Charity wants more help for elderly in cold weather

A leading charity for the elderly is calling for more help with fuel bills for older people who are struggling to keep warm during the ongoing cold snap that is being experienced across Britain. Charity Age Concern and Help the Aged has stated that the government needs to increase the payments it makes to pensioners for fuel during the unusually long cold snap that is being seen across the country at the moment. Read more

Tags: Help the Aged, United Kingdom, Social Issues, spokesperson, normal energy bill, nhs

Increase in people not happy with energy firms

A recent report has indicated that an increasing number of people are no longer happy with their energy firms, with this year’s price hikes playing a large part in how satisfied consumers are with their energy suppliers. The study was recently carried out by price comparison website uswitch.com, and found that whilst around 33% of consumers were dissatisfied with their energy supplier this time last year, this figure had now risen to around 41% of consumers. Read more

Tags: recent report, useful indicator, spokesperson, market, energy, following, month, energy firms

Travel insurance is a ‘wise’ purchase for activity holidays

People heading off for an action-packed holiday this summer have been advised that travel http://www.themoneystop.co.uk/car-insurance” target=”_self”>insurance is “undoubtedly the wisest purchase” they can make before they go abroad, according to STA Travel.

A spokesperson for the company noted that travel insurance is an important consideration for anyone planning a gap year, as it can provide cover in the event of a holidaymaker needing medical attention, or if they lose any possessions.

The company warned travellers not to view travel cover as an “unnecessary cost”.

“You should ensure the travel insurance you take out covers all the countries you plan to travel to and any activities you plan to participate in,” the spokesperson commented.

According to a recent study conducted by Defaqto, one in seven holidaymakers travel overseas without a travel insurance policy.

Travellers considering adventure holidays such as rafting the Grand Canyon or reaching Everest Base Camp should ensure they are properly covered by travel insurance.

Tags: Hospitality Recreation, possessions, Everest Base, adventure, Camp, everest base camp, spokesperson

Norwich Union: Sporting fans can use ordinary travel insurance

With major sporting events such as Euro 2008 and the Beijing Olympics taking place this summer, Norwich Union has advised sports fans that they can travel abroad to watch these events with normal travel insurance.

Sally Leeman, a spokesperson for the insurance company, said that people need not look for specialist insurance policies when going abroad as sports spectators because standard travel insurance cover should be adequate.

However, she also warned travellers to take “reasonable care” of themselves and their possessions.

“If death, injury, illness or disability occur as a direct result of you being under the influence of alcohol or exposing yourself to unnecessary danger your insurance claim won’t be paid,” Ms Leeman said.

According to Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance, as many as ten per cent of holidaymakers travel without cover and the company estimates that over 4.2 million people did not have travel insurance the last time they went on holiday to another country.

Tags: unnecessary danger, sports fans, time, sports spectators, Sally Leeman, spokesperson

CAB: People struggling to meet basic living costs

The Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB) has said that more people are seeking help because they are struggling to pay basic household bills as the credit crunch tightens.

A spokesperson for the charity said the combination of soaring household expenses and rising housing costs is putting extra pressure on people’s budgets.

The CAB said that the number of people approaching the organisation for advice on mortgage arrears problems rose by 35 per cent in the first two months of 2008 compared with the same period last year.

Many people are also having difficulties paying for essentials such as gas, electricity, water and council tax.

“We believe these trends reflect recent increases in the cost of living, suggesting a significant number of households are struggling to meet their most basic living costs,” said the spokesperson.

According to the Office for National Statistics, UK consumer inflation reached its highest level in 13 months in April due to high food and fuel costs.

Tags: spokesperson, economics, number of households, Citizen's Advice Bureau, credit crunch tightens

BRC: Credit crunch leading to “cash comeback”

More people are using cash to pay for their purchases amid growing consumer concerns about how much money they are spending, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has claimed.

The global credit crunch is causing consumers to be more cautious with their money, says BRC spokesperson Richard Dodd.

