For 2024, Aldi was crowned the UK’s cheapest supermarket of the year, after beating out its competition for 12 months straight. 

However, this year another supermarket is keen to steal the crown (kind of).

Asda has just unveiled its new Rollback initiative which will see the prices of more than 4,000 family-favourite products reduced by an average discount of 25% in-store and online.

The discounts cover all product categories, as well as Asda Express stores, and include own-label items such as Asda Green Grapes 500g (was £2.00 now £1.48) and Asda Thin Cut Beef Steaks 400g (was £4.80 now £3.88), as well as branded lines like Birds Eye BBQ Chicken Grills 520g (was £5.65 now £2.82) and Andrex Toilet Tissue Quilts 9 pack (was £6,50 now £4.47).

Asda claims this isn’t a short-term deal for shoppers, and thousands more products will be added to Rollback at regular intervals throughout the year.

And once the initial Rollback period is over, products will move on to a new ‘Asda Price’ which is guaranteed to be lower than the pre-Rollback price. The aim is to move Asda’s entire range to a new low ‘Asda Price’ by the end of 2026.

Asda’s Executive Chairman, Allan Leighton, has revealed that this is all part of a mission to ‘make Asda the cheapest traditional supermarket’ in the UK.

This means they plan to have lower prices than the likes of Tesco and Sainsbury’s, which are also considered to be ‘traditional’ supermarkets, as they sell a wider range of products across own-brand and branded ranges, as well as offering services like online delivery, clothing, and fuel.

Discount supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl are a little different, as they stock a smaller number of products and don’t offer all of the same services. As such, Asda says they aren’t able to accurately compare all of their deals against them.

However, the retailer did confirm that there will be certain instances where the new Asda Rollback prices are cheaper than that at Aldi.

For example, from the offers just announced, Asda Sweet Potatoes (1kg) will be rolled back to 98p, but cost £1.19 at Aldi, while Asda Mini Fillets Chicken Breasts (400g) are going to cost £2.97 in Rollback price, but are £3.15 at Aldi, and 240 Yorkshire Tea Bags are £5.48 at Asda, compared to £5.49 at Aldi.

This comes after Asda recently announced its Aldi and Lidl Price Match scheme had come to an end.

The scheme launched in January 2024, and saw customers saving an average of 17% on products like cheese, tea bags, fruit and veg.

Price Match ended to make way for the new Rollback prices, which have been introduced and will be running for up to 12 weeks. 

Aldi, unsurprisingly, had a very cheeky response to the change, sharing an amusing post on social media. Posting a screenshot of Asda’s website, the @AldiUK account captioned the image writing: ‘POV: You get dumped over text @asda.’

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Martin Lewis has issued an urgent warning over a ‘quick and easy’ online checkout option that might not be as secure as it seems. 

The Money Saving Expert founder took to social media platform X to share a word of caution over the ‘pay by bank app’ feature now available at many retailers.

While the payment method – which requires users to open their banking app to approve the transaction, might be faster than inputting their card details – Martin claimed it offers ‘little protection’. 

He explained: ‘It’s on the likes of Just Eat and Ryanair. You don’t give card details, just pick your bank, and log into the app (via biometrics) then it’s done.’

A variety of banks and card companies, including Barclays, Mastercard and Santander, allow customers to use the pay by bank app option, with merchants from Funky Pigeon to Caffe Nero signed up as retail partners. 

However, the finance guru highlights that these transactions are registered as bank transfers rather than card payments, meaning customers ‘don’t get the same refund rights like chargeback or Section 75 if something goes wrong’.

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 protects consumers who use a credit card to make purchases, while chargebacks allow customers to ask their bank to refund payments for services or goods bought on a debit card. 

Martin claimed it’s ‘no biggie’ to use the tool for small purchases, but urged: ‘Beware with big important transactions’.

In the X thread, a few commenters pointed out that HMRC takes payment this way, although he replied: ‘I’d be less worried about that (as long as it’s the real HMRC) as that’s something you may pay by bank transfer anyway (and this is just one of those) and not something you’d get “purchase protection” on.’

He also hinted that there would be ‘more coming’ about the payment option on Money Saving Expert soon. 

It follows MSE offering advice to the UK’s 36.2 million credit card holders, with Martin calling minimum payments an ‘evil genius’ technique by lenders.

