View source for £1MILLION: That apos;s What We apos;ve Clawed Back For Readers In The Pandemic

In all, our reporters won back well over £1m for our readers - from the investment scam victim conned out of £190,000, to the holidaymakers left out of pocket by the virus crisis<br>During this tough year, Money Mail has stood up for you and held your hand through the biggest economic upset in recent history.<br>We hope our comprehensive coverage and valuable guides helped you steer your finances safely through the Covid storm.<br>         During this tough year, Money Mail has stood up for you and held your hand through the biggest economic upset in recent history<br>Our reporters won back well over £1million for our readers — from the investment scam victim conned out of £190,000, to the holidaymakers left thousands of pounds out of pocket.<br>This total includes the hundreds of thousands of pounds secured for women who only found out they were being underpaid their state pension after [/money/pensions/article-8961701/Chaotic-DWP-handling-state-pension-scandal-attack.html a scandal unearthed by This is Money and former Pensions Minister Steve Webb earlier in the year]. <br>Our campaigns have also helped raise funding and support for businesses struggling to survive the virus crisis.<br>   RELATED ARTICLES  [# Previous] [# 1] [# Next]     [/money/comment/article-9088987/New-Years-resolutions-Ill-save-cash-shopping-old-fashioned-way.html  I'll save cash in 2021 - by shopping the old fashioned way:...] [/money/saving/article-9095969/Cards-carers-New-breed-bank-accounts-cuts-risk-fraud.html  Cards for carers: As lockdowns leave many people relying on...] [/money/smallbusiness/article-9096419/The-brave-entrepreneurs-founding-new-firms-ashes-Covid.html  New firms rising from the ashes of Covid: The brave...] [/money/bills/article-9096609/So-best-time-ring-call-centre.html  So when is the best time to ring a call centre? Major firms...]     Share this article Share   Money Mail takes pride in battling to get your money back — regardless of how much it is. <br>We've fought hard to solve bill disputes, recover gift card cash, and get answers from firms refusing to pick up the phone. These little victories can relieve a great deal of stress. Here, I detail how we have fought for you and your money in 2020…<br>The events of this year have had a devastating effect on many businesses. Some went the extra mile, such as grocers and butchers who became pivotal to their communities, and pubs that turned into mini shops.<br>While the letters and emails I receive often highlight the darker side of human nature, sometimes my job simply involves oiling the wheels. This was the case when Barclays recovered more than £104,000 for a widower from his late wife's dormant account.<br>But banks are still making inexcusable errors with bereaved customers or those dealing with Power of Attorney.<br>       This year we dealt with several cases involving HMRC, often where pensioners had become entangled with complex tax demands due to having several sources of income <br>One reader battled with Barclays for six weeks while it refused to release £15,000 from his late mother-in-law's account.<br>I was also forced to take Halifax to task over its hapless handling of a case in which a pensioner simply wanted an extra debit card so her niece could do her shopping. <br>Instead of being able to shield, the vulnerable lady was forced to make 20-mile round trips to her bank.<br>It's not just traditional banks making lives difficult. Metro Bank froze an account which held £30,000, and the customer could only think it was because he had visited his wife's family in Crimea.<br>Yet Covid-related complaints have dominated, and one trend is clear: while some businesses have done their best to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic, others have used it as an excuse to offer shambolic service, push complaints online and generally ignore their legal and moral duties to offer refunds or restitution.<br>This year has highlighted those that value their customers and exposed those who will do whatever it takes to push an extra few pounds into the profit column.<br>How else can you explain the behaviour of some insurers? We buy insurance to protect ourselves. <br>The last thing we want is to be forced to make a claim. I reported on a couple who had to cancel their honeymoon safari in Kenya. <br>Axa rejected the claim twice on the grounds that it was a package holiday, yet the international flight and safari break had been booked separately.<br>Compare this with Club Med, which swiftly sorted out a problem for a couple who had lost their £4,300 holiday in [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-bali-tour-du-lich-bali-indonesia-4-ngay-3-dem-tu-ha-noi-tu-sai-gon-hcm-may-bay.html tour bali giá rẻ].<br>         Hang up: If someone calls that you don't know and  [https://www.kynghidongduong.vn/tours/tour-bali-tour-du-lich-bali-indonesia-4-ngay-3-dem-tu-ha-noi-tu-sai-gon-hcm-may-bay.html kynghidongduong.vn] they are selling or threatening, don't engage in conversation<br>There were several cases involving HMRC, often relating to pensioners who struggled with complex tax demands due to having several sources of income. While all were swiftly resolved once I intervened, it highlights how tax can become trickier as we grow older.<br>Energy firms once again took more than their fair share of my time. Most ludicrous was an E.on engineer who fitted a non-working smart meter and told the householder it would sort itself out. E.on blamed a meter 'communication issue' for the barmy estimated bills it then sent out.<br>When it comes to online shopping, one issue is causing increasing concern: firms that look as though they are operating in the UK but are instead based overseas — often in Eastern Europe or China.<br>Readers trying to return goods find they refuse to comply with the Consumer Contracts Regulations, which demand firms cover return postage for defective goods.<br>Postage can cost hundreds, forcing buyers to appeal for a refund, under chargeback or the Consumer Credit Act (CCA), via their bank. But even this can be thwarted, as the payment may have been taken by a third-party firm which may break CCA rules.<br>Fraud continues to grow, too. For some reason, this is still not treated as a real crime by some, including banks and, I suspect, the police.<br> [ ]  Big names are often used as covers by fraudsters. <br>So let's spell it out again. HMRC will never call threatening to arrest you, Amazon won't phone about a subscription, your bank won't call suggesting you move your money to another safer account, BT won't call to say your broadband is about to be cut off, and no broker or financial firm will call to offer you legitimate investment tips.<br>If you fear you have been duped, tell someone you trust instantly. Call your bank from a different phone using the number on your credit or debit card.<br>Sadly, poor behaviour is not a one-way street. There is no reason to be rude to staff, who are often working under tough circumstances. You're not auditioning for a bit part in EastEnders, you're trying to resolve an issue.<br>When you contact a firm with your complaint, make sure you have all details to hand and take notes of what is said, including the date and time.<br>If they won't budge, please write to me at asktony@dailymail.co.uk or, if you prefer, Ask Tony, Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT.<br>You must provide your full postal address and permission for the [http://www.glamour.de/content/search/?SearchText=company company] to speak to me, ie. 'I give Hopeless and Slapdash permission to speak to Tony Hazell of the Daily Mail about my complaint'. 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