Money blog: Trustpilot 'can't be trusted', say small businesses after reviewing platform makes major policy change (2025)

A Labour minister admitted this week he "absolutely" could not live on £70 a week.

Torsten Bell was defending the government's planned cuts to welfare, which could hit young people in particular.

That's because of Downing Street's crackdown on personal independence payments (PIP), which will affect millions and will mean many disabled single people under 25 won't be due a top-up to their universal credit allowance of around £72 a week.

So we asked financial advisers Nous to work out if just £70 would be enough to live on from week to week for people under 25.

They found that, yes, it is possible (just) - but only if you live at home with your parents.

It's quite a different matter if you rent.

Let's first take a look at the expenses for a single person under 25 who's living at home with parents.

Someone in this scenario could afford to contribute to the household's Netflix account, but would have to cut back on essential bills in order to afford any luxuries.

In its calculations, Nous assumes they are contributinga third of the household's bills, and spending a typical amount on groceries.

Renters

Now, here's the picture for the same kind of person living alone in a rented property - with rent covered by Local Housing Allowance.

This person would not be able to live on £70 a week - in fact, they'd have a shortfall of £32.31 after covering their essential bills.

Nous chief executive Greg Marsh said £70 a week "wouldn't even cover the bare essentials" for under-25s renting on their own.

"Most of us pay more than we need to for our household bills and the majority can save significant sums by switching and shopping around," he added.

"But even the savviest among us would be hard-pushed to save enough to survive on £70 a week."

Do these calculations seem about right to you? Or do you have a very different weekly bill? Let us know in the comment box above

A small business owner has accused review platform Trustpilot of "betrayal" after it dropped the requirement for proof-of-purchase when leaving a review.

The duo behind furniture shop Shropshire Design said their business has been "under attack" by a copycat site, leaving fake and damaging reviews on their profile.

Trustpilot, founded in 2007, is one of the largest business reviewing sites in the world - around a million business reviews are posted each month.

Writing on X, Wes Fellows and Peter Snowdon said: "Until now, @Trustpilot removed these reviews if no proof of a genuine purchase was shown - today they told us they don't require it anymore (see email attached).

"This disgraceful policy hands free rein to competitors, trolls, and anyone determined to destroy a business. Restaurants, bars, gyms, hotels - beware: anyone with a VPN and a throwaway email address can post a defamatory review, and you can't even ask for proof it ever happened. We refuse to accept this."

When contacted for comment, Trustpilot said it took the integrity of its platform "extremely seriously".

It said it doesn't default to asking for proof of genuine experience from a reviewer, "because we know, in practice, that many consumers might not provide evidence but may still have had a relevant interaction with a business, and that could result in the removal of genuine reviews".

In the case of Fellows and Snowdon, it said it had investigated the review.

"We have now completed our investigation, and we've taken it offline," a spokesperson added.

"However, if the reviewer in question does provide documentation that proves they did have a genuine experience with the business, then the review could be reinstated."

Every Friday, we take an overview of the mortgage market with industry experts and round up the best rates.This week,Rachel Springall, finance expert atMoneyfactscompare.co.uk, takes a look what the market looks like for first-time buyers.

First-time buyers searching for a home may feel deterred by the lack of affordable housing and stubborn interest rates.

Analysis by the Office for National Statistics of data collected by the Financial Conduct Authority revealed first-time buyers have been pushed out of buying homes in London and other urban areas.

The overall number of new first-time buyer mortgages in the UK has been falling since 2021, and in 2023 was the lowest since 2013 at 282,000.

Springallsays: "First-time buyers are clearly being priced out of cities due to the lack of affordable housing.

"These buyers will no doubt be hoping for interest rates to come down this year to help with affordability, but it is difficult to know which way interest rates may go in the coming months."

The base rate, as expected, was held at 4.5% yesterday, and markets think there will be two more cuts in 2025, although as we reported here in Money last night, they are less convinced than 48 hours ago.

"Sticky inflation and wider economic uncertainty can delay more base rate cuts by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee," Springall says.

"Innovation and support from lenders will be integral to ensure borrowers can comfortably afford a mortgage, and first-time buyers will continue to be crucial to keep the market moving.

"A review into stress testing could also make a big difference to borrowers who are finding it hard to get a mortgage, and the FCA plans to launch a consultation on the matter in May.

