The Guardian — Life & Style • Jan. 12, 2026, 2:34 a.m.

It is time to roll out the red carpet in recognition of those that worked hard to keep customers at arm’s length When the year began, I was a listening ear to Your Problems , my column for the Observer. Now I’m a Guardian consumer champion.

Reinvention is always bracing. My old life was spent wrestling airlines, insurance firms and energy providers intent on plundering readers’ piggy banks.

My new life? Wrestling airlines, insurance firms and energy providers intent on plundering readers’ piggy banks.

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