STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

I HAVE a mortgage with Halifax and I want to know if I have been mis-sold payment protection insurance (PPI).

How do I check? I’ve been getting a lot of emails from claims firms recently. Should I use one of those? L. L., Nuneaton. FiRsT, check your statements to see if there is any evidence of extra charges. if you’re still unsure, you can call halifax’s dedicated ppi complaints number: 0800 151 0293.

Alternatively, you can download a questionnaire from halifax.co.uk/contactus/howto-complain/complain-about-ppi

don’t use a claims firm, as they can be very expensive and take a big cut of any refund you’re owed. it is quick and easy to check yourself. I HAD a pay-as-you-go mobile phone with Vodafone, but switched to 02 in May. I’ve since received threatening letters from debt collectors demanding £117 be paid to Vodafone. I never had a contract with the firm, so how can I owe it anything? Can you help? V. M., Yateley, Hants. VOdAFOne has apologised and told me the incorrect charges have been removed, so you won’t be hearing from the collections agency again. it is looking into how this happened, but has assured me your credit file won’t be affected. I HAVE £100,000 in a pension and want to withdraw half of my 25 pc tax-free lump sum. If I transfer the rest of my pension to another company, will I be allowed to take the remaining 12.5 pc tax-free? C. C., Birmingham. TOM McphAil, head of pensions research at investment firm hargreaves lansdown, says this shouldn’t be a problem.

You should be able to take your cash now, transfer the remaining money to another pension and then withdraw the other 12.5 pc tax-free at a later date.