VW emissions ‘fix’ left our car undriveable, plus new £1 coin launches

James Harrison says the VW recall has ruined what was previously a perfectly good car. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian

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 new 12-sided £1 coin launches – but you may not be able to use it

New coin faces teething problems, with some ticket and vending machines, as well as shopping trolleys, unable to take it. Photograph: Jack Taylor/Getty Images

Council tax bills to rise in nine out of 10 English local authorities

Hammond was right to raise tax for self-employed, inquiry to say

Crackdown on contactless card security flaw welcomed by MPs

FCA to tackle weakness that allows fraudsters to make ‘tap and go’ payments months after cards are cancelled. Photograph: Barclaycard/PA

Feature

Up in smoke: the VW emissions ‘fix’ has left our car undriveable

In pictures

Homes in beauty spots

A four-bedroom mill conversion for sale near Sedbergh, Cumbria.

In the spotlight

Fancy a three-bed semi with a garden for £152,000? Or rent at less than £500 per month? Sheffield is showing other local authorities how to build again. Julia Kollewe reports.

Shirley Eckhardt, who lives in Cutler’s View (pictured), says of her new house: ‘It’s so modern – all the units are fitted, the cooker, freezer.’

Consumer champions

BA has its head in the clouds over buy-on-board food

‘Its new short-haul food policy just doesn’t work – they did not have the items we wanted, and don’t take cash.’ Photograph: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Moss Bros could jilt me at the altar over my groomsmen’s get-up

Suddenly our Diamond Rail holiday has lost its sparkle

All systems are no go when it comes to getting my Allsave childcare vouchers

It feels as if I’ve been hung out to dry by John Lewis over discounted machine

Money deals

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