Money roundup video: Bogus landlords' warning and pension freedom problems

Personal Finance Editor Simon Read talks over the latest Money news

A 'To Let' letting sign is seen displayed outside a rental property (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

This week: Bogus landlords’ warning; comparison sites in the dock again; pension freedom problems; free hotel stay.

Bogus landlords warning: they’re tricking potential renters out of thousands

An army of tricksters are using online websites to trap their victims. They publish details of tempting flatshares or properties and then disappear when unsuspecting tenants hand over a deposit. The police today revealed CCTV footage of one crook who has tricked people out of at least £20,000 by taking deposits from them for a flat he wasn’t the landlord of.

Full story, and tips to spot the bogus landlords, here.

Comparison sites in the dock again – now they’re accused of hiding the best deals

Critics have accused comparison sites of deliberately guiding us to the deals through which they make the most commission. Last week Confused.com was forced to suspend its savings best buys after a TV show revealed that it was keeping the best deals from consumers. The news followed a price fixing scandal that emerged earlier this month when Moneysupermarket and uSwitch were revealed to be under investigation by Ofgem.

Full story here.

Pension freedom problems – thousands are being told they can’t have their cash

New rules came into effect in April giving people aged 55 and over the right to withdraw their cash if they want, rather than having to buy an annuity policy. More than a million people have made enquiries but thousands have been stymied, largely because of a lack of readiness for the changes among pension companies.

Five questions on pension freedom problems.

Know anyone celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary? They can get a free night at Travelodge

Do you know anyone celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary this year? If so, they qualify for a free night's stay at any of Travelodge's 504 UK hotels. The company has made the offer to celebrate its own 30-year anniversary. To qualify for the free night, couples need to register before 30 June at 30thweddinganniversary @travelodge.co.uk. They will need to send proof of being married for 30 years in 2015 before being handed their free night's stay.

More bargains and deals here.