Loans & Credit
Inside Loans & Credit
Spotlight: Virgin credit card
Saturday, 2 January 2010
If you are looking to spread the cost of your Christmas splurge and want to take advantage of a 0 per cent balance-transfer credit card, the Virgin card could be the answer.
Beginner's guide to...Improving your credit score
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Unless you have been living in a cave, you'll know it has become much harder to borrow money, whether it is a loan, a credit card or mortgage. Lenders look at your credit score when deciding whether or not to lend you cash, and that's based on your borrowing history. So how can you polish up your rating in order to qualify for the best possible deals?
Lenders cut interest on fixed-rate deals
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Mortgage lenders are busy slashing their rates as competition hots up for borrowers, according to financial information firm Moneyfacts.
Simon Read: Spending won't lead to a happy Christmas
Saturday, 12 December 2009
More than half of people who use a credit or store card feel that meeting the minimum repayment is a burden, according to research published this week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Alarmingly, 15 per cent of people fail to meet some of their repayments, the ONS said. On the other hand, the same survey reported that household wealth reached a record £9 trillion in Great Britain between 2006 and 2008, with the average wealth of households estimated at a healthy-looking £204,500.
Credit: Make sure a new year hangover is not on the cards
Sunday, 6 December 2009
As the shopping festivities start, Chiara Cavaglieri shows how to stop your flexible friend from becoming a fiend
The high cost of debt to your wellbeing
Saturday, 5 December 2009
People with mental health issues can face difficulties managing their money, leading to debt problems. Neasa MacEarlean finds out what help is available
Consumers repay record levels of debt as new home loans rise
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
Britons cut their credit card, loan and overdraft debts by £579m in October
Bank charges case will mean better deals for us
Saturday, 28 November 2009
They may have won the battle, but banks won't dare take liberties with the public anymore
Credit card squeeze: has borrowing on plastic had its day?
Saturday, 14 November 2009
The credit card market in Britain may be unsustainable.
Spotlight: Loans
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Loan providers have received much criticism recently as personal loan rates have been rising, even though the Bank of England base rate is at a record low of 0.5 per cent. Marks & Spencer Money's decision to cut its loan rate is therefore welcome news.
Ten tips to avoid crafty credit card tricks
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
This month, the government unveiled plans to crackdown on credit card companies and help give consumers a fairer deal. But what can you do to protect your pocket in the meantime?
Big credit-card shake-up could hit you in the pocket
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Watch for hidden perils, warns Chiara Cavaglieri
Beginner's Guide To: Credit card order of payments
Saturday, 31 October 2009
The government has announced a new consultation into credit cards, proposing a raft of measures designed to "clean up the industry" and bring an end to practices it deems unfair.
Spotlight: AA Credit Card
Saturday, 31 October 2009
It's not only cards with 0 per cent offers on purchases that are popular in the run-up to Christmas. Cards that reward you for spending are a great option for those who pay off their credit card bill each month. And The AA has joined the reward card club.
Money Insider: Regulator pushes affordability tests for loans
Saturday, 24 October 2009
The Financial Services Authority this week unveiled a raft of new proposals as part of its much-anticipated Mortgage Market Review. The additional burden of red tape from the regulator has been criticised by some as too little too late; however there are elements within the 118-page review that look positive.
Money Insider: Rate cuts open up loans market
Saturday, 17 October 2009
There are more signs that competition in the mortgage market is growing. Following rate reductions last week from Abbey, Woolwich and Northern Rock, First Direct has now launched two new keenly priced base-rate tracker mortgages.
Spotlight: Islamic Bank of Britain deposit account
Saturday, 17 October 2009
With inflation at a five-year low, there seems little chance of interest rates rising any time soon. In fact, the Centre for Economic and Business Research expects the base rate to remain at 0.5 per cent until 2011. Savers looking to maximise returns in this low-rate environment may be attracted to a fixed rate account as this is where the highest returns are to be had.
Spotlight: Sainsbury's Credit Card
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Activity in the credit card market is warming up as we start to think about those all-important Christmas shopping purchases.
These dangerous debt managers must be reined in
Sunday, 20 September 2009
A clampdown on dodgy debt-management firms looks likely after the Government published a consultation document on Friday, questioning whether the firms need to be regulated. "Taking tough, swift action against firms which fail to operate within the rules and which provide sub-standard services to consumers with problem debt remains a high priority," said the Ministry of Justice.
Julian Knight: Penalised for checking your credit? That's not fair
Sunday, 13 September 2009
I have always found it an injustice that those who look to shop around for a loan, credit card or mortgage actually risk damaging their credit rating in the process. It goes like this – each time a potential lender checks out your credit file it leaves a trace. If the consumer is turned down – for whatever reason – the trace turns into a great big muddy mark and, in these straitened lending times, this can be enough to bar the individual from accessing credit elsewhere.
How to dodge the recession rip-offs and online scams
Saturday, 5 September 2009
The credit crunch has brought with it an big increase in fraud. Kate Hughes looks at how to avoid becoming a victim.
Andrew Hagger: It's time lenders stopped bashing the credit-worthy
Saturday, 29 August 2009
For people with a small deposit, the mortgage market has been a gloomy place in this post-crunch environment. However, there is hope, from the five-year fixed-rate deal launched by Leeds Building Society this week.
The days of cheap loans are long gone
Saturday, 29 August 2009
Borrowers are still paying the price for lenders' mistakes
Spotlight: Nationwide Exclusive Personal Loan
Saturday, 29 August 2009
Lenders are increasingly only offering their best rates to existing customers – and Nationwide Building Society has followed the trend. It is offering the market-leading unsecured personal loan rate at 7.7 per cent, but you can only apply if you have a FlexAccount – Nationwide's current account.
Beginner's Guide To: Student loans
Saturday, 22 August 2009
If you're heading off to university this September, the chances are you will be using a student loan to meet your living costs and tuition fees. Do you know how much you can expect? Or what you'll pay? Read on for our simple guide to student loans.
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