‘Street’ star to cut out rip-offs

AN Oldham actor has landed a new role — as a consumer champion helping people ripped off by banks and lenders.

Michael Le Vell, who has played car mechanic Kevin Webster in “Coronation Street” for more than 25 years, has become a board director of a financial claims management specialist.

The Cheshire–based firm helps consumers burdened with mis–sold payment protection insurance (PPI), excessive bank charges, unfair credit agreements and mortgage offers that have not complied with the law.

The 44-year-old, who trained at Oldham Theatre Workshop before joining the popular soap, said: “Consumers have been ripped off and exploited by financial organisations for many years.

“Thousands of people are suffering hardship and stress from unfair credit agreements and substantial overcharging by the banks.

“But help is now at hand. Even I have first–hand experience of people trying to mis–sell financial products to me and so I know how easy it is to get sucked into unfair agreements.”