Credit Cards

House prices up by 6.7 % since the start of the year House prices have started to recover some of the large losses suffered since the market peak of summer 2007. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) published its latest housing survey showing that the overall property market has

18 August 2009 - Ministers warn banks to increase the amount of loans to businesses

Ministers warn banks to increase the amount of loans to businesses Politicians are lining up to throw further criticism at the banks after it was announced by the Bank of England that lending to firms fell by a record amount in the second quarter. Lending to non financial firms dropped by

17 August 2009 - Borrowers in the United Kingdom targeted by the Bank of China

Borrowers in the United Kingdom targeted by the Bank of China With the mortgage market just starting to show signs of life, there is a further interesting development in that the Bank of China, the third largest bank in the world, is seeking to increase its footprint in the UK. Whilst the

17 August 2009 - Investors urged to get out of onshore investment bonds

Investors urged to get out of onshore investment bonds Onshore investment bonds are losing their appeal as new tax rules for high income earners are being analysed. The Chancellor has recently announced new rules for the taxation of Britons earning £150,000 on the yearly gains from such

17 August 2009 - Provident Financial announce 1st half rise in profits of 4%

Provident Financial announce 1st half rise in profits of 4% Provident Financial, best known for its doorstep lending activities, reported an increase in profits of 3.5% to £53.1m in the six months trading period to the end of June. Provident Financial has 2.1 million customers, or 4.3% of the

17 August 2009 - Muted sales seen by the high street in July

Muted sales seen by the high street in July With 291,000 businesses turning over £265 billion per year with 3 million people, the UK retail industry is one of the largest employers in the private sector. Its fortunes, or otherwise, are an important indicator as to the health of the economy and

17 August 2009 - Becoming free of debt is getting easier

Becoming free of debt is getting easier Getting into debt was never easier than during the past 20 years. There was a surplus competition ready to lend, companies and the public were positive and the financial outlook for everyone was strong. As the economy boomed, inflation was conquered and

17 August 2009 - Recovery looming in the housing market

Recovery looming in the housing market There is further evidence of a recovery in the UK housing market following the publication by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) of statistics which show a further upturn in confidence amongst their members that prices are expected increase

17 August 2009 - Big upturn in US house sales, is it a sign the credit crunch is easing

Big upturn in US house sales, is it a sign the credit crunch is easing The National Association of Realtors has recently reported that the number of pending house sales has risen for the fifth consecutive month. This is the longest trend in the number of sales since July 2003. The Pending

13 August 2009 - Richard Branson to rescue Australian airline

Richard Branson to rescue Australian airline Virgin Blue, the Australian budget airliner part owned by Richard Branson's Virgin Group, has announced that they expect to lose between A$160m and A$165m dollars in the current years trading period ending in June. It appears that the short haul

13 August 2009 - New mortgage products available

New mortgage products available The mortgage market in the UK has undergone a significant change following the financial crisis and subsequent recession. The fall out from the meltdown is a significant reduction in the number of providers as well as a strong drive towards over careful lending

13 August 2009 - Unsecured lending, the facts

Unsecured lending, the facts An unsecured loan is a contractual agreement where you agree to repay the capital and interest of the amount borrowed on set dates for a set period of time. The lender does not seek additional security ion the form of a charge over your home or any other assets that

13 August 2009 - Is it time to sell your antiques?

Is it time to sell your antiques? Recession brings opportunities in many varying forms. With interest rates low and the stock markets volatile behaviour putting many investors off, there may be an opportunity to cash in on peoples desire for tangible possessions that grow in value. The

13 August 2009 - OFT affected by £250,000 fraud

OFT affected by £250,000 fraud It seems that no one is immune from fraud these days. It was recently revealed that the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), the government body set up to protect the interests of the consumer, was duped for £1/4 million over a two year period by a member of staff. The

13 August 2009 - All the facts about bankruptcy

All the facts about bankruptcy Being made, or declaring yourself bankrupt is pretty much the end of the line in terms of debt management. It should not be considered before all other options for clearing your debt have been explored, especially an Individual Voluntary arrangement (IVA). An IVA

11 August 2009 - Unemployed duped by fake job vacancies

Unemployed duped by fake job vacancies Callous fraudsters have sunk to new lows by preying on the unemployed. Recent scams have been uncovered where a number of fake job advertisements for well paid roles have been placed in newspapers and on websites in the hope of attracting applicants and

11 August 2009 - Virtual vehicle scams on the increase

Virtual vehicle scams on the increase Recessions always lead to an increase in crime. Whether it is petty offences such as muggings or bag snatches or serious fraud and burglary, the financial necessity the few often forces them to prey on the majority of law abiding citizens - which

11 August 2009 - Remortgage options becoming more tempting

Remortgage options becoming more tempting The recent round of banking results gives some indication that the worst may be over in the financial markets. This is good news for borrowers as it means that access to loans and mortgages could start to get easier as the recession shows signs of

8 August 2009 - Unemployment rises to 2.38 million

Unemployment rises to 2.38 million The recession is biting hard in terms of unemployment. Recent statistics released by the government show that unemployment is rising at its fastest rate ever recorded. Many expect the total number of unemployed persons in the UK to reach 3 million before the

8 August 2009 - New mortgages on the increase as house prices are still rising

New mortgages on the increase as house prices are still rising The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has recently issued statistics from its members that show a dramatic 17% rise in the mortgage lending in June 2009. The amount lent was £12.3bn – up from £10.5bn in May. However, mortgage

8 August 2009 - Credit crunch results in rise in bag snatches and muggings

Credit crunch results in rise in bag snatches and muggings A recent snap shot crime survey commissioned by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has shown that more than 90% of retailers have experienced a higher level of crime over the past 12 months, with 80% believing that the cause has been

8 August 2009 - 20 billion overspend revealed by the Treasury

20 billion overspend revealed by the Treasury Public finances are in a mess. Well, that is the non technical term for the pickle that we now seem to find ourselves in after the greatest banking rescue in history combined with the deepest recession since the 1930's. Government overspending on

8 August 2009 - £730m worth of fraudulent claims in 2008

Insurance provides us with a financial backstop when catastrophe calls – even if it is a small bump in the car or a glass of red wine over the carpet. But it seems that recessionary times drive bad behaviour with the total amount of undetected fraudulent claims against insurance companies rising

5 August 2009 - Is it time to get back on the property ladder

Is it time to get back on the property ladder House prices appear to have stabilised and even started to gain some of their value lost over the past two years. So appears to be the picture of the latest house price surveys that have shown small monthly increases in value for the last four

5 August 2009 - Relieve the stress of debt with a professional debt plan

Relieve the stress of debt with a professional debt plan Experiencing financial problems can be embarrassing. It can be a bit like going to the doctor with a personal problem - something you try to avoid until it's simply vital that it is resolved. It infers that you have lost control of your

5 August 2009 - Lending on the increase, is it the right time to apply for a loan or finance

Lending on the increase, is it the right time to apply for a loan or finance The worst ravages of the financial meltdown appear to be behind us. Or so it seems with the optimistic reviews of the recent UK and US banking results that have recently been announced. The worst appears to be over but

5 August 2009 - 5.99 fixed rate mortgaged launched with Abbey

5.99 fixed rate mortgaged launched with Abbey It is almost like being back in the old days. New mortgage offers are being announced almost every day as the market scrambles itself back from the edge of oblivion to something approaching the very minimum of what could be described as

5 August 2009 - 80% LTV offered by Black Horse

80% LTV offered by Black Horse The banks really are in a pickle. They are being forced by the regulator, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to hold more capital in case of losses and yet are being 'encouraged' by the government to increase lending to businesses and consumers. These two

4 August 2009 - IVA, what does it mean

IVA, what does it mean Many people are struggling with debt as a result of a change in circumstances due to the recession. Loss of a job, breakup of a long term relationship or the onset of a long term illness can all have a devastating impact on family finances. A once comfortable lifestyle

4 August 2009 - Consolidation Loan or Debt plan, weigh up the options

Consolidation Loan or Debt plan, weigh up the options With the explosion of credit demand has come a range of new tools and terminology. Some new initiatives have also been introduced to help consumers understand the complexity of the products and services they are being offered and new

4 August 2009 - What is bad credit

What is bad credit Have you been refused credit? If you have it may be because you are deemed to be a bad credit risk. But how do you get to be a bad credit risk? There are a number of factors that affect your credit score – and it is a credit score that determines whether you are a bad

4 August 2009 - The myths over blacklisting

The myths over blacklisting Many people believe that there is a creditors blacklist and that consumers placed on this list will not be able to borrow. The reality is that there is no blacklist in existence and it is merely the credit history of borrowers that prevents them from obtaining new

4 August 2009 - Credit card debts, how to reduce payments

Credit card debts, how to reduce payments Credit cards have helped increase the security and certainty of payment for many years. As consumer protection legislation has developed over the years they also afford users valuable guarantees when purchasing goods and services over £100. As the

4 August 2009 - There is a way to avoid bankruptcy

There is a way to avoid bankruptcy There is a danger that if you start to have problems with debt that you automatically think that the only solution is bankruptcy. As consumer lending has grown over the last 30 years, so has the legal environment surrounding financial services and there are a

4 August 2009 - Unsecured loans, which is the right one for you

Unsecured loans, which is the right one for you When it comes to getting a loan you need to make sure that you understand all the options available before selecting which type to apply for. There are four basic types of loan; secured, unsecured, fixed rate and variable rate. Understanding

4 August 2009 - Rising cost of living, tips on how to cope through the current credit crunch

Rising cost of living, tips on how to cope through the current credit crunch Few of us will have experienced a recession and credit crunch the likes of the one we are currently ensnared within. The speed and depth of its arrival surprised all and the impact has been devastating for many and

2 August 2009 - How to read your credit file

How to read your credit file Every one of us has a credit file. It contains a history of our borrowings, records relating to any services that we may have taken out or enquired after and details of where we live. As such, it is a complete snapshot with history of how we have moved around and

2 August 2009 - Top tips on reducing your outgoings

Top tips on reducing your outgoings So you have done all you can to increase the income coming into the family home, now you need to look at ways of reducing the expenditure that drains it so heavily. All expenditure items are worth reviewing as you may be surprised what can be done. Start

2 August 2009 - Work out your disposable income

Work out your disposable income Most of us have a pretty good idea of what we earn – at least as an annual gross salary amount. But I'll wager that not many people can actually work out their disposable income! Disposable income is what is left from your gross income (usually salary or

