News Archive
December
- Quarter of gift vouchers will not be spent
31.12.2007
The Voucher Association reveals unspent gift vouchers are present to retailers - New Year mortgage shock
30.12.2007
Cost of mortgages set to rise in spite of expected rate cuts by Bank of England - £1000 a minute spent in sales
29.12.2007
Credit crunch ignored as UK shoppers spend, spend, spend - FSA advice for binge spenders
29.12.2007
Figures published by FSA show two- thirds of Britons don’t know true cost of Christmas - House prices fall for second month running
28.12.2007
Building society says house prices fell again in December - Debt charities facing a busy January
27.12.2007
New year financial hangover will see many calling for help - Number of first-time buyers at 20 year low
22.12.2007
Halifax reports lowest number of UK first-time buyers since 1980 - £2.35bn saved in November
21.12.2007
Building Societies see November saving figures triple. - 8% drop in mortgage lending
21.12.2007
‘Fresh confirmation of property market slowdown’ - Credit card ruling could lead to price fall
20.12.2007
European ruling could force fee cuts. - 17% Npower increase
19.12.2007
Evidence arises of increasing pressure for rise in household energy bills - Pieces of Rock for high street banks
18.12.2007
Government’s advisers draw up secret plans for Rock rescue - Fraud fear stops over-50s going online
17.12.2007
Survey reveals biggest factor stopping over-50s surfing the net is fear of fraud - All properties now need ‘Hips’
14.12.2007
Every property put up for sale now needs a Home Information Pack - Banks unite to treat credit crunch problem
13.12.2007
Unprecedented action by central banks to inject money into world money markets - Sub-prime lenders wrongly give mortgages
12.12.2007
Citizens advice accuses lenders of being ‘at fault’ when giving out home loans - £750k spent on web in one minute
11.12.2007
Lunchtime rush yesterday sees £750k spent on internet in just 60 seconds - Millions set for new year ‘financial hangover’
11.12.2007
Banks likely to hike up credit card rates next year - Plea for Rock to be nationalised
11.12.2007
Acting Lib Dem leader calls for ‘urgent legislation’ so Northern Rock can be nationalised - ‘Extortionate’ interest on store cards
10.12.2007
Study shows Christmas shoppers with store cards will have interest bill of £2.8bn next year - Banks already making millions from rate cuts
09.12.2007
Banks the only ones profiting from last week’s rate cut - Is Sky selling your personal details?
08.12.2007
Sky can sell information about you... unless you opt out - Age discrimination to be kept by banks
08.12.2007
High Street banks in UK reject clause to abolish age discrimination when giving credit - Bank makes expected rates cut
07.12.2007
Bank of England lowers interest rates by 0.25% - Contender reveals Rock rescue plans
07.12.2007
Group in contention for stricken bank reveals rescue offer - £186,000 to bring up one child
07.12.2007
Childcare and education costs bump up cost of raising a child - Bank set to cut interest rates today
06.12.2007
Slowing economy puts pressure on Bank of England to cut UK interest rates - 1.1% November house price dip
05.12.2007
Halifax reports third house price drop this year - Slowdown for High Street
05.12.2007
UK consumer confidence sees biggest decline in three years - Poor ‘exploited’ by energy companies
05.12.2007
Watchdog accuses energy companies of exploiting some of poorest people in society - Gas bills set to rise to cover pipe work
04.12.2007
Energy regulator accused of failing to protect customers from new pricing structure - Pressure from JC Flowers for Rock takeover bid
04.12.2007
JC Flowers steps-up battle for Northern Rock takeover - Bank data and PINs being sold online
03.12.2007
Security breaches to be investigated by information watchdog - Lenders call for long-term mortgage boost
03.12.2007
Council for Mortgage Lenders talk of “reasonable” demand for long-term mortgage deals - Rock battle ‘set to intensify’
02.12.2007
Bank urged by Treasury officials to consider rival bids
November
- Northern Rock loan in ‘desperate territory’
30.11.2007
Opposition MPs call for bank to be nationalised - Steep fall in house prices
29.11.2007
November sees the biggest fall in house prices in twelve years - One in four money websites are unclear
28.11.2007
Watchdog warns promo websites are not fair or clear enough - Virgin named as favourite for Northern Rock takeover bid
26.11.2007
The latest news on the status of the Northern Rock takeover bid - Average debt for Britons is £33,000
26.11.2007
Report claims average debt has doubled in seven years - Majority failing to stick to budget
23.11.2007
64% run out of money towards end of month - Mortgage approvals 'hit record low'
23.11.2007
Pressure on household finances could be responsible for low number of mortgage approvals - Few 'regularly' check bank balance
22.11.2007
1 in 5 check bank balance once a month - Northern Rock advisers discuss bids
21.11.2007
Northern Rock rescue plans discussed with 'a number' of interested parties - Public finances hit by tax revenues
