Consumers still having to pay high deposits for affordable mortgages

Over recent months getting a mortgage has become increasingly difficult and expensive, with many lenders reserving their best deals and lowest interest rates for those that are able to put down a sizeable deposit as opposed to the traditional 5% deposit. The changes in mortgage lending and costs have come about as a result of the global credit crunch, which swept across the nation last summer. Read more

Tags: arrangement fees, Mortgages, lending, Mortgage loan, england and wales, interest rates

Rate Matcher customers charged increased arrangement fees

Back in April of this year the high street lender HSBC announced the launch of a new mortgage product designed to help homeowners who were on cheap fixed rate mortgages that were due to come to an end. The bank promised to match the current interest rate of those on low rate fixed mortgages with any other lenders, which meant that homeowners whose cheap fixed rate mortgages were due to end would not have to worry about going onto a high standard variable rate. Read more

Tags: chancellor of the exchequer, finance, arrangement fees, Matcher, idea, lender, squeeze, Mortgages

Fully comprehensive insurance is no longer fully comp

Motorists in the UK have always enjoyed a choice of insurance policies to match their needs and their pockets, and those able to afford higher premiums and who want increased protection have often opted for fully comprehensive insurance cover, which provides the highest level of protection and cover. However, according to a recent report fully comprehensive cover has been modified and changed so much over recent years that it is now fully comprehensive in name only, and consumers are often not getting the protection that they may think they are. Read more

Tags: Vehicle insurance, Financial services, car insurance, insurance policies, party, arrangement fees, comprehensive insurance

Holidays still important to Brits

According to a recent report holidays are still important to Brits despite the fact that the global credit crunch has impacted heavily on household finances. In fact, the report suggests that many people would actually rather cut back on every day goods and luxuries than have to give up their yearly holiday, even though many are suffering from really strained household finances. Read more

Tags: repercussions, food, smoking, holidays, conscious travellers, Household