A woman has told how it took nearly six years to receive £2,000 in Premium Bonds from NS&I after her father died.
Tracy McGuire-Brown, from Newbury in Berkshire, said she had a “very long and drawn-out” experience dealing with NS&I, eventually receiving what she was entitled to last month.
She said her father died in 2020 and “after he died, obviously there were a lot of affairs to sort out and we knew he had some Premium Bonds”.
The 61-year-old said NS&I was contacted several times but initially said there was no such account, “even though we gave all the details and more and explained the situation”.
“Finally in 2024, we started to get some movement that there was an account and eventually they said yes there was and then it started.”
She told the Press Association she sent various documents by post, adding “there would be weeks in between” and “still it went on”.
The former care home manager said she eventually received a letter suggesting that before the money was used she should pay off any debts or funeral expenses. She added: “My father had been dead five years by then, I just found that was the final insult.”
After complaining, she received £150 “to say sorry for all the expenses that I’d had, but that doesn’t cover the distress, the time, you know, and it was £2,000, we weren’t talking hundreds of thousands… it was just ridiculous, it was a horrible time”.
She added: “Really, should it be that difficult, that awful and that much of a trial?
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“It’s just frightening, really. To make it so difficult and so insensitive is just appalling, I think.
“The weeks that passed by in between and the hoops that you had to jump through.
“Even when you have got all the information and you give them all the information, my experience was appalling… to the extent that I definitely would not invest in Premium Bonds now.
“And that’s a shame… when you are dealing with the bereavement of a close relative, to have this just keep going on, it just rakes stuff up as well, you just want to sort it, that’s all.”
She highlighted continuity issues in the process when she was speaking to NS&I staff, “so if you did get to speak to someone you had to explain everything again and again and again, just really bad”.
On Thursday, it emerged that NS&I, which is backed by the Treasury, is preparing to pay out hundreds of millions of pounds after failures meant that bereaved families were missing out on savings pots.
Pensions minister Torsten Bell said NS&I has reviewed more than 34 million customer records.
He said: “That work is ongoing, but it points to a maximum of around 37,500 customers with up to £476 million in deposits being affected.
“Three-quarters of cases relate to the period between 2008 and 2025.”
He said this number is likely to fall “but while it represents less than 0.2% of NS&I’s customers, it is still far too many”.
NS&I has said families, beneficiaries and deceased customers’ estates do not need to take immediate action and it will contact estates that are affected and publish further information for the beneficiaries of those estates.
An NS&I spokesperson said: “We recognise that dealing with bereavement can be challenging and would like to apologise to anyone who has not received the customer service from NS&I that they should expect, particularly at such a sensitive time.”
You place a food order, check your phone, and instead of a driver pulling up, a drone lowers your meal to your front yard. That scenario is already playing out in the Garden State. But before you get too excited, this is still a limited test.
Grubhub just launched New Jersey’s first drone-powered food delivery pilot, and it is getting plenty of attention. The three-month program kicked off on March 18 in Green Brook, just a few miles from Middlesex. If you live within about 2.5 miles of the location, you may be able to try it yourself.
Even better, you will not pay anything extra to choose the drone option.
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Grubhub launches a three-month drone delivery test in New Jersey, offering faster drop-offs with no added cost.(Grubhub)
How the drone delivery program works
The program is based out of Wonder’s Green Brook location, which operates a multi-restaurant kitchen. That means your order can come from one of 15 different food concepts, all prepared in the same place.
Here is how it works step by step:
You order through the Grubhub app
You select drone delivery if you are eligible
Your food is prepared and secured by trained staff
A drone flies it along a pre-approved route
The order is lowered safely to the ground using a tether
You can track everything in real time, just like a regular delivery. It feels familiar, but the final step looks very different.
Why this could be faster than your usual delivery
Timing matters when you are hungry. That is where drones may have a real advantage. Unlike drivers, drones do not deal with traffic, stoplights or parking. They fly directly to your location using optimized flight paths.