"However, any significant changes to 'stress-testing' must be implemented with care to protect consumers.

"It will be interesting to see if borrowers can make their homeownership dreams a reality in the coming months when affordable housing is in short supply."

Here's a look at the best rates available for those getting on the housing ladder...

Moneyfacts also rounds up what it calls "best buys", which look beyond the lowest rates and take in incentives and fees...

The chancellor is not expected to change taxes in next week’s spring statement, it is understood.

This is despite higher-than-expected borrowing and the Bank of England's reduced forecast for growth this year, which were expected to put pressure on Rachel Reeves.

She will deliver her statement next Wednesday, against the backdrop of a faltering economy and tighter headroom when it comes to the fiscal rules she set herself in October.

Yesterday, Keir Starmer failed to repeat the chancellor's commitment not to extend the freeze on income tax thresholds during Prime Minister's Questions.

Thresholds were initially frozen by the last Conservative government until April 2028.

Kemi Badenoch asked the prime minister: "The chancellor promised a once-in-a-parliament budget, that she would not come back for more and in that budget, she said there will be no extension of the freeze in income tax thresholds.

"Ahead of the emergency budget, will he repeat the commitment that she made?"

Sir Keir responded by criticising the Conservative's record on the economy, mortgages and the NHS.

Every day last year around 35 British shops shut for good, according to new figures from PwC.

That's a total of 12,804 retail stores, leisure venues and service outlets closing across the year.

This is an improvement from 2023 - when 14,801 closed down - but still marks a net drop of 3,802 stores on Britain's high streets last year.

Zelf Hussain, restructuring partner at PwC UK, said retailers continue to face "significant challenges" in 2025.

"While household finances are improving, consumer confidence remains cautious," he added.

"Additionally, with substantial payroll cost increases and higher business rates taking effect in April, profit margins will remain under pressure, further straininghighstreetretailers."

Coffee shops helped to drive new openings last year, with 105 launching a mixture of out-of-town and drive-thru outlets targeting consumers on the move.

Bank branches, on the other hand, are dwindling - PwC reported a reduction of 396 as they shift operations online.

By James Sillars, business and economics reporter

The prospects for future interest rate cuts this year have suffered a blow, according to the latest financial market forecasts.

LSEG data shows two further reductions, that had been fully priced in for 2025 ahead of today's rate decision, are no longer guaranteed as far as investors are concerned.

It is tight but 43 basis points (0.43 percentage points) of reductions are now expected by the end of 2025.

The figure had stood at 52 basis points yesterday.

A figure of 50 would represent two 0.25 percentage point interest rate cuts by the bank, taking Bank rate to 4% in December.

But sentiment has taken a bit of a hit since the minutes of the rate-setting committee's discussions were released at midday.

Governor Andrew Bailey has since signalled greater caution as uncertainty builds over the impact of Donald Trump’s intensifying trade war.

"We have to be quite careful at this point in how we calibrate our response because we're still seeing a very gradual fall in inflation. We need to accumulate the evidence," he said.

The chances of a rate cut at the next meeting in May are now below 50%, according to the data.

The outlook for borrowers is essentially that interest rates may be higher for even longer unless the trade war fizzles out, or the economy suffers so badly from the global implications that the Bank has to release the brakes.

More uncertainty means more waiting.

It's World Happiness Day today, so we're told.

Luckily, we've got glorious weather for it in much of the UK.

But if you live anywhere in Great Britain, you'll know you can't bank on sunshine to cheer you up.

You can on these five tips, though, according toLord Mark Price, the author of Happy Economics and founder of workplace happiness consultantsWorkL- whosays there are sure ways to keep your staff smiling.

Here's what Price, a former Waitrose managing director and ex-John Lewis deputy chairman, has to say, in his own words...

Reward and recognition

Every member of an organisation should benefit from its success. A fair salary is essential - no amount of praise can compensate for underpayment. Your compensation structure should meet expectations and motivate employees to go above and beyond.

Information sharing

Withholding information can make employees feel undervalued and disconnected from the business. For a team to perform at its best, transparency is essential. Employees at all levels should have a clear understanding of the business, its strategy, performance, customers and competitors.

Empowerment

Empowering employees means involving them in decision-making, valuing their ideas, and integrating their feedback into the company's strategies. Everyone brings unique experiences and perspectives to the table, and only by considering all views can a team achieve the best possible outcome. While individuals may not be perfect, together, the team can be.

