STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

MY HUSBAND and I are in our 70s and are considering equity release on our bungalow. Who can give us some guidance and independent advice?

B. G., via email.

The equity Release Council provides a list of nearly 500 approved advisers on its website, equityreleasecouncil.com

Money Mail has also produced a guide, written by editor Dan hyde, in partnership with the largest equity release advice firm, Key Retirement. To order your free copy, call 0800 156 0150 or visit keyretirement.co.uk/mail

I’M A pensioner struggling with the cost of electricity bills. I’ve written to Scottish Power numerous times to ask if there is any way to lower my bills, but have had no response. Is there anything you can do?

B. M., Cumbernauld, N. Lanarkshire.

SCOTTISH Power apologises for not responding and has sent you £50 as a goodwill gesture. It has also made an application for you to the Government’s Warm home Discount, worth £140.

I READ that PayPal agreed to waive its 180-day limit on claiming a refund for Monarch customers who lost out when the airline went bust. But when

I asked for my money back, I was told the time limit was still in force.

S. C., via email.

WHAT you read is correct. PayPal says a small number of customers were mis-informed about the goodwill payments. It apologises and is investigating — and should refund the money as promised. WRITE to Tony Hazell at Ask Tony, Money Mail, 20 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6DB or email asktony@dailymail.co.uk — please include your phone number, address and a separate note addressed to the offending organisation giving it permission to talk to Tony Hazell. We regret we cannot reply to individual letters. Please do not send original documents as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given.