Loans
Farewell to PPI at last at Lloyds
Filed under: Credit Cards, Loans, Insurance
Lloyds Banking Group has announced it will stop selling Payment Protection Insurance (PPI), raising hopes that this is the beginning of the end for the controversial insurance.Consumer organisations celebrated the move as a big victory for consumers, in the hope that other banks will follow suit soon.
Debt problems are ruining lives
Filed under: Financial Crisis, Loans
It's not very surprising that debt problems can have a severe impact on people's lives, but the extent of the misery does surprise me.A survey by leading debt charity Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) has revealed that debt problems have a negative impact on people's close relationships, their health and their ability to carry out their jobs. Alarmingly, 83% of those surveyed said that their debt problems had a very negative impact on their lives.
Plastic surgery results: happier or poorer?
Filed under: Loans, Weird and Wonderful
Botox makes you happy - apparently - but beware, because the cost of plastic surgery could land you in a financial mess that isn't pretty. The argument over whether surgery will make you happier seems to have been won by the scalpel-happy in the case of Botox. There's a new study out that claims that because botox fans like Katie Price can't frown any more, they are more likely to have a sunny disposition. However, at the same time new research shows it's not just our skins that are getting over-stretched by surgery.
New graduate tax could end student loans
Filed under: Taxes, Loans, Work & Careers
Student loans to pay university tuition fees could be scrapped in favour of a new graduate tax, under proposals introduced by business secretary Vince Cable yesterday.In what could be the biggest shake up the higher education system has seen in a generation, graduates could face a tax based on their earnings instead of the current system where a set rate is repaid for student loans once graduates start earning more than £15,000.
Personal debt up again, and bad debts are growing
Filed under: Credit Cards, Financial Crisis, Mortgages, Loans
UK banks and building societies wrote off loans worth £9.6 billion during the 12 months to the end of March 2010, according to figures from debt agency Credit Action.Meanwhile personal debt levels in the UK continue to grow, with total lending during the month of May increasing another £1.5 billion, some £1.2 billion of which was secured lending – or, for the most part, mortgages.
Chilling debt figures. Just how much trouble are we in?
Filed under: Credit Cards, Mortgages, Loans
We've had a week of sun, and immediately there's talk of standpipes in the street. In this weather the urge to dive into cold water gets the better of most of us, but there's a much easier way to be overcome by a sudden chill, you can read this week's debt statistics.The latest figures came our yesterday, and are well worth a look if you want the feeling of having a glass of icy water thrown in your face.
Sharp rise in renters worried about eviction
Filed under: Financial Crisis, Property, Loans
It's not just homeowners who are worried about losing their homes.The UK's leading debt charity, the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS), has seen a dramatic rise in calls from people in rented accommodation who face eviction.
Are your debts in danger of crushing you?
Filed under: Credit Cards, Financial Crisis, Loans
Isn't it strange, a couple of years people used to talk about credit, as if 'getting credit' was just like being given free money. Nowadays we all talk about debt - and the miserable, crushing burden we've made for ourselves. What a difference a credit crunch makes...And a report out yesterday revealed it's hurting us more acutely than ever.
Could you be conned in fake loan scam?
Filed under: Financial Crisis, Loans, Budgeting & Planning
National charity Citizens Advice is warning people desperate for a loan to beware of companies offering fake loans for a fee. The companies often prey on people who are already in debt and desperate for a way out. Once you've parted with your money it's very hard to get it back. So how do you know if you're dealing with a bogus loan company?
Doorstep lenders given permission to rip you off
Filed under: Loans, Budgeting & Planning
The Office of Fair Trading has decided against recommending a cap on the interest rates charged by high-cost credit providers such as doorstep lenders and payday loan companies.In other words, the watchdog has given them permission to carry on ripping you off. Why?
