Latest news with #GoCompare
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UK households urged to check broadband deals now to get full fibre without paying more
Millions of UK households have been urged to check if they can get full fibre without paying a penny more. has said around 11 million homes across the UK could get access to the high internet speeds but are unaware of the broadband deals currently on offer. Many of which could be entitled to a free upgrade, as the government continues to push for access to full fibre nationwide by 2030. Read more: Martin Lewis' MSE delivers verdict on if Premium Bonds 'worth it' after cuts The Labour government has set a goal to bring 85% of the nation into the fastest internet speed by this year. Matt Sanders from said: "Note down the key details of your current broadband deal, such as the connection type, speeds you've been promised and what you're paying." To check your eligibility for full fibre broadband, comparison sites such as MoneySuperMarket detail the best deals currently on offer. All you need to do is punch in your postcode and it will show which internet providers have coverage in your area. If your current provider is listed, but you don't have full fibre, then you may be due an upgrade. and Which? offer broadband speed check tools to compare how fast your internet is and what is currently available on the market. It comes as Broadband Genie has named the internet providers that are best for online gaming, working from home, and streaming in its annual awards. The annual survey named Plusnet as the 'Best Broadband Provider' of the year based off a OnePoll survey of 3,997 broadband bill payers, as well as an analysis of 291,467 broadband speed tests that were run over a 12-month period. Broadband Genie expert Alex Tofts said: 'Customer service is an area which can make or break a positive experience with your internet provider. "Get it right, and customers feel valued and looked after. Get it wrong, and customers will be left frustrated, unheard and will want to look elsewhere. "We can only hope these big players will be pulling their socks up to improve their services. It's no surprise that in a year when customers are once again having to swallow hefty mid-contract price rises that they feel they're not getting value for money. "This is more evidence and only affirms our stance that Ofcom needs to ban mid-contract price rises.' Plusnet won 'Best Provider' as 79% of users rated them the best. The 'Fastest Widely Available Provider' was Virgin Media 188Mbps (average download), while Vodafone secured 'Best Value for Money'.
The Sun
5 days ago
- The Sun
Eight travel insurance mistakes to avoid that could cost thousands – including tricks to buying cover and what to pay
IF you've planned a holiday but scrimped on travel insurance, you could lose thousands of pounds. Travel insurance covers you if something goes wrong on holiday. 4 4 The most common claims are for transport delays, followed by medical costs and lost baggage, according to Holidaymakers put in 574,000 claims in 2023, according to latest figures from the Association of British Insurers, up 59 per cent from 362,000 in 2022. While it might be tempting to get the cheapest cover or avoid buying it altogether, you could end up footing the bill for a holiday nightmare all by yourself. The key is to make sure you get the right cover - otherwise your policy could be useless. MEL HUNTER explains the most common travel insurance mistakes that can trip people up. MISTAKE 1: NOT TAKING IT OUT There are lots of different types of travel insurance, from single trips, annual cover, family trips, holidays in Europe, and more. Costs vary depending on your age, holiday destination, and any medical conditions. A single-trip policy for a 61-70 year old costs £21 on average, but £15 for a 26-34 year old, for example. While a single-trip policy for an adult holidaying in France would be £16, but £43 for Thailand. More than half of holidaymakers have gone away without travel insurance, according to Co-op insurance. But that's an expensive mistake to make, considering the size of payouts dished out. The average medical bill claim was £2,148 last year, according to LV= General Insurance. Around £359 was paid out for lost or damaged luggage, and £1,390 for cancelled holidays. Christian Bennett from insurer said: 'Travel insurance is essential, and it goes far beyond medical cover.' MISTAKE 2: LEAVING IT TOO LATE 4 With suitcases to pack and flights to catch, it's easy to forget about travel insurance. One in four holidaymakers book it on the day they travel, according to consumer body Which? But leaving it until the last minute is a big mistake. You are only protected from the moment you buy your policy. So if your airline or holiday company cancels your trip or someone in your family falls ill before you take out insurance, you won't be covered. Christian said: 'You should get your cover sorted as soon as you book your flight or holiday. 'If you wait until closer to departure to arrange your travel insurance and then find yourself in the unfortunate position of not being able to travel, you may not be able to recover the cost of your trip.' MISTAKE 3: NOT KNOWING THE DETAILS OF YOUR POLICY Read the T&Cs before taking any policy out, so you know what you are covered for. Only a fifth of holidaymakers research their travel insurance properly. But it may come as a surprise to know that water sports, gadgets like laptops and cameras, and even cycling, may not be covered. It can be difficult wading through piles of paperwork, but key things to look out for are cancellation policy, baggage and medical cover, as these are the most common things to go wrong on holiday. Make sure your policy will cover all your costs if you need to claim. A basic policy may only pay out £1,000 per person if you have to cancel your trip, while a higher level might go to £10,000. Baggage cover can range from £1,000 to £3,000. Medical cover usually pays out up to £1 million at least, but it's crucial to read the small print of what it does, or doesn't, cover. MISTAKE 4: GIVING TOO LITTLE DETAIL ABOUT YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY People underestimate the level of medical details they need to give. You should tell your insurer about every visit to a doctor in the past two or three years, along with any chronic conditions or upcoming treatment. Say if you've had cancer, heart attacks or strokes, even if they happened a long time ago. Include if you or someone on the policy is neurodivergent or waiting for an assessment for conditions such as ADHD or autism. Grant Winter from Goodtogo Travel Insurance said: 'Failing to declare pre-existing medical conditions can result in your policy being invalid. 