A survey of 2,000 individuals has disclosed the most prevalent financial grievances Britons encounter in their daily spending – with 36 per cent irritated by hidden admin fees for gig tickets. Another 32 per cent felt short-changed when items promoted as ‘on sale’ turned out to be the regular price disguised by a new label.
Additionally, unfairness is felt by 30 per cent of people who have to split a bill evenly despite having ordered just a salad and no alcoholic beverages, while the same percentage are upset by unexplained hikes in train fares. A further 25 per cent feel aggrieved at paying for an early hotel check-in when rooms appear ready, and 24 per cent experience annoyance when priority boarding costs result in waiting in an equally lengthy queue.
Perceived injustice also includes shops refusing to accept cash, affecting 21 per cent, even though they have enough change on hand. And 19 per cent are bewildered when faced with complex jargon during significant purchases such as acquiring a home or a car.
This research, conducted on behalf of Skipton Building Society , identified various scenarios where fairness seems to be lacking in consumer transactions.
Alex Sitaras, head of savings and partnership products at Skipton Building Society, remarked: “Fairness shouldn’t be a luxury, especially when it comes to your own money. But it’s clear from the research many people are fed up with feeling short-changed in everyday money situations.
“From hidden fees to automatic tips, to even how deciding restaurant bills are split with friends and family, these frequent frustrations can start to feel unfair and have a wider impact on a person’s overall finances. Especially when we’re in a cost-of-living crisis, which is already making it more difficult than ever for people to save and plan for their future.
“So, these unfair money moments, no matter how small or large they may be, can start to feel more like injustices. We believe in fairness, which is why we offer everyone free and accessible money advice, through our My Money Review service, to help people plan ahead and make the most of their money.”
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The survey also revealed that a hefty 68 per cent of folks reckon that these snagging unfair financial scenarios shouldn’t just be shrugged off as part of modern life – and a similar figure, 65 per cent, have piped up when they’ve bumped into such issues. In over half of these cases (51 per cent), niggles were ironed out straight away, but a solid 29 per cent hit a brick wall, with not a jot changing following their complaint.
Yet there’s a chunky 30 per cent who bite their lip and don’t pipe up in face of monetary mistreatments. Of those holding their tongue, 46 per cent dread a bit of argy-bargy, 41 per cent find the whole thing a tad cringe-worthy, and 29 per cent fret about seeming petty.
However, many are now proactively taking measures to sidestep such sticky situations – 44 per cent adamantly ensure they always double-check the bill prior to settling up. Additionally, 33 per cent are diligent enough to carefully research before splashing out on a significant buy.
In a poll conducted by OnePoll, respondents feel snagging a fair deal is increasingly challenging compared to five years ago – with a hefty 78 per cent saying they’re actually chuffed when they stumble upon something that appears genuinely good value.
Almost two-fifths (38 per cent) confess to being wary because most deals just seem “too good to be true”, and 30 per cent harbour doubts regarding the integrity of businesses, unconvinced that these entities hold their best interests at heart.
From Skipton Building Society, Alex Sitaras weighed in: “Many of us have a sense of what a fair deal looks like – and we often notice when something feels off. Still, many people shy away from voicing concerns, frequently due to the dread of confrontation or lacking the confidence to challenge discrepancies,” he noted.
Sitaras emphasised Skipton’s commitment to altering this mindset: “We want to change that mindset and empower people to stand up for what’s fair, and it’s encouraging that so many are already double-checking bills and doing their research before making important purchases.” He concluded: “By building confidence and financial know-how, we can help make fairness the norm, not the exception.”
TOP 25 EVERDAY UNFAIR MONEY MOMENTS:
- When restaurants add on an automatic tip, but the service is poor
- When someone crashes their car into yours and your insurance premiums increase
- When you’re charged for tap water in a restaurant
- Seeing a sneaky ‘admin fee’ added to concert tickets
- When there is a fee for an online return
- When the sale price is just the original price with a new sticker
- Seeing a ‘minimum spend’ just to use your card
- When train tickets go up in price for seemingly no reason
- Splitting the bill equally after only having a salad and didn’t order an alcoholic drink
- When a supermarket reduces the price of something they just bought at full price
- A friend ordering an expensive drink when it’s your round at the pub
- Discovering your loyalty points doesn’t equal much actual money at all
- When your hotel charges extra for early check-in, even though the room is ready
- Paying for ‘priority boarding’ but the queue is just as long as the regular one
- When you plan your savings down to the penny and the Government change the tax rules
- Not being able to get discounted prices because you forgot your loyalty card
- When you must chase friends or family for money that they owe you
- When you fix your utility costs but then the prices fall
- When a shop refuses to accept cash, even when they’ve got a pocket full of change
- When confusing jargon is used when making important financial purchases
- Getting hit with a peak time surcharge
- Getting hit with a hefty dynamic ticket price after sitting in a virtual queue for hours
- Getting hit with a ‘city tax’ you only hear about at check-out
- When you attempt DIY to save money, it costs you more to put it right
- Friends who insist on taking a taxi when public transport is cheaper