STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

I’M TRAVELLING to the U.S. this Christmas with my wife and two children. Do I need a visa and how much will it cost?

B. B., Reading, Berks.

EVERYONE travelling to the u.S. must fill out an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) form before they go.

You have to do this online on the official u.S. website: www.esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/.

It costs £9 ($14) each — so £36 for a family of four — and lasts for two years or until your passport expires.

Watch out for websites that try to charge you more than this.

I SWITCHED from Scottish Power to OVO in March and was sent my final statement, which I paid. But Scottish Power continues to send me bills no matter how many times I call and tell them to stop.

T. C., Bury.

YOU were sent final statements of £107.35 for gas and £0 for electricity. Scottish Power says this was a mistake and you actually owed £35.10 for electricity used before you switched.

However, it has now written this off and paid you £75 as an apology for not sorting it out sooner.

MY HUSBAND died on November 8, 2013. I transferred our bank account from RBS to Barclays on January 22, 2014.

The next day, Direct Line wrote to say it had cancelled my husband’s car insurance and credited the RBS account with £96.46, but I still haven’t got it.

RBS says it can’t trace it. I have called Direct Line and RBS several times, but to no avail.

J. D., Hoveton, Norfolk.

DIRECT Line did pay the money to RBS, which failed to pass it on.

The problem here lies with RBS, who, in the circumstances, should have been far more sympathetic and helpful.

It has apologised and has sent you a cheque.