they will need a big deposit. Read This is Money's top ten buy-to-let tips

Musicians have seen pay rises averaging nearly 20 per cent in 2015, while cleaners are getting 17.8 per cent more, and window cleaners 12.3 per cent. Artists in general are earning 14.6 per cent more in 2015 than 2014, according to the huge annual data dump of pay scales by the Office For National Statistics highlights.