17 July 2009 - National Housing Federation Predicts That Average House Prices Will Rise In England

National Housing Federation Predicts That Average House Prices Will Rise In England The National Housing Federation has predicted that house prices will increase by 25% by 2013. This will take the average value of a home to £274,000 from the current £180,000 as measured by the Halifax price

16 July 2009 - Home Repossession On The Decline

Home Repossession On The Decline Homeowners face many fewer repossessions in 2009 than in earlier years, according to a spokesperson for the Council of Mortgage Lenders recently. They have reduced their forecast for total repossessions in 2009 down to 65,000 from 75,000 and base this on the

16 July 2009 - IVA On The Increase, Is It Right For You?

IVA On The Increase, Is It Right For You? Getting control of your finances can be hard – especially if you have had a sudden and dramatic change in personal circumstances caused by redundancy, relationship breakdown or serious, long term illness. Once you realise that circumstances have

16 July 2009 - Britain In The Most Debt In the EU

Britain In The Most Debt In the EU The boom has turned to bust – well, almost. Given the size of our economy and the heavy reliance of financial services prior to the meltdown, it was inevitable that any central intervention to help bail out the banks would lead to telephone number sized

16 July 2009 - Unsecured Lending Down By Half

Unsecured Lending Down By Half It has been a tough couple of years for lenders. Recent surveys have shown that the unsecured loans market bears little resemblance to the one that we all enjoyed when the economy was at full throttle and interest rates were low. Moneyfacts.co.uk has just

14 July 2009 - Bank of England Says Financial Crisis Is Easing

Bank of England Says Financial Crisis Is Easing It seems that the Bank of England has started to see an end to the financial crisis that has so badly affected global markets and many household name institutions in recent months. Speaking recently, Paul Fisher, Executive Director Markets at

14 July 2009 - Unemployment At Highest Level For 26 Years

Unemployment At Highest Level For 26 Years Unemployment is soaring to levels not experienced since the early 80s. Records of all kinds are being set during this recession – most of them not ones that you would hope to be beating in an industrialised, developed economy in the 21st century. But

13 July 2009 - The Super Rich Are Hit Hardest During The Credit Crunch

The Super Rich Are Hit Hardest During The Credit Crunch Recessions are not good times for most, but the super rich tend to be hit hardest since their assets tend to be more widely diversified than ordinary folk. Evidence contained within the Sunday Times Rich List 2009 shows that £155

13 July 2009 - Gap In UK House Prices Is Getting Smaller

Gap In UK House Prices Is Getting Smaller There may be some hope that the property price slide is nearing the bottom of the cycle. Recent research conducted by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors has found that the gap between asking and selling prices has started to narrow, although

13 July 2009 - Struggling To Keep Up Your Repayments?

One of the consequences of the recession is that it can change family finances at a stroke and without warning. What was once a comfortable and pleasant lifestyle can suddenly become a grind and constant worry. When times are good, we have a tendency to live life to the full. One of the key

13 July 2009 - More Money Lost By RBS Than Any Other Global Bank

More Money Lost By RBS Than Any Other Global Bank Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) now holds an unenviable record. It has been reported by The Banker Magazine that RBS managed to rack up over £36bn worth of losses during 2008 making it the worst performing organisation in a list of over 1,000

9 July 2009 - Are Personal Loan Rates Returning To Normal As The Fear Of The Credit Crunch Eases?

Are Personal Loan Rates Returning To Normal As The Fear Of The Credit Crunch Eases? What constitutes 'normality' in the current market conditions remains something of a debating point. It is clear that the financial markets have endured the greatest upheaval since the depression of the 1920s.

9 July 2009 - Debt Overtaking Earnings

Debt Overtaking Earnings Who would like to be a resident in Kingston upon Thames? Beware before you answer as, according to a recent survey conducted by confused.com, they have the highest level of indebtedness compared to their average annual earnings of anywhere in the UK. They owe a massive

8 July 2009 - New Mortgage Products On The Increase

New Mortgage Products On The Increase Given the financial markets turmoil over the past two years, it would be easy to think that there was no appetite amongst lenders to increase their range of products on offer. As the worst of the global meltdown took its toll, there was a significant

8 July 2009 - Enormous Mountain Of Debt To Cimb In The UK

Enormous Mountain Of Debt To Cimb In The UK Oh dear. After all the ranting and raving against consumers who were living a life that they couldn't afford on borrowed money, the Government has done exactly the same. The root cause of the problem lies in where your political preferences lay.

7 July 2009 - Housing Market Slump Close To An End

Housing Market Slump Close To An End After many months of watching house prices fall in response to the chaos in the financial markets and global meltdown of economies, there may be some rays of hope that the bottom has been reached and prices may be beginning to harden. Residential property

7 July 2009 - Top Tips To Ease Money Worries

Top Tips To Ease Money Worries Seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. An old saying that many believe originates from the scriptures but it does seem to have a ring of truth. Even if there is a half truth in this saying, then it makes sense to prepare for the bad times when

7 July 2009 - Mortgage rates set to rise

Mortgage rates set to rise The boom days of the last decades are well and truly behind us. During the 80's and 90's we saw a tremendous growth in the number of financial services institutions that started to offer mortgage loans. We also saw the introduction of new products such as fixed term

7 July 2009 - How to become debt free within 5 years

How to become debt free within 5 years Introduction The United Kingdom remains in the grip of the worst recession since World War II, and one of the inevitable consequences of any recession is growth in unemployment. Unemployment in the U.K. already stands at just over 2¼ million – its

7 July 2009 - Over 15% increase on new mortgages

Over 15% increase on new mortgages Introduction The housing market in the U.K. has shown definite signs of revival in recent months, with a steady monthly increase in the number of mortgage loans approved - to levels last seen in early 2008. The total number of mortgage loans approved rose

7 July 2009 - Have you been charged Payment protection insurance on a current or previous loan?

Have you been charged Payment protection insurance on a current or previous loan? One of the biggest mis-selling scandals of recent years has been those relating to the provision of payment protection insurance (PPI) on loan products sold by major financial institutions. On the surface, PPI

6 July 2009 - House prices increase the 4th month running

House prices increase the 4th month running After a period of dropping prices, homes in the UK appear to have started a slow rebound in value. For the fourth month in a row, house prices have shown a month on month increase in value and given a hint that perhaps the worst of the property value

6 July 2009 - Been refused a loan at your bank?

Been refused a loan at your bank? The first and most important thing to find out is why you have been refused a loan. Did you ask for too much? Is your credit history poor? Do you have something in your application that just doesn't stack up? A lender is not obliged to lend you money. It is

6 July 2009 - Compensation available for Homeowners duped by Buy and rent back companies

Compensation available for Homeowners duped by Buy and rent back companies From July 1st this year anyone duped into selling their home and renting it back from unscrupulous companies may be able to claim compensation for their financial losses. This could be good news for the 50,000

6 July 2009 - Top tips to become free of debt.

Top tips to become free of debt. With the recession lurking and job uncertainty still playing of the minds of many, there has never been a better time to try and pay off all those debts that have accumulated over the sunny, high-living days of recent years. When times were good, with income and

6 July 2009 - Considering Bankruptcy? See if a Debt Management plan can replace the stigma

Considering Bankruptcy? See if a Debt Management plan can replace the stigma Easy credit combined with a booming market led to a huge growth in borrowing during the 90's and 00's. Competition was fierce and lending criteria slipped as there was too much capacity in the loan markets. A

6 July 2009 - Nearly £1.2 million unclaimed in utilities compensation

Nearly £1.2 million unclaimed in utilities compensation Did you know that consumers are failing to claim nearly £1.2m per week from their energy and water suppliers? According to recent research 69% of people are unaware that they can claim compensation from their gas, electric and water

6 July 2009 - Debts spiralling out of control? Consolidation with an unsecured personal loan or a Debt management

Debts spiralling out of control? Consolidation with an unsecured personal loan or a Debt management plan could see you debt free sooner than you think Introduction The effects of the credit crunch – which has, in fact, become the worst recession since the Great Depression of the Thirties –

6 July 2009 - The current Credit Crunch shows an increase in IVA Applications

The current Credit Crunch shows an increase in IVA Applications As the recession bites hard, it is the lag impact of unemployment which, perhaps, has the hardest impact on individuals and families. The boom years now seem a long and distant memory, and we find ourselves sorely missing the

6 July 2009 - You can still get an unsecured personal loan even with bad credit

You can still get an unsecured personal loan even with bad credit Times have never been tougher. The financial turmoil in the global markets followed by a severe recession has taken a heavy toll on national and family budgets. During the years of boom in the latter part of the last century and

6 July 2009 - Citizens advice bureau redundancy enquiries rise by 179%

Citizens advice bureau redundancy enquiries rise by 179% When times are 'normal', the level of redundancies remains at a relatively static level. Companies reduce or increase their workforce in response to customer demand or competitive pressure. Redundancies happen when a job disappears.

6 July 2009 - Intelligent Finance pulls out of the mortgage market

Intelligent Finance pulls out of the mortgage market Intelligent Finance has announced that it is to stop providing offset mortgages and concentrate instead on offering a range of savings and investment products. Intelligent Finance is a division of Halifax plc and was formed in 2000.

