http://checkmycreditrating.co.uk Just another WordPress weblog Mon, 18 May 2009 14:10:04 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Global information services group Experian has posted a pre-tax profit of $318 million (£216m) for the first half of the year; up from $270 million (£183m) for the same period in 2007. First half revenues totalled $2.02 billion; up 13% compared to last year with revenues from UK and Ireland ... http://checkmycreditrating.co.uk/experian-records-18-rise-in-pre-tax-profits Despite the Bank of England cutting 1.5% off the base rate two weeks ago, HSBC has finally announced today that its standard variable rate (SVP) will be cut by just 0.81% bringing it down from 6.25% to 5.44%. First Direct, which is owned by HSBC, will also cut their SVP ... http://checkmycreditrating.co.uk/hsbc-fails-to-pass-rate-cut-on-to-customers Approvals for house purchases in the UK are 64% lower than a year ago. The British Bankers’ Association (BBA) have reported that major banks in the UK approved 21,086 mortgages, down from 58,564 in August last year. Also, approvals for remortgaging a property were down 28% at 47,765. Experts advise that falling house ... http://checkmycreditrating.co.uk/uk-mortgage-approvals-fall-by-a-whopping-64 With the biggest financial crisis in decades do we need to worry about our savings? We are seeing financial institutions and companies collapsing nearly every day. One of the biggest investment banks Lehman Brothers collapsed last week, Merrill Lynch was sold to Bank of America, AIG has been given ... http://checkmycreditrating.co.uk/is-it-safe-to-leave-your-savings-in-the-bank The ONS (Office for National Statistics) have revealed High street sales rose by 1.2% in August which is 3.3% higher than a year ago. Analysts had predicted a 0.5% drop after several gloomy surveys. Clothing and footwear sales led the increase followed by back to school shopping – this ... http://checkmycreditrating.co.uk/12-rise-in-uk-retail-sales Homeowners in England & Wales who face having their homes repossessed after falling behind with their mortgage repayments has risen by 24%. Figures from the Ministry of Justice show 28,658 orders were made by the courts in England & Wales from April to June this year. This is up 24% on ... http://checkmycreditrating.co.uk/repossession-orders-rise-by-24 Cancel your Sky+ subscription – save up to £280 Change your costly Sky subscription for Freeview Plus – you can access dozens of digital channels, pause live TV and record programmes with no contract or monthly subscriptions. Get cheaper broadband with a dongle – save up to £250 Think about ditching your landline ... http://checkmycreditrating.co.uk/ways-to-save-thousands-of-pounds-without-really-trying%e2%80%a6%e2%80%a6 One of Britain’s largest credit card providers is demanding bigger payments from its customers. MBNA is increasing its minimum monthly repayments from 3% to 5% in September. This is a sure sign that the rates squeeze is spreading. Borrowers with an average debt of £2,300 will see their minimum payment ... http://checkmycreditrating.co.uk/card-company-increases-payments The Government has confirmed more than 9 million people will pay more road tax under the new controversial tax reforms. 43% of motorists will have increased bills of £245 by April 2010 and only a fifth of drivers will be better off in the long term. Ministers are insisting the new ... http://checkmycreditrating.co.uk/87-million-to-pay-more-in-the-new-road-tax-reforms A high street bank is sending children debit cards without their parent’s consent. Lloyds-TSB are mailing debit cards to children as young as 11 who are able to use them to buy goods on the internet without their parent or guardian’s knowledge. In the past, children have only been able to use ... http://checkmycreditrating.co.uk/debit-cards-sent-to-children