Wellbeing

Employee wellbeing encompasses physical, emotional, and financial health. Addressing all three areas leads to improved engagement and productivity. A positive workplace culture can reduce absenteeism, as engaged employees tend to be healthier and more committed.

Instilling pride

Employees who take pride in their work and workplace naturally become advocates, sharing their positive experiences with colleagues, potential hires, customers, and the community. Their pride will be evident when they talk about where they work. Building this sense of pride goes beyond motivational talks or performance reviews - it's about cultivating an environment where employees truly enjoy and take pride in their roles.

And so...

Implementing these strategies not only enhances employee happiness but also drives organisational success.

A happy workforce is more productive, innovative and loyal, ultimately contributing to the company's bottom line.

Products lower in fat, salt and sugar cost twice as much per calorie as healthy options, according to a Food Foundation report.

Have you felt the effects? Have you found a way around it? Or is something else stopping you from eating more healthily that's being overlooked?

We want to hear about your experiences. Contact the Money team via WhatsApp here or email us via moneyblog@sky.uk

We reported earlier this week that major supermarkets were rattled (share prices for Sainsbury's, Tesco and M&S took a dive) by a new strategy announced by rival Asda, with the grocery chain saying it would take a hit to profits to make prices cheaper and entice shoppers back through the doors.

Hints of a price war were much more positively received by readers, who said it was about time after years of price inflation.

A price war is long overdue. The supermarkets have been cashing in since COVID. Time to bring back value for the customer.

ShineyOne

Oh dear, all the big supermarket chains are worried because Asda, for once, are doing the right thing: putting the customers first instead of fleecing them.

Billy

We're already shopping in just Aldi and Asda. Tesco is way too expensive now, as is Sainsbury.

Piratebarnabus

As part of our Money Problems series, consumer expert Scott Dixon helped a frustrated customer who said they received an incorrect Deliveroo order and weren't offered a replacement.

Readers were quick to offer up their own experiences.

What constitutes a "delivery"? A number of delivery services just leave packages on the doorstep. Is this right?

Roger

I was missing items from McDonald's. They blamed the delivery driver but the bag was sealed. The delivery company blamed McDonald's so I got no refund or credit.

Peter

Had an issue with Uber Eats. Missed off all the chips and a drink from my order, driver wasn't bothered and told to contact Uber Eats. Only got £1.48 refund, which doesn't even cover the cost of the missed drink.

Rob Hill

I ordered a box of wine from Deliveroo. It got marked as delivered. No one called or knocked at my door. I contacted them and they said I can't get a refund as driver went to wrong address.

Frank

New figures on wage increases were also cause for debate.

Today, the Office for National Statistics revealed there had been annual wage growth of 5.9% in the three months to January compared with the same period last year.

Again you report a spectacular rise in wages (5.9%), as you have been doing for the past few years, and again this doesn't match my reality and those of anyone I know. My pay rise was 2%, and lots of people I know didn't even get one! Who is getting these spectacular pay rises?

Unbelievable

Can you tell me who is getting the pay rises of 5.9% because it's certainly not in Barnsley.

Andy

Where's the strong wage growth? What sector? Because it's certainly not in the electrical industry. Wages have stagnated for skilled craftsmen. That's why we don't make anything. Unbelievable. Get the youngsters into apprenticeship, train them how to do carpentry, engineering, etc.

Monkee knows best

The cost of bigger homes is rising faster than smaller ones, according to Halifax analysis.

The trend could make it easier for first-time buyers to take their first step on the property ladder - but harder to reach the next rung up.

The average price of a flat increased by 3.2% in the year to January, compared to 4.5% for a terraced house.

"This has caused the gap between the rungs on the housing ladder to widen further, presenting a bigger challenge to those looking to make the step up," said Amanda Bryden, head of Halifax Mortgages.

"However, that only tells part of the story. Slower growth among smaller homes is helpful for first-time buyers, and we saw a big rebound in that market last year, with a fifth more stepping onto the ladder."

It should be noted that new-build flats paint a very different picture, with a 6.7% rise compared to the 3.1% average across all types of newly-built properties.

Flats account for about 27% of first-time buyer purchases in the UK.

This varies significantly by region, from 71% in London to just 4% in the East Midlands, Halifax said.