6 July 2009 - Take the headache out of your debt problem, seek advice from a debt management professional

Take the headache out of your debt problem, seek advice from a debt management professional As with all tasks we undertake, some of us do better at some things and others we do not so well. It is usually based on how frequently we practice the skill that we are being asked to use. Things we do

19 June 2009 - One In Ten UK Homeowners Are In Negative Equity

One In Ten UK Homeowners Are In Negative Equity Many consider their home as an investment and see the equity built over time as a contributor to pension or a more comfortable standard of living in retirement. Therefore, a fall in the value of property hits hard at our real wealth, albeit it

19 June 2009 - Unsecured Personal Loans Are Still Available Despite The Credit Crunch

Unsecured Personal Loans Are Still Available Despite The Credit Crunch One of the great things about recession is that it really helps to sort out the cream from the milk in terms of providers and customers. A strange comment? Maybe, especially for the many people that have become used to

19 June 2009 - Rise In Unemployment Leads To More Personal Debt

Rise In Unemployment Leads To More Personal Debt One of the nastier side effects of any recession is the increase in unemployment. This is a lag effect of the reduced demand for products and services and the inevitable failure of some businesses to profitably compete. UK unemployment is now

19 June 2009 - Is The Recession Slowing Down?

Is The Recession Slowing Down? One of the more frustrating aspects of macroeconomics is that the data used to measure performance and trends is historic. The other aspect to all recessions is that they are easier to gauge in hindsight than in the midst of the recession itself. The current

28 May 2009 - Payment Protection Insurance: All You Need to Know

Payment Protection Insurance: All You Need to Know Introduction Payment Protection Insurance, often abbreviated to "PPI", is insurance cover that, in theory, at least, protects you against accident, illness, redundancy or any other unforeseen circumstance that renders you incapable of

28 May 2009 - What has the Budget Done for You?

What has the Budget Done for You? Introduction The United Kingdom formally entered recession in December 2008, and recession is being experienced by all the major economies in the world – the Eurozone, USA and Japan included – and the global economy is set to contract by 1¼% in 2009, the

28 May 2009 - Manage Your Finances and Get Out of Debt

Manage Your Finances and Get Out of Debt Introduction There was a time when there was a significant social stigma attached to debt, and even more so to financial failure and bankruptcy. This is no longer the case however, particularly with Britain in the grip of the worst recession since

28 May 2009 - Ideal Time to Buy into the Property Market?

Ideal Time to Buy into the Property Market? Introduction The United Kingdom officially joined other major economies – the Eurozone, U.S.A. Japan, etc. – in recession in the final quarter of 2008. House prices are continuing to fall by a further 1.7% in April 2009, and unemployment is

28 May 2009 - First Time Buyer Mortgage Deals on the Increase

First Time Buyer Mortgage Deals on the Increase Introduction The housing market in the U.K. first started to show signs of decline in 2007 and in response, mortgage lenders tightened their lending criteria, so that competitive mortgage deals became more difficult to come by, especially for

26 May 2009 - Wipe Out Your Existing Credit Agreement

Wipe Out Your Existing Credit Agreement Debt is rising in the UK at an unstoppable rate and the recession is simply exacerbating the problem. Many people have tried to make ends meet by putting large expenses onto their credit cards but this of course means they will pay hefty interest fees

26 May 2009 - House Prices On The Increase

House Prices On The Increase The UK housing market has been through the deepest and most sudden slump in living memory. Every day brings a new survey, a new poll, new data, all seeming to indicate that house prices remain on the floor and indeed falling still. But are there any grounds for

22 May 2009 - Industry Boom Forecast After Recession

Industry Boom Forecast After Recession As the UK economy continues to contract and shrink, with some forecasts predicting that the economy will shrink by 3.5% in the coming year, and with the fabled green shoots of recovery continuing to prove illusory, it might be premature to start to

22 May 2009 - Debt Management - is It Right For You?

Debt Management - is It Right For You? A debt management plan is an informal arrangement that you and your creditors have agreed that will enable you to repay your debts with regular repayments you can afford. There is no stigma attached to it, it does not have as big an effect on your credit

22 May 2009 - Is Britain Going Back To Its Roots - Seeds Are Worth More Than Gold

Is Britain Going Back To Its Roots - Seeds Are Worth More Than Gold It is a little known fact that in a time of recession lipstick sales boom. It is true. In Britain at the moment unemployment might be fast rising, economic growth continues to shrink at an accelerating rate and consumer

22 May 2009 - Crunch Time For The UK

Crunch Time For The UK The banks might have been saved but as the UK economy heads ever deeper into recession and as unemployment rises and consumer and business confidence falls, many are now asking is the worst over or is it now crunch time for the UK economy and the UK consumer? The

22 May 2009 - Stocks And Shares - Buy Or Sell

Stocks And Shares - Buy Or Sell Over the past year the stock market has fallen by 25% from its peak and plumbed new lows before recovering a little and in recent weeks the prices have risen by almost 30% from its lows of early 2009. Is this the time to buy our sell shares? We all know stock

21 May 2009 - Bank Charge Reclamation

Bank Charge Reclamation - The Latest News The reclaiming of bank charges has continued to make headlines, and in late February 2009 the Court of Appeal caused a setback to high street banks by confirming the decision of the High Court that the charges they levy are in fact subject to fairness

21 May 2009 - Ever Had Credit? Check Your Agreements - They Could Be Worth Pounds To You

Ever Had Credit? Check Your Agreements - They Could Be Worth Pounds To You Legislation introduced in 2006 has made it possible for all existing credit agreements to be reviewed to ensure that they are fair and reasonable. If deemed not to be fair, then it could be possible to have the debt

21 May 2009 - UK Job Losses Worst In Europe

UK Job Losses Worst In Europe The UK suffered the highest job losses in Europe during the first quarter of 2009 according to a European Restructuring Monitor published by Eurofound. Job cuts in the UK totalled 63,314 – by far the worst of any single country. Next worst was Poland with 38,975,

21 May 2009 - IVA - The Facts

IVA - The Facts Debt management takes on a new dimension in tough economic environments. Lenders typically harden their stance and the opportunities to earn more, either through additional hours worked or second incomes, can be limited. Losing part or all of one household income can have a

30 March 2009 - Can I Claim Back Charges From Credit Card Providers?

Can I Claim Back Charges From Credit Card Providers? With all the publicity that has surrounded the returning of thousands of bank penalty charges to customers, the same rush to demand refunds for credit card charges is yet to occur. The principles for challenging credit card charges are the

30 March 2009 - Saving in the Bank, or under the Bed?

Saving in the Bank, or under the Bed? Introduction The financial crisis, although far from being solely a British problem has, nevertheless, had a profound effect on the British financial services industry. Billions of pounds of taxpayers' money has been spent on recapitalising the likes of

27 March 2009 - Mortgage Rates: How Low Will They Go?

Mortgage Rates: How Low Will They Go? Introduction The United Kingdom officially entered recession in the final quarter of 2008, and the Bank of England has been forced to make cumulative cuts in the Bank Rate – from 5.0% in October 2008, to just 0.5% in March 2009 – in an effort to arrest

25 March 2009 - How Do I Obtain My Credit Report?

How Do I Obtain My Credit Report? What is a Credit Report? A credit report is, as the name suggests, a record of your credit activities. It also contains information, taken from the electoral roll, which can be used to identify you to a lender as living at a certain address, and with whom.

25 March 2009 - Do Price Comparison Sites Really Work?

Do Price Comparison Sites Really Work? As the internet has evolved our online shopping prowess has become savvier and most of us are able to locate the exact products and services we are looking for in a relatively short space of time through the most popular search engines. Searching for

25 March 2009 - Government Debt Advice – What are the Guidelines?

Government Debt Advice – What are the Guidelines? Introduction One of the unfortunate side effects of debt is that it induces stress and, when stressed, we have a tendency to make irrational, spur of the moment decisions, or worse still, to do nothing at all and hope that the problem will go

20 March 2009 - Debt Advice on Consolidation Credit Cards

Debt Advice on Consolidation Credit Cards Introduction Social and economic factors – not least recession, which the United Kingdom is experiencing for the first time since the early Nineties – mean that debt, and the management of debt, is a fact of life for many British consumers. In fact,

18 March 2009 - Can I Claim Back PPI From My Loans?

Can I Claim Back PPI From My Loans? Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) is a policy that is sold alongside a loan to provide financial compensation in the event that you are either made redundant, fall ill or otherwise lose your source of income and with it the ability to keep up your loan

18 March 2009 - Credit Card Debt, Who Can Help?

Credit Card Debt, Who Can Help? Credit cards are a valuable and easy to use source for short term credit. They also provide valuable backup warranty and liability protection when buying goods or services in excess of £100. However, they are designed as short term credit products and the

18 March 2009 - What is Reasonable Lending?

What is Reasonable Lending? Reasonableness can, to a certain extent, be in the eye of the beholder. What may seem reasonable to one may be seen as either a bargain or extortionate to another. The acid test is to review the circumstances and try to determine what is commercially fair and morally

15 March 2009 - Unsecured Loans with Bad Credit

Unsecured Loans with Bad Credit Introduction An unsecured loan is a loan for which no security, or collateral, is required. The loan is backed only by the creditworthiness of a borrower, and his or her, promise to repay the loan amount. As such, it is seen by lenders as a high risk form of

15 March 2009 - Debt Consolidation Loan Help

Debt Consolidation Loan Help Introduction The concept of a debt consolidation loan is simple; you take out a loan for an amount large enough to pay off all your existing borrowing – on credit cards, personal loans, etc. – including the interest on that borrowing, and you are left with a

15 March 2009 - How To Find The Best Loans?

How To Find The Best Loans? Before you go hunting for the best loan, it helps if you have a clear idea of what you can afford to repay on a monthly basis and over what period you would like to repay it. This will give you some idea of the amount that you can afford to borrow and that, in turn,

13 March 2009 - Personal Loans, What APR Can I Expect?

Personal Loans, What APR Can I Expect? The Consumer Credit Act 1985 laid down the basic ground rules for how all forms of personal credit should be advertised, negotiated, documented, administered and settled. One of the key aspects of the legislation was that it introduced a standardised way

13 March 2009 - Bad Credit Loans, Are They Still Available?

Bad Credit Loans, Are They Still Available? Not a homeowner or have negative equity? Got a poor or broken credit history littered with CCJ's? Then getting an application for a new mortgage or loan considered could be difficult but is by no means impossible. Despite the current credit crunch

13 March 2009 - Debt Management, Can This Really Help With Debts?

Debt Management, Can This Really Help With Debts? Times of recession are particularly hard on families where incomes have reduced. What was once a comfortable lifestyle may be turned on its head by the reduction in income due to reduced working hours, voluntary wage cuts or loss of a job. It

24 February 2009 - Why Should I Pay for Other People's Bad Debt through My Taxes?

Why Should I Pay for Other People's Bad Debt through My Taxes? Introduction The United Kingdom officially entered recession for the first time since 1991 in the final quarter of 2008, when GDP ("Gross Domestic Product") fell by 1.5%, compounding a fall of 0.6% in the third quarter and

24 February 2009 - What Will Lenders Do If I Can't Repay My Debts on Time?

What Will Lenders Do If I Can't Repay My Debts on Time? Introduction There was a time when debt of any kind had a huge social stigma attached to it, but that is no longer the case. Debt and the management of debt, is part of everyday life for many people – the average British adult is

24 February 2009 - Why Are Unsecured Loans Hard to Find?

Why Are Unsecured Loans Hard to Find? Introduction The lack of availability of affordable unsecured loans is due, in large part, to the global "credit crunch", as it has become known. A few years ago, you would have been hard pressed to find anyone – other than an economist, of course – who

24 February 2009 - Joining the Euro: Is it a Good Idea?

Joining the Euro: Is it a Good Idea? Introduction The first stages of European Monetary Union (EMU), or the adoption of the single European currency, the Euro, took place in 1999. For the first two years of its life, however, the Euro was solely an electronic banking currency, and the

