Those that criticise Martin Lewis should read this

[ChimChimeny]

posted on his Facebook page:

WE GOT THE WIN ON CHILD BENEFIT!
Chancellor tipped me off before budget, said this was due in large to MSE/my shows campaigning all based on all those of your who messaged me to say it was the key thing to put to him

So

1. From this April threshold which hasn't moved since 2013 rises from a single parent earning £50,000 to £60,000 and you lose child benefit totally at £80,000 (not £60,000)
2. Consultation on moving it to family income not individual income and hopefully that'll be in place from April 2026 (this is to stop unfairness for single income/single parent) families*

Yes he may talk fast or look smug or whatever but the man is a bit of a legend IMHO

People would criticise fresh air if you let them!

Doing the job the actual politicians should be doing. If only there were more like him. All of us play a part as well by being engaged, etc.

People will moan at anything given the chance

He has done very well too - selling MSE for more than 80Million. Good to see he is still engaged as I’m guessing he doesn’t need to work.

He did well with this. It’s taken a very long time to be looked at.

Maybe he could turn his attention to ensuring absent parents pay the full amount via cms. Maybe via a system similar to student loans. The gov don’t trust ex students enough to let them set up a standing order each month to pay the correct amount. Not sure why they trust absent parents.

Might help some kids out of poverty.

MSE saved DSis's life.

I got a phone call from her, about 11pm. She'd left a bad relationship a few months earlier, had debts racking up interest, couldn't see how to repay on NMW, couldn't see a way out. She had nicked Dad's stash of opiate-based pain pills and was planning to take the lot.

I asked her how much and then said "is that all?" when she told me because I'd seen MSE success stories of people with ten times the amount of debt becoming debt-free.

I got her to put the pills back in the medicine cabinet and talked her through IVAs and debt freezing, sent her an email with links to the MSE IVA guide and the debt-free wannabe forum.

This was about 15 years ago. She cleared the debt, still here on this earth and hopefully will be for a long time.

I'm glad that she had the presence of mind to phone me that night and I'm glad MSE was there to show her the way through.

Martin Lewis should get an honour for his work. That he doesn't tells you how many vested interests don't want him telling us how to save money and fighting our corner.

Some US states use payroll deductions, aka garnishment, to handle CMS. We could easily do that here for PAYE workers. Wouldn't work so well for the self-employed.

To add to things he’s done, saw this the other day and thought it was fab!

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2021/10/first-ever-financial-education-textbook-arrives-in-welsh-schools/?fbclid=IwAR2f8tB1QjAKpHqbCDA8fglRvBdlNX4Bw7a7lMfXsM1zyp_1vJNu5fGONLw_aem_AQBKhtEB8fffm0eEYwWKVNij88gF5QJanGVEqNqBC2TQWQWf-sN4feRVoDTIKLk-4yA

And so? Making positive achievements doesn't mean nobody can criticise you ever. Surely these criticisms are not saying that ML has never done anything good or that he's evil. Nobody is beyond criticism.

OK, so I just noticed that he has an OBE. That happened since I last looked. And well-deserved it is.

He creates havoc at my workplace when he tells pensioners of a deadline for claiming pension credit to receive hundreds of pounds in extra cost of living payments, or encourages people to claim Attendance Allowance ! We then have to brace ourselves for our helpline being flooded with calls and becoming so completely inundated that we have to close our service to new referrals for a while. Our boss has taken to sending us warnings when he announces something that is going to have a huge impact ! I try to avoid the programme.

Heaven forbid that he try to warn people that they stand to lose money that they are entitled to.

Read your post, aloud, and imagine that a room full of pensioners is listening to you. How do you think you sound to someone who stands to lose money without those reminders?

He's a legend, a very high energy legend!

It was meant to be lighthearted ! most of them aren't entitled anyway - he just revs them up to think they are !

I think he is great. He is 100% genuine and I wish he would get involved in politics. I'd vote him in for prime minister today if I could. He always says he wouldn't because he doesn't 'do' politics but what we need is a leader who is intelligent, who actually cares about everyone in the UK and who isn't in it for themselves. Martin Lewis is easily intelligent enough to take guidance from experts and ministers on political matters. I'd trust him a million times more than 99% of the politicians we are lumbered with.

You don’t approve of the changes to child benefit because it’s ‘helping higher earners’, but when ML tries to help some of the poorest pensioners, that annoys you too. 🙄

Yes I think ML is definitely a legend!!

@VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia that's brilliant that your sister sorted her debts out 😊

@NiceHairPin I trust him way more than any politician, but I definitely understand why he wouidnt want to get involved in politics!

I've been an MSEr since it began in 2003. Martin used to interact a lot on the forum then and he always came across as a good guy trying to get a financial message out that meant something to the majority. E.g. He DMd me to have a conversation about a niche aspect I'd become an expert in. He contacted me to get his facts right before he went to the masses. He credited me in the article.

Since then, there have been two things which I've been even more impressed by.

1. His generosity. Yes, I understand that he's now a very rich man, but out of that he gives and gives and gives. I'm not sure how many people who sell their website for £80million would immediately pledge to give £10 million of that away.

https://blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2023/02/martin-lewis--what-happened-to-my-pledge-to-give-p10m-to-charity/

2. His work on supporting those with money & mental health issues. He's set up his own charity to focus on this, and supports many existing charities that do.

You should message the MSE website your story @VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia It's yet another story of another life saved from the MSE advice, and they will be so pleased to hear how your sister's life has now turned around. Well done you on handling that phone call so well.

Martin Lewis can do no wrong in my eyes. I suspect his wife, Lara lewington, would disagree 😉

They manage just fine for poorer people claiming universal credit.

Also student finance as mentioned.

He does talk incredibly fast and I find it hard to keep up with him but that’s why I tend to use his website more than tv programmes. He’s done more for ‘money saving’ for people in this country than any other person IMO

@Babyroobs I work for a similar department. Many benefits are actually underclaimed by people who genuinely need the money. It’s good that Martin Lewis encourages people to claim even if we are busy .

It was meant to be lighthearted !

It came across as a very sincere moan.

I also reclaimed mis-sold PPI, overpaid the mortgage, used the utility switching service, have trawled the forums for pensions advice. Very much admire his drive, outlook and success. He’s a force of nature!

You they do that already?