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Original poster

Does anyone else find Martin Lewis annoying?

166 replies

Expectnothing · 01/10/2022 11:50

Or is it just me?

All the clickbait warnings earn him money - don't they?

I am happy to be told I'm cynical but I work in marketing and he's very much an influencer. Just an influencer with a different tone and agenda.

Anyway, happy to be told I'm cynical 😊

OP posts:
Redqueenheart · 01/10/2022 16:21

Really?

You don't have better things to do than find people who are well informed, try to give the best possible advice to those who are struggling and don't hesitate to criticise energy companies and the government annoying?

I find people like Truss, her useless chancellor and the rest of the Tory government annoying...

As for ''clickbait warnings'' I think you will find that what he is saying simply reflect the reality of the cost of living crisis.

Bizarre post really. Of all the people you could pick on...

FloydPepper · 01/10/2022 16:25

TwoWrightFeet · 01/10/2022 13:13

All the clickbait warnings earn him money - don't they?

They sure do.

I think he’ stepped his game up during lockdown and recently. Mainly because of the important issues that have to be addressed. Before that I found his approach deliberately confusing for consumers and he would make very simple things sound more complicated than they are.

I know he’s the ‘money saving expert’ but he also encourages a lot of people to spend money, switch accounts or transact in some way. This is all done through his site which earns him even more money through affiliate links.

but some people seem to like it so he’s just going to continue doing it.

This has been my concern in the past

i understand that in the past he’s recommended switching (through his site where he gets commission) and those recommendations have not been the cheapest for consumers they’ve been the ones who reward with commissions.

I think he’s done a lot for financial literacy, and campaigns strongly for consumers, but if he’s earned money off the back of bad advice that would impact my thoughts.

hoowhoo · 01/10/2022 16:26

That you Liz T? 😂

TheWayOfTheWorld · 01/10/2022 16:36

He was awful on Richard Osman's House of Games - graceless winner and sore loser. Totally put me off him.

ThisShipIsSinking · 01/10/2022 16:36

l have the upmost respect for him.
He lost his Mum two days before his 12 th birthday, which is similar time to when my eldest lost his Dad, l have witnessed first hand the struggle my son has endured through his teenage years adapting to this loss and l respect Martin Lewis for becoming so sucessfull at what he does.

Novum · 01/10/2022 16:37

Everylittlethingsgonnabealright · 01/10/2022 11:52

Yes. I think he has a lot of good advice but his style isn’t for me.

I couldn't care less about style if the advice is good

mibbelucieachwell · 01/10/2022 16:47

I know what you mean about him being a bit over- the-top. But I enjoy his money saving emails and have benefitted from them often. I prefer him to Jack Monroe who talks as if she's still on the breadline, which seems unlikely.

I love your response to being told that he has donated a lot of money to charity. You sound like a genuinely open minded person 👏

I don't hold with the view that if someone personally benefits from giving advice the advice is worthless. Most people have mixed motives. If everyone benefits there's no problem.

dizzygirl1 · 01/10/2022 16:53

I've been an MSE'er for about 15 years and like him.
Last September he was telling people to fix (I did and git a great rate) then when the October cap came in he told people not to fix because at that point it wasn't in the best interest to fix. Now obviously things have changed and the rates are even higher than the bad news expected so its not worked out ideally but without a war and Russia's behaviour things would have been different.

sammyjoanne · 01/10/2022 16:56

You ever hear those adverts on the radio and at the end theres the terms and conditions that are read super fast that you cant absorb the information in? I feel the same way about Martin. He talks so fast, by the end of the show I have not retained any information from him at all.

Sonnex · 01/10/2022 16:57

I think he's great and I really like the way he talks about things. The website is incredibly useful too.

Nottidaythanks · 01/10/2022 17:31

His website is messy and cluttered so I avoid it. His energy does make me feel like I need a little lie down after one of his (well meaning) rants.

Trees6 · 01/10/2022 17:44

I respect him, he’s knowledgeable and dedicated. Seems like a decent family man as well as a grafter.

I agree that the MSE website is a bit cluttered and disorderly though.

Malbecfan · 01/10/2022 17:57

@dizzygirl1 I fixed in August 2021 because of Martin Lewis and took on a 2 year fix. DH is deeply impressed at how little we are paying compared to the cap.

To those people who are complaining about the website: there is a lot on there. Yesterday I was looking for information on savings. Towards the top of the screen there are the main headings. I clicked on Banking then Savings. There were various options and I went through the ones that interested me. It's a lot more straightforward than many websites considering just how many different things he is trying to cover. Still, you can't please all of the people all of the time. If you want to ignore him, go ahead.

fussychica · 01/10/2022 18:47

I think he's brilliant. His style is a bit OTT but people do actually listen to him when he's fighting our corner and he makes people who wouldn't normally engage in these debates realise that with a bit of effort they can save money. He has worked hard to expose the scandalous interest on student loans and is still fighting that particular battle.

FlowerArranger · 01/10/2022 18:53

Malbecfan · 01/10/2022 17:57

@dizzygirl1 I fixed in August 2021 because of Martin Lewis and took on a 2 year fix. DH is deeply impressed at how little we are paying compared to the cap.

To those people who are complaining about the website: there is a lot on there. Yesterday I was looking for information on savings. Towards the top of the screen there are the main headings. I clicked on Banking then Savings. There were various options and I went through the ones that interested me. It's a lot more straightforward than many websites considering just how many different things he is trying to cover. Still, you can't please all of the people all of the time. If you want to ignore him, go ahead.

Totally agree!

maddiemookins16mum · 01/10/2022 20:08

It’s totally fine to respect his advice and knowledge/passion etc but to also find him a bit shouty/manic in his presenting style.

Kissingfrogs25 · 01/10/2022 20:43

He could convey all of that information in a measured and accessible tone, not the breathless screech that continues to go up and up. I can actually feel my anxiety kicking in and my blood pressure rising just listening to him, and that was before he had anything to be animated about. He isn't helping people already struggling with their MH and GAD, but maybe he has issues, we don't know. I would be amazed if he didn't, no one is that highly strung and healty.

ML has shed a lot of light on financial information, but he does need to tone it down a little and relax, he is going give himself a heart attack.

Parker231 · 01/10/2022 20:58

He sold the website in 2012 so doesn’t financially benefit now from the advice he gives via the website.

CantFindTheBeat · 01/10/2022 21:00

MargotMoon · 01/10/2022 11:58

He gave a million pounds to Citizens Advice from that 'click bait' and also £100K of his own money to a debt charity near me which was on the brink of closing. The man's a hero, whether you like his communication style or not he helps people and stands up for consumer rights.

That's very impressive.

I didn't know that. Have you got links to the details?

TroysMammy · 01/10/2022 21:04

Have hated him since he popped up with get your bank charges refunded. A truly ghastly and stressful time we had in work.

JenniferAllisonPhillipaSue · 01/10/2022 21:10

Like the ethos (have been an MSEr for at least fifteen years) but am disliking the television personality more these days, he's getting too hyper and screechy. I always want to tell him to 'calm down'

Zingy123 · 01/10/2022 21:14

I love him. He does so much for people. We got over £4000 council tax refund thanks to his advice.

TwoMonthsOff · 01/10/2022 21:15

I love him, he’s a ‘once in a lifetime’ person, he’s helped so many people

EgonsShell · 02/10/2022 17:45

He founded the website but doesn't own it anymore therefore he does not gain financially from the clicks.

Find it absolutely bizarre that with everything going on just now he's the one you choose to pick on.