
Martin Lewis explains how you could be owed hundreds of pounds back on your energy bill
Martin Lewis has explained how you could be owed hundreds of pounds back on your energy bill.
The Money Saving Expert founder has revealed how energy firms are said to be sitting on £3 billion of cash in direct debit credit.
The financial guru has urged people to check their account to see if they are owed money now.
Speaking on the Martin Lewis Podcast on BBC Sounds, he said: 'In May, you should be at your lowers point of credit possible.
'Check your account and if you are owed a lot, you should have it in your pocket.
'If it is over £200 or 300 I would be asking for the money back.'

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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Good Morning Britain's Kate Garraway reveals she had bailiffs turn up at her door while her late husband Derek Draper was in a coma in hospital
Kate Garraway has revealed that she once had bailiffs turn up at her door while her late husband Derek Draper was in a coma. During Friday's instalment of Good Morning Britain, the presenter, 58, opened up on the tough situation she faced while her husband was stricken in hospital with a COVID-19-related illness. Speaking to money-saving expert Martin Lewis, who is campaigning to change the way councils call in debts of unpaid council tax, she revealed: 'Martin this is extraordinary. I've experienced this you know, when Derek was in his coma. She continued: 'In the latter half of 2020, somebody came to the door, a bailiff, it was all in Derek's name and they said: "You have to pay your years council tax plus the fines because we've been chasing you with letters." Kate explained the reason for the bill going unpaid, was because her husband was responsible for paying the council tax. She said she had 'no idea' it was going unpaid - otherwise, she would have paid it. She continued: 'It was my fault, I hadn't been opening the letters in his name because my head was in another place. 'And I've experienced the speed, as what happened was six weeks between him you know finding them, because he was in a coma, he hadn't paid our council tax, to having bailiffs at the door. 'And I, of course, am in a much more fortunate position than the sort of people you're talking about.' Following the admission, Kate was seen making her way to another job - hosting her Smooth Radio show in London. It comes after MailOnline revealed earlier this week that Kate had suffered another financial blow amid her £800,000 debt battle. The presenter had been frozen out of her bank accounts after changing her phone handset and reached out to Barclays Bank on social media in a desperate plea for help on Tuesday. Kate said that she had been unable to access either her current or savings account since Friday and hadn't been able to speak to anyone in customer service. Taking to X, she wrote: '@Barclays please please get in touch with me - I have not been able to access any of my Barclays accounts current or savings since Friday due to changing my phone handset and can't get through to anyone on customer service - please dm me.' Kate's message didn't go unanswered this time and a customer service rep responded to her through the Barclays X account. They wrote: 'Could you please pop into our DM's with your full name, postcode, contact number, and we can take it from there together. 'I've popped a link on this message that will take you through to us in DM. If you do have any other questions then please do let me know as we are here 24/7 for you. Thank you!' It's the latest financial blow for Kate who has been dealing with debt following her husband Derek's death. The presenter has openly discussed how she has been left with debts between £500,000 and £800,000 after caring for her late husband. Political lobbyist Derek died at the age of 56 in January 2024 following a four-year battle with long Covid with Kate paying £16,000 a month for his care. Now, a new liquidator's report has revealed the large tax costs that are yet to be paid by Derek's now-defunct psychotherapeutic company Astra Aspera. The company, which was jointly controlled by Kate, went bust owing hundreds of thousands of pounds to creditors, including a large bill to HMRC. Filings on Companies House have revealed how Kate has been trying to pay off the debt, with HMRC now submitting a lower revised total in a small boost. HMRC's latest preferential claim stands at £288,054, which is around a third of its previous 2023 submission of £716,822, according to the documents. It is not known why HMRC dropped the payment, and the filing has claimed there are also 'insufficient funds to pay a dividend to secondary preferential creditors'. According to The Sun, Kate has so far paid back £21,000. Addressing the filing, Kate's spokesperson told MailOnline the 'shocked' TV star 'doesn't recognise these figures' and is in contact with HMRC to make sure she 'honours what is required'. Their statement read: 'Kate has met all that the liquidators of Derek's company have asked for and more over the past four years. 'She doesn't recognise these figures and is shocked that it's being presented in this way by them. 'Caring for Derek and supporting her family when Derek could no longer run his own businesses has taken a huge financial toll on her but she's determined to put things right. 'She is in constant contact with HMRC to make sure she honours what's required from Derek's now-defunct company.' Kate said that she had been unable to access either her current or savings account since Friday and hadn't been able to speak to anyone in customer service Kate's message didn't go unanswered this time and a customer service rep responded to her through the Barclays X account Derek battled long Covid for four years before his death and Kate has openly discussed the devastating financial toll of funding his care during that period. When Derek wasn't in hospital, he had to be looked after 24/7 at home by his wife and a team of carers. Derek battled long Covid for four years before his death and Kate has openly discussed the devastating financial toll of funding his care during that period. When Derek wasn't in hospital, he had to be looked after 24/7 at home by his wife and a team of carers. In January, Kate explained how she has been left with 'excessive un-payable debt' as she spoke about dealing with the funding of his care. She shared: 'The family and I have been talking about the challenges we faced this time last year, one of the overriding ones, he went back into intensive care before he passed away was dealing with the funding of care. 'At the time of his death, there were two appeals that hadn't been heard for funding. It kept being pushed back and pushed back. 'In the meantime, I'm lucky I have an incredible job which is well paid. I was having to fund the situation. 'Now I've got excessive un-payable debt because of it. If I'm in that position what else are people going to be?' In March 2024, the presenter revealed that she had been spending £16,000 a month on care for her late husband. She told Good Morning Britain: 'I am ashamed of the fact I'm in debt. I have an incredible job that I love, that's very well paid. 'I'm not a carer travelling miles, paying their own transport to go and help somebody for minimum wage.