Grubhub says deliveries should arrive faster than traditional methods. While that will vary based on conditions, the goal is simple. Less waiting, more eating. This test will help the company see if that promise holds up in real neighborhoods.
New Jersey residents within range can order food by drone, with real-time tracking and tethered drop-offs.(Grubhub)
The tech behind the delivery drones
The program uses the DE-2020 drone from Dexa, a company that specializes in autonomous delivery systems.
This is not a hobby drone. It is a fully automated aircraft built for commercial use.
Key features include:
FAA-certified operations for safety and compliance
Secure communication systems during flight
Controlled drop-off using a tether system
Pre-planned routes to reduce noise and disruption
Before each flight, crews check that food is packaged and secured properly. That step helps prevent spills or issues mid-air. In short, there is a lot more going on behind the scenes than a simple takeoff and landing.
We reached out to Grubhub, and a spokesperson shared the following statement:
“Our partnership with Dexa represents a major step forward in Grubhub’s commitment to delivery innovation,” said Abhishek “PJ” Poykayil, SVP of customer delivery operations at Wonder and Grubhub. “By connecting Grubhub’s marketplace expertise, Wonder’s innovative mealtime platform, and Dexa’s expansive drone technology, we’re proud to introduce a faster and more efficient way for New Jersey diners to experience food delivery without compromising safety or reliability.”
We also reached out to Dexa for more insight into the technology behind the program. CEO and founder Beth Flippo shared the following with CyberGuy:
“At Dexa, we’re proud to be powering the underlying autonomous technology that enables this new generation of on-demand delivery. Our partnership with Grubhub brings together their industry-leading logistics network with our advanced autonomy platform, which is designed to safely navigate complex environments, optimize real-time routing, and operate reliably without the need for continuous human intervention. This is a meaningful step toward a future where autonomous systems are woven seamlessly into everyday life, from delivering food and goods to supporting transportation, infrastructure and critical services. As consumers continue to expect faster, more efficient and more sustainable options, autonomy will play a central role in meeting those expectations at scale.”
Autonomous drones designed by Dexa deliver meals from a central kitchen, bypassing traffic in a new suburban pilot program.(Grubhub)
Why companies are pushing drone delivery now
This move is not random. It is part of a bigger shift in how companies think about delivery. You and I want speed, convenience and reliability. At the same time, businesses want to reduce costs and scale faster. Drone delivery sits right in the middle of that.
It removes many of the delays tied to traditional delivery. It also opens the door to new models, especially in suburban areas where distances are manageable.
We are already seeing this play out in other parts of the country. Companies likeWing, backed by Google’s parent company Alphabet, have been testing and expanding drone deliveries for food, retail and small packages in select U.S. markets.
This New Jersey test is another step in that direction, and it shows how quickly the space is evolving.
What this means to you
Even if you are not in Green Brook, New Jersey, this still matters. Here is why:
You may get faster deliveries
If this works, shorter delivery times could become the new normal.
You could see more delivery options
Apps may soon offer choices like driver, robot or drone depending on your location.
It could change delivery costs
Right now, there is no added fee. In the future, pricing models may shift based on speed and demand.
Your neighborhood may see more drones
That raises questions about noise, safety and privacy that communities will need to address.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
It is easy to see drone delivery as some sort of cool experiment. But something bigger is starting to take shape right above us. For the first time, the sky is becoming part of everyday delivery. Today it is takeout. Tomorrow it could be groceries, last-minute essentials or even urgent supplies. If this technology proves reliable, and we get comfortable with it, the way you get what you need could change faster than you expect. So the next time you hear a faint buzz overhead, you may want to look up. It might not be a plane. It could be your dinner on the way. The real question is not if drones will become part of daily life. It is how soon you will be tracking one to your doorstep.
Would you trust a drone to deliver your next meal? Why or why not? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.
