Should a bank admit technical problems are because of hackers?

My various inboxes have received a number of odd conspiracy theories that RBS/NatWest’s crash is actually due to hackers trying to attack its computer systems. I’ve no knowledge one way or the other, and seriously doubt there’s even an iota of truth in it. Yet it does raise an interesting hypothetical question – should a bank admit...

Martin Lewis

29 June 2012

Backed up your mobile/PC data? It’s useless unless…

Backed up your mobile/PC data? It’s useless unless… After the worst computer problems in banking history, causing a punitive shockwave for customers of NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank and Think Banking, it’s worth considering your own personal data backup. Running a big website, I’ve a constant paranoia about catastrophic failure and losing both the backup of the site...

Martin Lewis

28 June 2012

When doesn’t £10/month cost you £10/month? When it’s ‘equiv’

When don’t you pay £10/month for £10/month broadband? We’ve introduced a new site convention to try to make things even clearer. I hope it’ll be obvious, even to those who haven’t read this, but I just wanted to note down exactly what the phrase ‘equiv’ means and when we’ll use it. Deals, especially in the broadband and...

Martin Lewis

22 June 2012

The ‘social-fund.co.uk’ website is scraping beneath the barrel’s bottom

A website’s been set up which manages to drop payday loan (super high-cost, short-term lending) marketing down a notch. It’s as if those behind it saw others scraping the bottom of the barrel and just thought: "No problem, we’ll lick it up." The site’s been set up to attract people looking for official government crisis loans from...

Martin Lewis

21 June 2012

I’ve kept my mouth shut about the Money Advice Service, but last week I let rip

The Money Advice Service (MAS) is a publicly-funded body aiming to improve financial capability – a laudable aim, but frankly, dismally executed. For years I’ve thought its website an atrocious use of millions of pounds of such funds – but I’ve kept quiet about it, as I didn’t want to put people off using those of its...

Martin Lewis

18 June 2012

I’ve a new ITV1 prime time show starting in September

As the cat’s out the bag, after this Sunday Mirror story (they had the story when they called, even though the plan wasn’t to announce it yet), I can now tell you that come mid-September I’ve got a new prime time (7.30pm) show starting on ITV1. I’m delighted, as I think in current climes it’s important to...

Martin Lewis

18 June 2012

Why do teenagers throw pennies in the bin?

It’s jaw-dropping, but it seems some teens now treat copper coins as rubbish, throwing them in the bin. It shows a disrespect for cash and a lack of understanding about "looking after the pennies". Here’s just some of the thoughts people have tweeted me about this: For some reason pennies were embarrassing when I was younger. Now...

Martin Lewis

6 June 2012

Introducing MSE Junior (from November)

I’m delighted to confirm, as it has been reported in the papers (I slipped and mentioned it on Radio 5), that in early November Mrs MSE and I are expecting an MSE Junior. Like most first-time parents we don’t care whether it’s a boy or girl, just as long as it’s healthy and happy. I’m very excited...

Martin Lewis

6 June 2012