'That means your claim may not be paid in full, or declined completely.' Update your insurer if there's any changes to your health for annual policies. If you are travelling in Europe, you should also get separate GHIC cards for everyone in your family on top of insurance. They cost nothing, and entitle you to medical care at the same cost as someone who lives in the country – which may not be free. MISTAKE 5: NOT HAVING ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO MAKE A CLAIM If you don't have the evidence to back up your claim, it may be rejected. That's why taking pictures, keeping receipts and notes is so important. For luggage, take a picture of all the items you intend to pack, from clothes to perfume. If your luggage goes walkies or items get lost or stolen, you can show you packed them. Photograph important documents like your passport, hotel and flight bookings, medical and insurance documents. Store them online, password protected, in 'the cloud'. That way if your device gets stolen, you'll still have copies. MISTAKE 6: GETTING SINGLE TRIP COVER INSTEAD OF AN ANNUAL POLICY 4 An annual travel insurance policy covers all your trips away for a whole year, and costs £67 on average. A single trip policy just covers individual trips and typically costs £25. It is priced by the number of days you are away. Picking a single trip policy only usually makes sense cost wise if that's the only holiday you take in the year. Alicia Hempsted from MoneySuperMarket said: 'An annual policy tends to be more cost effective if you're going away at least three times a year.' Use a comparison website like MoneySuperMarket or Compare the Market to compare costs for single trip and annual policies. MISTAKE 7: SPENDING TOO LITTLE, OR TOO MUCH While travel insurance may seem like an annoying extra cost to factor in, scrimping could be even more costly. Some 18 per cent of holidaymakers buy the cheapest travel insurance they can find, according to But cheapest doesn't mean best value for money - and there are important checks to make first. Check the provider is covered by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority). This means it has to meet minimum standards, like dealing with claims fairly and promptly. Search its register using your insurance provider's firm reference number (FRN), which should be on its website. Check the reviews for possible insurers. Look at Defaqto ratings, which go from one star for the most basic products to five for the most comprehensive. It could be cheaper booking directly with an insurer instead of through a comparison site. Some insurers, like Direct Line, aren't on comparison sites so contact them directly. These days we travel with a pile of expensive gadgets. But the value of these items can easily exceed the protection offered by most standard travel insurance policies. That means if you lose these items, you may not be covered for the full value. If your laptop, phones, camera and iPads fall outside the per-item limit for baggage cover - around £250 - you'll need extra insurance. A specialist gadget policy may be available as an add-on. It typically adds £10 per person to a single trip policy and £20 per person to annual cover. Alicia said: 'These policies can also cover repairs as well, which would be helpful if you needed to get your phone repaired while you're abroad.' What should you look for in a good travel insurance policy? TRAVEL insurance policies can vary a great deal, but here are some "must haves Medical expenses - A good policy will give cover of £1million or more for travel in Europe and £2million or more for the USA Repatriation service - The costs of getting you back to the UK for medical reasons should be covered automatically by your policy Cancellation and curtailment - A good policy will cover you for £2,000 or more if you have to cancel or shorten your holiday Missed departure - Covers additional accommodation costs and travel expenses up to £500 or more if you miss your flight due to circumstances out of your control Delay - You'll usually be covered for £250 or more if your travel plans are delayed due to circumstances out of your control Baggage cover - Covers you if your baggage is lost, damaged or stolen. Look for policies that have cover of £1,500 or more.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Millions of households told to check broadband deals now as you could get full fibre without paying a penny more
MILLIONS of households have been told to check their broadband deals to see if they can get full fibre without paying a penny more. Around 11million homes across the UK could get full fibre broadband without realising, according to 1 Some of these customers may be eligible for a free upgrade for the super speedy connection. This is because many providers offer free upgrades to full fibre deals to customers - but you have to ask for it first. The internet speed is considered the fastest on the market and uses plastic or glass cables when installed rather than standard copper wire. The government previously set a goal that 85% of homes will have it by this year and it would be rolled out nationwide by 2030. One way to check if you are eligible for fibre broadband is by using online tools such as MoneySuperMarket's fibre broadband checker. Simply put in your postcode and it will show you all the suppliers offering the service. If you notice your provider is on the list and you don't currently have fibre broadband, then it may be worth getting in touch to see if they will offer you an upgrade. Matt Sanders, broadband expert at said customers could get a "better connection for no extra cost". "Even if you're already on fibre, you