From the dangers of Tinder to the search for student digs, our experts have you covered
Every Saturday, The Consumer Crew are here to solve your problems.
Mel Hunter will take on readers’ consumer issues, Amanda Cable will give you the best advice for buying your dream home,
Maddy Tooke rounds up the best coupons to save you money and Judge Rinder will tackle your legal woes.
Judge Rinder – The Sun’s legal expert
I HAVE lost count of the times some fool will scream at me in the street: “Look, there’s that Judge Grinder!”
Assuming the culprit is sober and within reach, I usually go over and quietly explain that my name is pronounced “like Tinder” then suggest that they might try a new hobby to make them a little more interesting, like reading.
I was travelling with a friend the other day when some other bore decided to shriek my mispronounced name whilst inhaling chicken from some sort of bucket.
As usual I politely explained that it was “Tinder not Grinder” — much to my friend’s amusement. Swept up in the moment, she proceeded to tell me some stories of her experiences using the dating app.
Over the years I have (pretty much) heard it all but her account of Tinder dating made what little hair I have left stand on end.
“Have you ever heard of catfishing?” she asked. “No, but I once went fishing for lake trout,” I replied. She gave me her usual withering look.
It turns out catfishing is when a person online lures someone into a relationship by adopting a fictional persona. Not only had my friend been a victim of this, more than once, but she told me this goes on all the time.
In her case the consequences were mostly amusing — a man advertising himself as a strapping fireman of 30 who turned out to look more like the late Ronnie Corbett. But in some cases the consequences are far from funny.
Matt Peacock, a happily married male model, had his identity stolen and used to create 40 fake dating profiles.
The harm to Mr Peacock was considerable, with women contacting his wife numerous times claiming that he had been speaking to them online.
It got so bad Mr Peacock had to hire a private detective to trace some of these people, who, when confronted, apologised and then continued using his image regardless. The problem for Mr Peacock is that catfishing is not illegal, which is totally outrageous. I understand this sort of thing is hard to police but people who use these sites need to be protected.
Parliament is currently passing a number of laws to regulate online behaviour. They should add this.
It cannot be fair, just or safe for online dating to have zero legal protection from identity theft.
Summing up
Q: I WAS made redundant two years ago and got a generous pay-off.
My boyfriend and I had always planned to travel and with me out of work, it seemed a good time to go.
He hadn’t had enough time to save up so I said I’d foot the bill from my redundancy money and he could pay me back over the following months. I have this agreement written down.
On the trip I met someone else and my boyfriend and I are no longer together. He now refuses to pay me back, saying that because I caused our relationship to break down, our agreement no longer applies. This can’t be right, can it?
It’s true our trip was cut short but surely he still owes me for flights and the time we were travelling together.
HANNAH, Romford, Essex
A: This is exactly the type of case I often deal with in my ITV court room.
When friends and family members enter into agreements like yours, they need to be able to prove they intended to create legal relations. In other words, that you and your ex boyfriend understood that, in the event that he did not pay your redundancy money back, you would take him to court.
Having something in writing is a very good start. Assuming he has signed it and it sets out exactly what he owes, you should be able to prove that you have an enforceable contract.
The fact you ended up with somebody else is irrelevant. The next step is to write to him asking for his share within 14 days or to come up with an agreeable payment plan. If he fails to do this, take him to the Small Claims Court.
Got a question for Judge Rinder? Email [email protected]
Mel Hunter – Readers’ champion on fighting for your rights
TRAVEL insurance should be high on your list of holiday priorities.
If your trip gets cancelled, your luggage gets lost or you need medical assistance while you’re away, insurance can be a crucial safety net.
And with the average cost of treatment overseas coming in at £2,040, a policy that costs little more than a round of drinks has got to be worth it.
But check your policy very carefully – the Association of British Insurers says that nine in ten travel claims are successful, but I’ve recently received three letters from readers which show some of the many reasons insurers use to scupper genuine claims.
Read the small print: Diane H took out a policy with Staysure for her 60th birthday trip to Cuba but had to cancel at the last minute to stay with her son who had suffered a breakdown.
Diane’s insurer wouldn’t pay out because her son had been taking prescribed anti-depressants when she took out the policy and they say this invalidates the claim.
Although Staysure asked her about her own health, they never questioned her about family members. Poor Diane, who rightly argues that millions of people will have a family member who takes anti-depressants, is £900 out of pocket.
What’s more, the company never sent her a paper copy of the policy, as requested. I’m still working on this case for her.
And start your cover now, not the day your holiday starts. Jan C tried to claim after her daughter broke her arm the day before they were due to fly out to Italy for a cruise, requiring a hospital stay that made them miss their flight.
Aviva said no to their claim because the policy was only due to kick in the day their holiday started so wasn’t active at the time when she broke her arm. They lost out on £1,780.
And check what hoops you need to hop through. Another reader’s parents in their 80s found out they weren’t initially covered for emergency medical care abroad because they didn’t phone their insurer before the treatment was carried out.