Claiming minimum payments could spell ‘danger’ for your finances, he added: ‘They’re designed to keep you in debt for decades, as you repay a percentage of what you owe, so payments reduce with the debt.’

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Taking the family abroad can get expensive when you’re limited to school holidays — but Martin Lewis has a nifty way to beat the peak-time price hikes.

In the latest edition of his Money Saving Expert (MSE) newsletter, the personal finance guru shared tips to save money on travel, with one in particular that’ll appeal to UK parents.

It’s all about working around term times in different areas, so will depend on where you’re based. First off, check when holidays start for you via your local authority’s website.

‘Most schools in England and Wales break up around July 23,’ Martin writes.

‘So book for before then if your school finishes sooner, eg, many in Leicestershire break up over a week earlier this summer.’

If you don’t fall into category though, don’t worry: holidaymakers in England can make the most of Scottish summer break, and vice versa.

Explaining the ‘Scottish trick’, which he says is especially good for those in northern England or northern Wales, Martin says: ‘Fly from Scotland in the last two weeks of August, even if you don’t live there.

‘As Scottish schools generally return around Aug 13, you can make big savings by flying the family out from Scotland instead.’

When the MSE team went looking for deals, they found the exact same late August holiday to Dalaman £151 per person cheaper when flying from Edinburgh rather than Manchester.

And it works in reverse too.

If you’re in Scotland, look to fly from England in late June or early July, before schools break up. According to MSE’s research, going from Liverpool instead of Glasgow cut the cost of a three-star all-inclusive week in Majorca from £1,155 per person to £569pp.

Don’t forget to factor in the cost of travel to and from the airport, as well as the price of a hotel (which may be necessary depending on your flight time and how far away you are).

It can also make sense to look into other countries’ holiday dates so you don’t pay over the odds.

‘For example, book Disney World when many US kids are back at school in late August,’ says Martin. ‘A week’s family Disney stay was £223 cheaper than in late July.’

But even if you can’t wangle any of these dates, he advises waiting until the end of the summer to get the best deals.

Martin adds: ‘If you can, don’t jump to go at the start of the holidays. Hold off, then jet off in the last two weeks of summer, as prices drop rapidly at the end of August – likely because most people want to go as soon as possible.’

With savings of £180 per person for a week in the Balearics, good things really do come to those who wait.

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In January 2024, Asda became the first UK supermarket to price match both Aldi and Lidl across hundreds of everyday items.

As a result of lowering prices, the retailer claimed customers would save an average of 17% on products like cheese, tea bags, fruit, vegetables, chicken and fish, and get ‘the most from their budget’.

However, flashforward to today and just 12 months later the Asda Price Match scheme has been axed. 

A message was shared on the supermarket’s website informing shoppers of the change, which read: ‘Our Aldi Lidl Price Match has now finished, but don’t worry, we’ve got plenty of special offers across our entire groceries range.’

Aldi was quick to share its thoughts on the matter, taking to social media to post a cheeky response, in true Aldi fashion. 

Sharing a screenshot of Asda’s website, the @AldiUK account captioned the image writing: ‘POV: You get dumped over text @asda.’ 

Hundreds of people have liked the post on X and Facebook, with some joining in on the joke. @JoFFC1876 replying: ‘I hope you and @LidlGB are supporting each other at this difficult time.’

Similarly, @KevinKenny3166 posted: ‘Not even a phone call, that’s just rude. Never mind Sainsbury’s still matches your prices.’

‘Maybe you could go on Love Iceland,’ jabbed @Matt_Aspden, as @Scousebird shared a broken heart emoji, saying: ‘And just before Valentine’s Day?’

And Taryn Whipp said: ’You mean they will never walk you down the middle aisle? Oh Aldi UK it was definitely them not you!’ 

While many found the situation amusing, there were some who were disappointed about Asda’s change to discounts, branding it a ‘shame’. 

But before you panic, it seems that the retailer isn’t planning to just revert back to all of its old prices just yet. Instead, it’s gearing up to launch a new Rollback campaign, and according to an Asda employee on Facebook, the new Rollback prices will be ‘lower across the whole store’.

This comes after an Asda spokesperson told The Grocer, the focus now is on ‘great Asda prices, not competitor comparisons’. 

They added: ‘We’ve started 2025 as we mean to go on by cutting prices on thousands of products and there’s much more to come with Rollback.’

