It’s not unreasonable for utility companies to charge more in winter and less in summer, or even to try to average it out. Neither practice is unusual. However, I’ve received a few emails about unfair seasonal increases to people’s gas and electricity direct debits, which means there are probably a lot more people out there who have the same problem every winter.
Tag: Credit
This Is Money: Banks Call For Insolvency Crackdown
The UK’s major banks are calling for a crackdown on misleading advertising from companies that specialise in personal insolvencies.
This Is Money: Never-ending Debt Hits 2m
Two million people have borrowed so much they will never escape their debts, experts have warned
This Is Money: UK Is ‘card Fraud Capital’
More than seven millions British adults have fallen victim to card fraud, according to a new report
Motley Fool: The Return Of Credit-Card Fees
Last week, in Your Credit Cards Need £1 Billion, I warned Fool readers that credit-card companies are seeking ways to maintain and increase their record profits.
This Is Money: Foxtons Shapes Up For £300m Flotation
Controversial estate agency Foxtons has hired investment bank Credit Suisse to seek a stock market listing, valuing it at more than £300 million
Scotsman: Stay Sharp As Lenders Shuffle Cards
BRITONS are planning to spend a whopping third more on their credit cards this Christmas than last, clocking up an average of £1,270 on plastic. Despite this, all is not well in credit card land, which means consumers must keep their wits about them.
Scotsman: ‘I Like To Get Something Back As I’m Spending’
ANNE Begley will not only be rewarded with praise and congratulations by her family when she serves up Christmas dinner for 18 this year, but by her credit card as well.
MoneyExpert: New Type Of Home Loan ‘may Grow In Popularity’
A new kind of homeowner loan designed for consumers with poor borrowing history could become increasingly popular in the UK, despite being more expensive than standard mortgages, it has been claimed.
Bad credit mortgages are aimed at people who have been rejected by major lenders due to missed repayments or CCJs.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) predicts that the popularity of these homeowner loans will rise in relation to the fact that many households are facing significant financial difficulty, sometimes through failing to compare loans and find the best rates.
“At any point in time there is a substantial minority of individuals who cannot access mainstream financial products,” states Bob Pannell, head of research and information at the CML.
“The provision of adverse credit products helps such individuals get into or sustain homeownership and in many cases gives borrowers an opportunity to re-order their finances.”
The CML is confident that bad credit mortgages will play a key “rehabilitating” role for those with short term financial problems.
With rising interest rates the number of homeowners remortgaging in the UK has dipped to its lowest level since 2001. CML figures show that remortgaging accounted for 30 per cent of the overall mortgage market in September 2006.
MoneyExpert: Clampdown On IVAs ‘could Encourage Debtors To Consider Loans’
Creditors involved in individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) are increasingly cracking down on the amount of money set aside for emergencies, it has been claimed, which could encourage some people to take out additional loans from other sources.