What on earth.... ? An airline passenger got so frustrated he could not claim his £8,930 winnings from a Ryanair scratch card immediately he ended up eating the ticket.

The man was flying with Ryanair from Krakow in Poland to East Midlands Airport last Thursday when he won €10,000 euros with the scratch card.

The cabin crew confirmed he had won the prize but told the passenger he would have to collect the jackpot directly from the company that runs the competition. But the man demanded the cash then and there.

Ryanair said the man then became frustrated and started to eat his winning ticket. This means he can't claim the prize money - which will now be donated to charity.

New mobile roaming EU regulation comes into effect today with the aim of protecting customers from "bill shocks".

The past couple of years have seen many holidaymakers return from their travels to mobile phone bills of thousand of pounds because they have used the internet or downloaded data on their phones while abroad.

Under the new rule a cut-off mechanism will be introduced once the bill reaches €50 unless the customer specifies another cut-off limit.

So is this really necessary - how big is the problem?

Virgin Media has launched a new "Travel Pass" for people using its mobile internet service abroad.

Users can access the internet on their mobile phone for £6 a day or on their laptop for £10 a day within Europe.

So how does the Virgin Travel Pass compare against rival services?

Drivers who fill up at the petrol station just once a week spend more than £2,500 a year on fuel, even though the cost of petrol and diesel has fallen significantly since mid 2008, according to fuel price-fixing website fuelbeater.

It offers UK motorists the chance to protect themselves against future fuel price rises by paying a monthly charge to fix at a rate based on their vehicle size or average consumption over a six-month period.

Should the price of petrol rise above this level during any one month, the website will refund you the difference in cash via an automatic deposit.

But is it really worth locking into a fuel price deal? We took a look at the website to find out.

Britain is set for an automotive revolution, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has claimed, as the government set out the final details of its £230 million 'Plug-In Car Grant'.

Drivers can get up to £5,000 off an electric or hybrid car from next year.

So is it worth taking advantage of the incentive?

The hallmark signs of the cowboy parking firm are everywhere. The grubby and hard-to-read signs almost entirely hidden from view, the ridiculous rules banning you from parking perfectly sensibly, the lightening responses of the enforcers who spring from the bushes with a wheel clamp in less time than it takes to pop into the shop for a paper, and the incredible, outlandish charges to free your car from its confines.

This was all supposed to stop at the end of last year. The government announced a crackdown on rogue firms, and said they would have to comply with a strict code of conduct before they would be allowed access to the DVLA database they need in order to chase fines.

But according to the AA they are still flourishing, overcharging and intimidating. It is calling for an independent adjudicator to settle disputes, but in the interim, what can you do if you are caught by a cowboy clamper?

For frequent flyers, a free upgrade to business class is the holy grail – albeit one glimpsed from time to time.

Most people report being upgraded only when the airline has made a mistake with the booking or overbooked economy class and need the space.

Even then you will be in competition with all the other passengers. So the best way to be bumped up is to look the part – both on the booking and in person.

If you're heading abroad on a skiing trip or a weekend getaway, you might be wondering when is the best time to get your euros or dollars.

It's not an easy decision after all the wild swings on foreign exchange markets in recent days. The pound plummeted against the dollar after the US Federal Reserve raised its discount rate on Thursday and slid further the next day on renewed fears about the UK economy, but drifted higher again today.

Where is the pound headed in coming months and when should you pick up your foreign tender?

People who love paperwork are like those who wish they could spend more time cleaning the house, and those who would ideally like to move in with their in-laws - they just don't exist.

Our financial life is beset with endless paperwork, so we find ourselves filling out multiple forms and applications and keeping on top of piles of paper, vital dates and deadlines.

It's hardly surprising that occasionally we slip up in some small way.

The trouble is that it could cost us dear, and when it comes to our car insurance it could actually end in your car being confiscated. So what is the tiny mistake that could cost you your car?

Beat the winter blues and escape on a quick city break. If you can put up with the cold and wet weather, there are some good deals to be had in the UK. Otherwise look further afield for some much needed vitamin D.

Here is a round-up of city breaks and weekend getaways that won't break the bank.