Full details of the new Rollback campaign have yet to be confirmed, but are expected to be revealed very soon.

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When viewing a property for the first time, you might be focusing your attention on the interiors and looking for any glaring issues that could cost you down the line.

But as soon as you enter, you might want to focus your attention on the front door itself as one flat number is associated with a specific ‘curse.’

Have you ever lived in flat number one? If so, you might have had more visitors than you anticipated, accommodating various deliveries and lost Deliveroo drivers. Who needs a concierge when you could just press the first buzzer?

Since buying a flat after years of renting, this has been the experience of one disgruntled Redditor – who would have thought twice had they known the perils.

‘When you live in flat one of a block you effectively become the concierge,‘ yojimbo_beta penned in the r/HousingUK thread.

‘Any time a postman, Amazon driver, Deliveroo courier, canvasser etc can’t get hold of flat two, they will see your flat one doorbell and smash that button like you’re their personal helper.

‘It never occurs to them, never, to try anyone else. You are going to be buzzed several times a day, have people peek through your windows, and basically [be] asked to drop everything to solve whatever their problem is.

‘Disconnecting the buzzer helps a little but there’s still a lot of footfall, intrusion, [and] people treating you as the backup for all neighbour-related tasks. I’d definitely think twice next time.’

They weren’t alone in their experience. For @minimumof6, someone on the top floor of their building runs an Airbnb.

‘Their code for their key safe is 1999…can you guess how many guests have no idea what an intercom is and enter this code into the intercom, subsequently buzzing us?’ she wrote.

‘About six in 10 people. I’m permanently WFH so I made a note. I had to ask them to remove the one from the code.’

Meanwhile, @Original_Nothing_787 used to live on the top floor of a block of flats. After the delivery drivers realised that they worked from home and were subsequently in ‘all the time,’ they became the go-to parcel people.

‘They ended up ringing us every day instead of the flats they actually had mail for…was frustrating at least,’ they penned. ‘Never let anyone know you’re home during the day.’

@FootballBackground88 used to live in a block of flats where the road address was 88, and so everyone’s address was ‘Flat X, 88 Y Road.’ It caused such a nuisance that flat 88 ‘had a notice on the door as they were harassed so frequently.’

However, while it might be frustrating constantly being treated like the concierge, there’s more value to living at number one than initially meets the eye.

As per one previous study from Rightmove, this number actually has the highest valuation at an average of £393,690.

It’s not such good news for number 13 though, which has the lowest average property value at £354,793 – a difference of 11%.

For superstitious reasons, number 13 has the lowest average property value of them all at £354,793 – £5,333 lower than the average across the study of £360,126.

For this reason, there are almost double the number of houses number 14 than 13 across the UK, with many streets choosing to skip the notoriously ‘unlucky’ number.

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From that regular Sunday roast to our favourite Indian takeaway, you might think that Britons are creatures of habit.

However, research carried out by Smart Energy GB† showed that we’re actually a nation that’s happy to switch it up for a positive outcome. 

And with energy prices remaining high, 64 per cent of Britons are changing their routines and becoming more flexible to save money, with 56 per cent specifically looking to save energy.

An impressive 40 per cent of Britons have adapted their daily routines in the past year. Almost a quarter say they consider the time of day when doing high energy-consuming tasks, and 70 per cent have changed the way they plan their meals by doing more batch cooking.

Unsurprisingly, a majority do so to save money and energy, but many people were also happy to find that adapting their routines helped them to be more efficient and save time.

Playing smart

Consumer finance expert and TV presenter Steph McGovern has been working with Smart Energy GB to explore how much energy and money can be saved at home, and just how easy it can be.

Energy reward schemes can suit our changing schedules and help us save money on bills. These flexible schemes can be easily accessed by households with a smart meter, and are designed to help reward customers for using energy at different times of the day.

They’re offered by many energy providers and encourage households to shift their energy usage away from peak hours, either by rewarding them for using less energy when demand is very high or by offering cheaper energy when demand is lower.

If you have a smart meter installed, the financial benefit is clear, with many households believing they save up to £140 in a year by having one in their home.

‘I always want to make sure that I’m helping people make their money work harder for them, and it’s something I’m conscious of implementing in my own life too,’ said Steph. 

‘It can be easy to put off these admin jobs like getting a smart meter, but it’s clear that by opening up access to reward schemes, there is a whole world of opportunities for saving.’