On top of the stress of the illness, they faced a painful bill of nearly £6,000. I am pleased to report they have just been successful with their claim.
Q: MY wife, who is blind and disabled, booked a 21st birthday party for our daughter at the Marriott hotel in Maidstone, Kent.
Unfortunately my wife became very ill and I had to make the difficult decision to cancel the party.
We lost our £350 deposit, which we understand, but we also had to pay £600.
We don’t understand this, given that there was still more than two months until the party. Isn’t this what the deposit was for?
Steven Parker, Maidstone
A: Marriott told me the £350 deposit went to a third-party DJ and the remaining £600 was standard procedure for late cancellation.
Once I explained your situation, the hotel’s top brass waived the fee on compassionate grounds and wished your wife all the best with her recovery. I echo that.
Do you have a consumer issue? Email [email protected]
Maddy Tooke – Coupon Queen finding you
the best bargains
10 best deals
1. Sun readers can get 30 per cent off Natural Teeth Whitening Co. Activated Charcoal Powder with code SUN30. See pro Expires August 5.
2. There is £10 off your first Uber ride with code VOUC10 from . Expires August 15.
3. Get 20 per cent off first orders from Lookfantastic.com with code FIRSTORDER from . Expires July 31.
4. Buy one pair and get another half price at Hotter Shoes. Use code VCSALE50 from . Offer ends tomorrow.
5. Kids can get 40 per cent off cinema tickets and eat free at selected restaurants with a 30-day pass for £1. Sign up at . Cancel before the trial ends or you will pay £34.99 for a year.
6. Save 60 per cent on photobooks, 60 per cent on home decor, 55 per cent on photo gifts, 50 per cent on cards, stationery and prints and 75 per cent on calendars at . Codes expire July 31. For codes, see .
7. Save 40 per cent on main courses at Café Rouge. See . Expires Friday. Valid Sunday from 5pm and Monday to Friday from 12pm.
8. Get 25 per cent off orders over £40 plus free delivery from fashion retailer Select. Code JULY25. Expires July 31.
9. Save an extra ten per cent in Disney Store’s 50 per cent off sale. Use code VCUK10 from . Ends tomorrow.
10. Save ten per cent on orders of £50 or more at Debenhams with code YM73. Expires tomorrow.
5 top freebies
1. New members can get a £10 free spend on orders of £10 or more from fashion outlet BrandAlley. To claim, sign up at . Expires July 31.
2. Free ten-day gym pass at Nuffield Health for O2 customers until August 31 at .
3. A pound off any new Covent Garden Soup with voucher from . Morrisons has reduced the soups to £1, until tomorrow, so use the voucher there to get the soup free.
4. Free DryNites pyjama pants plus £1 off any pack of DryNites. See .
5. Free St Tropez Tan Express Face Sheet Mask while stocks last. See .
Amanda Cable – Property expert with the best advice for your home
WITH some 600,000 students starting university in September, the rush is on to find new digs.
This week, thousands of parents will, like me, learn the devastating news there is no room in the official halls of residence. The only alternative is a costly private rental.
This comes as no surprise to founder Rupert Hunt. He says: “I started the firm after realising how tough it is when you are young, on a budget and trying to find decent digs.
“But don’t be scared to share with strangers. In fact, living with people I didn’t know at first involved less drama and created new friendships. Two of my ex-flatmates now work alongside me.”
But where do you start looking for digs? And how much will it cost you?
Here are some tips from . .
DO rent with other people. It will help to spread the cost for you all.
DO watch out for council tax bills. If you are a full-time student, you do not have to pay council tax. But if you live with a non-student, they will be liable.
DO try to see the flat in person before you agree to anything – and don’t hand over any money until you have.
DON’T overpay your deposit. The average sum in the UK is one month to six weeks upfront. If the landlord or agent demands more, ask why.
DON’T be afraid to haggle. There is an over- supply of rooms at the moment so many landlords will be prepared to lower rent slightly.
DON’T leave it too late to flat-hunt. You need to search at least a month before you move in and most contracts will be for six months or one year. Contracts in big cities can be turned around faster.
- AVERAGE monthly room rent: London £740, Oxford £561, Bristol £477, Manchester £427, Birmingham £426, York £413, Norwich £410, Plymouth £385, Leeds £381, Newcastle £358.
- JULY is Fraud Awareness Month and TheHouseShop.com is leading a drive to crack down on scams by bogus landlords, like this one narrowly avoided by Annie Stanford, 26.
The account manager from Hackney, East London, was looking for a flat to rent last year and spotted one she liked on a classified ad site.
But alarm bells rang when the landlord asked her to wire him the deposit – to an account in a different name. She says: “I turned detective and found the same property on a local estate agent’s website. It had been rented out six months earlier. I nearly lost £1,000.
TheHouseShop.com launched a property ownership verification system for all private advertisers last year in a bid to stamp out this kind of scam.
- FANCY owning a wonderwall? House of Artists offers limited-edition murals in the shape of your choice. Fans include singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Richard Branson. They cost £160 per sq m. See .
Got a question for our experts? Email [email protected]