New figures from the organisation show that cash is now used for 60 per cent of all transactions, an increase of 54 per cent from 2007.

Cash now represents 34 per cent of all money spent in the retail sector, compared with 32 per cent a year ago.

Recent research from uSwitch shows that on average, credit card holders owe £1,812.

With ten per cent of all cardholders paying the minimum on their cards, the company estimates 3.5 million people will spend close to the next 30 years clearing their credit cards.

“People’s enthusiasm for using cards is slipping. That’s because people are not only reluctant to borrow, they are also reluctant to use cards,” concluded Mr Dodd.

Tags: Business Finance, Recent research, spokesperson richard dodd.new, Richard Dodd, crunch, spokesperson, company, organisation

Legal cover on home insurance may help avoid costly bills, claims expert

Home owners are being advised to take out legal cover on their house insurance to safeguard them in the event of a dispute with neighbours.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says that legal expenses can be very pricey if people get into a dispute and with research showing that a third of people have argued with their neighbours, insurance may be a sensible option.

According to a recent survey by Allianz Insurance, more than 1.1 million households have argued with their neighbours about noise and one in three of the 3,000 homeowners questioned have had a disagreement.

Kelly Ostler-Coyle, spokesperson for ABI, said: “The thing with insurance is you never know if you need it till you need it, so it’s always there to protect against the unexpected.”

If people think they would not be able to pay the legal fees in the event of a dispute, they should consider getting legal cover when they take out their home insurance policy, Ms Ostler-Coyle concluded.

Tags: Financial economics, option, policy, spokesperson, British Insurers, noise, Coyle

Up to one in five put off dentist trip due to costs

As many as one in five consumers are putting their teeth at risk by not going to the dentist due to the cost, new research shows.

Findings from the health plan provider HSA found that over a quarter of consumers believe that looking after their oral health is unaffordable.

Spokesperson for HSA, Richard Halley, said that the results of the study arrive shortly after the NHS has revealed that half a million fewer adults are visiting the now dentist than two years ago.

He said: “This could be down to cost, and also difficulty in accessing an NHS dentist. Indeed 27 per cent of those surveyed claim that they have struggled to find an NHS dentist.”

The study also showed that over two fifths of people think NHS dentistry will disappear altogether in the future while 28 per cent think it will exist in the future, but will only be available to a few.

Meanwhile, more research from the HAS showed that 65 per cent of firms believed their employees would most value dental benefits.

Tags: Richard Halley, plan, spokesperson, nhs dentist, new research shows, provider, risk

New Isa rules need to be publicised more

More should be done to publicise the changes to the rules surrounding individual savings accounts (Isas), one financial expert has claimed.

According to Moneyfacts, the introduction of changes to the rules in the new tax year from April 6th, which are anticipated to attract more customers to the product, need to be more widely publicised outside of the trade press.

Michelle Slade, spokesperson for Moneyfacts, said: “They probably should do something more to advise customers out there what is going on.”

“The fact that they can now put in an additional £600 and it’s tax free… Obviously that’s the first port of call for anybody who’s going to take out savings,” she added.

In the new tax year, beginning April 6th, the rules for Isas are changing. There will no longer be distinctions between mini- and maxi-Isas:

Now all Isas will have an overall limit of £7,200, of which £3,600 can be saved in cash (under present rules there is a £3,000 cash limit).

Tags: press, introduction, spokesperson, ISA, product, tax, Rob Fisher

Credit card holders warned about buying abroad

People who intend on using their credit cards to make purchases abroad have been given advice by one expert to help them avoid losing money.

Mark Bowerman, a spokesperson for UK payments association Apacs, urged people to ensure that they know who they are “dealing with” and that it is a “reputable company”.

For transactions between £100 and £30,000, it is “beneficial” to use a credit card because it will offer greater “protection” than a debit card, Mr Bowerman explained.

For consumers who have made purchases that turn out to have been for counterfeit goods, the “normal route” to be reimbursed is to approach the retailer, as this is usually “easier” than going directly to the card issuer, he stated.