21.11.2007
New figures reveal worsened state of public finances in October - 70% of card users see limits raised
21.11.2007
Survey claims 70% have limits increased without asking - Average personal loan rates soaring
19.11.2007
New research reveals average rates for unsecured loan have reached 9.5% - Credit card cheques 'unsolicited'
19.11.2007
98% received cheques that they didn't request - Farepak victims 'forced into loans'
19.11.2007
Research reveals farepak victims on low wages forced to take out personal loans to survive - Halifax bank cuts interest rates
16.11.2007
Halifax set to reduce interest rates on some savings accounts by 0.25% - Firms line up for Northern Rock bid
16.11.2007
List of final bidders for Northern Rock to be announced - Festive Brits spend £34bn on cards
16.11.2007
Group predicts £34bn spend on credit and debit cards during run-up to Christmas - Retailers miss out amid fraud fears
16.11.2007
Fears of online card fraud result in £23bn a year less for retailers - Tenants bypass contents insurance
16.11.2007
Survey shows over two thirds of renters don't take out contents insurance - Insurers 'charge patients too much'
15.11.2007
Cancer patients made to pay 'unreasonably high' travel insurance premiums - Watchdog hits out over banking fees
15.11.2007
OFT warns customers charged unfairly for unauthorised overdrafts - Lender announces SVR mortgages rise
15.11.2007
Yet another bank hit by credit crunch as Standard Life Bank announces mortgage rate rise - Water company facing £20m fine
14.11.2007
£20m fine facing water company for misreported customer service information - Inflation on track to hit target
14.11.2007
Bank of England tells of potential decrease in interest rates next year - Cars crushed in insurance blitz
14.11.2007
Clampdown on uninsured drivers results in crushing of 45,000 cars this year - EU promises cheaper telecom deals
13.11.2007
Move to open up telecoms market could mean better deals for 500m consumers - Borrowers tell housemates card details
13.11.2007
Survey reveals over 50% Britons do not trust housemates with card details - Petrol costs push inflation over 2%
13.11.2007
October Inflation above Bank of England's 2% target - Scottish student loan values fall
13.11.2007
Decreased money in unsecured student loans in Scotland - Renting and buying gap narrows
13.11.2007
Gap between buying and renting as low as 1% in some areas of country - Brits insure pets more than income
13.11.2007
Survery reveals Britons insure their pets more than their income - Half of credit cards 'used weekly'
12.11.2007
Survey reveals half of credit cards used more than once weekly - Warning over long-term mortgages
12.11.2007
Building Society warns that Goverment mortgage scheme worse in long run for first-time buyers - Homeowners fail to shop for cover
12.11.2007
Survey reveals 10% do not search for a better home insurance policy when renewing - Online boom boosts festive shopping
12.11.2007
Increase in high speed broadband services fuels online spending sprees - Banking crisis a 'wake-up call'
12.11.2007
Northern Rock problem acts as 'wake-up call' for savers everywhere - 'Growing number' rejected for loans
10.11.2007
Report shows almost half of loan applications are rejected - Ex-pats fall prey to credit fraud
10.11.2007
Survey shows thousands of ex-pats are victims to banking fraud - New credit rating system unveiled
09.11.2007
New credit rating system unveiled to allow better risk assessment - Government call over bank charges
09.11.2007
Survey reveals 90% people think Government should stop unfair bank charges - Half of drivers admit speeding
09.11.2007
Shocking speeding stats released - Bank votes to hold interest rates
08.11.2007
Bank of England holding interest rates at 5.75% for fourth month in a row - Reclaim fund to reassure savers
08.11.2007
British Bankers Association to set up reclaim fund for dormant savings accounts - Young 'opening savings accounts'
07.11.2007
Number of young adults opening savings accounts doubled - Savers unaware of interest rate
07.11.2007
Half of savers losing out on best interest - Virgin recovering after BSkyB row
07.11.2007
Customers returning to Virgin Media after high-profile dispute with BSkyB - Cards continue to replace cash
07.11.2007
Report shows cards replacing cash as means of payment - Scheme to help first-time buyers
07.11.2007
Government announces new scheme to help first-time buyers get on property ladder - Buy-to-let mortgages warning call
07.11.2007
Law firm warns that buy-to-let mortgages should carry warnings - Bank sees slump in mortgage lending
07.11.2007
Northern Rock mortgage lending decreased by 80% - Homeowners unaware of flood risks
07.11.2007
Survey indicates over 50% homeowners unaware if property is in flood-risk area - Card firms 'inventing new charges'
07.11.2007
Report claims invention of new charges by credit card issurers - House inflation slowdown expected
06.11.2007
Group claims a 20% chance of house prices falling before 2010 - Savers set for further protection
06.11.2007
