Archived News & Related Stories

Credit card withdrawal costs `nearly doubled`
Research from uSwitch.com has suggested that some credit card companies are nearly doubling the cost of withdrawing cash in an effort to deter struggling customers from making small cash withdrawals. ... >>

Youngsters see debt as biggest fear
Britain`s youngsters are most worried about debt, followed by unemployment and violent crime, according to a new survey carried out on behalf of the UK`s largest volunteering and training charity. ... >>

Savers to benefit from ISA limit rise
The Government has agreed to allow savers to put an extra £3,000 per year into tax-free savings accounts as part of its bid to boost the economy. ... >>

Homeowners encouraged to overpay on mortgages
Homeowners in the UK are being encouraged to take advantage of the current low interest rates to overpay on their mortgages.... >>

More mortgage debt taken into retirement
Over-65s are carrying an increasing amount of mortgage debt into retirement, according to a new study from Key Retirement Solutions. ... >>

Rail prices to rise
Fares on some of Britain`s busiest rail routes are set to rise next month, despite RPI inflation going negative for the first time in almost 50 years. ... >>

More support for mortgage market required, says AMI
The housing market is still being constrained by a lack of available credit, meaning potential property buyers are unable to secure mortgages, it has been claimed.... >>

Young people `have not changed attitudes towards debt`
People aged between 25 and 34 have not altered their attitudes towards accruing debt despite the economic downturn, new research suggests.... >>

Pensioners `suffering financially during recession`
Pensioners are suffering financially as a result of the ongoing economic downturn, it has been claimed.... >>

37% of landlords dealing with tenants in arrears
New figures from the National Landlords Association (NLA) have shown that over one in three landlords currently have tenants in arrears on their rent payments. ... >>

Mixed views on effectiveness of VAT cut
Two leading bodies have announced conflicting views on the effectiveness of December`s VAT (Value Added Tax) cut. ... >>

Debt inquiries `on the rise in West Sussex`
The number of inquiries made by consumers who were concerned about debt in West Sussex has risen this financial year compared with last year.... >>

More needs to be done to get banks lending, firm claims
More should be done to get banks lending, it has been suggested.... >>

Personal insolvencies `to rise by 40%` with Debt Relief Orders
Debt Relief Orders (DROs) - a new alternative to bankruptcy introduced to help low-income borrowers become debt-free - will contribute to a 40% rise in the number of people being declared insolvent this year, according to an accountancy firm. ... >>

Car sales fall by 30.5%
New figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have shown that car registrations in March 2009 were 30.5% lower than the same month last year. ... >>

What is a Debt Relief Order (DRO)?
A Debt Relief Order (DRO) is a form of insolvency which is designed to help people who have relatively low debt, little surplus income and few valuable assets - and who have no realistic chance of paying off their debts within a reasonable time. ... >>

Homeowners `concentrating on paying down their debt`
Homeowners in the UK are increasingly prioritising paying down their debt as opposed to trading up on the property ladder, it has been claimed.... >>

Fuel tax rise to add £54 to annual costs
The average family faces paying an extra £54 per year in tax following today`s 2.12 pence-per-litre fuel tax rise, according to the AA (Automobile Association). ... >>

Scottish Power to pay interest to customers in credit
Energy supplier Scottish Power has announced that it is to pay interest to customers who run up large credit balances. ... >>

Homeowners reducing debt burden at record rate
Net mortgage payments reached record levels in the final quarter of 2008, according to The Times, as homeowners looked to reduce their debt burden in the midst of a recession. ... >>

Mortgage debt - an update
The housing market showed some sign of recovery in March, according to the Nationwide House Price Index. ... >>

Retirees `may be left with financial difficulties due to property prices`
Retirees in the UK may be left with financial difficulties - potentially including debt problems - as a result of falls in the price of properties, it has been suggested.... >>

Firm makes £3.2m available to help struggling consumers
Nationwide has announced it is to make £3.2 million available for disadvantaged groups.... >>

Most tracker mortgage borrowers `not making overpayments`
Despite the UK`s current low interest rates, the majority of tracker mortgage borrowers are not making overpayments, it has been found.... >>