Laura Heaps, 36, was denied a mortgage after her advisor said she had a default on her credit file. However, rating agency Equifax had mistakenly put her twin sister's historic debt on her report.

If you are someone who is looking to start the new year by paying off more of their debt, This is Money and its personal finance experts are here to help.

Britons paid back more on their credit cards than they borrowed in November - the first time this has happened in more than six years, according to official figures.

Tandem Bank is scrapping its existing, popular, cashback credit card for a membership deal offering a 1.5 per cent savings rate and a credit card that charges no interest, ever. Is it any good?

A large number of buy now, pay later users do not know the full implications of missing payments while a large chunk don't believe the terms and conditions are clear enough.

Those looking to cheaply clear their debts this January could take advantage of 0% balance transfer cards which charge no fees, provided they are happy to pay their balance off quicker.

Britain's largest banking group, which owns Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, spelled out changes aimed at those in 'persistent debt' for 36 months.

I have triggered a 10,000 point bonus for spending £15,000 on the card - but it says I can't get them until August 2020 and only if I renew. However, I don't want to pay the £140 annual fee for renewing.

Visa's scheme marks the first time all the UK's banks will pay small stores to offer cashback. Beccy Soper (pictured), of Beccy's Greengrocers in Stockbridge, Hampshire, said: 'It's a win-win'.

In an unusual case, four decades of sticking with Lloyds Bank was the main reason behind a Hertfordshire man obtaining a £12,000 mis-sold PPI payout.

The Financial Conduct Authority has told banks to help customers get out of debt, amid concerns of a potential wave of credit cards being scrapped under new rules.

UCAS will stop sending out emails advertising private student loan provider Future Finance, the student charity announced today, following a backlash over the promotions

Buy now, pay later has become the way for the younger generation to pay. Is it a dangerous form of credit or a useful way for shoppers to pay flexibly?

A shopper who used buy now, pay later service Klarna to pay for a £199 vacuum cleaner in three 'interest-free' instalments was left confused after he was charged an extra 4.5%.

Credit card customers of high street bank Halifax have reportedly been hit by charges when trying to make Klarna repayments, the buy now, pay later firm said.

The white plastic-looking 'K ring' (pictured) - which also comes in black costs £99.99. It is both waterproof and scratch-resistant and can be used to make contactless purchases.

People applying for credit cards with two major UK lenders have to roll the dice to check if they will be accepted, putting their credit score at risk in the process.

Many of us know that having a good credit score is key to getting accepted for the cheapest cards, loans and mortgages but many still believe in common credit score myths.

Payment providers across the UK have upped their contactless payment limits from £30 to £45 in an effort to help customers cut down on cash usage. 

The Foreign Office has now advised against all overseas travel, it's likely cancelling holidays is further up people's priorities than booking new ones - so what can air miles be spent on?

The UK economy is built on spending, often fuelled by debt - credit cards, personal loans, car finance. We don't want to shrink it, only keep it manageable; and keep the Jenga tower from falling.

The FCA today brought in measures which offer consumers struggling with their finances bigger fee-free overdrafts and the ability to freeze credit and loan repayments for three months.

Barclaycard, Sainsbury's Bank and Tesco Bank have cut interest-free deals over the last month, some of which are the best around, as lenders evaluate their offers amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Neil Seagrave, 35, from Dorset, tried to transfer his credit card balance to HSBC at the start of March before his zero-interest term with Sainsbury's Bank expired, but this was not resolved until April.

The Bank of England's latest credit conditions survey revealed lenders believe the availability of household unsecured credit will decrease between April and June amid coronavirus.

Next to a picture on social media app Snapchat of Ryan Reynolds teasing news about upcoming superhero film Deadpool 3, is a 'sponsored' post with its own teaser: that you can write off debt.

The Financial Conduct Authority said many were encouraged by the publicity blitz it launched in the summer of 2019 to warn consumers that they had limited time left to make a complaint.

The UK arm of Santander revealed its pre-tax profit fell 58 per cent to £114million in the first three months of 2020.

Banks and credit card providers may levy fees on refunds as well as purchases, meaning a double whammy of charges on trips hit by coronavirus.

Households paid back a whopping £3.8bn more than they borrowed in March, the biggest figure on record, as households shunned their credit cards in the face of the coronavirus crisis.

Newcomers to American Express now have more time to rack up points bonuses for their credit card spending, with the card provider doubling the length of some of its welcome offers.

Customers of Virgin Money rounded on the bank after it suspended their credit cards, despite many of them not struggling with their repayments and clearing their balance in full.

Are you investing in the things that will help make the future that you want possible? Maybe it is something that we should all at least consider.

It’s so easy to come up with stories to tell ourselves to justify spending money. So I’ve started building up an armoury of reverse arguments to tell myself to help save.

A government needs to be able to be nimble, to cut spending where necessary and to raise money should it require.

Interest on tuition fees is now more expensive than some commercial loans. Here are four more reasons why this isn't fair on this cohort of graduates.

Guess what has experienced inflation ten times higher than house prices, gold, petrol or even a pint of beer in central London? Directory enquiries.

Here are around six phone calls every year that almost every household needs to make if they don’t want their outgoings to suddenly balloon.

Party manifestos are not exactly known for their jokes. But as I trawled through them all over the past few days there were two lines that at least made me snigger.

So how can we possibly plan our finances at a time of such uncertainty and disagreement about what is next to come for British households? I think there are a bunch of things we all can do to prepare.

Of course there are economic arguments to make when considering the value of a degree. But they don't cover the half of it.

Filling out a simple application form can feel like running a gauntlet of spam. One wrong move and you could be pelted with ‘special offers’, junk mail and interrupting text messages for eternity.

With about three clicks of the mouse I have just transferred another free £20 into my bank account. A welcome boost. In total I have accumulated £240 – and it’s taken next to no effort on my part at all.

With about three clicks of the mouse I have just transferred another free £20 into my bank account. A welcome boost.

I’m all for being thorough, but the sooner redress is given the better chance there is of getting those who are mistreated back to the position they would have been in.

Economics and comedy. Not a conventional pairing.But after spending a weekend at the world’s first economics and comedy festival, I can tell you they’re a match made in heaven.

What about saving a few hundred - or even thousand - pounds right at the beginning of the year? You’ll improve your bank balance and turboboost your resolution.

Walking down the high street with friends on Saturday, we heard an elderly gentleman at a cash machine shout: ‘My card! They’ve taken my card!’

Navy Retired, in Merseyside says: ‘If you are a British Gas customer, you might as well put £200 - 300 down the nearest drain. Switch - it is so easy.’ I think he or she is bang on the money.

I've been monitoring an online sale for over a year now and it never reverts back to its standard price. I've been taking screen grabs and now it's time to fight back.