In today’s dating culture, many people find themselves in ambiguous relationships—connections that feel like love but come without commitment. These arrangements often leave one or both partners confused, frustrated, and emotionally drained. Divya Mohindroo, Counselling Psychologist and Founder Embrace Imperfections shares how sitautionships hit one mentally.
– Arsenal are exploring an approach for Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, says The Independent. The Gunners reportedly see the 25-year-old as a player who would provide more creativity, but while his representatives have indicated that he is open to a switch to the Emirates Stadium, there is belief that a deal could be difficult to pursue, with PSG not looking to part ways with him. Kvaratskhelia has scored 11 goals in 35 matches this season and any transfer would cost upwards of €80 million.
– Manchester United are lining up a move for Newcastle left back Lewis Hall, according to Sky Sports. The Old Trafford hierarchy have reportedly been impressed by the 21-year-old following several impressive performances this season, and he is viewed as an alternative signing to Eintracht Frankfurt‘s Nathaniel Brown, 22. The Red Devils are also expected to strengthen their forward line, with 19-year-old RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande and Everton‘s Iliman Ndiaye, 26, two of the top names on their shortlist.
– Bayern Munich are set to stand firm amid interest in winger Michael Olisefrom Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Manchester City. Speaking to Sport Bild, Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl said: “We’re not giving it a second thought. He’s an FC Bayern player and has all the opportunities here that top players could wish for.” The 24-year-old has directly contributed to 38 goals in 38 matches across all competitions this season, and has been linked with the Reds as a potential successor to Mohamed Salah.
– Manchester City and Arsenal are among several teams looking at Hearts defender Alfie Osborne. TEAMtalk reports that scouts from both clubs were present to watch the 17-year-old play for Scotland U19s in the 3-0 defeat against Italy in a U19 European Championship qualifier on Wednesday, and a deal could be secured for less than £250,000. Despite the Scottish Premiership side looking to keep him, it is reported that that Osborne isn’t planning to stay put beyond this summer.
– Borussia Dortmund are interested in Hoffenheim striker Fisnik Asllani. Florian Plettenberg says that BVB see the 23-year-old as a potential option if Serhou Guirassy leaves in the summer, but there is also competition from Bayern Munich, who are “closely monitoring” the situation with several other clubs. Asllani has a release clause in his contract worth in the region of €27 million, and he has also been linked with Barcelona as the LaLiga side continue to look for a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski.
ESPN EXCLUSIVES
– OL Lyonnes are close to convincing midfielder Caroline Weir to leave Real Madrid as a free agent this summer. Read
– Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad have resumed work on a deal for Mohamed Salah after the Liverpool forward announced Tuesday that he will leave the club at the end of the season. According to a source, Al Qadsiah are the only other Saudi Arabian club with the finances and ambition to rival Al Ittihad. Read
– MLS clubs Inter Miami and LA Galaxy, along with Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad, are interested in signing Manchester United midfielder Casemiro on a free transfer for next season. Read
– Barcelona are considering an attacking shake-up which would include listening to offers for forward Ferran Torres and the arrival of up to two new forwards. Read
EXPERT TAKE
play
1:53
Could Liverpool sign Kvaratskhelia or Olise to replace Salah?
Craig Burley debates who Liverpool could sign to replace Mohamed Salah.
OTHER RUMORS
– Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr. is closing in on signing a new contract with the club. (Sport)
– Barcelona are internally discussing a move for Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva. (AS)
– Premier League clubs are interested in Internazionale forward Marcus Thuram but an offer worth €70 million would be required to land him. (Corriere dello Sport)
– Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado is on the radar of Al Ahli, Al Nassr, and Al Hilal. (Sport)
– Internazionale are challenging Manchester City and Chelsea in the battle to sign River Plate winger Ian Subiabre. (TEAMtalk)
– Chelsea are keen on 16-year-old Marseille winger Said Remadnia. (Sun)
– Newcastle are looking to sign midfielder Lewis Miley to a new contract amid interest from multiple top clubs. (Fabrizio Romano)
– Como are among the teams in Serie A lining up a move to sign Juventus winger Filip Kostic, who is expected to become a free agent in the summer. (Nicolo Schira)
– Celtic want to sign on-loan Bournemouth right back Julian Araujo permanently in the summer. (Football Insider)
– Juventus have made progress in contract talks with striker Dusan Vlahovic, who could sign a one or two-year extension with the Bianconeri. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– Wolves are leading Celtic and Rangers in the race for BK Hacken midfielder Silas Andersen. (Football Insider)
– Liverpool have been in contact with former Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso, who would be willing to take over at Anfield should the Reds decide to part ways with current manager Arne Slot. (Bild)
Speaking to MPs on Tuesday, in response to calls for the government to step in, the chancellor promised contingency planning is underway for energy bill support “for those who need it most”, especially when the current energy price cap expires at the end of June.
