Our call for tough regulatory action on companies that charge people for receiving unwanted mobile phone texts has received further parliamentary support. Thousands of people are unknowingly paying to receive pestering text messages. Marcus Hardingham and his daughter Ava, 11, (pictured) had to pay nearly £50 for unwanted messages sent to her mobile.

We all know a dog is not just for Christmas. But the cost of having a canine companion should not be underestimated. Here is how costs such as vets’ bills, boarding fees and grooming all mount up. Kate Shaw (pictured) bought the best pet insurance she could afford for her dachshund

We are launching the ninth annual Money Mail Wooden Spoon Awards. This is your chance to vote for the organisation you think provides Britain's most shambolic service. This year, our inbox has been as full as we can remember. There have been catastrophic meltdowns, as well as niggling problems that just won't go away. Some companies are finding more and more ways to mess up the basics. You say it's common for rude staff to trot out 'computer says no' excuses or send you online when all you want is an accurate bill or a simple mistake put right.

Rail passengers in the UK face the biggest spike in prices for five years. From the start of 2018, prices will increase by an average 3.4 per cent with 'regulated' fares - including season tickets - rising by 3.6 per cent. But there are ways you can fight back and our ten-point guide to help you beat ever-increasing rail fares is a good place to start.

With the mercury plummeting, it would be very bad timing for your boiler to keel over. Especially when only a fifth of buildings insurance policies cover home emergencies such as heating breakdown as standard.

Every time energy firms hike prices they blame punitive green taxes imposed by the Government. Just last week British Gas said the levies will add £200 to your bill by next year. Here, we use official data from energy watchdog Ofgem to show exactly where every penny of the average £1,135 annual dual fuel bill goes...

I switched back to Eon this year, after being with British Gas/Sainsbury's Energy for a year, but now it's telling me the smart meter it fitted no longer works. I cannot understand why smart meters that any supplier can read are not being installed, says reader David Ackroyd from Halifax, Yorkshire. Will I really need to get a new smart meter fitted?

BT is pushing customers to lock into long broadband contracts to avoid soaring prices. Standard broadband will increase by £2 a month - £24 a year - from January 7 even if you are in the middle of your contract. If you have faster fibre broadband you'll pay an extra £2.50 a month. The telecoms giant is telling customers they can avoid the hikes by signing up for another 18 month contract immediately.

We've started turning our electric blanket on already because our house is quite cold but I'm worried it's going to leave us with a big energy bill. Is there any way to find out how much more we can expect to pay? We have it on most evenings through the colder months.

If you get to the end of the month, look at your bank balance and think 'Where has all my money gone?' it is likely that you need Bean to help get control of what is going on. It scans every monthly expense you have - things like your energy bills or phone bill - and works out automatically if there's a cheaper deal. Then it gives you the option to switch if you want to and, even better, it manages the whole process for you.

Stannah, the UK's best-known stairlift maker, says it is concerned that radio waves emitted by smart meters could cause 'interference' with its chairs. People who rely on the devices to get to their bedrooms could find they grind to a halt halfway up the stairs

Apple fans can now get their hands on the new iPhone X handset - the most expensive handset ever launched by the tech giant. But with prices starting at £999 for a 64GB model they don't come cheap. So making sure you get the best deal is even more important if you are planning on making the investment.

Energy suppliers are launching cheap tariffs that customers can only get if they agree to have a smart meter fitted. Experts say that this is a desperate attempt to encourage more households to get one of the new digital meters, which automatically send meter readings to suppliers.

Sky customers can pay more than £900 a year for their TV services alone, according to new research by Freesat, but at least 95 per cent of the most popular shows across Sky and Virgin are actually available on free channels. Here's how you save on your bill, but still watch your favourite shows.

The appeal is not just about installing a middle-class fashion statement. According to British stove manufacturer Charnwood, regular use of a wood burner can knock a third off fuel bills, providing savings of at least £400 a year - and the good news is that the new generation are much cleaner for the air we breathe.

How much does our electric heater cost to run? It's getting chillier and it is time to turn it on but I'm worried I'm running up large energy bills by having one. We explain why electric heaters tend to be one of the most expensive ways to keep warm - and how you can cut your costs if you need to use one.

Savvy supermarket shoppers can take advantage of loyalty points and bonus schemes - such as Iceland's two-week bonanza - to ease the cost of Christmas. We reveal how and what rival schemes offer.

This is Money's Energy Switch Club is giving readers the chance to win £10k cash, which could cover your energy bills for the next decade. Our collective bargaining turns the switching process on its head and demands that suppliers compete for your business. January's collective switch saw 70,000 people sign up and save £251 on average.

With an avalanche of price rises from the 'big six' energy providers, now is the time to review your energy tariff and consider locking in to a best-buy fixed-rate tariff before energy companies pull them from the market.

Sports channels are notoriously expensive though, and finding the right package, at the right price can seem impossible. We have done the hard work for you and looked at all of the different packages whether you are a football fanatic or boxing is more your bag.