Martin Lewis Advice Helps UK Savers Secure High‑Interest Accounts and Council Tax Refunds

Financial journalist Martin Lewis highlighted how UK consumers can maximise returns and recover over‑paid taxes. In one case, a listener switched from First Direct to Barclays while retaining a linked regular saver, allowing him to keep an 8 % interest rate offered by banks such as Lloyds, Santander and Zopa. Lewis praised the “golden rule” of finance that encourages shoppers to explore linked current‑account offers.

Another listener followed Lewis’s guidance on council‑tax band checks and successfully challenged Richmond Council, recovering £7,600 in over‑paid tax. The council refunded £4,564 and applied the balance to his 2026/27 bill. Both stories illustrate how Lewis’s advice can lead to significant personal‑finance gains for UK residents.