It came after Sir Keir Starmer admitted he told his top team they must not fall into a sense of “false comfort” in thinking the war, launched by the US and Israel on 28 February, will have “a quick and early end”, bringing fears that the worst is yet to come for UK households.
As a result of the fluctuating rise and fall of oil and gas prices threatening another inflation shock for UK households, commentators have resurfaced the term “Trumpflation”, with Britons facing a rise in their fuel bills, the cost of their weekly shop, or when securing a mortgage deal. The term was originally coined by economists concerned about the inflationary potential of Mr Trump’s economic policies during the run-up to the US president’s first term in office.
Below, The Independent takes a look at what this all means for Britons.
Donald Trump’s war against Iran has sent financial markets and global energy prices into turmoil (Reuters)
Petrol and diesel prices
Drivers have been hit with a fresh blow as petrol and diesel have risen in cost again, new figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero showed this week.
The average pump price of a litre of unleaded petrol in the UK stood at 144.2p on Monday, up 3.9p week on week and a jump of 12.0p since 2 March, according to the figures. This is the highest price for unleaded petrol since July 2024.
Meanwhile, the average price of a litre of diesel stood at 166.9p on Monday, up 8.1p week on week and an increase of 24.7p since 2 March – marking the highest price for diesel since March 2023.
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As bills soar, and with fuel duty set to rise in September, the Competition and Markets Authority is being given new powers to clamp down on price gouging.
But in her statement to the Commons on Tuesday, Ms Reeves said millions will get no help with soaring energy costs, as Labour is set to offer targeted rather than universal support.
The chancellor hit out at the last Conservative government for providing “blanket” support in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, which she said had cost the country tens of billions of pounds.
Interest rates
The Bank of England was on course to soon cut interest rates – but then the first attacks began in the Middle East, and days later a decision was made to sit tight at 3.75 per cent.
While money markets reacted strongly and two-year bond yields spiked enough to bet on four rate hikes, that was never seen as a serious prospect by economists, with some analysts still forecasting a potential rate cut much later in the year.
Two areas linked to interest rates that have changed already are mortgages – more on those below – and savings, where, due to both the prospect of higher rates for longer and the timing being right before the end of the tax year, we are seeing some better deals, with above 4 per cent easily attainable.
The chancellor promised contingency planning is underway for energy bill support ‘for those who need it most’ (House of Commons)
Inflation
It is more difficult to predict exactly the impact of the war on overall UK inflation, in part because the numbers are backwards-looking, with economists already revising their forecasts for later in 2026.
On Wednesday, inflation held firm at around 3 per cent – but this is data for February, and it is March figures that will start to show the direct knock-on effect of the war.
What is certain though, is that we were on track for 2 per cent inflation by spring before the attacks on Iran began, while now it is looking certain that we will be seeing a significant reversal instead.
Thomas Pugh, chief economist at RSM UK said: “Inflation is expected to rise in March as the initial impact of higher fuel prices begins to show up in the official data. As pump prices rise to around £1.60 per litre by April, we expect inflation to fall only a little, compared to previous expectations of slowing to 2 per cent. Further ahead, the rise in natural gas prices will see Ofgem increase the energy price cap in July, exerting further upwards pressure on inflation and taking it back over 3 per cent.”