Six ways to save

If you’re looking to join the flexible Britons who are switching up their routines to enjoy energy savings, here are some key changes that Steph suggests so you can enjoy keeping more of that hard-earned money in your account. 

1. Get a smart meter

Your smart meter display shows you how much energy your household uses in near-real time. Checking it regularly is a quick and easy way to track usage, identify power-hungry appliances and stay on top of your bills.

2. Sign up for a reward scheme

With a smart meter, you could be eligible to sign up for a reward scheme from your energy supplier and benefit from extra savings. They will alert you when you can take part, so you can move your energy-intensive chores to a different time.

Nearly nine in ten (87 per cent) of people who are taking part in an energy reward scheme say they are saving money on their bills.

3. Batch cook

Appliances like ovens can use up a lot of energy. Batch cooking food together, when you have the oven on, means you can minimise usage and reduce energy consumption.

4. Time your laundry

Most washing machines these days come with built-in timers. If you’re taking part in an energy reward scheme, you can easily load up the machine and set it to start operating only when cheaper, off-peak energy rates come into effect.

In fact, nearly half of Britons say they are open to being more flexible when it comes to when they do their laundry.

5. Use more efficient appliances

It might be time for an upgrade. Older machines are usually less efficient and consume more energy. If an old appliance has come to the end of its life, check the energy efficiency rating of any replacements and choose the most efficient you can. The extra investment will soon pay for itself.

6. Remember to adjust your heating

It’s surprising how quickly the little things can add up! Make sure you turn the heating down or even off when you’re not going to be at home.

Timer devices can help with this or, if you have a smart home set-up, you can easily control your heating – and even lighting and appliances – flexibly from wherever you are.

Want to keep a closer eye on your usage? Get a smart meter today!*

Here’s how we save

Steph visited two households to learn about their strategies for saving energy and reducing monthly bills. 

Michael and Johnny from London, save on their bills and get rewards and vouchers for using energy more flexibly. 

‘It’s super easy and straightforward,’ Michael explained. ‘We get a notification via the app, I’ll put it in our diary to say electricity is going to be cheaper at this time, and then we’ll know to plan around it.’

‘We were already tracking our energy usage with our smart meter display,’ added Johnny. ‘But now we know when to spend and when to save. When we get the notification, it’s ‘go time’; we charge the car, put the dishwasher on and do some batch baking. We just run the house so much more efficiently.’

Steph also met housemates Felicia and Naiema, also from London, who are reward scheme converts.

Felicia wished she had found out about them earlier. ‘I would have been the first person to sign up. I’m a discount queen!’ she said. 

Naiema added: ‘We already do things to save energy, like making sure wash loads are full and cooking together, but we could definitely be more flexible and take advantage of a reward scheme.’

Find more money-saving tips at SmartEnergyGB.org

†Research conducted by OnePoll across 2,000 UK adults, December 2024.

*Eligibility may vary. Consumer action required.

Buying (or selling) a home can be an arduous process – but what happens if you uncover a nasty secret after securing your dream property?

We’re not talking about damp, mould or subsidence here, but paranormal activity. And while many might not believe in ghosts, Reddit is inundated with posts from new homeowners who have accidentally moved into a haunted house.

The fiancé of one first-time buyer had a number of spooky experiences while renovating their home a few doors down from a graveyard. They were never warned about any unsettled spirits by the previous owners.

‘He was coming up the basement stairs three months ago and felt a strong presence behind him. He went to go book it up the stairs and the lights shut off on him,’ @winteralexandria’s post in the r/Paranormal subreddit reads.

‘He turns around while at the top of the steps and from the lights in another room of the basement he saw two shadow figures at the bottom of the steps peeking around the corner.’

Elsewhere, the fridge would often be ‘open and dinging’ whenever he arrived at the house – and a 6ft ladder was moved from one room to the other.

‘He was in the basement and clear as day heard someone walking upstairs, heavy footsteps. He went up and the house is empty,’ the post added.

Meanwhile, @Litalonely rented a house that was so spooky they couldn’t use the entire third floor, which was comprised of three bedrooms, two living rooms, and a bathroom.

‘Whatever is in my home is ruining our lives and I have smudged it many times. It worked once a few months ago, and now whatever it is, [it] doesn’t care how long I smudge and chant for,’ they wrote.