Goverment announces protection for savers if bank collapses - Students to apply for loan at same time as courses
06.11.2007
Government plans to get students their course and loan offers simultaneously - Lending in the family soars by 80%
05.11.2007
Study reveals number of loans between family members risen by over 80% - Shoppers spend £86.6bn on plastic
05.11.2007
Figures show Britons spending more on cards - Search for 40,000 policy-holders
05.11.2007
Estimated £40m unclaimed assets to be reunited with rightful owners by Norwich Union - Credit card users hit by rate rises
05.11.2007
Research finds increased fees by over 100 credit cards in last two months - Firms to cash in on transfer fees
05.11.2007
Credit card firms to take £459m in balance transfer fees - Troops may face rise in insurance
04.11.2007
British soldiers could face 160% rise in private insurance payments - Missing CD sparks ID theft fears
03.11.2007
CD containing details of 1000s of pension holders has gone missing - Savings to hit £1 trillion by 2012
02.11.2007
Research predicts Britons to have £1 trillion in savings by 2012 - BSkyB broadband nets millionth user
02.11.2007
One millionth user signs up to BSkyB - National Grid eases electric fears
02.11.2007
Customers reassured about electicity network status by National Grid - Britons 'avoid Christmas on credit'
01.11.2007
Survey reveals Britons repaying debts during festive season
October
- Credit card firms lose court appeal
31.10.2007
Ruling means faulty purchases on cards abroad can be claimed back from credit card issuers - Shoppers pay for plastic Christmas
30.10.2007
Nearly 50% shoppers paid for Christmas on their credit card last year - Low confidence hits property market
29.10.2007
Figures indicate higher interest rates continue to affect housing market - Mortgage approvals at two-year low
29.10.2007
Number of mortgage approvals hit lowest level in two years - House repossessions to soar by 50%
29.10.2007
Study reveals number of house possessions set to increase by 50% next year - Break-ins 'soar after clock change'
27.10.2007
Experts predict 25% rise in burglaries when clocks go back - Consumers warned over store cards
25.10.2007
Consumers warned about complicated terms and conditions on store cards - Call over mis-sold PPI payments
25.10.2007
Millions can reclaim money over wrongly sold payment protection insurance - Facebook users at risk of ID theft
24.10.2007
Facebook offers fraudsters information needed to open false bank accounts - 2.1m uninsured vehicles on UK roads
24.10.2007
Government figures indicate more than 2.1 million British vehicles uninsured - British Gas complaints increase
24.10.2007
British Gas sees four-fold increase in complaints over past two years - Londoners 'in most amount of debt'
23.10.2007
New report shows Londoners have most UK debt - Branson deal to save stricken bank
21.10.2007
Virgin Group planning to launch £1.5bn deal to rescue Northern Rock - NI hike for middle-income earners
20.10.2007
Treasury announces NI increase for earners of £40,000 plus - Lenders hike up personal loan rates
19.10.2007
Personal loan rates see an increase of up to 12 times the Bank of England base rate - Broker fined for lifetime mortgages
18.10.2007
Financial Services Authority issue first ever fine against a lifetime mortgage adviser - Isa savers' tax benefits restored
18.10.2007
Government announces money withdrawn from Northern Rock ISAs can be re-deposited without penalty - £1m fraudulent claims 'found daily'
18.10.2007
Insurance firms find over £1m fraudulent claims daily - North-South property gap widens
18.10.2007
New figures show increase in gap between South and North property prices - IMF warning over property prices
17.10.2007
Britain warned of possible slump in house prices - Millions switching energy supplier
17.10.2007
Over 2 million switch gas and electricity suppliers in just seven months - People confident over house prices
17.10.2007
Majority of Britons expect continuing rise in house prices - Personal loan demand to continue
17.10.2007
New report predicts increase in personal loan demand - Buyers 'living with strangers'
17.10.2007
20% buying houses with people known for less than a year - Banks accused of charges con trick
17.10.2007
Campaigner warns of trick to stop refunds of credit card charges - Buyers see stamp duty soar by 25%
16.10.2007
25% rise in stamp duty during the last year - Smoking drivers face insurance hike
16.10.2007
Insurance renewals hard to come by for drivers with smoking related penalty - London homes 'waste most energy'
16.10.2007
Study by British Gas reveals London homes are more energy wasting - 6.5m to switch credit card provider
16.10.2007
6.5 million set to change credit card provider in next year - Scheme will increase pension saving
16.10.2007
Government predicts system will cause rise in pension saving - Young buyers 'pay mortgage on card'
10.10.2007
Research shows young buyers more likely to use credit for rent or mortgage
September
- Barclaycard Launches Onepulse Credit Card
26.09.2007
Barclaycard introduces the OnePulse, a new contacless card for making smaller payments.