13 February 2009 - Credit Card Debt – Is it out of control?

Credit Card Debt – Is it out of control? By the end of 2008, UK personal debt had reached a total of £1,457 billion, an increase of £50 billion in 12 months. Individual consumer credit borrowing was £233 billion. The average household debt in the UK is £9,550, which excludes mortgages, and

13 February 2009 - How Long Does It Take To Remortgage?

How Long Does It Take To Remortgage? Introduction There are numerous reasons why you might want to remortgage your existing home, but typical reasons include moving to a better interest rate – instead of reverting to the (typically uncompetitive) SVR, or "Standard Variable Rate", offered by

11 February 2009 - Is It Better To Go To A Broker Or Direct To The Bank When Remortgaging?

Is It Better To Go To A Broker Or Direct To The Bank When Remortgaging? One of the most important decisions you will ever make in life will be which mortgage to take out to help you purchase a home, so you'll want to be certain that you are getting the best deal for your situation. There are

9 February 2009 - What Fees Do I Need To Pay When Remortgaging?

What Fees Do I Need To Pay When Remortgaging? As a homeowner, you might choose to remortgage for several reasons: • To reduce their existing debt to a cheaper home loan • Because you anticipate lower interest rates • To take advantage of better interest rate deals such as extended fixed

9 February 2009 - Repossession - What Can I do to Stop It?

Repossession - What Can I do to Stop It? Your home is probably your biggest single asset as well as a property in which you have invested psychologically. Maintaining a family home is a top priority and, therefore, when debts start to mount or income is under pressure, the mortgage payments

9 February 2009 - How Do I Get hold Of My Credit Report And What Should I Do?

How Do I Get hold Of My Credit Report And What Should I Do? Every adult in the UK has a credit rating. This is based on your history of how you have used credit and lender or other service provider's experience of their dealings with you. You may not have borrowed any money, but you will still

9 February 2009 - Car Loans - Is it A Good Time To Buy?

Car Loans - Is it A Good Time To Buy? One would have to be from another planet not to realise that the auto industry is in dire straights. The relative boom years of the early decade have passed and although the number of people eligible to drive is increasing as the population grows, sales of

5 February 2009 - Mortgage:-Difference between trackers and fixed rates

There are many different types of mortgage available in the market. Despite the number of mortgages on offer being reduced significantly over the past year due to the economic recession and banking crisis, the two most popular types remain as the core offering. The principal choice of interest

5 February 2009 - Is it a good time to remortgage now interest rates are low

With interest rates at their lowest level for 50 years, now might be a good time to consider remortgaging your home. Remortgaging to a lower rate can have a number of advantages above simply looking to reduce your current monthly payment amount. The unfortunate side of the recent financial

5 February 2009 - Bank accounts why are the banks after us to change

For many years, the UK general public has experienced some of the most flexible, competitive and cheapest banking facilities in the world. With the demise of the financial system through late 2007 and 2008, the banks are now under severe pressure to change the way that they have operated in the

5 February 2009 - What Is Toxic Debt ?

What Is Toxic Debt ? A new phrase has entered the financial and general vocabulary over the past year to describe a class of assets that once had value and are now worthless. 'Toxic Debt' is the in description and used in a variety of situations to describe a debt class of assets that now have

5 February 2009 - Will House Prices Fall Even Further?

Will House Prices Fall Even Further? Crystal balls all over the country, and many other countries, are permanently being shined at the moment to seek an answer as to whether, and when, house prices will stabilise. As with all factors at the current time, the amount of uncertainty in the market

4 February 2009 - Remortgaging when you are self employed

Being self employed has lots of advantages – but it can also have its challenges too. If you are a sole trader or small business partnership, your income can be irregular and unpredictable. With interest rates at record lows, now is a good time to consider remortgaging to achieve a lower rate or

4 February 2009 - New Mortgage what Deposits will be nedded?

We have certainly entered a new era for mortgages. In the heady days of the last 20 years it was possible to get a mortgage agreed for up to 120% of the value of the home. This was justified on the basis that house prices were rising at 10% per annum and that within a few years, the home owner

4 February 2009 - Self Certification Mortgages - What Are They?

Self Certification Mortgages - What Are They? When your income is uncertain or hard to prove it can be a challenge even at the best of times to get a mortgage or loan. These days, with the economy in poor shape and with many either losing their jobs or suffering a reduction in hours, lenders

4 February 2009 - Bridging Finance - Can This Help?

Bridging Finance - Can This Help? It isn't always possible for everything to happen in a nice orderly manner and for all your finances to fall into place exactly at the right time and for the desired amount. There may be times when a Bridging Loan can help. A Bridging Loan is a short

30 January 2009 - Shall I save my money or spend in 2009?

Shall I save my money or spend in 2009? Because of the way that banks collapsed in 2008, many of us are now asking whether it's a good idea to spend or save in 2009. However, some experts are saying that 2009 will be the year for saving rather than spending and others say the opposite. It's

30 January 2009 - What does the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) do about debts?

What does the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) do about debts? These days it's hard to find someone who isn't at least a little in debt. Then again, there are many people out there so aware of the risk which debt presents us that they refuse to get a credit card or take out a loan at all; they can

30 January 2009 - Is a Bad Debt Loan right for me?

Bad Credit Loans – What are they? Bad Credit Loans (also known as poor credit loans) are essentially loans for those of us with a bad credit history. You can take out bad credit loans for a range of purchase needs. You might need one to make ends meet on a month when you have unexpected

30 January 2009 - Same Day Unsecured Loans

Same Day Unsecured Loans Introduction A same day unsecured loan, as the name suggests, is a loan that requires no security or collateral – and usually no credit check – and is available immediately, or at least within a few hours. Often referred to as a "payday loan", a same day unsecured

30 January 2009 - The Basics of Borrowing with Personal Loans Explained

The Basics of Borrowing with Personal Loans Explained Introduction If you are considering borrowing money from a bank, or building society, you need to think, specifically, about why you want to borrow the money in the first place, and how you want to pay the money back. If you are looking

30 January 2009 - Can unsecured loans become secured?

Can unsecured loans become secured? To those who haven't been reading the UK press recently the title question might seem ridiculous. 'Can unsecured loans become secured?' might be responded to with the words: 'Of course not, they're entirely different. One places your house at risk if you

30 January 2009 - Are unsecured loans and personal loans the same?

Are unsecured loans and personal loans the same? A search for personal loans on any major search engine will yield results for a high number of unsecured loan deals. Which begs the question: 'are unsecured loans and personal loans the same thing?' However, the answer is actually no. It's easy

26 January 2009 - Tenant Loans - Are They Just For Tenants?

Tenant Loans - Are They Just For Tenants? If you are planning a wedding, a trip of a lifetime, or need to trade in your wreck for a new model of car, occasionally a one-off cash sum is needed to fulfil these needs. Those who own their home will have access to a wide range of remortgage and both

26 January 2009 - How Much Can I Borrow Unsecured?

How Much Can I Borrow Unsecured? Borrowing with an unsecured loan sounds risky but actually it is probably less so than you think. You are not required to provide security or collateral against the amount you are borrowing whereas a secured loan is usually taken out against the value of your

22 January 2009 - Unsecured Loans and CCJ Explained

CCJ Explained A County Court Judgement (CCJ) is a ruling that has been issued by a County Court or higher court that relates to an individual's inability to pay their debts. If you are having difficulty paying a debt, you may receive a letter informing you that a County Court Claim has been

20 January 2009 - Consolidation Loans With Bad Credit

Consolidation Loans With Bad Credit If you are one of the many people in the UK (approximately one in five) who are struggling with bad debt and paying off a number of credit cards and loan repayments, finding a solution when you are already in bad credit can be daunting. In today's current

19 January 2009 - Can My Existing Unsecured Loans Be Consolidated?

Can My Existing Unsecured Loans Be Consolidated? Despite the rather negative sound of an unsecured loan, which is essentially the nature of most personal loans offered by today's banks, in reality they generally carry far less risk to the borrower than the secured loans. A secured loan

19 January 2009 - Do I need PPI and Gap insurance when buying a car?

Do I need PPI and Gap insurance when buying a car? PPI and GAP insurance are additional add-ons included in many mainstream car credit agreements. However, how important are they? The salespersons seem to think they're essential, but finance experts have been very critical of PPI and GAP

19 January 2009 - Can I Contact My Creditors Myself & Lower Payment?

Can I Contact My Creditors Myself & Lower Payment? Introduction The simple answer to this question is "Yes, you can" and you probably should if your debt problem is temporary and you do not have many creditors. If you are – like many other people during the current economic downturn –

19 January 2009 - Unsecured Personal Bad Credit Loan

Unsecured Personal Bad Credit Loan If you are in arrears with a credit card or loan, have been late or missed payments, or have a CCJ (county court judgement) you will have bad credit. An estimated 1 in 5 people in the UK have bad credit - it can happen to anyone, and if you find yourself with

14 January 2009 - Government Debt Plans: What Does This Mean?

Introduction For the past decade, former Chancellor of the Exchequer – and now, of course, Prime Minister – Gordon Brown has been telling the British public not to worry about borrowing too much. Not that there is inherently anything wrong with borrowing at a reasonable level – for the purchase

14 January 2009 - Personal Laons: Motor Insurance on Finance

Motor Insurance on Finance Introduction Legally, to drive a car or a motorcycle in the United Kingdom you must take out a motor insurance policy of some kind. Comprehensive motor insurance provides cover for all eventualities, including accidental damage to a vehicle, fire, and theft. Third

14 January 2009 - Contact us about advice on Debt Consolidation Management

Contact us about advice on Debt Consolidation Management Along with asking us for advice, there are many places you can turn for free, ethical, advice on debt problems such as charities and the UK government. If you have asked for guidance already and been told that debt consolidation could be

14 January 2009 - Can an online debt specialist website help you with debt management in the UK?

Can an online debt specialist website help you with debt management in the UK? If you're in a lot of debt and worrying about it, sometimes it feels like there's no help out there for you, but in reality, there is. Online debt specialist websites can help you in the UK and they can even help you

13 January 2009 - Debt Management Services Can Help You to Break Free

Introduction For many people in the United Kingdom, debt is a way of life. In fact, according to recent figures, the average British consumer owes nearly £3,000 in unsecured debt, and the population as a whole is indebted to the tune of £1,500 billion, excluding mortgage debt. If, like many

13 January 2009 - Can I Apply for Debt Management?

Can I Apply for Debt Management? What is Debt Management? Debt management is a method of renegotiating or restructuring unsecured debt available to borrowers with a reasonable level of debt – typically between £1,000 and £15,000 – owed to two, or more, creditors. For those with larger debts,