Iran has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, sending shockwaves through the global economy that have impacted the UK (PA Graphics)
Mortgages
The disappearance of sub-4 per cent mortgages from the market from all the big lenders is a sign of how fast matters have swung domestically.
While mortgage deals are loosely tied to the BoE interest rate, what really impacts them are swap rates. These are contracts traded on money markets and they can change very fast in either direction – so as soon as the first missiles hit, they started to elevate. That means the best mortgage rates are swiftly removed and that is why they have risen considerably higher without our base rate ever moving from 3.75 per cent.
As many as 37 per cent of homeowners on fixed-rate mortgage deals believe their mortgage costs are likely to increase in the next few months, according to Barclays’ data, with 8 per cent of mortgage holders saying their deal will expire within three months.
FTSE 100
Although not everyone will immediately feel they are affected when investments fall, the truth is almost all of us are – if you work in the UK and have a workplace pension for example, the chances are it is invested in the stock market, at least in part.
The main index for London-listed businesses, the FTSE 100, was on the cusp of a record milestone of 11,000 points in the lead-up to the war – but not only has it fallen away entirely since then, down around 10 per cent, but the index has also seen all its gains for the calendar year wiped out entirely. As of Tuesday afternoon, it was down 0.65 per cent for 2026 so far, having risen more than 21 per cent across the entirety of 2025.
Graph of FTSE 100 at close of trading on Monday this week (PA Graphics)
Heating oil
Almost 2 million homes and businesses across the UK still use heating oil, which is not protected by the energy price cap – although Ms Reeves has insisted that Treasury officials have “found the money” to help.
As with any commodity, prices go higher when demand outstrips supply and the global oil supply is under severe pressure, with the cost of heating oil rising from around 60-1p per litre before the Middle East war broke out, to a high point of about 134p per litre. Today the price is still on the higher end, standing at 129.3p per litre.
Groceries
Food production, which involves an energy-intensive supply chain, is expected to be directly hit by the conflict in the Middle East, a key energy-producing region.
In the worst-case scenario, food inflation could briefly reach over 8 per cent by June 2026, new forecasts from the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) show – more than double the current food inflation rate of 3.6 per cent.
This comes on top of a sustained rise in prices, according to the IGD, with UK retail food prices now around 38 per cent higher than pre‑Covid levels, leaving households far more exposed to further price spikes.
On Tuesday, Ms Reeves announced plans to meet with supermarkets and banks later this week to discuss what help they can offer customers.
U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine are being tied to Kyiv ceding the eastern Donbas region to Russia as part of a potential peace deal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Reuters in an interview published Thursday.
“The Americans are prepared to finalize these guarantees at a high level once Ukraine is ready to withdraw from Donbas,” Zelenskyy said, describing a proposal he warned could undermine both Ukraine’s defenses and broader European security.
But a U.S. official, speaking on background, told Fox News Digital the claim is false.
Zelenskyy’s comments point to growing pressure from President Donald Trump to reach a swift end to the war, now in its fourth year following Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Zelenskyy suggested the administration’s approach is influenced in part by competing global crises, including the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine are being tied to Kyiv ceding the eastern Donbas region to Russia as part of a potential peace deal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. (Pavlo Bahmut/Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“The Middle East definitely has an impact on President Trump,” Zelenskyy said. “President Trump, unfortunately, in my opinion, still chooses a strategy of putting more pressure on the Ukrainian side.”
Talks between the United States, Russia and Ukraine have taken place in Abu Dhabi and Geneva in 2026, but key issues remain unresolved, including how Ukraine’s future security would be guaranteed and who would fund its long-term defense.
Zelenskyy warned that abandoning Donbas would hand Russia heavily fortified Ukrainian defensive lines, weakening Kyiv’s position and potentially enabling future aggression.