“If there is no one to approach, then you can approach your card issuer, explain the situation to them and then they are liable for that amount of expense so you are refunded by them,” Mr Bowerman remarked.

Apacs is the UK trade association for payments and organisations that [rvide payments services.

Tags: spokesperson, mr bowerman, card issuer, Mark Bowerman, apacs, UK trade association, Credit card

Consumers warned not to take rates ‘at face value’

Consumers looking for savings accounts need to be wary of taking the headline rate at face value, one financial expert has claimed.

According to the Halifax bank, the headline rate does not give you all the information you require as it does not tell the consumer how to access it and what the limits to the account are.

Jason Clarke, spokesperson for Halifax, said: “The highest rates are going to be the ones with quite a few limitations in there”, citing withdrawals not being allowed through ATMs or taking place over a certain amount of time.

He added that those consumers who are looking for a savings account should decide what it is they want from their savings before committing to an account.

According to findings from the Buildings Society Association (BSA), building societies attracted a record £16.1 billion of savings inflows in 2007, almost double the amount saved with them during 2006.

The BSA revealed that the previous record was in 1988, when £13.6 billion was deposited following in the wake of the stock market crash of October 1987.
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Tags: face value, spokesperson, crash, bank, face

Personal debt soars

Britons are paying a whopping £93 billion a year in interest on borrowing, it has been reported this week.

That is an increase of £12.7 billion on the figure for the same time last year, raising widespread concerns that many people are going to be unable to manage their levels of debt.

Increasing domestic fuel bills combined with tightening borrowing conditions – and the short-term effect of Christmas spending – have led to a particularly tough environment.

The average household now pays £3,744 per year in interest on borrowing alone – an increase of £517 compared to last year.

According to uSwitch, which carried out the research, around one in four people acknowledge that repayments on their debts are not manageable.

Accountants KPMG have also warned that personal bankruptcies are likely to increase to 130,000 in 2008.

Spokesperson Mark Sands told the Daily Mail: “Those in difficulty will find that their options are becoming limited.”

Tags: debt, week, Christmas spending, spokesperson, spending, Financial services

Borrowing from friends affects both young and old

Both young and old are liable to borrow money from other people says a financial expert.

Research from online company Paypal reveals that “the person we turn to most for borrowing money is our mother”, while 16 per cent of UK consumers have fallen out with family members after lending money to them.

The findings also showed that there is “a huge chunk of us” that go to our friends to borrow money. This means the closer a person is to someone the more likely they are to borrow from them, claims Paypal.

Cristina Hoole, a spokesperson for PayPal, said: “The key thing is that if you do borrow money or if you lend money, that shouldn’t affect the relationship that you have with that person.”

“So make sure you don’t create a risk, especially over money, it’s not really worth it,” she concluded.

Research from YouGov showed that the average amount people in the UK have lent to friends and family in the last 12 months is £898.52.

Tags: thing, cristina, huge chunk, family, 12 months, Paypal, bank account, spokesperson

Consumers advised to increase contents cover at Christmas

Generous Brits are reminded that, over Christmas, a significant increase in the value of their home contents will impact upon their insurance.

Rural insurer NFU Mutual reported that a recent online poll found 39 per cent of Brits reporting they would spend between £150 and £300 on presents over the festive season this year.

Meanwhile, 20 per cent said they would be spending in excess of £500 pounds on gifts for friends and family at Christmas.

A spokesperson for NFU Mutual, Laura Wood, said, “People do not consider the cumulative value of the gifts which they store or bring into their home during the festive season and it is vital that they remember that the value of these presents will impact on their home contents insurance.”

NFU Mutual set out a series of precautions that could help people prevent thefts at this time of year.

It states that, rather than hiding presents in cupboards, they should be stored in the loft, gifts should not be on display by an open or exposed window and radio and lighting timers could be set to create the appearance of occupancy while residents are out of the house.