13 January 2009 - V5 Loan - Log Book Car Loans - Are They A Good Idea?

V5 Loan - Log Book Car Loans - Are They A Good Idea? There are many reasons why people take on a secured loan – some because they have an unfavourable credit rating, others because they require a fast loan that will supply funds today and has a simple application process. V5 loans, or

13 January 2009 - What will Debt Management do for me if I apply?

What will Debt Management do for me if I apply? Those of us who struggle with debt often worry and as a result, many debtors suffer from depression. It can sometimes feel like there isn't much we could do to solve our problems. However, there are many ways to deal with debt issues and in this

13 January 2009 - Advice on Debt Management Consolidation

Advice on Debt Management Consolidation Introduction As the British economy teeters on the brink of the deepest recession since World War II, unemployment rises, and an increasing number of household name companies close or enter administration, it is no surprise that many ordinary consumers

13 January 2009 - Additional Advantages of Debt Consolidation

Additional Advantages of Debt Consolidation For a growing number of people in Britain, debt is a concern which keeps them awake at night and causes them a lot of stress. For a few of us, making ends meet is less about waiting for pay day and more about moving funds from one credit card to

13 January 2009 - What Will Debt Management Do for Me if I Apply for Debt Consolidation?

Introduction Debt consolidation through a debt management plan is not a loan, per se, and does not extend your existing credit commitments. What it is, however, is a method of renegotiating the repayment of unsecured debt with your creditors, such that they (hopefully) agree to accept lower

13 January 2009 - Additional Advantages of an IVA

Additional Advantages of an IVA An Individual Voluntary Agreement (IVA) is an agreement, which you can make with your creditors if you're in debt and having trouble making ends meet. It's a formal, legally binding agreement, which means that you must make payments to your creditors over a set

13 January 2009 - When a Debt Consolidation Loan is not the Answer

hen a Debt Consolidation Loan is not the Answer Introduction Debt is a very personal thing, but whilst any debt can seem serious, if it is your own, some debts are much worse than others. If your own debts are at the lower end of the scale – perhaps, a few thousand pounds spread across

13 January 2009 - Borrowing Unsecured to Obtain Your New Car – Cash in Hand

Introduction For most people, buying a new car represents a sizeable investment. Even the smallest hatchback, nowadays, costs in excess of £5,000 on the road – less, of course, as part exchange value – and most people need to resort to credit of some kind to finance the purchase. If you are

12 January 2009 - Need a Car Loan, will you buy a new car or second hand car

New Cars v Second Hand Cars Because buying a car is such a big decision, it's advisable to consider what you want from a car, how much you can afford to spend, where you should make your purchase, all of which will help to avoid unforeseen problems in the future. When you take the amount you

12 January 2009 - What is Hire Purchase?

What is Hire Purchase? Introduction Hire Purchase (HP) and Conditional Sale (CS) credit agreements are common methods of purchasing major items – most often, nowadays, cars, but also furniture, white goods, computers, etc. – but are fundamentally different from other forms of credit

9 January 2009 - Car Loans:-Take The Confusion Out Of Car Finance By Shopping Online

Take The Confusion Out Of Car Finance By Shopping Online The decision on how to finance a car purchase can be more complex than locating the right car that suits your needs and most of us will need to consider financing this type of purchase as we don't possess the amount of cash generally

9 January 2009 - Additional Advantages of Debt Management

Additional Advantages of Debt Management Debt is something that an increasing number of people in the UK are becoming worried by, especially as more people are losing their jobs and our economic situation worsens. Other circumstances such as having a baby, and therefore losing one income for a

8 January 2009 - Car laons:-Can I Raise Finance On My Car And Still Drive It?

Can I Raise Finance On My Car And Still Drive It? For many people their car will be the second most valuable asset after their home. As such, it affords the opportunity to raise finance against its value if extra cash is needed. Equally, if the car is already financed, it may be possible to

8 January 2009 - Debt Management:-Will Lenders Agree To Lower My Monthly Payments?

Will Lenders Agree To Lower My Monthly Payments? As time and circumstances change, what was once affordable can become a millstone. No matter whether it is a long term illness, redundancy or just a change of personal circumstance that drives it; if you have insufficient monthly income to pay

8 January 2009 - Look Online For Debt Management Help

Look Online For Debt Management Help If you are struggling to meet your regular payments, such as with credit cards, recognising the problem, taking good impartial advice and then acting swiftly to address the issues is sensible advice. If you feel confident and able, self-help debt

8 January 2009 - Don’t let the credit crunch ruin your relationship

Don’t let the credit crunch ruin your relationship If the memory of a happy Christmas is only being kept alive by the bills you now have to pay – and the rows you’re having with your partner about overspending – then you’re not alone. More than a million British couples have separated

7 January 2009 - Debt Managerment:- Advice on Debt Recovery: What Should I Do?

Advice on Debt Recovery: What Should I Do? Introduction There are two fundamental approaches to debt recovery. The first of these is to reduce your monthly expenditure to a level at which you can comfortably service your debt, without denying yourself essential items, such as mortgage or

7 January 2009 - What are the disadvantages of bankruptcy?

What are the disadvantages of bankruptcy? It might sound like a strange question, but is it? Bankruptcy has never been a 'good' word or one which you would be proud of being able to apply to yourself. However, in recent years an economic boom has ended and a deep recession looms. Resultantly,

7 January 2009 - Unsecured Loans:-Bank Loans Low APR

Bank Loans Low APR By law, all lending to private individuals is governed by the Consumer Credit Act. There are many provisions within this legislation designed to protect the consumer and make clear both the terms of lending and the consistency of the language used. As well as defining how

7 January 2009 - What Are The Main Differences Between Unsecured And Secured Loans?

What Are The Main Differences Between Unsecured And Secured Loans? Lenders are engaged in a risk business. When deciding whether to lend money they look at a number of factors to help decide whether they will get their money back over the period of the loan. These factors include: •the

7 January 2009 - Will A Consolidation Loan Save Me Money?

Will A Consolidation Loan Save Me Money? Many of us do not plan our finances in any particular way, they just seem to happen. Over time, we may have taken out several loans, store and credit cards with which to fund our lifestyle and these just get paid each month without question. Sometimes,

6 January 2009 - Credit Card Debt Management Can Help You To Get Out Of Debt

Credit Card Debt Management Can Help You To Get Out Of Debt Credit cards have become integral to our modern way of life. They are easy to use, flexible, widely accepted and avoid the need and challenge of carrying large amounts of cash. With the current Consumer Credit laws, they also provide

6 January 2009 - Debt Management:-Informed Advice on Debt Consolidation Management

Informed Advice on Debt Consolidation Management There are many ways of borrowing money and most of us will have taken advantage of various offers from time to time to acquire cars, furniture, holidays or, and most importantly, the home we live in. As time goes by, credit card debt can

6 January 2009 - Car Finance:-Buying Online-V-Buying From a Dealer

Buying Online-V-Buying From a Dealer The internet has made vast amounts of data and information available to us at any time of day, any day of the year. Not only can we source information locally, but we can trawl the vast openness of cyberspace and gather advice, prices and all manner of

6 January 2009 - Car Loans:-Can I Get a Bargain Car Due to the Credit Crunch?

Can I Get a Bargain Car Due to the Credit Crunch? The national press and TV are full of stories regarding the current demise of the auto industry. There is too much supply and insufficient demand as a result of the recession and credit crunch biting hard into the confidence of

6 January 2009 - Debt management:-What are the disadvantages of bankruptcy?

6 January 2009 - Debt management:-Advice on Debt Recovery: What Should I Do?

30 December 2008 - Debt Management - The Safest Way To Become Debt Free

Debt management allows some borrowers to reel in their expenditure and income back to the right balance without resorting to further borrowing. As with all types of debt solutions there are pitfalls to be aware of and this one may not be right for everyone. If your debts have spiralled out of

30 December 2008 - Unsecured Personal Loans:-Will Lenders – Finance Houses – Stop Lending in 2009?

The global financial crisis – known colloquially as the "credit crunch" – has had a dramatic effect on the availability of mortgage loans and loans for the purchase of high value items, such as cars or holidays, in the United Kingdom over the past 18 months. Some of the largest lenders in the

30 December 2008 - Why Can't I Get A Mortgage/Remortgage?

Why Can't I Get A Mortgage? Introduction It is fair to say that the British housing market – and therefore the mortgage market, by definition – has taken a battering during 2008. Banks and other financial institutions do not have as much money as previously and, as a result, have reduced the

30 December 2008 - Debt Management:-What Is the Purpose of Bankruptcy?

What Is the Purpose of Bankruptcy? When an individual or organisation is unable to pay their debts, they may legally declare bankruptcy. Most bankruptcies are initiated by the people who cannot pay their creditors but in some instances it is the creditors who claim bankruptcy for a debtor in

30 December 2008 - Goverment Consolidation:-What Is An IVA And How Do I Apply?

What Is An IVA And How Do I Apply? Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) are the government's preferred debt management tool as they enable debtors who cannot repay their debts to reach an agreement with their creditors. An IVA is a legally binding contract between you and your creditors

30 December 2008 - Debt management:-What Is Debt Consolidation?

What Is Debt Consolidation? Britain, as a nation, owes over £1 trillion in debt, so if juggling payments to more than one lender is becoming a tricky task, you are not alone. Most people pay at least the minimum amount required for each debt to each of their creditors, which in some cases may

29 December 2008 - Debt Consolidation Loan:- Should I Consider Bankruptcy and What Are The Advantages

Should I Consider Bankruptcy and What Are The Advantages It is all too easy for debt to get out of control. Mostly this is due to an unforeseen change of circumstance such as a bereavement, separation or divorce or loss of job due to redundancy or ill health. Whatever the reason it usually

29 December 2008 - Debt Consolidation:-Get Advice About Managing Debt Recovery Now

Get Advice About Managing Debt Recovery Now Recovering unpaid debt is one of the more challenging and frustrating activities to perform unless you have been trained and have the necessary systems to facilitate timely communication and follow up. There are two generally accepted approaches

29 December 2008 - Consolidation Loan:-Loan I Apply for Debt Consolidation?

Can I Apply for Debt Consolidation? Debt consolidation is about taking all your various loan arrangements and turning them into one single obligation with a lower monthly payment than all the previous loans individually. Over time, you may have taken loans for a variety of purposes such as

29 December 2008 - Consolidate:- What is Debt Management?

What is Debt Management? As time goes by, we all naturally fall into different credit and loan arrangements that seemed perfectly natural at the time we entered into them. Whether it was the mortgage for the house, the low interest loan for the car or the six month interest free period for the

