STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

IN MARCH, I got a letter from British Gas saying that if I fixed my tariff until 2019, I’d receive a £50 gift card. But it is now July and I haven’t received it. J. A., by email. BRITISH GaS has apologised for the delay in the gift card being sent. It has assured you it will be with you in the next 14 days, along with a goodwill gesture. A RECENT Money Mail referred to new legislation that would permit scam victims to pursue the fraudster’s bank for compensation. When is this happening? T. S., by email. THe legislation is expected to be introduced in January next year. The financial Conduct authority, which regulates the industry, has proposed extending the powers of the financial Ombudsman Service to include complaints about the bank that receives stolen funds. This could include complaints about the outcome decided by the bank or its refusal to respond. The consultation will close on September 26. LAST September, I accepted a car cover quote from Saga insurance for £467.82. After ten months of paying by direct debit, I noticed that the cost of the policy has risen to £537.90. Can you investigate? T. P., by email. SaGa says that you were quoted £467.82 initially but, as you chose to pay by direct debit, you were charged an extra £50.08 as a ‘credit’ fee for spreading the cost over the year. It insists that this would have been clearly stated. a policy arrangement fee of £20 would also have been added to the cost, making £537.90 in total. I ENTERED the Hargreaves Lansdown website with a view to setting up an account to buy and sell investments. It asked for my National Insurance number. Is this correct? Should I give this? G. L., by email. yeS, it is correct and this is needed for a number of reasons.

Hargreaves lansdown’s Danny Cox says: ‘your national Insurance number is unique and both acts as an identification number to prevent financial crime and, in the case of Isas and pensions, helps confirm your eligibility as a uK resident.’