“I would very much like the American side to understand that the eastern part of our country is part of our security guarantees,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that abandoning Donbas would hand Russia heavily fortified Ukrainian defensive lines. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has long insisted that full control of Donbas is central to Moscow’s war aims. While Russian forces have made gains, analysts cited by Reuters say progress has been slow, and capturing the remaining territory could take significant time and manpower.
Zelenskyy also warned that Moscow is betting Washington will lose interest if negotiations stall.
“Russia is counting on the fact that the United States will not have the strength or patience to bring this to an end,” he said.
Despite tensions over negotiations, Zelenskyy thanked the Trump administration for continuing deliveries of Patriot missile defense systems, which Ukraine relies on to intercept Russian ballistic missiles.
“Deliveries to us were not stopped. I’m very grateful to President Trump, and to his team,” he said, while adding that supplies remain insufficient.
In parallel with the diplomatic push, Zelenskyy signaled a broader strategy to expand Ukraine’s role as a security provider, particularly in the Middle East, where countries are seeking solutions to large-scale drone and missile threats.
A cemetery worker prepares a burial vault at military cemetery outside of the city of Dnipro, Ukraine, May 25, 2023.(Seth Herald/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
“The United States has reached out to us regarding their bases in Middle Eastern countries,” Zelenskyy wrote on X Thursday, adding that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait have also approached Ukraine.
He said Ukrainian teams are already on the ground sharing operational experience, particularly in countering mass drone attacks.
“No matter how many Patriots, THAADs, or other air defense systems are in the Middle East, that alone is not enough,” he wrote. “There are modern interceptors designed to counter heavy drone strikes.”
Zelenskyy also indicated Ukraine is exploring defense trade arrangements, offering to sell surplus systems and expertise while seeking access to air defense missiles it currently lacks.
“Funding is the scarcest resource today,” he wrote, noting Ukraine’s defense industry is operating at roughly half capacity and needs additional financing to scale drone production.
Ukraine is exploring defense trade arrangements, the country’s president said. (Iryna Rybakova/Press Service of the 93rd Kholodnyi Yar Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces/Reuters)
In separate posts tied to an address at a Joint Expeditionary Force summit, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine’s battlefield experience could play a broader role in European and global security.
“We have this experience. … Let’s bring all of this together even more,” he wrote, calling for deeper cooperation with European partners and warning that the continent must build its own capacity to produce air defense systems rather than rely on external suppliers.
Reuters contributed to this story.
Efrat Lachter is a foreign correspondent for Fox News Digital covering international affairs and the United Nations. Follow her on X @efratlachter. Stories can be sent to [email protected].
The Treasury-backed savings bank has apologised after it was revealed that many bereaved families did not receive money they were owed, alongside poor customer service.
The banking giant provides a range of savings and investments to over 24 million customers, including around 22 million Premium Bonds holders.
It is now undergoing a programme to reunite people with their cash, with up to £476 million in deposits being affected. The bank has also indicated that those affected may be “compensated” for the issue.
Many families of deceased savers have complained that NS&I withheld Premium Bond prizes from them, with some reporting that payments were delayed and investments lost.
Pensions minister Torsten Bell told the Commons that NS&I notified the Treasury of an operational failure to trace accounts comprehensively of some customers who had died (PA Archive)
The savings bank is in talks with the Treasury to repay 37,500 savers whose money may have been misplaced.
Pensions minister Torsten Bell told the House of Commons that NS&I notified the Treasury of an operational failure to trace accounts comprehensively of some customers who had died.
He said: “The result of this failure is that not all savings were identified by NS&I and paid to the beneficiaries of their estates as they should have been.
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“Specifically, processes failed to comprehensively trace some customer holdings where those were spread across multiple profiles or systems.”
An NS&I spokesperson said: “We recognise that dealing with bereavement can be challenging and would like to apologise to anyone who has not received the customer service from NS&I that they should expect, particularly at such a sensitive time.”
Am I eligible for compensation?
More details are expected to be laid out by NS&I in May about how missing funds will be returned, alongside possible compensation, Mr Bell has confirmed.
