debt

Watchdog cracks down on repossessions

Rebecca Atkinson — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:10:09 +0000

Mortgage lenders have been given a deadline to ensure homeowners facing repossession are treated as fairly as possible.

Stay debt free this Christmas

Rebecca Atkinson — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:35:58 +0000

Last year the average person spent a whopping £863 celebrating Christmas, according to research from uSwitch. That’s a lot of money to stump up at the best of times and, with most of us now feeling the pinch of rising costs, more families than ever will be looking to keep their Christmas spending under control this year.

Take control of your finances

Rebecca Atkinson — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:52:54 +0000

For most people, money matters are the financial equivalent of the cupboard under the stairs packed with odds and ends we don’t know what to do with, and can’t bear to look at. A recent survey by the Institute of Financial Planning found that 93% of people were worried about their financial future, and 56% were struggling or falling behind with bills and other commitments.

Bankruptcies on the rise

Rebecca Atkinson — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:23:45 +0000

The number of people going bankrupt jumped by over 12% over the summer, while the number of companies going bust has leapt by 26% over the past year, according to new figures from the Insolvency Service.

Is this the next big mis-selling scandal?

Rebecca Atkinson — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:35:36 +0000

Sale and rent back schemes are increasingly being touted as the solution for desperate homeowners who are struggling with their mortgage repayments. The concept is simple: an investor offers to buy the property while allowing the former owners to stay on as paying tenants.

Survive the recession

Rebecca Atkinson — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:35:03 +0100

The news that the British economy has shrunk for the first time since 1992 in the third quarter of this year means a recession is now more or less unavoidable.

The Office for National Statistics has revealed GDP – the official measure of an economy’s health – fell by 0.5% in the three months to September, following 0% growth in the previous quarter.

Rip-off credit cards exposed

Rebecca Atkinson — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:45:59 +0100

Credit card providers have been accused of raking in £1 billion in profit each year by reducing interest-free periods, increasing APRs and hiking balance transfer fees.

How to transform your junk into cash

Rebecca Atkinson — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:24:31 +0100

Whether it’s the rising cost of petrol, a sudden hike in household bills or a considerably fatter mortgage repayment, many of us are now feeling the pinch.

Crackdown on sale and rent back

Rebecca Atkinson — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:20:10 +0100

Landlords who buy properties at under market value and allow the previous owners to rent it back are to be investigated by the Office of Fair Trading amid concerns they take advantage of desperate homeowners.

Better protection for consumers

Rebecca Atkinson — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:08:55 +0100

New laws to protect consumers from rogue traders, lenders and debt collectors come into force today that should help people keep track of their borrowing more effectively.