Tags: home contents, window, consumers, series, Christmas.A spokesperson, Insurance, spokesperson, Generous Brits

CML: Bridging loans “useful” despite reputation

Despite their bad reputation, bridging loans remain the “obvious choice”, said the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) today.

Loans used to cover the period between buying a new property and selling your old one are not well respected due to their expensive entry and exit fees and high interest rates.

However, a spokesperson for CML explained that, while they do not offer long term solutions, bridging loans are the “main and obvious route where there is a mismatch”.

She added: “Because bridging is an expensive form of property finance, it is ideally the case that the borrower and the finance company should have a clear view as to what the exit strategy from that bridging finance deal is.

“It shouldn’t necessarily be seen as a long term solution to any property-related transaction.”

Additionally, she warned that entering this type of agreement “does not make any sense” for people who do not know what their “subsequent rollover strategy” will be.

The CML is the trade body for mortgage lenders. Members make up 98 per cent of total mortgage lending in Britain.

Tags: reputation, spokesperson, Britain, Loans, finance, cml, trade body, view

Home chip and pin can help tackle card fraud

Home chip and pin readers are a useful tool in tackling the widespread problem of credit card fraud, industry body Apacs said today.

Online transactions are to be made safer by the handheld devices – over half a million of which are to be sent out by the end of the year.

The chip and pin machines are aimed at reducing the card-not-present fraud concerning online transactions, which increased by 16 per cent from 2005 to 2006 – results out of line with the overall three per cent drop in fraud for the period.

Mark Bowerman, a spokesperson for Apacs, said: “What the device has the potential to be used for in the future is also internet shopping transactions and telephone shopping transactions.

“They’re very easy to use,” he added. “They’re just like a small handheld calculator. You just put your chip and pin card in it and tap your four-digit pin in and then a number comes up on the display screen.”

British bank Barclays has already announced that it is to send out the handheld readers to online banking customers later in the year, with other high street banks also launching similar schemes.

Tags: industry, online banking, internet, handheld readers, street, spokesperson, industry body apacs, internet shopping transactions

Credit card fraud on the rise, according to Experian

Identity fraud, with thieves taking credit card numbers from victims, is on the increase, financial information provider Experian said today.

Recent research from the company shows a 69 per cent year on year rise in identity fraud between 2004 and 2006.

Experian spokesperson Peter Brooker said that a new generation of fraudsters was taking the theft of credit card numbers as a mere starting point.

“One of things we are seeing is that there is an awful lot of current and previous address fraud”, he said. This occurs when “the fraudsters are actually, not just taking over people’s accounts or using various methods to get hold of people’s credit card numbers, but are actually taking their entire identity”.

Research from KPMG, out today, shows that overall rates of fraud are rising dramatically, valued at a total of £594 million in 107 cases coming to court already this year.

This beats the overall totals for the years 2000-04, combined, with KPMG terming the figures a “step change” in fraud rates.

Tags: identity theft, spokesperson, people's accounts, Credit card, previous address fraud, overall rates, theft

Holidaying card holders should keep record of helplines

Credit card helplines provide essential customer protection against fraud, payments association Apacs said yesterday.

This advice especially applies to those intending to use credit cards on holiday this summer, with the trade association recommending that a copy of the helpline numbers always be to hand so that providers can be quickly notified if their card is stolen.

Holidaymakers were also advised to cut down the amount of cards taken with them to a minimum.

A spokesperson for Apacs said: “I think if you’ve got a lot of store cards or five credit cards then you don’t need to take all of them. So minimise your chances of fraud. Look after them. Frighteningly, people don’t.

“Before you go, make a note of the 24-hour helplines of the card companies. So if something does happen, you’re not then searching who to phone; you’ve always got that number with you.”

The spokesperson also noted that increasing numbers of tourists are using their cards in place of traveller’s cheques because of convenience, despite the inherent risk of fraud that comes with their use.

Tags: copy, cheque, card holders, helpline, yesterday