It is not clear at this stage if money will be paid in compensation to those affected alongside the return of their missing funds.
The pensions minister told the Commons: “Since being notified, the Treasury has ensured external advisers including EY and legal experts have been engaged to identify the scale of these errors.
“Through this work, NS&I have reviewed over 34 million customer records.
“That work is ongoing, but it points to a maximum of around 37,500 customers with up to £476 million in deposits being affected.
“Three-quarters of cases relate to the period between 2008 and 2025.
“This number is likely to fall in future but while it represents less than 0.2 per cent of NS&I’s customers, it is still far too many.”
National Savings and Investments (NS&I) is set to pay millions of pounds (NS&I)
He added “there is no need for individuals to waste money on a claims management company or solicitor”, stressing the onus is on NS&I to contact people, rather than the other way around.
In its latest guidance, NS&I said: “NS&I apologises and is extremely sorry for these errors. It is working hard to ensure everybody affected is paid what is owed to them. Families, beneficiaries and deceased customers’ estates do not need to take any immediate action. NS&I will contact estates that are affected and will publish further information for the beneficiaries of those estates in due course.”
In one case, NS&I reportedly failed to tell the daughter of a deceased saver about her mother’s bonds, and also lost track of £2,000 in bonds she held herself, she told The Telegraph.
In another case, NS&I allegedly refunded a woman’s family for tax interest and legal costs after it lost track of two accounts linked to an investment portfolio.
Former HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) boss Sir Jim Harra will replace Dax Harkins as the chief executive of NS&I on an interim basis to “provide a fresh start”, Mr Bell said.
NS&I was also under the spotlight in February, when the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said it was not confident about NS&I’s ability to successfully deliver its transformation programme, which was designed to modernise NS&I’s operations.
Total costs of the programme hit an estimated £3 billion in 2024, and NS&I was overconfident about its ability to deliver it, the committee said.
The spending watchdog said there were risks to NS&I’s business, and especially its customers, if the programme is unsuccessful.
Following the controversial final in Rabat – in which Morocco and Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz missed a Panenka penalty to win the match in the 114th minute – the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) immediately lodged a complaint with Caf and Fifa, claiming that Senegal leaving the field of play “greatly affected the normal course of the match and the players’ morale”.
Caf’s disciplinary committee initially rejected that appeal, instead issuing sanctions against both sides, including a five-match ban for Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw, on 29 January.
The FRMF said those original penalties did not “reflect the seriousness of the incidents”, and Caf’s appeal board agreed, releasing a statement on 17 March which said Senegal had contravened articles 82 and 84 of competition regulations.
Article 82 states that if a team “leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorisation of the referee”, they are eliminated.
Senegal’s government responded by calling for an investigation into “suspected corruption” at Caf, a claim rebuffed by the governing body’s president, Patrice Motsepe, who has been at pains to point out the appeal board’s independence.
“It is important that the decisions of our Caf disciplinary board and the Caf appeals board are viewed with respect and integrity,” he said.
The final decision on who claims the 2025 Afcon title now rests with Cas, sport’s highest judicial authority.
“To wage this moral and legal crusade, we have appointed a team of seasoned professionals with undeniable expertise,” Fall announced in Paris, flanked by members of the FSF legal team.
One of them, lawyer Seydou Diagne, called the decision to strip Senegal of their title “so blatant, so absurd, so irrational”.
“The decision of the appeals jury cannot even be considered a true decision of sporting justice,” he added.
“It is an unacceptable and intolerable attack on the fundamental rights of our national Football Federation.”
Fellow lawyer Juan Perez said: “A match that was over, whose result had been decided by the referee, now being re-refereed, administratively – that’s unprecedented. You haven’t seen anything like it. It could change the world of football.”
Caf recently updated the Afcon 2025 review on its website to list Morocco as winners, although that page now appears to have been taken down.
With Senegal refusing to relinquish the trophy, and with Saturday’s planned parade a sign of their contempt, the battle to be crowned African champions is far from over.
