MoneySavingExpert - Business commenting in a forum

MoneySavingExpert.com does not allow advertising of any type on the forum.

The forums have also have a very limited number of 'company representatives'; these are checked out and verified spokespeople for specific firms. This status is granted entirely at the discretion of MoneySavingExpert.com.

Which type of companies are allowed?

These are limited to household names with huge numbers of customers, companies that have been mentioned in the MSE guides, or non-profit agencies. Company reps allow a company to answer questions on the forum about the company or its services.

What are they allowed to post about?

It's a strictly reactive policy. Each company rep is allowed one thread to respond to. If reps are trying to promote their products (or it looks like they've had questions from others drafted to elicit such a response, which is illegal) then please report them via resolver and MSE may remove the 'company representative' privilege.

How do I spot a company representative?

If they've been given permission to post they'll have a standard username (xx Company Representative) and signature to clarify who they are. This doesn't mean MSE endorses their products or services. Any posts by companies without permission will be removed when reported. Companies posting shouldn't tout for business.

MoneySavingExpert’s background

• Is an independent site offering consumers the best deals
• The site chooses the best deals on what is best for the consumer
• If the information is incorrect you should let them know
• The forum content is not actively monitored by MoneySavingExpert.com, but if you think any of the content is inappropriate, you should report it

Core rights background

MoneySavingExpert.com

MoneySavingExpert.com is the UK's biggest consumer website. The site's dedicated to cutting your bills and fighting your corner with journalistic research, cutting edge tools & a massive community – all focused on finding deals, saving cash & campaigning for financial justice.

MoneySavingExpert.com standards

MoneySavingExpert.com never charges consumers for its services, nor does it take any advertising on the site. Companies cannot pay to buy space on the site. Any top deals, best buys, tips or suggestions on the main site are purely down to journalistic research by the site.

The Forums

The Forums is one of the UK's biggest social networks. It has more than 1 million members and at any one time, thousands of users are discussing ways to save, as well as supporting and motivating each other.

MSE standards

• The MoneySavingExpert.com website does not provide financial advice, they recommend that you do your own research to ensure it's right for your specific circumstances.
• MoneySavingExpert.com says it is not responsible for the content of websites that it refers to.
• MoneySavingExpert.com does not check the financial stability of companies
• MoneySavingExpert.com forum content is not content written or created by MoneySavingExpert.com and so they are not responsible for this content

MSE Code of Conduct

(1) MoneySavingExpert.com shall be operated in accordance with this Editorial Code and
(2) this Editorial Code shall be carried out and applied in a manner consistent with the practice, activities and operation of MoneySavingExpert.com and Martin Lewis (as the current Editor-in-Chief):

1. MoneySavingExpert.com and the MoneySupermarket.com group websites shall continue to operate as separate websites.
2. MoneySavingExpert.com's editorial independence and strategy of “helping the consumer” first shall prevail. The editorial stance shall remain independent from commercial objectives. The reporting lines of the editorial and commercial teams shall remain separate to maintain the independent editorial stance.
3. MoneySavingExpert.com's Editor-in-Chief shall control all editorial decisions made in relation to MoneySavingExpert.com and its editorial strategy.
4. MoneySavingExpert.com's forum shall continue to be operated in a manner consistent with current practice for the benefit of “helping the consumer” first. MoneySavingExpert.com's Editor-in-Chief shall control the website's forum strategy.
5. MoneySavingExpert.com's Editor-in-Chief shall determine the design of the website together with any content, email, printed publications, reports, products, services, mobile applications and tools provided by the website from time to time ("MoneySavingExpert.com Content").
6. MoneySavingExpert.com's Editor-in-Chief (and authorised spokespersons) may comment freely on all issues consistent with the website's role as a consumer campaigning website, regardless of whether such views differ from those of the MoneySupermarket.com group. Such comments shall be made in an objective manner consistent with MoneySavingExpert.com's strategy of “helping the consumer” first.
7. MoneySavingExpert.com's Editor-in-Chief (and authorised spokespersons) shall be permitted to comment freely about the products and services available through the MoneySupermarket.com group. Such comments shall be made in an objective manner consistent with MoneySavingExpert.com's strategy of “helping the consumer” first.
8. MoneySavingExpert.com Content shall continue to be researched, written and approved by the editorial team according to journalistic methods and in an objective manner in order to identify the money saving techniques, products and services that MoneySavingExpert.com considers to be the preferred option for users consistent with its strategy of “helping the consumer” first.
9. Products and services provided by the MoneySupermarket.com group shall be assessed using the same journalistic methods as those of any other third party and, like any other third party, shall only be included on MoneySavingExpert.com where those products and services are the preferred options for users.
10. Third parties (including the MoneySupermarket.com group) shall not be able to pay for or otherwise agree advertising space on MoneySavingExpert.com. Where printed guides produced by MoneySavingExpert.com are sponsored, the name of the sponsor may be noted.
11. MoneySavingExpert.com shall continue to highlight to its users how it is financed. Where MoneySavingExpert.com uses an affiliate link (a link that can result in a payment to the website) it will, wherever practicable, continue to provide an alternative unpaid link to an identical product or service on the same page.
12. MoneySavingExpert.com may continue to highlight and remind users (via its email or website navigation) of MoneySavingExpert.com Content that generates revenue, provided this does not impact the editorial stance which shall continue to be determined in an objective manner consistent with MoneySavingExpert.com's strategy of “helping the consumer” first. For more information, see how the site is financed.
13. MoneySavingExpert.com Content and the MoneySavingExpert.com brand may only be used on MoneySupermarket.com media with the express permission of the MoneySavingExpert.com's Editor-in-Chief (acting reasonably). If such permission is granted, the following provisos shall apply:

o 13.1 when MoneySavingExpert.com's opinions on products or services are used, a one-click link path shall exist to the full information on MoneySavingExpert.com about those products or services; and

o 13.2 if deemed appropriate by the Editor-in-Chief, any applicable caveats shall appear directly within the copy on MoneySupermarket.com media; and

o 13.3 MoneySavingExpert.com Content and MoneySavingExpert.com brand shall be used in the same context as in the original copy on MoneySavingExpert.com; and

o 13.4 the amount of MoneySavingExpert.com Content used shall be determined by the Editor-in Chief.

• Any personal data about individual users, including contact details, (as opposed to aggregated or anonymised user behaviour data) gathered while operating MoneySavingExpert.com shall not be tracked or otherwise used by MoneySupermarket.com group (except for internal reporting, accounting or compliance purposes) without the express permission of the MoneySavingExpert.com's Editor-in-Chief and in accordance with the informed consent of the relevant user.

If MoneySavingExpert.com sends users directly to MoneySupermarket.com group's websites or the user visits MoneySupermarket.com group's websites independently, they shall be subject to MoneySupermarket.com's data protection policy.

• Any personal data about individual users, including contact details, gathered while operating MoneySavingExpert.com shall not be sold to third parties or used for the purposes of communications from MoneySupermarket.com (including via email).

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