Money Talks: cost of dying, house prices surge and pension reforms

The pension reforms will be of most benefit to those who have built up large pension pots. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Hello and welcome to this week’s Money Talks – a roundup of the week’s biggest stories and some things you may have missed.

Money news

The cost of dying includes funeral costs at £3,590 – but that accounts for less than half of the total. Photograph: Alamy

State pension increase not enough to live on, campaign group says

Cost of dying sees biggest jump in six years to £8,427

Bank current account switch sees Halifax and Santander come out on top

Investment scam potential victims subject of new campaign

House prices in London surging at almost 20% a year

UK’s over-55s to be able to withdraw lump sums from pensions

Mortgage price war is good news for borrowers

Feature

Using Airbnb, Wimdu or another social travel site? How to avoid being conned

Consumer champions

Cold comfort: taking two duvets to the cleaners and ending up with one. Photograph: Alamy

Rucksack that’s cheap as chips should still last longer than 20 minutes

Dealing with dry cleaners over lost duvet far from black and White

Railroaded into paying for replacement Friends and Family card

In pictures

Eastern Terrace, Brighton, East Sussex. Photograph: Strutt and Parker

Home and away: houses used for films

In the spotlight

Do you know what your bank will never ask for by phone? Photograph: Alamy

Eight things your bank will never ask you (but a fraudster might) – the UK’s big banks have published a list of things they will never ask you to do

Work advice

Career cares? Work woes? Out of love with the office? Our expert is on hand to help. Put your questions to Jeremy, and help other readers with their worries.

Money deals

Save on your mobile bills with the Guardian’s new comparison service. Compare the latest pay monthly, sim-only and pay-as-you-go deals now.

Is it time to fix your mortgage rate? Get fee-free advice from the Guardian Mortgage Service, provided by L&C, to help you find the right deal.