Money

I switched from Spark Energy to Extra Energy, but since November last year I have been persistently phoned by debt collector Opos Ltd, claiming I owe Spark £172. It has also written, threatening to trash my credit rating. Luckily, I still have my final bill from Spark, clearly showing I was in credit. Each time Opos calls, I explain this and it says it will look into it. But how can Opos just say that I owe money without any evidence?

American president Ronald Reagan famously described inflation to be 'as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber and as deadly as a hit man.' Reagan had inherited a 1980s economy suffering 'stagflation' with inflation in double digits while economic growth had stagnated or even gone into reverse. Here - as the prospect of a Corbyn-led Government raises the threat of a new inflationary surge - we show what you can do to stop it burning away your wealth.

New data has revealed the full extent of the country's payday loan usage, totalling £1.2billion of debt in 2018 - the equivalent of £18.17 for every man, woman and child in the country. The figures have been released by the financial watchdog following a Freedom of Information Act request by flexible wage app Wagestream.

If the war to save the planet is going to be won, then the victory is more likely to be achieved by pin-striped executives in boardrooms than by a bunch of yogic hippies. It's an inconvenient truth as far as the eco-zealots in London at the protests orchestrated by Extinction Rebellion are concerned.

The technology start-up has hired Frank McGlade as its director of corporate and business development. It may not sound like a huge deal, but this is the same post McGlade held at rival food delivery firm Just Eat just before its £1.5billion float in 2014. McGlade left as chief financial officer of Emoov in December last year, having joined in February as it was lining up a listing of its own.

Homeowners in many parts of the country have previously seen the value of their property increase by more than the amount they can earn by going to work. But a slowdown in the rise in house prices means this is no longer the case in many locations.

TSB says defrauded customers will now always get their cash back, which has piled pressure on other banks to do the same. But will they - and should they have to? That's the question assistant editor Lee Boyce, reporter George Nixon and host Georgie Frost tackle in this week's podcast.

Bidders including China's Fosun have approached the holiday firm about buying its tour operating business - and even the company outright, Sky News reported. The takeover interest comes after Thomas Cook announced a potential sale of its Condor airline.

The eurozone is suffering its worst spell of growth since 2014, with both the service and manufacturing sectors stagnating. Export order levels have fallen 'sharply' so far this month, demand from potential customers remains sluggish and the outlook among businesses within the eurozone in the 'gloomiest' since late 2014. The IHS Markit eurozone purchasing managers' index fell from 51.6 in March to 51.3 this month, according to a preliminary 'flash' estimate.

Protesters took to the streets of London this week, in the name of rebellion against governments' perceived lethargy in the face of climate change. Whether their strategy of bringing areas to a standstill actually achieved anything is doubtful. But for savers who want to bring about change in a more pragmatic way, investing wisely could be the answer. Impact investing strategies that provide social or green benefits and funds focusing on environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns, are becoming increasingly popular. Climate change is only a part of what most want to tackle - other problems in the crosshairs include poor health, poverty and discrimination.

Toyota's new Camry saloon will return to the roads this summer after a gap of 15 years. It has a special air purification system that provides fresh in-car air. Ray Massey said he 'felt pretty good' after testing the vehicle out for two days during its global launch in sunny Croatia. The new Camry will be available only as a 'green' self-charging petrol-electric hybrid, with no diesel or pure petrol versions on offer.

I plan on taking my first step onto the housing ladder in a year's time, using all of my investments to put down a deposit. I want my investments to grow as much as possible but I don't want to risk losing a significant chunk of it so close to buying a house. What's the best way to disinvest ahead of time?

Currency firms were accused last night of cashing in on the Bank Holiday rush after offering the worst exchange rate on record. The pound was valued at less than the euro by the firms. The official market exchange rate is 1.156 euros per pound, 15 per cent higher than what these firms were offering.

A bottle of Limestone Coast Sauvignon now costs £7 compared with £10 a year ago, with a family pack of salmon fillets reduced from £13 to £11. It is also selling 20 per cent more Easter eggs for £5 and under compared to last year. Head of food Stuart Machin said M&S; is trying to be 'special and relevant, with prices to shout about'.

The Apprentice 2018 winner is hoping to take a slice out of the poolside party business market with the launch of her new swimwear collection. We catch up with her and the future of her Sian Marie brand - and what's she has been doing with Lord Sugar's investment.

A new report shows we work the longest hours in Europe - but our productivity is low. Is this a clear argument that a four-day working week is the way forward? Or is it time to finally put the notion to bed?

It will no doubt have come to your attention that the UK is in the throes of an impassioned fling with gin. In fact more gin was sold in the summer last year than the summers of 2014 and 2015 combined, according to tonic maker Fever-Tree.
It's not the first time Brits have gone wild for the white liquor. When gin was first introduced to the UK in 1689, its ready availability and low price led to the UK's first 'Gin Craze'. Londoners drank an equivalent of two pints every week. But Neil Everitt - the man behind Brockmans gin - thinks there's more UK 'Ginnovation' and sales growth to come yet.

The amount you can save into a pension ultimately depends on what you can afford - but the longer you leave it the more you will need to save. We tend to put ambitious targets on our hoped-for income in retirement and then underestimate how much we will need to set aside to achieve that. So how much should you save?

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.

The Bank's ratesetters have joined the rest of Britain in awaiting what happens with the country's departure from European Union. Rates were held at the last MPC meeting, with an Inflation Report indicating slower growth in the near future and an easing in rate rise expectations. Barring Brexit chaos, another Bank Rate rise is still expected this year, taking interest rates to 1 per cent.