‘Four hours of drowning the place in sage and cedar while commanding it to leave did not work.

‘When my partner has stayed up there, things get bad with him. Whatever it is, [it] steps in and basically possesses him. It happened to my brother as well when he lived here.’

And last week, Adele was accused of jeopardising the sale of a £6,000,000 mansion she lived in back in 2012 for publicly alluding to it being haunted.

The current owners of the Grade II-listed Lock House in Partridge Green, West Sussex have now submitted a planning permission request to convert the 10-bedroom property into three residential units.

As per reports from the BBC, they remarked that Adele’s comments during an interview had impeded the selling process, as well as ‘future marketing efforts.’

Do you have a right to know if your new home is haunted?

So, with all this in mind, do homeowners legally have to disclose a property being haunted to buyers? In short, no – unless the new buyers end up feeling misled and decide to take legal action.

‘When it comes to selling a potentially haunted house it’s somewhat of a grey area with regard to disclosing such information and the law does not compel you to disclose if a property is haunted, unlike a physical issue such as a structural default,’ CEO of Yopa, Verona Frankish, tells Metro.

‘That said, as a seller, you must also ensure you don’t lie about the history of the property if a buyer asks you a direct question, but this largely puts the ball in the buyer’s court to fully investigate the property and any potential issues it might have.’

Naturally, though, not everyone believes in ghosts – and as Verona says, it ‘really rests on whether you believe in the paranormal or not and, perhaps most importantly, the buyer.’

‘If the buyer feels they’ve been misled it could lead to a case of non-disclosure under the Misdescriptions Act of 1991, however, they would need to be able to prove in a court of law that the house is haunted,’ Verona adds.

‘Despite the fact that it is incredibly hard to prove, a property with a reputation for being haunted can go for as much as 10% to 25% below market value – that’s between £29,000 to £72,000 based on the current average UK house price.’

4 of Britain’s most haunted homes

30 East Drive in Pontefract

Number 30 East Drive in Pontefract, West Yorkshire is an unsuspecting semi-detached house — but upon entering you may discover it’s home to Europe’s most violent poltergeist.

Horror fans from all over the UK have been flocking to stay in the three-bedroom property, which has been dubbed ‘Britain’s most haunted’ home, spending just £75 per night to see if it is as haunted as the claims suggest.

The strange happenings started in 1966 when Jean and Joe Pritchard moved into the home with their two children Phillip, then 15, and Diane, then 12.

The family then claimed to have experienced years of unexplainable events such as lights being turned on and off, green foam appearing from tops and photographs being slashed.

They said the happenings got progressively more violent as family members were slapped and shoved down the stairs.

The Stag Inn, Hastings

Perhaps the oldest public house in Hastings, East Sussex, The Stag Inn dates back to the 1500s – and was connected to smugglers in the 1700s.

Ghosts are discussed matter-of-factly on the pub’s website, where they admit to a few familiar (if translucent) faces: a sea captain from Holland murdered by a local fisherman, and a horror movie-esque young girl dressed in all white.

‘The back bedroom gives you goosebumps,’ the staff add. ‘Most who have used the room have felt a presence.’

Even more weirdly, there are two old, mummified cats at the bar. They’ve been on site since the 1800s, or so the stories say, apparently used to fend off evil spirits.

Blickling Hall, Norfolk

This Aylsham, Norfolk country home is the residence of the UK’s most famous headless ghost: Anne Boleyn.

Apparently, the beheaded former wife of Henry VIII haunts to corridors of her family home (she was born on Blickling’s 5,000-acre estate) every year on the day of her execution: May 19.

Anne isn’t the only Boleyn to haunt the halls. Some have reported sightings of her father Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire’s ghost.

Littledean Hall, Gloucestershire

Noted as one of the most ‘haunted’ houses in England, Littledean Hall was built in the 5th century. Originally a Saxon hall, it was later remodelled from a church and then into a Norman hall.

That said, there are supposedly some ghostly tenants here who don’t appear to have moved out.

Perhaps the most famous apparition is that of a little boy, whose portrait still hangs on the wall.

In the 1950s, one visitor recalled a terrible night of sleep on account of the flickering lights out on the landing – where another saw the boy running across the room, only to find just his portrait upon arriving.