24 December 2008 - Have We Seen the Last of Retailers Going Bust?

The recent high-profile collapse of administration in Woolworths' and MFI has brought into sharp focus the extent of the economic downturn, which is affecting not only Britain, but also most of the developed world. If a company that has traded on British high streets for nearly 100 years, survived

23 December 2008 - 2009 – Will It Continue into Recession?

Opinions differ as to the length and severity of recession. Cabinet minister, Tessa Jowell, recently said that it was expected to be "deeper than any that we have known", but the answer to this question is, unequivocally, "Yes, it will." The technical definition of recession is a decline in

22 December 2008 - Administration Orders – Why Large Companies Call Them In

The difference between an administration order and a winding-up order is an important one; an administration order is an interim measure, designed to restore the fortunes of a flagging company, while a winding-up order is designed to bring the life of such a company to an end. While it is true

19 December 2008 - Bargain Used Cars and Car Finance in the New Year

It is fair to say that the car market, as a whole, in the United Kingdom has been hugely depressed for the whole of 2008. The third quarter of 2008, from July, August and September, was particularly punitive for the used car market, with total used cars sales down by more than 7%. Used executive

18 December 2008 - What If I Go Into Negative Equity?

Negative equity occurs when the market value of a property falls below the value of mortgage and other loans secured on that property. Until the onset of the so-called "credit crunch" that started in the sub-prime mortgage market in the United States in the middle of 2007, house prices rose much

17 December 2008 - House Prices – Will They Go Down To 2003 Prices?

The housing market in the United Kingdom has undergone two major "boom and bust" cycles, that is, periods of rapid house price increases followed by periods of falling prices, in the past two decades and the truthful, albeit unhelpful, answer to this question is that nobody really knows. Even the

17 December 2008 - Has the downturn put your life on hold?

This time last year, you might have been planning a major change in your life. Maybe you wanted to start a family, move home or find a new job – but today, you’ve almost certainly decided not to go ahead, according to research from CreditExpert. The credit monitoring service discovered that 75

16 December 2008 - What are the Difference Between IVA and Debt Management?

If you are experiencing serious debt problems, if your monthly outgoings regularly exceed your income, and you have "maxed out" all possible lines of credit on credit cards, personal loans, etc., it may well be that a debt management plan of one type or another could be beneficial to your

16 December 2008 - Will Swapping Energy Provider Save Me Money This Winter?

Roughly, 16% of households in the United Kingdom, which is more than 4 million, spend at least 10% of their income on energy and are therefore living in "fuel poverty", according to the Government definition. Household income and the efficiency of domestic heating, insulation, etc., are obviously

16 December 2008 - Will the VAT Reduction Save Me Money?

As you are probably well aware by now, on 24th November 2008, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, announced that the standard rate of VAT ("Value Added Tax") would be reduced by 2.5%, to 15%, from 1st December 2008 until the end of 2009. VAT was previously charged at three different

16 December 2008 - How Do I Transfer My Credit Card Balance?

In the aftermath of the so-called "credit crunch", with most of the developed world primed for what has been described as the "most painful" recession since the Great Depression of the 1930's, credit card balance transfers are a godsend for anyone dealing with high interest rate credit card debt.

12 December 2008 - What's in Store for the financial New Year?

2008 will long be remembered for the worst financial crisis since World War II, not just in the United Kingdom, but also across the world. The so-called "credit crunch" is a term virtually unknown just over a year ago. It has effectively been responsible for wiping 15% off housing prices in the

12 December 2008 - Is a Secured Loan Better for a Homeowner?

A secured loan, as the name suggests, is "secured" against an asset. In other words, secured against something of value such as a property, motor vehicle, etc. that a lender can take possession of and sell to recover any outstanding amount if a borrower defaults on the loan. The provision of

12 December 2008 - Why Could Debt Management Be Right For Me?

Debt and the management of debt is a real problem for many consumers in Britain. In the aftermath of the "credit crunch", many consumers are accumulating debt by paying for food, fuel, and other basic necessities with credit. This is typically with a credit card, or cards on a scale of, on

11 December 2008 - Short Term Loans to Help Through the Christmas Period

A short term loan is, typically, one that is designed to provide a solution to temporary cash flow problems. It allows emergency or luxury purchases to be made at times when funds are not otherwise available. Unlike general or standard personal loans (typically for amounts of £1,000 or more and

10 December 2008 - How Can I Save Money and Still Enjoy Christmas?

Introduction Christmas, and the financial hangover it leaves until the New Year and beyond, is a worry in any year. This year, with the aftermath of the credit crunch, restricted borrowing, rising unemployment, and deflation in the housing market, many consumers are facing the festive season

10 December 2008 - How Can I Spread the Cost of Christmas in the New Year?

Introduction Christmas is inevitably a source of stress and anxiety for many consumers faced with the cost of Christmas gifts, entertaining, and even decorations, wrapping paper, and Christmas cards. All aimed at creating the "perfect" Christmas for their families and friends. The first thing

1 December 2008 - How would you cope if you lost your job?

Most of us will still be in work in 12 months’ time but, with predictions that three million people will be unemployed by the end of 2009, it’s sensible to ask yourself what you’d do if you were one of the unlucky ones. Advance planning could mean you’ll cope better if the worst happens and

1 December 2008 - Is your financial future in the stars?

Is your financial future in the stars? Astrologers believe the financial downturn was written in the stars – and they’re not alone. Research by the online credit monitoring service CreditExpert shows that nearly one in eight of us consult the stars before parting with our money. Meanwhile, a

1 December 2008 - Rent, buy, swap or share – a very modern housing dilemma

We all need somewhere to call home but with the property market crumbling around our ears and the country entering recession, investing in bricks and mortar may seem more like a life sentence than the time-honoured way to get rich slowly. The news that 11,300 homes were repossessed in the third

1 December 2008 - Your financial year planner for 2009

The New Year isn’t just about giving up chocolate, alcohol and smoking – it’s also the time for some positive changes. In the current economic climate, top of your list should be learning to look after your finances. Plan properly and it won’t be as hard as you think. Here are some dates for

26 November 2008 - Credit Reference Agencies Facts & Myths

Before accepting or declining any application for credit – whether it be a mortgage loan, personal loan, credit card, etc. – a lender makes an assessment of the risk involved, and part of this process involves reference to your credit history. In the United Kingdom, this is usually done via one of

26 November 2008 - What is APR?

What is APR? Introduction Most consumers, nowadays, are familiar with borrowing money, whether on a mortgage loan, personal loan, credit card, or some other form of credit agreement, and repaying that money, with interest, over a period of time. There are, however, numerous other components

26 November 2008 - How Much Can I Borrow Unsecured?

Unsecured loans are typically available to anyone who does not own a home either outright or through a mortgage loan, or anyone who does not wish to pledge the equity in their home as security for a loan. Applicants may therefore include council or private tenants, young adults still living with

26 November 2008 - Earn extra cash for Christmas by using your Credit Card!

Credit Cards serve lots of purposes, be it to help you out of a short term cash flow crisis or to save money, the convenience of credit cards is unrivalled. However more and more credit cards can now help you actually make money. You do this by taking advantage of a cashback credit card. Thus

25 November 2008 - Interest Only mortgage or remortgage the facts

With finances becoming more and more stretched, it seems the obvious answer to try and cut back on your biggest outgoing, which for most of us is our mortgage. But is this possible? Let JSTFinancial guide you through the pros and cons of a very turbulent mortgage market. The obvious choice is

24 November 2008 - Budgeting at Christmas/spending

It was the 16th century English poet, Thomas Tusser, who coined the phrase "Christmas comes but once a year", but for many consumers struggling to survive the current economic downturn, once is certainly more than enough this year. Recent figures suggest that the average British household will

24 November 2008 - Early Christmas sales to entice customer spending

Customers flocked back to the high street as major retailers slashed prices in a pre-Christmas bid to breathe life into the ailing market. Marks & Spencer held a 24 hour one of 20% sale, which left them inundated with customers. It was their biggest one of promotion for 4 years. Price cutting

21 November 2008 - Counting the Cost of Christmas

Christmas can be one of the best times of the year, but it is easy to be caught up in the hype and succumb to the constant bombardment of pressure and expectation that typically surrounds the festive season in financial terms. Christmas is for giving to your family and friends, but your search for

20 November 2008 - Tenant Loans: Are They Just For Tenants?

A tenant loan is essentially a loan designed for tenants living in accommodation rented privately or from a council, but this type of loan is typically not limited to tenants, per se. Housing association tenants, individuals living with their parents, lodging with family or friends, even if they

19 November 2008 - Are Unsecured and Personal Loans the Same?

An "unsecured" loan is a loan that requires no collateral, that is assets, typically in the form of equity in a property (its value over and above any amount owed on it) but also jewellery, securities, etc. to be pledged by a borrower as security on the value of the loan. This type of loan is

19 November 2008 - Are we in a 'energy crunch'?

A new report recently published; The Oil Crunch Securing the Uk’s energy future has predicted that we are going to experience a severe ecological crisis that will far outweigh the global credit crisis that we are currently experiencing. Confirming that the production of easily available oil will

18 November 2008 - What is the Credit Card Criteria now?

It’s no secret that the credit crunch has had a major impact on the availability of credit cards and associated products. Special offers often used to coax new customers into using the cards are now becoming rare. 0% interest free periods are now being reduced in almost 50% of applications, and a

17 November 2008 - Will a Consolidation Loan Save Me Money?

The answer to this question depends on the characteristics, particularly the interest rate and the repayment term of the consolidation loan that you choose in the first place. It also depends on your own self-discipline in managing your personal finances in such a way as to allow a consolidation

17 November 2008 - Iceland reaches agreement for foreign savers

Iceland confirmed on Sunday 16th November that it had finally reached a deal with several EU states on how to repay thousands of pounds back to those foreign savers with money in frozen Icelandic bank accounts. Iceland, a non EU member has been in conflict with both Britain and the Netherlands,

14 November 2008 - Can I Get A Consolidation Loan?

The average British household is in debt to the tune of nearly £10,000, excluding mortgage debts so it is easy to see why many consumers face the problem of juggling repayments on credit cards, personal loans, etc., if not on a daily, then certainly on a monthly basis. Furthermore, making the

13 November 2008 - What is Debt Management?

There is no one answer to this question because "debt management" can mean different things to different people depending on their level of debt and their precise financial circumstances. Essentially debt management is the process of reducing monthly repayments on credit cards, loans and other

12 November 2008 - Stamp duty threshold reduction and the impact upon my mortgage

The government’s decision to raise the stamp duty threshold to £175,000 has seen the number of homebuyers not paying stamp duty double in September. The temporary increase enabled 51% of homebuyers to avoid stamp duty in September compared with 22% in the same month last year, the Council of