The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Martin Lewis shares important council tax payment update on live TV
Martin Lewis announced that the government is launching a consultation into council tax payments, which will affect over three million people. The Money Saving Expert founder criticised the current council tax debt collection process as "so rapid and aggressive it would make banks blush". Mr Lewis said that forcing individuals to pay for a year when they cannot afford a month is "destroying lives". The consultation will consider slowing down the debt collection process to allow people more time to pay before further action is taken. Watch the video in full above.


Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Glasgow Times
Pensioners' HMRC tax codes to change for Winter Fuel Payment
Following the announcement that pensioners who receive under £35,000 a year will now receive winter fuel allowance, HMRC has confirmed it will take back the money from those with incomes above £35,000 through their tax codes, or by asking them to complete a self-assessment tax return. HMRC said: "Winter Fuel Payments will be paid automatically without a claim, and any charges will be collected via PAYE, or via self-assessment for those with other income to declare." What is a tax code? It may look like a secret code, but the formula is pretty simple (and explained below). The most common HMRC tax code is 1257L, which is based on the Personal Tax Allowance of £12,570 - this is the amount you can earn before you need to pay tax. But, many people are paying too much tax - as we go into the HMRC tax year 2025 - 2026 it's worth making sure you aren't one of them - and if so, look at how to get a rebate. Your tax code is used by your employer or pension provider to work out how much Income Tax to take from your pay or pension. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will tell them which code to use. How to check your tax code You can find your tax code: by checking your tax code for the current year online - you'll need to sign in to or create an online account on on the HMRC app on your payslip on a 'Tax Code Notice' letter from HMRC, if you get one This week's 'Joker' #martinlewis break bumper: If you have a 1250L tax code - what does the number bit stand for? a) Just an ID code b) You can earn 10x that number tax free each year c) It's your additional allowance on top of the standard allowance — Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) February 17, 2020 If you check your tax code online or in the HMRC app, you can also: find your tax code for previous tax years sign up for paperless notifications - this means HMRC will email you when your tax code changes Check what your tax code means You can use the HMRC tax code checker to find out: what the numbers and letters in your tax code mean how much tax you will pay what you may need to do next What the numbers mean in your HMRC tax code The numbers in your tax code tell your employer or pension provider how much tax-free income you get in that tax year. HMRC works out your individual number based on your Personal Allowance and income you have not paid tax on (such as untaxed interest or part-time earnings). They also consider the value of any perks you get from your employer (such as a company car). HMRC tax code letters and what they mean The full list can be found on the website, but these are the most common, and what they mean: L - For an employee entitled to the standard tax-free Personal Allowance S - For an employee whose main home is in Scotland BR/ SBR - For a second job or pension M - For an employee whose spouse or civil partner has transferred some of their Personal Allowance (through Marriage Allowance) N - For an employee who has transferred some of their Personal Allowance to their spouse or civil partner (through Marriage Allowance) T - When HMRC needs to review some items with the employee Recommended reading: How to claim back tax with an HMRC tax rebate If you think you are on the wrong tax code, you can contact HMRC on 0300 200 330 or speak to an advisor online via their live chat service. HMRC will contact your employer to correct your tax code and you will get any money you overpaid in tax in your next payslip. You can also claim back up to four additional years if you have been overpaying for some time.