Blog Posts
Gift Card Scams: How they work and how you can prevent them
Gift cards are a convenient way to give but they’ve also become a target for scammers, particularly so in the run up to Christmas. From tampered cards on shop racks to sophisticated online bots, fraudsters are finding new ways to drain gift card balances before...
10 Ways to Spot and Avoid AI Scams
Scammers have always relied on creating a sense of trust, urgency or panic. However artificial intelligence is now giving them a powerful new tool and is making scams harder to spot. AI can now produce convincing emails, messages and social media posts, mimic the tone...
AI Complaints: Is Artificial Intelligence Making Your Complaint Better – or Just Longer?
Artificial intelligence can be a fabulous tool when you are trying to make a complaint. It can help you work out where to start, organise a muddle of emails and correspondence, identify information you may have missed and even turn a muddle of dates and conversations...
How to use AI to make a complaint- and the mistakes to avoid
AI can be a surprisingly useful tool in the consumer world when something goes wrong but only if you use it carefully. Here’s how to use AI to make a a complaint and what mistakes you need to avoid. We’ve all been there. Something goes wrong with a holiday, a...
9/11 memories and reflections of a day that changed aviation forever
On Tuesday 11th September 2001, the world watched in horror as the World Trade Centre Twin Towers crumbled after being struck by hijacked passenger jets. Twenty five years after 9/11 the pain, grief, shock and disbelief are more acute than ever. On the anniversary of...
Who is Consumer Champion and Consumer Expert Jane Hawkes?
Who is Consumer Champion and Consumer Expert Jane Hawkes? How can she help you? I'm often asked what I do, how I help customers with consumer issues and how I support companies to deliver the very best customer service. Thought having my bio and testimonials in one...
Lost luggage, broken suitcases… or a snake? My guide to dealing with holiday baggage issues
There are few things more frustrating than standing beside the baggage carousel watching suitcase after suitcase appear while yours seems to have vanished into thin air. Even worse is finally getting your luggage back only to discover that your suitcase has been...
Missing parcel after holiday? What to do and how to track it down
Have you returned home from holiday to discover a parcel you were expecting has disappeared? Coming home from holiday should be exciting but discovering that a parcel you were expecting is nowhere to be found can quickly take the shine off your return. Perhaps the...
How to Contact Evri: Lost Parcels, Delayed Deliveries & Complaints
Are you trying to get a refund from Evri? Has your parcel been lost or delayed? As a consumer champion, I hear from people every day who are frustrated by delivery problems and struggling to get the answers they need. The good news is that Evri does have several ways...
12 Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Car Abroad
Hiring a car can be one of the best ways to explore your holiday destination, giving you the freedom to venture beyond the tourist hotspots. However, what looks like a bargain online can quickly become an expensive headache if you're not aware of the hidden traps. As...
10 Must-Dos Before You Go on Holiday
You've booked the flights, packed the suitcase and started counting down the days until you switch on your out of office. However before you head to the airport, taking just a few minutes to work through a simple holiday travel checklist could save you time, money and...
How to cheat the chatbots and get through to a real person
We’ve all been there. Kept on endless hold, going backwards and forwards speaking to different people at different times and after all that effort, no progress made whatsoever. That’s if we actually manage to get through in the first place. Post pandemic chaos at the...
New Buy Now, Pay Later Rules: What You Need to Know
Buy Now, Pay Later has become part of everyday shopping. Whether you're buying clothes, technology, furniture or even booking travel, it's now one of the first payment options we're offered at the checkout. The problem? Many of us don't think of it as borrowing....
Will My Summer Holiday Be Cancelled? Here’s What You Need To Know
If you're counting down the days until your summer holiday, you may have found yourself asking the question that's dominating headlines 'Will my summer holiday be cancelled?' I recently took part in a special Dispatches programme which took a deep dive in to finding...
How to contact British Airways (UPDATED!)
Are you still waiting for a refund from British Airways? Do you need to make changes to your booking? Are you fed up of waiting hours on hold to get through to customer service? You're not alone. Customer complaints about the difficulty in contacting British Airways...
Easy Ways to Save Money on Family Days Out This Summer
School holidays are all about making memories, but they don't have to come with a hefty price tag. Whether you're planning a trip to a theme park, the seaside or simply looking for ways to keep the children entertained closer to home, a little planning can go a long...
7 ways to avoid airline baggage fees and save money this summer
Airline baggage fees have become one of the biggest hidden costs of travel. With budget airlines charging as much as £50 or more each way for checked luggage, many travellers are searching for clever ways to avoid extra fees and keep holiday costs down. From posting...
How to complain effectively if you fall ill on holiday abroad
If you fall ill on holiday abroad, your dream trip can rapidly become a nightmare experience. I recently spoke on BBC Breakfast about consumer rights in exactly this situation and one message stood out above all, timing is everything. If you act quickly and...
Travel chaos and your rights: Airline and Airport Strikes
Every peak travel period seems to bring a fresh wave of disruption and this Easter is no exception. With strikes affecting airlines and airports across Europe, many people are asking the same question: If things go wrong, who actually has to sort it out and who pays...
Flight Delays and Cancellations Compensation and Refunds
Flight delays are one of the most common travel frustrations, caused by a variety of factors such as technical issues, crew shortages, strikes or adverse weather conditions. While some causes are outside the airline’s control, others are directly their responsibility...
Packing Tips: How to travel with hand luggage only this summer
In 2024, over one-fifth of passengers paid excess baggage charges at airports. These fees can range from £12 per kilogram over the allowance on short-haul flights to around £18 per kilogram on long-haul journeys. For a family of four carrying just a few extra kilos,...