About Which? No advertising, no bias, no hidden agenda

Which? launches money helpline

01 February 2010

Consumer champion Which? has launched a free telephone helpline to provide unlimited information, guidance and assistance on any aspect of personal finance for its members.

The service began as a pilot scheme a year ago and is now open five days a week. The helpline is staffed by a team of eight money experts who are qualified up to the same standard as authorised financial advisers working in the financial services industry.
Which? members can call the helpline every weekday between 9am and 5pm and one of the personal finance experts will call them back. There is no limit on the number or length of calls members can make, and they can speak to the same adviser on each call if they wish.
The advisers have already helped over 3,000 members with personal finance issues and have had dozens of successes in enabling them get their voices heard by banks, building societies, insurance companies and even HM Revenue & Customs.

Savings and investments are the two most popular categories for calls, attracting 30% and 15% of calls respectively. Tax, pensions, credit cards, mortgages, banking and debt are also all popular areas.

Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith says:

“The difficult financial climate has highlighted the lack of places to go for truly independent, unbiased, free help and guidance on all aspects of personal finance, and we saw a need to fill this gap for our members with our own money helpline.

“The service has been extremely popular, and we are confident that every one of the people who have so far telephoned the helpline has gone away more knowledgeable and more confident to deal with their money issues, whatever they may be.”

Notes to Editor

Which? is the leading independent consumer champion in the UK. We provide impartial, expert information on products and services in our magazines, books and online to help consumers make more informed choices, and we campaign on issues that matter to all consumers, from food to finances, health to estate agents. For more information on how we can help you, visit www.which.co.uk or www.which.co.uk/campaigns

* All the categories Which? receives calls on are listed below:

  • Savings
  • Investments
  • Tax
  • Pensions
  • Annuities and income in retirement
  • Equity release
  • Mortgages
  • Long-term care
  • Credit cards
  • Personal loans
  • Credit scoring
  • Debt
  • Benefit entitlements
  • Taking and spending money abroad
  • Financial complaints (many of which Which? has taken forward on behalf of members)
  • Protection (life insurance, income protection, critical illness and PPI)
  • General insurance (travel, buildings and car insurance)