The AnswerBank Articles

Students 'Conned' By Free Gifts From Banks

Every year thousands of fresh faced young people arrive at university with a sense of achievement, nerves and excitement. For many it is often the first time they have been away from home for more than a couple of weeks and it can be daunting to think you are now your own keeper. The years of preparation to get here ha...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Insurers Stretched After Bad Weather

Every winter Britain is usually faced with enough severe weather to keep insurers busy. Financial providers are always braced for a peak during the coldest time of year, although the numbers of calls some years far exceed expectations. Some months have seen homeowners subjected to everything from floods and strong win...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Houses 'A Target For SatNav Thieves'

With the rise of electronic navigation gadgets in our cars maps are dropping out of fashion. However, maybe we should not be so quick to ditch the paper copies as they do not contain sensitive information which is now being targeted by opportunistic thieves. The personal information stored in satellite navigation (Sat...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Britons Saving over £1 Billion By 'Bundling'

Isn’t language funny It was not so long along that a bundle just meant a pile of something; blankets, clothes, washing. Now the word has taken on a whole new meaning as it relates to the purchase of electronic goods and accessories together. In a bundle you usually get the main item say a DVD player, game conso...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Debt Prevalent Among The 'Friends' Generation

Debt is common amongst most age groups in the UK but it seems that some are more likely to have high debts than others. People aged around 30 carry the highest amount of debt, it has been claimed. The demographic - dubbed the Friends generation in Alliance & Leicester's research - has unsecured debts of over &poun...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Soft Commodity Costs 'Have Gone Up'

Most of us have noticed that the cost of our shopping has been steadily rising over the last few years. This is due to the price of so called ‘Soft Commodities’. These are everyday things such as wheat, sugar or even orange juice. According to recent research over the past few years the prices of these com...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Providers Still 'Fooling Borrowers With PPI'

Everyone who has ever applied for a loan or credit card in the last ten years will have been offered Payment Protection Insurance (PPI). Many of us are still not really sure what they are signing for and financial institutions still seem to be glossing over the benefits. The consumer group Which has stated that custo...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Couples 'Indebted In Holy Matrimony'

We all know that weddings are an expensive business not to mention a nice honeymoon in a hot foreign country. However, it seems that the spiralling costs are affecting more and more newlyweds. The happiest day in the lives of couples may also be the most expensive, it has been reported. The average wedding costs aroun...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Pensions Debt 'Risked By The Self-Employed'

Although most of us work for other people there is a large number of the population who work for themselves. There are many reasons for this, perhaps they find it more fulfilling doing what they love on their own terms or perhaps they have always wanted the freedom to work by themselves. Whatever the reason there is no...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Most Landlords 'Keep The Tenants' Deposits'

Whilst many of us own our own homes there is still a large proportion of the population who do not and are in rented accommodation. This has its benefits as well as it detriments. Tenants and landlords both have legal rights in agreements set up and should make sure they know what they are as it seems some property-own...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Financial Etiquette 'Lacking' In Britons

There are some individuals you know who always get in the first round or never do. But what is the correct balance. People in the UK have difficulty when it comes to when to pay and when not too according to recent research. A new survey has revealed that people in Britain are not fully aware of the correct financial ...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Equity Release 'No Longer A Last Resort'

Consumers' perceptions of equity release schemes have changed, according to one expert, who suggested that people no longer see it as a "last resort". A spokesman for the charity which commissioned the research said that many people are now choosing this kind of option to free up money in later life. "...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Consumers Urged To Consider Overseas Credit Card Charges

Most of us would not think twice about using our credit card abroad. It is convenient as we don’t have to carry much cash around and any purchases are usually covered by the card company in the event of any problems. However, we need to consider the down side to using our credit card out of the country. Many peo...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Kids 'Will Withdraw From Bank Of Mum And Dad For Holidays'

We all enjoy our time off but we often do not expect to pay for a break we will not be going on. It seems the country's children are still relying on their parents to fund their lifestyle including holidays. Teenagers looking to head abroad for their holiday this year will do so in the knowledge that their parents wil...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

An Uncharted Past 'Leads To Future Without Credit'

Most people in the country have a credit card, personal loan, mortgage or other type of finance; we need this to live our lives. However, there are still many people out there who have none of these things, while that may seem ideal to those of us struggling to make repayments it may not be as great as it seems. New r...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Football Fans 'May Seek Debt Advice' After This Season's Live Game

In the ‘old days’ dads would take their kids to see the local football team at their local ground and the children would dream of becoming a famous footballer and scoring the winning goal in the final at the World Cup. It is called the beautiful game across the world but recently football has been more lik...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Children Given Financial Education

The reality as of the early 21st century is that in the UK (and probably elsewhere) the current young generation risks being in the unenviable position of growing up poorer than the previous generation. This is a bitter pill to swallow and could mean relying on parents for support for longer and a bleak retirement. Pa...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

'Fun In The Sun Awaits Those Approaching Retirement'

Most people are looking forward to the days when they can put their feet up and finish work for good. Many will spend the time just relaxing or pottering in the garden. However, there seems to be an increasing amount who will take the opportunity to get away and travel the world. People of the baby-boomer generation a...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Christmas Credit Crunch Crisis

Christmas is just around the corner and after such a terrible financial year many people will be looking to make this years festivities as memorable as possible. Some experts predict that spending on credit cards could rise over the Xmas period as people look to put the "doom and gloom" of last year behind th...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Third Of Britons Think 'Financial Chat Is Rude'

People in the UK are known for their stereotypical fear of having their ‘dirty laundry’ in public. We, as a nation, tend to be taciturn and close mouthed about personal matters and it seems this is true when discussing money matters. The majority of people in the UK believe that money is a personal subject...15:36 Mon 24th May 2010