The AnswerBank Articles

UK Embraces Online Banking Says Survey

With more and more of us becoming computer savvy we are doing more than check our email online. More than half of the UK (59 per cent) now regularly takes advantage of online banking, says new research. Almost two thirds of people in the UK now say that they use online banking "much more" than they did two y...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Employees In The Dark About Company Pension Changes

Many of us work for companies that have their own pension scheme. Usually both the employer and the employee contribute to the fund on a monthly basis. The alternative is that you have your own private pension. There is now, however, a new set of rules which will allow you to be a member of a company pension and also s...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Basic Bank Accounts Provide Financial Confidence

With many of us feeling the pinch and struggling to make ends meet it may be good news that we can now get a simpler bank account to help with our finances. The Basic Bank Account is easy to use and is designed for people who want to ensure that they cannot overdraw their account or who might not meet the banks' criter...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Home Insurance Costs UK Billions On Direct Debit

Those of us who have a car dread the yearly renewal of our insurance policy. It's endless checking and rechecking of details and working out which is right for us. However, it is worth doing as it could be saving us pounds every year. Unfortunately we spend all that time getting the right policy for the right price the...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Analysts Warn On Savings Accounts Cuts

Many of us are able to save regularly despite feeling the pinch in the credit crunch. However, it seems we are not always getting the best deal by not shopping around. Financial analysts have warned that savers should be prepared to regularly review their savings accounts when rates tumble across the board. Some will ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

The Cost Of Running A Home Is Rising

As every homeowner knows the cost of running a household can be almost as much as paying the mortgage. Whether it is a bijou studio apartment or a rambling 60 bedroom mansion the same bills come through the door every month. The cost of maintaining a home over the course of a year has risen, new figures from recent re...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Same-Sex Couples Affected By New Tax Rules

Before December 2005 same sex couples were categorised as individuals for benefit purposes. After this date, however, with the introduction of the Civil Partnership Act those living together as a couple would be seen as such for tax credits and benefits. Despite this being a victory for homophiles it could make them wo...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

UK Puts Pension's Faith In Celebrity Relics

With many of us now realising that perhaps we may not have enough to live on when we retire especially as the state pension may not be around in 10 or 20 years, we are finding other ways to invest our hard earned money. A growing number of people in the UK are considering funding their pensions with celebrity memorabi...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Credit Card Companies Make Millions From Balance Transfers

We have all done it, seen a better deal on credit card interest and transferred our balance to take advantage. Some offer zero % interest on the life of the transfer, some aren’t quite so generous. Credit card providers are running a profit margin of around £500 million every year on balance transfer credi...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Busting Credit Rating Myths

Credit blacklists, popularly believed to dictate your chance of securing loans and credit, are actually a myth claims a new report from a leading credit rating agency. Lenders do use credit rating information to decide whether an individual is liable to be a safe investment, however. The company also sought to punctu...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

House Sharing Home Insurance

Often sharing a house can be fun but it can also lead to arguments over little things like who drank the last of the milk and put the empty carton back in the fridge. Also disagreements over bill payments are common. However, it has come to light that another area of house sharing is causing friction. House-sharers ar...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Guide To Using Your Credit Card Abroad

A UK credit card payment association has launched a free guide to using your plastic safely while on holiday. Consumers in the UK spends more than £20 billion on plastic overseas figures reveal, and the organisation warned that such spending is bound to attract crooks. "More and more each year our cards ran...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Long Summer Holiday Spells £2bn Clean-Up Bill

New market research has revealed that parents will be left with a £2 billion clean-up and repair bill after dealing with their little darlings through the long summer holiday. Home accident claims, ranging from broken windows to trashed furniture, leap up almost 25 per cent over the school summer holidays. More...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Travel Insurance To Protect Against Festival Disasters

As the summer music festival season kicks in, experts are warning that failure to check cover could leave people in a stickier situation than the mud in front of main stage. A leading online comparison firm has pointed out that 90 per cent of incidents at festivals concern thefts from tents. While most people will re...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Market For Adverse Credit Mortgages Expands

With an increasing number of consumers in the UK experiencing difficulties with money the market for “non-conforming” mortgages is also on the rise. The number of mortgages tailored for people with credit rating problems has grown six times faster than the mainstream market in recent years say new figures. ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Holiday Money Standoff For Thrifty Travellers

While most of us rely on credit cards on holiday some still place value in the traveller’s cheque. They are easy to buy and can be used in most places just like money. The big advantage is that if they are lost or stolen they are easily replaced as they have a unique serial number. Things may now be changing, how...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Which Warns Of Travel Agents Insurance Rip-Off

Although many of us now do our own travel arrangements using the internet there are still some people who prefer to go to their high street travel agent and talk to a real person. However, this could be a mistake when looking for travel insurance recent research has revealed. Holidaymakers buying their travel insuranc...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Victims Call For ID Theft Support

It can be a frightening experience to have your identity stolen, perhaps your credit card was scanned in an ATM machine or your bank details hacked off the internet. Not only have you lost money but it is a violent invasion of your privacy and many sufferers have long term problems trying to get their lives back on tra...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Borrowers Facing Record Fees For Finance.

With the vast majority of the consumers in the country owning more than one type of finance product there are millions of pounds in fees and charges paid every year to money hungry banks. The average UK consumer with just five standard financial products to their name faces well over £100 in penalty fees, with e...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Law-Abiding Give Thieves Easy Ride With Lax Security

We have all done it; popped out of the house for five minutes to visit a neighbour and left the door on the latch. We like to think that where we live is safe as houses. It seems, however, that we should be more careful with our homes and make sure they are locked up even if we are only going next door to borrow a cup ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010