Meanwhile, other experiences at Littledean Hall include hearing horses’ hooves in empty stables, as well as multiple experiences of vertigo on one of the staircases where a previous owner fell, and ghostly bloodstains in front of the fireplace.

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First, it’s a coffee shop, and then it’s a miniature craft ale brewery. Once you see these little signs, you might conclude that the bang average London area you call home is now officially ‘on the up.’

It’s something of a double-edged sword, as gentrification can unfairly price locals out or lead to homogenous property developments and high streets.

On the other hand, spotting these neighbourhoods early allows cash-strapped househunters to find somewhere affordable, while an influx of interest can boost the local economy.

Whichever side you’re on, it makes sense to stay ahead of the curve. So where can we expect to see the next Hackney or Brixton-level transformation?

On an impassioned Reddit threat about gentrification in the capital, some claimed Tottenham as the latest target of ‘the Gail’s and Ole + Steen crowd’, while others name-checked Woolwich, Thamesmead, Forest Gate and East Ham.

To find out more, Metro chatted to property expert Sue Iluc, founder of Courtyard Holiday Apartments and self-described ‘designer holiday let lady’, about the areas in the capital she thinks are heading this way in 2025.

Woolwich

Average house price: £407,866

As soon as it was announced that the Elizabeth Line would be coming to Woolwich, countless new crowds started to reconsider this often written off suburb of South East London.

Its distance from the city centre might’ve put people off – being more than 5 miles east of central London – but now, it’s just 25 minutes to Paddington and half an hour to Tottenham Court Road. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

There’s bags of culture in Woolwich – and it’s the natural home of Arsenal fans, being the founding location of the football club (as followers of north London rival, Tottenham Hotspur, love to point out) with its namesake coming from the Royal Arsenal, an armaments factory.

It’s not just sporting history though, as there are plenty of local coffee shops to enjoy both a community vibe and a tasty cuppa, including House of Denna, Chealsons Coffee and Busy Brewing.

Plus, there are stunning views of the River Thames – from a point further down the stream which you might not be so used to.

‘Crossrail has made getting into the city so much quicker, which has brought more attention to the area,’ Sue tells Metro.

‘But there’s more to Woolwich than convenience — there’s been serious investment in the town centre, creating a livelier, more connected community.

‘You’ll find everything from riverside apartments to charming period homes, offering something for everyone.’

Croydon

Average house price: £392,333

Characterised by bright green trams, Boxpark and a massive Ikea, in January 2024, Croydon was crowned the most affordable location for househunters in London, with research from Zoopla indicating that you can get on the ladder for as little as £76,000 in a shared-ownership home.

And so, it’s little surprise that it’s looking like one to watch in the London property world.

Data from Rightmove reveals that, over the last year, the average selling price for properties in Croydon was £392,333 – considerably cheaper than the typical London house, which now rests at a whopping £686,817.

Along these lines, it seems Croydon is beloved by many for being well-connected to central London, as well as its cultural hotspots including Surrey Street Market and Matthew’s Yard.

There’s no shortage of green space either, offering up Wandle Park, Lloyd Park and Addington Hills.

‘It’s shedding its old image as just a commuter hub, with tech start-ups and creative businesses breathing new life into the area,’ Sue explains. ‘On top of that, there are big plans to overhaul the town centre, making it more attractive to people looking for a mix of affordability and city access.’

Barking and Dagenham

Average property price: £387,184

In the middle of the 19th century, Barking was actually Britain’s most important fishing port. And in 2021, the nation’s biggest wholesale fish market, Billingsgate, was confirmed to be moving in alongside New Smithfields and Spitalfields.

Arguably, the relocation of these iconic markets has spearheaded a total transformation of the area, alongside the addition of a new community at Barking Riverside, the Uber Boat by Thames Clippers pier, and the opening of a new Overground station in 2022.

Barking’s pre-existing connectivity is also excellent, with District and Hammersmith & City lines, c2c and Overground services, and Cycle Superhighway 3.

‘With lower property prices and a wave of regeneration linked to the Thames Estuary projects, it’s drawing attention from first-time buyers and investors alike,’ Sue says.

‘Transport links are improving, and the area’s focus on community-driven initiatives makes it a compelling option for renters as well.’

This article was first published on January 13, 2025.

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Staring at my blank computer screen, I waited anxiously for it to come back to life.

Around 45 minutes earlier I’d had a phone call from someone to say that my PC was compromised and that I needed to act urgently.