11 November 2008 - Debt Management – Can I Save Money?

Prior to the "credit crunch" falling interest rates coupled with a buoyant housing market caused many borrowers to live beyond their means, borrowing excessively and leaving British banks dependent on wholesale credit markets to the tune of more than £600 billion. The credit crunch, which started

11 November 2008 - Consolidation | Debt Management – Can It Help?

The simple answer to this question is, "Yes it can". The secrets of effective debt management however, are to recognise that you are experiencing debt problems in the first place – if you are, you are not alone, with more than 5 million British consumers having missed credit card repayments, for

11 November 2008 - Debt Management Companies | Consolidation Centres

Debt "avoidance" is obviously better than debt "management", but in modern society – where people are more inclined to live for the "here and now" rather than saving for the proverbial "rainy day" – such advice may be as effective as shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. In fact,

11 November 2008 - Can i get a bank account with poor credit

Can I get a bank account if I have poor credit? People with a poor credit history historically find it more difficult to open a bank account with many of the highstreet banks and lenders. With the credit crunch crisis continuing, the banks seem to be changing their criteria on an almost daily

10 November 2008 - Consolidation Loans with Bad Credit

Debt consolidation is the process of amalgamating multiple debts – credit cards, loans, hire purchase agreements etc. – into a single debt. This involves taking out a further "consolidation" loan for the total amount of existing borrowing. Or perhaps a little more, depending on the terms and

10 November 2008 - Consolidation Loans with Bad Credit

Consolidation Loans with Bad Credit Introduction Debt consolidation is the process of amalgamating multiple debts – credit cards, loans, hire purchase agreements etc. – into a single debt. This involves taking out a further "consolidation" loan for the total amount of existing borrowing. Or

10 November 2008 - Unfair credit agreement can i claim?

Frequently Asked Questions What Credit Agreements are eligible for ‘Audit’? Any Credit Agreement between £5,000.00 and £25,000.00 that is governed by the Consumer Credit Act of 1974. Including: ? Credit Cards and Store Cards ? Unsecured Personal Loans ? Secured Loans ? Consolidation

10 November 2008 - New mortgages and equity loans

New mortgages and equity loans You may have heard of shared ownership and shared equity schemes, but never really understood what they are about. Shared equity schemes were introduced to help those that cannot afford to buy their own home outright. Through shared ownership you buy a share of

7 November 2008 - Christmas Loans with Bad Credit

Christmas is an expensive time in any ordinary year, but, this year, the effects of the credit crunch mean that an average British family will spend nearly £300 less than last year, according to a recent survey. The unwillingness of banks and other financial institutions to lend money to each

6 November 2008 - Christmas Loans

Christmas is a time for giving, but that very fact can also turn Christmas into a time of tremendous financial pressure for many consumers, as they attempt to lavish expensive gifts, and entertaining, on their family – especially children – and friends. It can be argued that focussing on

6 November 2008 - Consolidation Loans

The total personal debt in the United Kingdom at the end of September stood at more than £1,000 billion – an increase of just over 5% in a 12-month – so if you are feeling the effects of the credit crunch, and juggling monthly repayments on credit cards, loans, etc., you are certainly not alone.

6 November 2008 - Homeowner Loans

Homeowner Loans Secured loans explained It’s easy to get confused by financial jargon. So what exactly are secured loans? It’s not easy trying to navigate the choppy waters of loans. But if you don’t understand the different kind of loans available and what that means for you, it could

5 November 2008 - Will my airline go bust?

Will my airline go bust? As the credit crunch continues to affect all aspects of our daily lives, it appears that ‘dozens’ of airlines will go bust over the next 12 months, the boss of British Airways has predicted. Outlining his reasons for the 4billion pound merger with Spanish airline Iberia,

4 November 2008 - Mortgage Payment Protection insurance the facts

What Is Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance (MPPI)? Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance (MPPI) or accident, sickness and unemployment insurance (ASU), covers your monthly mortgage payments should your income stop due to accident, sickness or redundancy. The benefit is then normally paid for

3 November 2008 - How to choose the best broadband

Broadband is an internet connection that is fast, permanent and much more efficient than older ‘dial up’ connections. Being able to ‘surf’ the internet, opens up a lot of options as a consumer. Using the internet you can access a whole range of services, such as paying bills online, shopping and

31 October 2008 - Unsecured Personal Bad Credit Loan

Unsecured Personal Bad Credit Loan Introduction Unsecured personal loans are typically available for amounts ranging from £1,000 to £25,000 over a variety of repayment terms. If you have a poor credit rating, however you may find that an unsecured loan – that is a loan that is not "secured"

30 October 2008 - Bad Credit Loan, loans with bad credit

A bad credit loan – also known as a sub-prime, or non-conforming loan – is a loan made available to consumers who for one reason or another are unable to obtain a standard unsecured or secured loan. This is often due to arrears or defaults on previous borrowing – on mortgages, personal loans,

30 October 2008 - Unsecured Personal Loans

Unsecured Personal Loans A personal loan and an unsecured loan are actually identical; lenders just like to use different terminology to describe the same product. A personal loan is described as an unsecured personal loan as it allows you to borrow money without having to use your home or

29 October 2008 - What to do if your money is trapped in a collapsed bank

You might have been saving for a holiday or wedding, to pay your mortgage or credit card bills, to fund your retirement or to buy a home – but if you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of people who find their money frozen as a result of recent bank collapses, you may be wondering what to do

29 October 2008 - Online Christmas shopping set to boom

IMRG have recently conducted a survey that indicates online Christmas shopping is set to boom this year. The research also indicates that the internet is becoming an important tool for research before purchasing and driving consumer choice. The survey asked questions and gathered opinions from

28 October 2008 - Top ten tips to beat the holiday credit crunch

Top ten tips to beat the holiday credit crunch Cutting back on your holiday travel, doesn’t just mean downgrading from that lovely hotel to a self catering apartment. There are lots of things that you can do to knock hundreds of pounds of the total cost. Let JSTFinancial.co.uk look after

27 October 2008 - Bargain holidays boom despite credit crunch crisis

Bargain holidays boom despite credit crunch crisis. As the credit crunch crisis continues, we find that a lot of people are refusing to let their holiday time be affected. Many are finding ways to continue to holiday, whilst just making a few subtle changes. Hostels, coach holidays and cheap

24 October 2008 - Been refused a laon and can’t understand why?

In debt and can’t understand why? Find out here Many of us work long hours in stressful jobs and feel the need to treat ourselves after a hard day at the office but if you get a nasty shock every time you open a bank or credit card statement, you could be in the dark about how much you’re

23 October 2008 - What do I need for the switch?

What do I need to do for the switch? Getting your home ready for the switch is actually quite simple. There are however a few things for you to take into consideration. Check how many TV’s you have in your home Every TV you have in your house that you want to continue using needs to be

23 October 2008 - bad credit loan areas

Looking for loan advice in Hampshire or Mortgage advice in Hampshire? Speak to a financial adviser today. JST Financial Solutions have advisers placed in every corner of the country. Alfriston bad credit loan advice | Amberley bad credit loan advice | Angmering bad credit loan advice | Ansty bad

22 October 2008 - Travel and travel insurance in a credit crunch crisis

Travel and travel Insurance in a credit crunch crisis The travel industry is another area that has been hit hard by the credit crunch. However many experts also believe that fraudulent travel insurance claims are on the rise. Fraudulent claims have increased by 80%, with customers claiming

21 October 2008 - Repossession, repossession, repossession

The global credit crunch is upon us pushing the world economy into a depression so severe the worlds governments have had to step in to stabilise the money markets. Furthermore with experts predicting that the financial hangover will last well into the New Year, what exactly is the impact of this

20 October 2008 - Flooding, risk and my home insurance premium

Flooding, risk and my home insurance premium. The floods experienced in the UK between April and August 2007 were classed as the worst in recent years. The costs to the insurance industry were an estimated 4billion, and ultimately it is the property owners who have to pay via an increase in

17 October 2008 - When do we switch to Digital TV?

When do we switch to Digital TV? By 2012 the Government aims to completely switch off the analogue terrestrial transmissions network that has been our source of watching television since the 1930’s. The old analogue transmission is to be replaced with the new all digital terrestrial network.

15 October 2008 - How to switch energy supplier

How do I switch energy supplier? The government actively encourages us to switch supplier and over 50% of all UK customers have switched supplier since the market was opened up. Switching could save you as much as £250 a year, and the best thing is, that switching supplier is easy. The DTI

14 October 2008 - Why are energy costs so high?

Why are energy costs so high? The cost of energy has increased by a massive amount since the start of the year. Indeed all six of the big energy suppliers have all raised prices. In this turbulent financial year, JSTFinancial.co.uk ask why, and is there anything we can do about

13 October 2008 - Top ten online shopping tips

With the credit crunch now upon us, JSTFinancial.co.uk, has worked in tandem with our retailers to bring you the best online deals and special offers. We have compiled out top tips to help you save precious pounds without compromising on quality. 1. Use price comparison websites to make sure

13 October 2008 - How can I lower my food shopping bill

Food prices are at an all time high. They rose at the fastest pace in June 2008, pushing the average monthly shop up by more than £50. Figures from the British Retail Consortium report that on average prices are now 7% higher than in June 2007. The average yearly shopping bill for a family of

13 October 2008 - Find your Christmas loan today!

Visiting the town centers around the country, you can certainly feel the Christmas shopping frenzy escalating, hundreds of thousands of families in the UK, will take out a Christmas loan this year to help them through the festive season. The credit crunch has already trapped many Christmas loan

10 October 2008 - The different types of car loans

The different types of car loans The following options, are all very different and all need to be considered when you come to purchase your new car. By assessing the different ways of financing your new car you are ensuring that you get the best deal. Take the stress out of it all, and let

10 October 2008 - Poor Credit Car Loans FAQs

Poor Credit Car Loan FAQs The following questions are the ones that we most regularly receive in relation to those that have a poor credit rating, but are looking for a car loan; What is poor credit history and what makes it poor? All credit transactions are stored in your credit history on

10 October 2008 - Credit Crunch Holiday

Credit Crunch Holiday At this moment in time, credit is becoming increasingly harder to find, as fundamental living costs spiral upwards, we Brits are now taking stock and looking at ways we can save. So what does that mean for holidaymakers looking for a cheap getaway? In the current climate,

9 October 2008 - What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying new and used vehicles?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying new and used vehicles? When buying a new or used vehicle, you are always going to ask yourself, What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying new and used vehicles? If you plump for a new car then you will always receive a warranty from

