Archive for August, 2009
A student’s life of debt: Belfast Telegraph
Thousands of students are finalising their university arrangements for next year following the publication of the A level results. But amid the pressure to choose the right university and the best course, it is easy to overlook the need to also find the most suitable bank account.
The unpleasant reality is that studying at university is [...]
Questions of Cash: ‘What happened to my £50,000 policy?’: The Independent
Q. My wife had a policy with Friends Provident. But on maturity the proceeds were not paid to her, but seem to have been claimed by an employee of the First Trust Bank, with an employee forging my wife’s signature. I have complained to the bank and the Financial Ombudsman Service. FOS ruled in the [...]
Minister plans to strengthen mutuals regulation: Belfast Telegraph
Proposals to strengthen the regulation of mutual societies and credit unions are being drawn-up and will be presented to the Northern Ireland Executive this winter, enterprise minister Arlene Foster has told the Belfast Telegraph. Recommendations could see the transfer of regulation away from her own department to the UK’s Financial Services Authority.
A report published last [...]
A Question of Money: ‘Can you recommend a price comparison website?’: Belfast Telegraph
Q. I want to reduce the cost of my car insurance. I know there are lots of price comparison websites, but I don’t know which to use. Can you recommend some? AN
A. It is sensible to use more than one of the price comparison websites and see if they reach the same conclusions.
This is [...]
MoneyTalks: Credit unions outdo others: Belfast Telegraph
Even in a recession some businesses do very well. A few days ago the doorstep lender Provident Financial reported a 5.3% increase in customer numbers and a 3.5% rise in profits to £53.1m.
But what is profitable for the company — which operates across Northern Ireland, the Republic and Britain — may not be the cheapest [...]
Ethics are good (for your wallet): Co-operative News
A new sustainable investment fund launched by Co-operative Investments – part of Co-operative Financial Services - illustrates the ‘co-operative difference’ when it comes to making money for investors.
Zac Hocking, head of investments at Co-operative Investments, says: “We screen out tobacco, armaments, nuclear power, oil production and some other things – including whether a company [...]
Questions of Cash: ‘Should NatWest refund my overdraft charge?’: The Independent
Q. I wrote a cheque for £900, which was picked up by the payee on 10 March. It was cashed and cleared from my account on 12 March. I made out the cheque on the basis that I understood it takes three to five days for it to clear: in this instance it took only [...]
3,000 jobs lost in Invest NI aided firms: Belfast Telegraph
Nearly 3,000 jobs have been axed from companies in the North West supported by Invest Northern Ireland, analysis by the Belfast Telegraph today reveals.
Further jobs are at risk at Stream International and possibly at Allstate.
Of the nine leading beneficiaries of Invest NI, who were offered in excess of £50m in grant assistance, and its predecessor [...]
Time to buy?: Belfast Telegraph
Barclays Bank’s profits have just whizzed up to £3bn in the first half of this year; the stock markets are taking-off again; and there is more optimism than in a long time about house prices. But does this make it the right moment to invest in a home or shares?
In recent weeks there has been [...]
Questions of Cash: ‘Lloyds ignored my pleas for help over fraud’: The Independent
Q. In September last year, someone strolled into the Highgate Village branch of Lloyds TSB and withdrew £2,400 in cash from our account, using only a driving licence as identification. They also conducted some transfers between accounts, using my cash ISA allowance. On the following Monday I was called by Willesden Green branch to ask [...]
