Your first property purchase could be your forever home if you’re prepared to renovate or choose an older house
EVERY Saturday, The Consumer Crew are here to solve your problems.
Mel Hunter will take on fighting for consumer's rights, Jane Hamilton will give you the best advice for buying your first home and Judge Rinder will tackle your legal woes.
Jame Hamilton, property expert
HIGH property prices and eye-watering stamp duty and costs mean the days of climbing the property ladder by moving frequently are over for most of us.
Instead, new research from Yorkshire Building Society reveals a third of first-time buyers are shunning flats and starter homes to aim for a detached house – double the figure from ten years ago.
Housing experts say buyers are focused on finding a family home that works in the long term.
Charles Mungroo, from Yorkshire Building Society, said: “It no longer seems to be a first step on the property ladder for many, more the forever home.”
A slower pace of life
THE popularity of Poldark has seen tourists flock to Cornwall, the county where the hit BBC TV drama is filmed. But now house-hunters are following the show, too.
Falmouth was recently named one of the top five places to live in the South West by the Sunday Times.
Top 10 deals
Mel Hunter, Reader's champion
Q) I HAVE been a loyal customer with Three mobile for many years but, recently noticed on my bank statement that I was paying £17.78 each month on top of my phone bill.
I checked back and found out it was for another phone number that I have never had.
This has been going on since 2011, adding up to more than £1,500.
When I phoned Three, the operator agreed with me that the number had never been used and told me her supervisor would call me back.
I’ve never heard any more from the firm, so I called again and was told I could be refunded just £17.
Is there any way I could get all this money back, or have I just got to forget about it?
Mary Fitzgerald, Felixstowe, Suffolk
A) Even if you were willing to write off £1,500, I wasn’t willing to let this go without finding out more.
I got on to Three who, as you are a long-standing customer, agreed to refund you nearly half the cash, £700, which you were happy with.
However, the company does insist that it did nothing wrong.
It told me the charges related to a contract you took out over the phone which had never been cancelled, even though the number itself had not been used.
You can’t remember this, but are happy with Three’s response, which seems a fair compromise.
Q) WE bought a tap in 2016 from Wickes for £145. It was pricey but it came with a ten-year guarantee.
The mixer tap swivelled left and right so water could go into both basins.
But, since the end of 2018, we have experienced three leaks from underneath the tap and had three plumbers in.
All said the tap was working loose due to the left-right motion and that the design was inadequate for its purpose.
We decided to return the tap to Wickes and buy another that would not have the same issues. However, we were told the tap had been discontinued and to contact its head office for a refund.
Wickes told me the washers needed changing, but doing so would invalidate the guarantee. I pointed out that nobody from Wickes had even looked at the tap so how could it be sure, especially given that this would cancel the guarantee and cost us money for yet another plumber.
I’ve spent hundreds of pounds on plumbers and a new tap and feel that the guarantee is worthless.
Julie Hope, Staffs
A) Three independent plumbers said the problem was with the tap’s design, strongly suggesting it was not fit for purpose.
This should have been enough for Wickes to agree to a replacement – but the only course of action it came up with would void your guarantee.
I asked the DIY store to rethink. I’m pleased to say it saw sense and agreed to refund your tap. You also received £55 in Wickes vouchers.
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