MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I've just listened to a woman from U Switch being interviewed on the radio as if she is some kind of consumer champion, instead of the representative of a multi-million pound business whose whole model is based upon getting paid a commission when people use it to switch energy provider. How on earth can the BBC be so naive?
Of course she will condemn a proposal to force energy companies to put their customers on their lowest tariff - it may well save people money, but it will destroy U Switch's business model. Don't get me started on Martin Lewis! 👿
What about martin lewis?
Double post.
I said don't get me started!
Oh, go on then. He gets wheeled out by news and current affairs programmes to talk about ways of saving money which drives people to his website. Most of the links on his site are cost per acquisition affiliate deals which means that he pockets say £50 when someone clicks on one and takes out a new credit card for example. It's all reasonably transparent, and I guess it's fair play to him if the BBC and ITN are dumb enough to wheel him out as an impartial friend of the people. It's made him very very rich.
What do you think the website runs on, fairy dust?
How has this farce of a 'competitive' energy market gone on this long? Renationalise the gas and electricity sectors, provide gas and power at an affordable price, and sack all those irksome little botherers!
I thought martin lewis sold his site to moneysupermarket a while ago.
Edit.. He did.. [url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/jun/01/martin-lewis-sells-moneysavingexpert ]link[/url]
Cougar - Member
What do you think the website runs on, fairy dust?
Nope. And my beef isn't really with Martin Lewis, it's the broadcasters. I've got a background in affiliate marketing and actually think its largely a fair and efficient tool, but lets be clear about the commercial drivers.
I thought martin lewis sold his site to moneysupermarket a while ago.
Edit.. He did.. link
Yep, but read your link. He still edits it and will get £30m odd if it hits targets. Oh and he got £60m in cash and shares. Guess he's properly independent and unbiased now then.
lets be clear about the commercial drivers.
Sure, but the site (even pre-buyout) has never been anything other than upfront. Any link that's an affiliate click-through is clearly labelled as such, and there's explanations as to what's going on. Very few sites are as transparent as MSE.
He still edits it and will get £30m odd if it hits targets. Oh and he got £60m in cash and shares. Guess he's properly independent and unbiased now then.
I'm sorry, but I'm confused here. Your primary beef seems to be, "he's successful." He made a site which was very useful for a lot of people, gave out good, knowledgeable advice, and ultimately gained him a high profile, a good living and then a massive payout when he sold up. I don't see any indication anywhere of him being biased or corrupt. Can he only dish out free financial advice is he's scraping a living together himself? Would you give more credence to money saving tips from a pauper?
I might be missing something, you may be privy to information I've not seen for instance, but the only reason I can think of for singling out Martin Lewis of all people is jealousy.
U-Switch saved us loads of money at work, long may they make their money IMO! And it's not like they hide how they get paid.
Jesus, this place is getting more and more like the daily mail comments board as time goes by.
Daily Mail readers calling for renationalisation?
Well, yes, maybe I am a little jealous of the cash - although as someone who used to run an affiliate network, he did used to line my pockets indirectly along the way anyway.
You're quite right about the notices on the site, and I think that's great, but I've never heard Money Box or Daybreak or any of the other news and current affairs programmes making similar disclaimers. Nor do they with U Switch. As I say, fair play, and good luck to them. It just astounds me how they manage to continually get round editorial policy.
Daily Mail reader?! 😯
There was an article in the daily mail complaining of how right wing stw was
Couldn't agree more! A man who got rich by working incredibly hard and helping thousands of people (including me) save not inconsiderable amounts of dosh and make the most of their money! What a [b][i]bastard[/b][/i].Don't get me started on Martin Lewis!
How much would you have saved if the utilities hadn't been privatised?
back to the OP.. news broadcasters should hold all 'pundits' to account.. how many times do we hear 'aramgeddon' from some folk for it not to happen.. they should only allow comments punditry from those who previously been correct and not keep wheeling out the same old 'end is nigh' crowd..
I've got a background in affiliate marketing
tell me again about black kettles.
he did used to line my pockets indirectly along the way anyway.
ahh, I see, he made a lot of money and of out his activities and you made a little money out of his activities. I'm with zilog - hanging's too good for the likes of him.
Please read my posts. It's not about Martin Lewis himself, it is about the way the media use him, and U Switch etc as if they're disinterested parties. Blimey.
I know, you'd expect them to use someone with no knowledge of the the industry being commented on rather than someone who makes a living working in/commenting on that industry. I wonder what the world's coming to. next we'll have so-called experts touting their opinions on mountain bike forums like they were undisputable facts.
Oh.....
It just astounds me how they manage to continually get round editorial policy.
Which editorial policy are they getting round ?
Please read my posts. It's not about Martin Lewis himself
Don't get me started on Martin Lewis! 👿
I did read your posts. Did you? It was all about Martin Lewis himself until at least your third post. Then it was about the broadcasters. Then it was about Martin Lewis again. Then it was about the affiliate links in the website. Then it's about him being used by the media. So you'll perhaps forgive us if we're not understanding exactly where you're coming from. You're coming across like Indecisive Dave.