could find faster speeds for the same price by comparing deals, so it's worth looking into." Matt said customers should note down the key details of their current broadband deal, such as the connection type, speeds you've been promised and what you're paying. "This will make it easier to check if you're getting the service you were sold, and whether you could find a better deal by comparing packages when your contract is up." You can check your broadband speed by using a free broadband speed checker online. offers one and so does Which? You can try it out by searching HOW TO CUT BROADBAND COSTS If you're not happy with what your broadband firm is offering you, shop around for a new deal and switch providers. You can use price comparison websites like Uswitch to find the best deals based on your circumstances. You can also use a deal found on a price comparison site to haggle your existing provider down to a lower price. The regulator Ofcom has a list on its website of all the firms offering social broadband mobile phone tariffs. You can find it via Top tips on how to stay connected Here are some tips from Ofcom on how to improve your Wi-Fi connection and get more out of it: Use your landline or Wi-Fi calls: More people are making calls on their mobile network during the day, so you may find you get a more reliable connection using your landline or by turning on "wifi calling" in your settings. Move your router clear of other devices: Keep your router as far away as possible from other devices, such as cordless phones, baby monitors, TVs and monitors, as they can all affect your Wi-Fi if they're too close to your router. Also, place your router on a table or shelf rather than on the floor, and keep it switched on. Lower the demands on your connection: The more devices attached to your wifi, the lower the speed you get. Devices like tablets and smartphones often work in the background, so try switching wifi reception off on these when you're not using them. Try wired rather than wireless: For the best broadband speeds, use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to your router rather than using Wi-FI. Plug your router directly into your main phone socket: Where possible, try not to use a telephone extension lead, as these can cause interference which could lower your speed. Test the speed on your broadband line: You can run a speed test using Ofcom's official mobile and broadband checker. If possible, carry out tests over a few days and see if there are any changes.
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Daily Mail
The shocking reason 6.6 million plane passengers are denied boarding every year
With the summer holiday season in full swing, new research shows over six million passengers are turned away from flights each year - even if they have a valid ticket. Overbooking occurs when airlines sell more seats than there actually are on a flight, in the hopes a small number of passengers won't show up. But when all passengers do turn up, this means someone gets left behind - and this could be you. According a study by which analysed data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), around 20.9 million people a year have been affected by overbooked flights. Of those, over a third (32 per cent) weren't allowed to board at all - the equivalent of about 6.6 million people every year. When a flight is overbooked, airlines are legally required to provide alternative flights, compensation and assistance to any affected travellers. Among the travellers surveyed, around 84 per cent, who were 'bumped' from flights were able to get rebooked on another - but about one in six weren't so lucky, meaning almost a million people were left with no replacement flight at all. Out of these few passengers, almost two-thirds (71 per cent) said they lost money as a result. However, less than half (44 per cent) decided to claim anything back on their travel insurance. Now, a travel insurance expert at is urging passengers to know their rights in the event they are affected by overbooked flights while travelling this year. Rhys Jones says: 'Flight overbooking happens more than we'd like to think, and it can make for an extremely stressful start to any trip for the passengers affected. 'If it happens to you, and you're not allowed to board a plane, the first thing you should do is confirm with the airline that you were denied boarding because of overbooking. Get this in writing if possible.' He recommends asking how the airline plans to assist you straight away - whether that's booking you on to another flight, covering your costs, or offering compensation. Jones adds: 'Remember to keep all relevant documents like boarding passes, communications from your airline and receipts for accommodation or meal costs. Your airline should compensate these expenses. 'Know that you can complain to your airline if necessary, and even, if it isn't being resolved, take your complaint to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) or an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme.' While standard travel insurance usually doesn't cover overbooking, some policies include optional 'travel disruption' cover, which could help if the airline doesn't sort the issue. Jones says it's worth checking the details of your policy before you fly. It comes as Ryanair has hit back at a couple who vowed they will 'never fly with the airline again' after their decision to not pay extra to reserve seats ended up getting them kicked off the flight. Scott McCormick and his girlfriend, Helena Boshwick, both 33, were set to fly from Birmingham Airport on May 1 to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, for a week-long break and gym mentorship event. The couple chose not to reserve seats - which typically costs between £4.50 and £33 per seat - prior to boarding as they 'didn't mind' sitting apart during the two-hour flight. This can be a gamble, as passengers might not get a seat next to their travel companions - or they could find themselves wedged in between two strangers if they've been assigned a less-desirable middle seat. And, in this case, they were offered two separate flights entirely - as there was only one seat left on the plane they were on.