Not being the most tech-savvy person, I believed the caller and allowed them to take control of my computer. And then the screen went dark.

She assured me this was a normal part of the process while they installed a protection plan on my system and I didn’t think I had any reason not to trust her.

Sure enough, my computer soon came back on and everything looked as it was. She even gave me a number to call if I had further issues.

But it was only after I checked my bank accounts later that same day that I realised I did in fact have one gigantic issue – she’d stolen £4,000 from me.

It was July 2023, and I’d been checking my emails on my phone when I got a call from a number I didn’t recognise.

‘Hello, I’m phoning you from Microsoft,’ came the professional and friendly voice at the other end of the phone. Then she explained that my computer was riddled with malware.

‘You need to act urgently to stop it before it’s too late,’ she said.

I’m not confident when it comes to technology and, as a result, I’ve always been incredibly worried about the security of my computer, so I continued to stay on the line. 

I recall her being very calm while offering her assistance, so when she told me to log on to my computer I did as she instructed. 

That’s when she said that, in order to solve the issue, she’d need remote access to my computer. I now know that this was my first mistake.

Believing that she was genuinely trying to help me, I granted her access and soon could see the mouse moving independently around the screen. She then pulled up a number of windows which showed me what she claimed to be numerous malware infections on the system.

I was immediately alarmed to see how badly my computer was infected. Luckily for me, she said, there was a way to remedy this and offered me a three-year protection plan for £149.

When she told me everything was fixed, I had no reason not to believe her

That seemed like a reasonable price for my peace of mind, and again, thinking I could trust her, when she asked for my credit card details, I gladly provided them.

However, when she attempted to process the payment it was declined by the credit card company.

She then suggested I install an app that offers international money transfers – and try a different credit card.

Upon reflection, this should have raised suspicion, but I was so desperate to resolve the issue that I didn’t question it. I inputted the information and made the transfer.

Once again, I was told by her that the transaction failed.

Desperate, I supplied the details for my third and final credit card. This time, she said the payment was a success, and I felt a huge wave of relief. 

All that was left to do now was wait for the software to be installed – or so she said.

When she told me everything was fixed, I had no reason not to believe her. I hung up the phone and waited for the computer screen to come back on. When it did, I checked everything was in order, looked at my emails and then allowed myself to relax.

I probably wouldn’t have thought anything more of that interaction had I not received a message from my bank about the transactions I’d made earlier.

I figured I should check my bank accounts quickly too and that’s when I saw that I had £4,000 missing from my account. I felt sick to my stomach.

In total there were eight transactions and all to people in Kenya.

Thinking there had been some sort of mistake I immediately called Microsoft. However, when I explained my situation, they informed me that they never make these types of calls.

I realised then that I had been scammed and I was furious both with the scammer but also with myself for falling for their lies.

Acting quickly, I contacted the police and my bank to report the fraud and to cancel my cards to prevent them from stealing any more of my money. But the damage was already done.

What followed was a long appeals process to get my money back. While some credit card companies quickly reimbursed me, one bank was very unhelpful. They put me on hold for an hour on more than one occasion and no matter how many times I sent emails and police reports it took months before they, too, reimbursed me.

Eventually, most of the money was refunded, minus a £210 charge on my card that I couldn’t recover.

While it’s been over a year since this happened, the experience still haunts me.

The scam has left me feeling deeply betrayed and shaken. But the hardest part has been coping with the sense of loss – not just of money, but of confidence and peace of mind.

Nowadays, I find myself second-guessing every call and message. Whenever I pick up the phone I am generally more cautious, especially if it’s someone I don’t know. 

But instead of panicking like I did last time, I take a moment to steady myself, listen carefully to the caller’s voice and the content of their message. If anything feels off, like they’re asking for personal information or money, I don’t engage and end the call.

It was a harsh lesson to learn, especially that way, but it needed to be done. I just don’t want anyone else to fall victim in the same way. 

Learn from my mistakes. Be cautious and sceptical of unsolicited calls, no matter how convincing they may seem.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing James.Besanvalle@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

Welcome back to What I Own – Metro’s property series where we speak to homeowners about getting on the ladder.

This week, we’re in Battersea visiting 33-year-old Elliot Gleghorn, who bought a two-bedroom flat in Nine Elms.

