Christmas borrowers: have a plan for payback

With Christmas nearly upon us, keeping the costs down to a reasonable level is an important part of enjoying the festive season in a way that won’t lead to worry and anxiety in the New Year. If anyone’s plan involves borrowing to meet the costs of Christmas, it’s important they first figure out a realistic repayment plan.

So says Think Money, which has issued a warning for people who are thinking of borrowing to help them meet the costs of Christmas.

It advises them to plan their finances out carefully before they actually borrow any more. Without a good repayment plan in place, they’re running the risk that they won’t be able to repay it as quickly as planned (or, potentially, at all).

As you might expect, this could lead to all kinds of problems, from higher-than-expected interest costs to late payment charges. Depending on the individual’s situation, it could even lead to more serious consequences, such as a CCJ (County Court Judgment).

“[…] some people might be making a New Year’s resolution to get their finances in order,” a spokesperson for the financial services company commented.

“For some, that might involve taking out a debt consolidation loan to simplify their finances and set out a clear plan for repaying their debts. This can be a good way of managing debt, but borrowers still need to make sure their repayments fit in with the rest of their budget.”

Tags: repayment, year, New Year, Christmas borrowers, County Court Judgment

Warning for women over store cards

Christmas is fast approaching and many High Street retailers will have geared up to try and get women to take out store cards when they go into the shop to buy an outfit for the festive season. Many women every year take out store cards, as shop sales staff make them sound enticing by offering customers money off their purchase right away.

Many of the popular High Street retailers have a big push on store cards at this time of the year, but these cards come with very high rates of interest, with some charging almost 30 percent interest. This means that a debt as small as £500 could take over a decade to repay if the cardholder only pays the minimum repayment each month, as the bulk of the repayment will be swallowed up in interest.

Store cards are said to be one of the most expensive forms of borrowing, but despite this there are around 12.9 million of them in circulation, with around £2.2 billion spent on them. The number of single women struggling to repay store card debt is three times higher than the number of single men, and women are now being urged to think twice before taking out and spending on a store card this year.

An official from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau said: ‘There is a problem with the way store cards are sold. Targeting young women at the till means customers are usually more focused on the discount for their purchase than the terms and conditions of the credit.’

Another finance industry official added: ‘Customers who repay only the minimum amount on store cards could end up paying twice the price and still be repaying the debt in a decade’s time. Do not touch store cards unless you can afford to pay off the balance in full every month.’

Tags: sales, Debit card, expensive forms, finance industry official, single men, repayment, way

Consumers should shop around for Christmas credit cards

With the festive season almost upon us once again many people will be looking around at credit card deals so that they have the credit that they need to make their purchases for Christmas. Read more

Tags: festive season, Credit Cards, consumer, purchases, christmas credit cards

Tips for Spending Less on Your Holidays

Everyone needs to take a holiday at least once a year so that they can de-stress and unwind so that they will be rejuvenated and ready to return to work. Read more

Tags: restaurant, local currency, save money, card, cheap holidays, money saving ideas, repayment, holidays

Lenders issued with deadline to prove fairness

The UK’s financial regulator, the Financial Service Authority, has been contacting lenders that deal with home loans, and has advised them that they have a deadline by which they must prove that they are exercising fairness when it comes to their customers. Lenders will have to prove that customers that have arrears or are facing repossession are being treated fairly, and they have until the end of January to prove that this is happening. Read more

Tags: loan afirness, fairness, Arrears, deadline, loan, mortgage, repayment

Mortgage approvals reach ‘record low’ in May

The number of mortgage approvals for house purchases reached a record low last month, according to an industry body.

Figures for May show that remortgaging levels held up, accounting for a record 53 per cent of all mortgages approved, reported the British Bankers’ Association (BBA).

It also found that consumers spent more on their credit cards last month but repayment levels on credit cards were lower.

BBA statistics director David Dooks suggested mortgage activity was lower in May as a result of tighter lending criteria and economic pressures on households.

He added: “Only remortgaging business is holding up, where people need or want to take advantage of deals with other lenders.”

Separate research released last week by the housing charity Shelter suggests that more than four million households used credit cards to help meet rent or mortgage costs in the past 12 months.

It also found that over two million households are spending in excess of half their income on rent or mortgage payments.

Tags: number, result, lending, repayment, mortgage payments, economic pressures, finance, BBA

Bailiffs will be regulated

Those of us in debt will be protected from overzealous bailiffs by a strict new licensing regime.

That is the promise of constitutional affairs minister Vera Baird who says that bailiffs will not be given the power to forcibly enter a domestic property until the new licensing system is in place.

It comes as new laws are set to be introduced which will give bailiffs to right to force their way into a property to collect debts due for credit cards, loans and other bills.

The proposed laws have caused controversy as it is claimed that bailiffs are not properly policed and consumers need to be protected from rogue elements.

“Concerns have rightly been expressed about the right of bailiffs to force entry to people’s homes,” commented Ms Baird.

“We have always said forced entry can only be used as a last resort and when all other avenues have been exhausted.

“Today, I’m happy to announce this power will not come into force until those bailiffs who are not Crown employees are licensed by an independent regulator. This will help to further protect the public,” she added.

Ms Baird’s announcement has been welcomed by Citizens Advice, although the organisation has warned that regulation of bailiffs must be “robust”.

If you are in debt do not ignore the problem and hope that it will go away. If you contact your lender or debt collection agency to arrange a repayment plan you can begin to pay off the debt and avoid having bailiffs visit your home.

Tags: avenues, repayment, way, proposed laws, debt, problem, independent regulator, Credit Cards