8 October 2008 - Are my savings safe in a bank account?

Are my savings safe in a bank account? Before the turmoil of the credit crunch set it, you probably never even considered if your savings were safe in the bank/building society. Surely your cash is better off in a bank or building society account, a reputable, trusted bank, earning interest

8 October 2008 - What is a hire purchase agreement and how does it work?

What is a hire purchase agreement and how does it work? Before going ahead with a car purchase, you may be wondering, what is a hire purchase agreement and how does it work? A hire purchase agreement (also known as HP and car finance) combines a loan and a lease. When you have decided which

7 October 2008 - How can I lower my energy bills?

How can I lower my energy bills? Today, many people are asking themselves, How can I lower my energy bills? There are many different ways that you can make your home more energy efficient and ultimately reduce your energy bills. By following the simple steps listed, you could save as much as

7 October 2008 - You may want to consider a secured loan!

You may want to consider a secured loan! Secured loans range from £5,000 to £250,000 for UK homeowners, there are many plans that will allow you to borrow in access of 125% of the property value, however most lenders have lowered the LTV since the onset of the credit crunch. There are in

7 October 2008 - Credit Crunch Remortgage

Credit Crunch Remortgage The credit crunch has started to bite hard, not only in the UK but on a Global scale, the lack of available credit has forced lenders to tighten their criteria. So what does that mean for homeowners who are coming to the end of their current deals and need to

7 October 2008 - What is remortgaging?

What is remortgaging? Remortgaging is moving your current mortgage to a new mortgage lender, in order to lower the amount you're paying on your mortgage. The new lender pays off the mortgage owing to the old lender. You are then left with just one mortgage loan, now payable to your new

7 October 2008 - Benefits of a secured loan.

Benefits of a secured loan. A secured loan is registered as a second charge on property, which carries more risks than an unsecured loan; however you can not lose your home, if you keep up the repayments on it. JST Financial makes sure from the outset that you can afford the repayments, by

1 October 2008 - Adverse Credit Unsecured Loans

Adverse Credit unsecured Loans are obtainable by a staggering 50% less lending organizations since the credit crunch. Adverse credit secured loans can only be obtained by securing against property. Adverse credit unsecured loans have a range of distinct benefits if you have smaller unsecured

22 September 2008 - Typical Example of a Debt Management Plan

Typical Example of a Debt Management Plan Debt management is not for everyone; however this is a client on the books of a JST Financial debt management company. The debt management’s companies client has was made redundant due to the credit crunch, the company she had been working for the past

22 September 2008 - Debt Management what you need to know!

Debt Management what you need to know! Does debt management affect my credit rating? If you already have a debt problem, it is very unlikely your credit rating will be affected by going onto a debt management plan, we need to get the clear from the start. This is because it already has been

22 September 2008 - Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) What you need to know?

Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) What you need to know? Who can be helped? There are large costs involved in setting up an Individual Voluntary Arrangement IVA , it is really only practical to obtain an IVA if your debts exceed £15,000. Will I lose my equity in my house? Not in

22 September 2008 - Debt Consolidation What You Need to Know?

Debt Consolidation What You Need to Know? How big can my consolidation loan be? Many factors with dictate this, your income, other secured loans, the equity available in your property. Over what length of time can I spread my repayments on my consolidation loan? A consolidation loan

21 September 2008 - Are Building Developers Helping The New Mortgage First Time Buyer?

Building firms are bringing out plans to help first time buyers onto the housing ladderwith radical new mortgage plans. Many since the credit crunch have stopped all new house building or sealed the building sites up, until they are able to sell the properties again. Many first time buyers have

21 September 2008 - A to Z of loan Jargon Busting, check it out.

A to Z of loan Jargon Busting, check it out. Experienced underwriters can get puzzled by loan terms, so we understand that the normal Joe can be very confused. Let us try and explain in one or two short sentences. Adverse Credit Simply a poor credit record, such as CCJ's , repossession

21 September 2008 - Debt Consolidation And Getting Out of Debt Questions Answered?

Debt Consolidation And Getting Out of Debt Questions Answered? Do you have a bad credit rating? Can you still get a mortgage or consolidation loan? Let’s see….. In general terms, JST Financial can find a consolidation loan for everyone, however it will there are certain factors that will be

21 September 2008 - Which Debts Can A Debt Management Company Help With?

Which Debts Can A Debt Management Company Help With? The following list shows the debts that we can help with: Rembering that is is only unsecured loans that an be brought onto a debt management consolidation plan. Unsecured loans Unsecured loans do not need property as security thus

20 September 2008 - Personal Loan Lender Types Whay Are They?

Who are the providers of personal loans? To allow you an insight of who operate and lend personal loans we have set out here to explain where the actual money or finance comes from. Personal loans are not regulated by the (FSA) Financial Service Authority however is regulated by the

20 September 2008 - Credit Check Information Or Is It Credit Score?

What is a credit check and how can affect you and your application when applying for the unsecured loan you require? Unsecured loan companies, credit cards, re-mortgage or even a store cards will carry out a credit search on you when you apply for their credit services. The credit search will

20 September 2008 - Credit Check Information Or Is It Credit Score?

What is a credit check and how can affect you and your application when applying for the credit card you require? Credit card companies, unsecured loan, re-mortgage or even a store card will carry out a credit search on you when you apply for their credit services. The credit search will be

20 September 2008 - Paying Back Loans Early Can It Be Done?

Paying back your personal loan before the end of the personal loan agreement term, may seem like a good idea however there can be charges attached to the personal loan settlement for early settlement. Many personal loan companies can use different wording for the same meaning just a few are (early

19 September 2008 - Are There Benefits Of A Consolidation Loan?

Benefits of Debt Consolidation Loans A debt consolidation loan can be the perfect solution to your debt problem. You can consolidate all your existing loan agreements in to one manageable consolidation loan, often lowering the overall payment monthly liability. There may be drawbacks, as a

19 September 2008 - Unsecured Loan Process What Happens?

Unsecured loans can range from £750 to £25,000, these unsecured loans are regulated by the consumer credit act and you have protection within that act. Normally unsecured loans from £7500 are advertised at a very competitive interest rate, and lower unsecured loans amounts can cost a little more.

19 September 2008 - (PPI) Payment Protection on Unsecured Loans?

Payment protection on unsecured loans is not compulsory, unsecured loan insurance also known as (PPI) can give you peace of mind that your re-payments on your unsecured loan will be covered if you encounter a problem such as redundancy. Insurance companies protecting unsecured loans usually

19 September 2008 - Help When Applying For Your Credit Card?

Applying for a credit card can daunting due to not knowing which credit card you need. Do you need a balance transfer credit card, reward credit cared, low APR credit card, no fee credit card? Hopefully JST Financial can answer a few common question here. On-line credir card applications can

19 September 2008 - What is Covered in My Credit Card (PPI) Protection?

Credit card protection (PPI) is often called (BCC) Balance Cancellation Cover, however is still based around the (PPI) criteria. It covers your credit card balance is paid in full (usually up-to £15,000) should you ever become unable to work. The usual things yourcredit card (PPI) covers is

19 September 2008 - Applying ForA Re-mortgage What Are The Stages?

Applying for re-mortgage can be made easy, if you follow a few simple steps before you apply for the re-mortgage. Your home is most people's main asset and re-mortgaging your home correctly will need great care. Complete Re-mortgage research, to establish which plan is best for you the

19 September 2008 - Bad Credit Consolidation Is It The Way Forward?

Consolidating your debt and bad credit loans will/can be obtained one larger bad credit loan to pay off the smaller bad credit loans. By consolidating your bad credit loans you can all certainly reduces your monthly outgoing and in the times of increasing energy prices, this higher consolidation

19 September 2008 - (PPI) Payment Protection On Consolidation Loans

Payment protection on consolidation loans is not compulsory, consolidation loan insurance also known as (PPI) can give you peace of mind that your re-payments on your consolidation loan will be covered if you encounter a problem such as redundancy. Insurance companies protecting consolidation

19 September 2008 - Homeowner Bad Credit Loans What Are They?

You may be struggling to obtain a loan due to homeowner bad credit or residential status, having a bad credit history, can really hinder your chances of a homeowner bad credit loan due to the credit crunch. In this credit crunch even people who think they have good credit, can be classed as

19 September 2008 - Applying ForA Re-Mortgage What Are The Stages?

19 September 2008 - Are There Benefits Of A Consolidation Loan?

18 September 2008 - Bad Credit Loans What Are They?

You may be struggling to obtain a loan due to bad credit loans or residential status, having a bad credit history, can really hinder your chances of a bad credit loan due to the credit crunch. In this credit crunch even people who think they have good credit, can be classed as having bad credit

18 September 2008 - Bad Credit Consolidation Loans Will They Help?

Consolidating your debt and bad credit loans will/can be obtained by one larger consolidation bad credit loan to pay off the smaller bad credit loans. By consolidating your bad credit loans you can certainly reduce your monthly outgoing and in the times of increasing energy prices, this higher bad

18 September 2008 - Tenant Loans In The Credit Crunch?

Tenant loans are not secured on any property and are underwritten, taking into account age, income and past credit rating. It is a homeowner secured loan that is secured on property, not a tenant loan. The underwriters at the tenant loan lenders, as they do not have a property as security, often

18 September 2008 - Payday Loans And Their Uses?

Payday loans and information regarding payday loan rejection rates. Payday Loans are still very much in there infancy here in the UK. It is estimated that only 100-150,000 people have used or regularly use the pay day loan service. Payday-UK is by far the biggest provide, followed by the other

18 September 2008 - Who Are The Payday Lenders?

Fraud is a major factor in the Payday arena. (You can not threaten to blacklist a person’s credit rating, if they don’t have one in the first place) many of the Payday applicants have no intention of ever paying a penny back. Only with a very experienced payday loan collections team is any Payday

18 September 2008 - Can I Claim my PPI charges On Personal Loans?

Hire purchase Hire purchase is governed by the Consumer Credit Act of 1974, all hire purchase agreements have to be signed on trade premises, not sent through the post or by a sales person in your home. The document is a legally binding document between you and the finance company (not the shop

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Useful Financial Links

Please find below some links that you may find useful from JST Financial. These links are to external sites and will open in a new window.

Consumer Direct from The Office of Fair Trading carries extensive Loans information, covering everything from Unsecured Loans to Right to Buy Mortgages.

MoneyMadeClear (The Financial Services Authority) offers a great, free to use Loans Calculator.

Trading Standards offer advice on taking out a loan and what your rights are.

If you know of any other links that you believe may be of use to our visitors, please contact us.