Prior to moving into his new home, Elliot rented nearby and was able to save through the London Living Rent (LLR) scheme.

Funded by the Mayor of London, the policy enables tenants to boost their savings by paying a reduced rate for their rented homes, eventually giving them the opportunity to buy their rental property – or a different home – through shared ownership.

Now, Elliot lives right next to the vibrant Battersea Power Station with its shops and restuarants, and even has the Nine Elms Sainsbury’s Superstore (so beloved it’s gained a niche online fan club) right on his doorstep.

Here’s what Elliot had to say about his property journey…

Tell us about yourself!

I’m a 33-year-old chartered surveyor and I’m originally from Hertfordshire. I moved to London mainly for work, but it’s always been somewhere I wanted to live and own a property. I believe that shared ownership was the only way I could achieve this.

Whereabouts is your property? What do you think of the area?

I’ve been lucky enough to purchase a brand-new apartment close to my previous London Living Rent apartment in Nine Elms, and my monthly payments are actually lower now with shared ownership than they were renting.

How did you save up for your deposit?

I previously lived in an apartment rented out by housing association and developer L&Q Homes, who offer tenants the option to take part in the London Living Rent scheme. There, I was paying £1,540 per month, of which £350 was allocated towards a deposit.

It allowed me to live in a great location, in a high-quality home, while saving up each month. It gave me the lifestyle I wanted, but still left room for my long-term goal of homeownership. Without it, I would’ve likely had to flat share, which wouldn’t have been ideal.

It gave me the independence and flexibility I needed to start saving for a home of my own. I started looking after two years of saving through London Living Rent. Paired with some inheritance, I was able to use my savings to secure a two-bedroom apartment just down the road.

When did you move in?

October 2024.

How much does your property cost?

The full market value is £820,000. I own 25% through shared ownership, which equates to £205,000.

How much was your deposit?

£110,000.

What is the monthly cost of living here now; both mortgage and bills?

Around £1,500 per month (including mortgage, shared ownership rent, service charge and bills).

What was the process of getting a mortgage like for you? Did you find any parts challenging?

Very straightforward, but I would highlight that the key is working with an experienced mortgage advisor who has good knowledge of how affordable and shared ownership products work, and has good relationships with the high street banks.

This makes it much more efficient to find and secure the best rate, and most appropriate lender for your circumstances.

Can you share details on your mortgage (rate/term)?

I’m on a three-year fixed no-fee purchase. I was given a loan of £95,000 for a duration of 40 years.

What made you want to buy rather than rent?

Recent large rent hikes and increases in the cost of living have made renting in London very difficult.

I concluded that if I wanted to continue to enjoy working and living in London, a shared ownership purchase was the only viable option that allowed me to build equity in my own property. Renting through London Living Rent helped me to save.

How did you find this property? What made you choose it?

I did my research – I looked into the available shared ownership schemes in Wandsworth (the London borough I worked in). I also registered on the affordable housing government website to receive updates from relevant housing associations.

I chose this development as it is one of the tallest and most impressive newbuild developments in London, with views over the River Thames. It’s a modern high-quality build, has great amenities, and fantastic transport links nearby.

How have you made the property feel like home? What’s the inspiration for your interior decor style?

Fortunately, I moved from a self-furnished one-bedroom flat nearby, so I was already very familiar with the area and it was quite straightforward to move everything over to the new apartment, which made the transition really easy.

Do you feel like you have enough space?

I have a two-bedroom flat as a single occupant, which means I can utilise the second bedroom as an office, and implement good storage solutions to make the place feel much less cluttered.

Storage space is normally a problem in apartments, particularly in London, so with the benefit of the second bedroom, the property feels surprisingly spacious.  

Do you have plans to change the property?

Nothing other than a few more minor decorations.

Are there any problems with the property that you have to deal with?

There have been some snagging issues to do with the heating system, but this was all dealt with by the developers and is to be expected with new build properties.

What do you want people to know about buying a home?

Please do your research, get good advice from experienced property experts and only make the big commitment to purchase a shared ownership property, once you have understood the costs and benefits, because like everything in life, there are always both!

What are your plans for the future, in terms of housing? Do you plan to stay here long-term?

In the long term, my preference is to staircase and build my equity in the property.

My aim is to be in the property for a minimum of three years before considering my next steps. For the moment it suits all my requirements perfectly.

Shall we take a look around?

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.