LEE BOYCE: We will always fight for you and your finances

What a huge privilege to take over as editor of Money Mail with my first issue today.

I’ve written about personal finance for many, many years on Money Mail’s sister website, This Is Money, where I was most recently Associate Editor.

To say that I read these pages avidly in the Post is an understatement.

But gosh, I’ve rarely had moments where it was more important to keep an eye on my finances.

It’s been a dizzying year for families and households trying to keep up with the bills, from the soaring cost of living and the country’s Covid-19 debt hangover to the chaos in the mortgage markets and the fallout from the war in Ukraine.

But fear not: Money Mail is here to see you through the storm – just as it has done time and time again over the years.

I will build on a rich tradition of fighting for your corner and helping you, our wonderful loyal readers, make your money work as hard as possible.

I’ll be by your side every step of the way, from the smartest tips on how to get more out of your savings, to exposing wrongdoing, theft and fraud by firms you thought you could trust.

The fact that I am only the eighth editor of the Money Mail in its nearly 60-year history says a lot. During that time we have had 19 chancellors — although there have been five in the last three years!

So what makes me wake up in the morning? And what will my goat get? Well, one of my proudest moments as an editor was overseeing a major investigation into billions of pounds of underpaid state pensions, which left thousands of people with windfalls they should have received from the government.

And last year I published a book about how to make money in all sorts of unexpected ways – and how to keep growing that pot (it’s called Never Shave, available from all good bookshops if you’re interested).

You’ll find that I’m passionate about savings rates, raising pensions, investigating scandals, the power of compound interest to grow your savings and retirement, teaching young people about money and championing stories that make a real difference to your wallet, purse and piggy bank.

And what about those dislikes? Like this list to start with ten: the drive to abolish cash, the drive to use smart meters, private parking firms and annoying parking apps, firms that take loyalty for granted and, above all, companies big and small that don’t get it right errors before Money Mail must participate.

As my predecessor, Victoria Bischoff, wrote in her last Last Word column a couple of weeks ago, the letters and emails we receive from you are vital to helping us do all of this.

You are what has long made Money Mail the best personal finance newspaper in the country. So please write to me about your financial problems and grievances. You can find my contact details at the end of this column.

It’s a hectic, crazy and anxious time for households. But just remember, whatever happens, my team of Money Mail reporters and I are here to help you.

Credit card chaos

John Lewis is a brand that has become so popular with some customers that they have a special credit card linked to the store to collect reward points.

But the firm recently switched providers for that card, and in doing so it alienated some of its most loyal customers, who have now been banned from getting a new card or offered significantly reduced limits – despite fantastic credit histories.

Indeed, the first two letters I opened as editor of​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Money Mail were about this very issue.

Last week, John Lewis boss Dame Sharon White said the cost of living crisis had had a bigger impact on the firm than the pandemic.

Why then does he treat some of his customers so badly by refusing this simple credit card transfer?

In my opinion, this makes absolutely no business sense. Time to fix that, Ms. Sharon.

• Write to me at Money Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT or email l.boyce@dailymail.co.uk.