The AnswerBank Articles

Shopping Online 'Can Save Consumers Money'

Shopping online can save credit card users, and consumers in general, money, it has been claimed by one retail expert. According to a well known publication for web designers and developers, there are serious bargains to be found on the internet - news that may interest shoppers of all ages in the run up to Christmas....16:37 Mon 24th May 2010

MPs To Offer Consumers Protection Against Soaring Bills

Calls for the practise of the 'big six' energy companies charging customers, who pay by pre-payment meters, more are to be outlawed, with a simple set tariff introduced for all consumers to be introduced. Though EDF has already given into public pressure to make such a move, it is anticipated that this latest initiati...16:37 Mon 24th May 2010

Pre-Paid Credit Cards 'Could Save Holidaymakers Cash'

Holidaymakers have been advised to take advantage of credit cards that can be topped up with foreign currency at times when the pound is doing well. According to a well known comparison website, by topping up a card on a day when the pound is exchanging favourably - even if it is a few months before the traveller depa...16:37 Mon 24th May 2010

Credit Cards Can Be Useful With Care

During the recession debt has come to be a dirty word for many people. We have been repeatedly told by the media that reckless borrowing, unchecked spending and the thoughtless dishing out of credit cards and loans were all contributors to the demise of the economy. It is time, consumers were told, to get frugal and s...16:37 Mon 24th May 2010

'There Is Still A Stigma Around Online Banking'

A stigma remains around online banking, which could deter current account holders from managing their finances on the web. A company, which helps customers secure their PCs and protect their data assets, claims that consumers are worried about online banking being insecure and making them vulnerable to fraud. Accordi...16:37 Mon 24th May 2010

Shopping Around Gets Better Deals On Credit Cards

Consumers have been advised to shop around for credit cards by one financial expert, who says that doing so could bring about significant financial rewards. An advice website has made the claim, explaining that there is a lack of trust in the financial markets which is encouraging consumers to stick with what they kno...16:37 Mon 24th May 2010

'Credit Card Debt Has Gone Up'

The level of credit card and loan debt has risen during the credit crunch despite the overall level of money consumers owe having fallen. According to a leading firm for insolvency and business recovery advice, people are using credit cards as a short-term solution to manage their bills during the recession. A repres...16:37 Mon 24th May 2010

Smart Meter Plans Could Be In Jeopardy

Under the government's recently-announced proposals, all homes across Britain are to be fitted with special meters aimed at telling consumers exactly what their power is costing them. Not only do ministers believe that such an initiative will help cut the nation's total carbon emission levels, but those consumers savv...16:37 Mon 24th May 2010

Credit Card Customers Learn Tough Lesson

It has been a tough couple of years for many of us. With much belt tightening and penny pinching; we are all slowly coming round to realise the true value of money. Consumers will have learned how to manage financial products such as credit cards better during the recession, one expert has said. According to impartia...16:37 Mon 24th May 2010

Recession Could Produce Entrepreneurs

The recession could inspire more people into embarking on entrepreneurial pursuits such as starting their own businesses, one expert has said. According to national enterprise network NFEA, despite the global economic downturn operating a business from home is still a legitimate pursuit and many people are seeing entr...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Jobs Market Set To Remain Tough

Many of us have found it hard to make ends meet during the recession but most of us have retained our jobs. For those who have been unlucky enough to have been made redundant getting back into employment can be the hardest job of all. The employment market is tough and trading will remain difficult even after the reces...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Homeowners Face More Flood Misery

Homeowners are facing more traumatic winter floods and steep home insurance premiums if the government doesn't live up to its pledge on flood defences, home insurance companies have warned. Local flood defence should be boosted by £300 million a year just to keep track with global warning, a home insurance repor...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Three Quarters Of IVA Applicants "Living Beyond Means"

Most people who apply for Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) to sort out their unsecured loans and credit card borrowing say they were simply living beyond their means, says a new report. The findings have reignited the debate about low interest credit card deals and their effect on spending. IVAs are an alterna...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

New Drivers Getting Older

Fewer and fewer young drivers are getting their licences at 17, new motor insurance research has revealed. The average age for drivers to gain their licence has now increased to 21, with teenagers daunted by the motor theory test and busy with education, the motor insurance research suggests. Also the increasing costs...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Parties Could Cost You A Billion Pounds

You may think you would be saving money by holding a party at your own house rather than hiring a venue, this may not be the case, however. Even inviting friends over for a visit may be costing us more than we think. It may well be that we should be offering to visit people in their own homes according to recent resear...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Millions Of Kids At Risk In Cars

Millions of parents are putting their children's safety at risk in the car, says recent motor insurance research. Motor insurance researchers found that over half of all parents would not check a child seat after they had an accident, compared to 92 per cent who said that they would remember to check their lights. Al...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Parts Of The UK Could Become ‘Uninsurable’

Many homes have been devastated in recent years by frequent flooding. This is a terrible thing to happen and can have long lasting effects not least of which are not being able to live in your home for a few weeks and having your home insurance premiums bumped up by your provider. However, it seems the problem could be...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Wine Cellar Value Poured Away With No Home Insurance

Alongside a sudden love of gastronomy, many in the UK have developed an interest in fine wines in recent years – both as an occasional tipple and as part of an investment fund. But despite investing in fancy climate controlling devices to ensure that their cellars are perfectly nurtured, many are neglecting to pr...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Last Will And Testament

It is never easy when a family member or friend passes away. Sorting out wills and legacies in often entangled financial affairs can be a nightmare, and cause rows in one in ten families following a death. Problems can become even worse when the person charged with executing the will's instructions may be struggling wi...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010

Home Insurance Firms Warn On Uncovered Gadgets

Most of us, or our children, have at least one or two gadgets in our possession. Things we seem to not be able to live without even though ten years ago they weren’t invented. Things like iPods, PDA’s, MP3 players and increasingly complicated mobile phones. In addition, these things do not come cheap and qu...16:36 Mon 24th May 2010