The scandal over mis-sold payment protection insurance may have faded from the headlines, but a reader warns Londoners not to forget to reclaim any due cash: three million Britons who may have been mis-sold these plans could be due refunds worth an average of £1500. "Look into any payment protection insurance you've taken out on personal loans or credit-card accounts over the past 10 years," advises Evening Standard reader Christopher Wright of Stoke Newington, who works for the Civil Service. "I had seven loans with MBNA and Barclays combined, all with PPI included, over the past 10 years and luckily had kept all the original paperwork." Wright sent his documents to a PPI claim firm, and received a total of £6000 compensation. But you could get a higher proportion of your dues by going direct. No-win, no-fee claims companies won't be able to get you more compensation despite taking a cut of up to 30%. Anyone who wasn't told their PPI insurance was optional will have a case. Complain to your bank. It should respond within eight weeks: if not, complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service (0800 023 4567; financial-ombudsman.org.uk).
Hidden treasure
Find cash you've left down the equivalent of a large sofa. Brits have £15 billion in unclaimed assets, according to financial analysts at Experian, but now free website mylostaccount.org.uk will help you track down any forgotten funds. Enter your personal details on the site, a venture by the British Bankers' Association, the Building Societies Association and National Savings & Investments, and it will check if you've lost funds in any of 43 banks, 52 building societies or NS&I. The Government offers a free pension-hunting service at thepensionservice.gov.uk. For old unit trusts, visit investmentuk.org.
Play the panel game
Been thinking of installing a solar panel on your property? Act fast - rumours are the generous Government feed-in tariffs could be slashed for new customers from next April. Right now, solar panels (which need a south-facing roof with at least 24 square metres of space) trigger electricity savings of up to £180 a year, says the Energy Saving Trust. Feed-in tariffs, guaranteed for 25 years, from the Government, pay households about £1200 a year. That's tipped to be cut by as much as 50%, but will remain at the current, generous rate for those already signed up before spring. Panels cost between £10,000 and £20,000 to install but there are subsidies (see energysavingtrust.org.uk). E.ON's SolarExchange scheme offers households solar panels for £99 in return for it receiving the feed-in tariff.
