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This year has seen record numbers of people getting solar panels on their roofs. Nearly 20,000 went up in May alone. You and Yours were contacted by some people who like many others wanted to go green, bring their energy costs down and thought solar panels were the way to do it. They opted to go through a council backed, group buying scheme called Solar Together. But the company contracted to do installation of the panels lost its accreditation and is currently consulting with a liquidator. It's left many people in limbo and led to many complaints - more than 1000 have been made to the Greater London Authority. We hear from some of the people affected and hear from Chris Hewitt, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK, the trade association for the sector about what might have gone wrong.

In the 1970s laundrettes were a common feature of many high streets with nearly 14,000 across the UK. Today there are only 2000 left. We paid a visit to one to find out what its like running one during an energy crisis, who uses them and why.

There's been a huge spike in complaints about hire purchases. The Financial Ombudsman Service saw an 87 per cent increase in complaints in the last financial year. Its linked in part to more people financing their cars by hire purchase deals known as a ‘Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)’ plan. While these contracts might enable people to buy a car otherwise outside of their price range, the downside is they’re incredibly complicated and come with a considerable number of clauses and catches.
We hear from one person who got caught out by one such contract and find out from consumer expert Martyn James what you need to know before you enter into one.

PRESENTER WINIFRED ROBINSON
PRODUCER CATHERINE EARLAM