Edinburgh Live
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Wynne Evans' final BBC show 'won't return' after Strictly scandal
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Wynne Evans, the renowned Go Compare opera singer, has faced another setback as it's been reported that his final show with the BBC has been cancelled. The 53-year-old singer, who was recently dropped from his BBC Wales breakfast radio show amid allegations of inappropriate comments during his stint on Strictly Come Dancing, has been slowly making a comeback to public life. Wynne was removed from the Strictly live tour following an "unacceptable" joke about It Takes Two host Janette Manrara, for which he expressed remorse, stating he was "deeply sorry for the pain my inappropriate actions caused". After a period of "self-reflection" and focusing on his mental health, Wynne has returned to broadcasting with a new radio programme. Yet, it appears his travel series All at Sea, co-hosted with Gavin and Stacey star Joanna Page, will not be getting a second season, reports Wales Online. The show, which aired its six episodes earlier this year, featured the pair as they embarked on a journey along the coast of south Wales, described as: "Old friends Wynne Evans and Joanna Page set sail to explore the coast of south Wales." (Image: BBC/Guy Levy) During their maritime adventure, they aimed to reconnect with the community, take in the stunning landscapes, and pick up sailing skills, stopping at places like Barry Island and Penarth pier. Sources suggest that there are no plans for Wynne and Joanna: All at Sea to make a comeback. An insider shared with The Sun: "Once the first series was slapped on ice, there was always a huge question mark hanging over the prospect of a second outing. "Only now has the BBC publicly confirmed it won't be returning. It means that Wynne has no TV show or radio show with the Beeb, and effectively marks the end of their relationship." (Image: Barn Media Ltd / BBC Cymru Wales) The BBC also confirmed to Edinburgh Live that there are no plans for a second series. Following his appearance on This Morning earlier this month, where he spoke to Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard about the impact the scandal had on him, Wynne found himself in the spotlight. In addition to the alleged crude remark about Janette, Wynne was reportedly accused of joking about a sex toy with Jamie Borthwick in a clip that was allegedly sent to a Strictly group chat. He and his professional partner Katya Jones were also compelled to address a moment captured on live TV where she appeared to move his hand from her waist, with the duo later insisting it was a "joke". "I was at my lowest ebb, I wanted to end my life. I would have if I hadn't been surrounded by people," he recently confessed on This Morning. (Image: PA Wire/PA Images) Overcome with emotion, he remembered telling his girlfriend: "I have to kill myself. I have to because this is what they want. You're full of these thoughts the entire time and it takes over your life." Wynne disclosed that he had been monitored by a crisis team and that his friends and family arranged a schedule to stay with him at all times. Last year, the BBC and BBC Studios issued a statement regarding the show's duty of care, stating it was taken "extremely seriously". (Image: ITV) "We want Strictly to be a positive experience for everyone involved," the statement read. BBC presenter Wynne expressed his devastation after the broadcaster decided not to renew his contract for his radio show. In an emotional Instagram post, he revealed: "It breaks my heart to say the BBC has decided not to renew my contract, so I won't be returning to my radio show. I'm gutted." He continued: "That show wasn't just work - it was home. It was us. We laughed, we cried, we sang like nobody was listening. And somehow, through the airwaves, we became a family."
