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Budgeting & bank accounts

Archives for September 2010

FirstDirect Bank Account £100 offer
Errrmmm... I just wondered... If I opened a current account with First Direct (minimum monthly deposit required of £1500 to get £100 cashback). Could that £1500 consist of multiple deposits? If so, could I perhaps withdraw money and pay that back in - would that money count as a deposit towards the £1500? This idea seems…
Compensation due to failure to send a new debit card
I rang my bank Cahoot on 10th September to report activity on my account which I didn't recognise. They stopped my bank card and told me they would refund the payment. Now 3 weeks later the payment has not been refunded and I still have no debit card or access to my money! I have been ringing every day for the past 2 weeks…
What is an overdraft and why would I want one?
Hi all, I was recently approached by a member of staff whilst in my bank depositing a cheque and the woman asked me if I'd like to discuss an overdraft. To tell you the truth I don't have the faintest idea what it is because I've never dealt with debt and always budgeted and lived within my means. Can you tell me a little…
Cheques
Hi Do all cheques clear at the same time 3 or 4 working days? My other half has just started work and this month and she has been paid by a cheque. She has to pay crippling childcare costs for our 4 year old out of her wages which are £350+ a month for 12 half days!!! I pay all the bills with my wages but found the money…
co-op gadget insurance does it cover iphone ?
Hi, I was looking through the terms and conditions of the of the gadget insurance prior to switching and it looks like it won't cover iphones. It specifically excludes any gadgets with a cost of more than £300 inc VAT new. An iphone out of contract is over £300. Does anyone have any information that contradicts that ?
Credit Unions
I would be really interested to hear of people's experiences of Credit Unions. I've never heard Martin recommend them yet they seem to offer an opportunity to save regularly and also borrow at very reasonable rates. Is there a reason MSE doesn't support them?
Lloyds banking...
Is it true that Lloyds TSB cannot give you a current account (or any other account) if you have an account with another bank?
HSBC online banking WARNING!!
Hi there. Not quite sure where to post this. I just went to log onto my hsbc account and after entering my account number i got a warning message saying that the site was untrusted and could be a copy of the real site, and warned me not to enter anymore details. Luckily i closed it off and went back to hsbc via google and…
Halifax - Faster Payments
Can any of you banking with Halifax help? How much can I transfer as a faster payment from Hailfax? I wanted to do £1000, would it reach the beneficiary today? It is also the first time I am using this beneficiary, does this matter? Thanks :)
MSE News: Barclays tops FSA complaints table
This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story: Read the full story: Barclays tops FSA complaints table Update, 1.20pm: this story has been heavily edited from the Press Association article originally published at 9.30am this morning. Please see the bottom of the linked story for an explanation.
Bank account with NO credit check
Hi all, I am happy to say well and truly getting out of debt, reduced 32k down to 9k in 2 years and starting to live again :-) I am now at the stage I need direct debits and standing orders so therefore need a bank account rather than just my building society account. But is there a bank account out there with needs no…
Where do you stand if you spend money a bank has paid in error?
If a bank pays funds into your account in error and the money has been spent where do you stand with them retrieving the money? What steps would the bank take?
Nationwide - CashCard+ Works for Train Tickets & Pay@Pump!!
Well the Visa Debit CashCard+ works for buying train tickets, and at Pay@Pump, was nervous about trying but I thought it says "Visa Debit" so if it didnt work, nobody think its a badged Electron. So popped it in the machine, couple seconds later; tells me to remove card and fill up to the value of £99! Wow! Is this card…
I need a current account with cheque book for pensioner on low income
My elderly relative, who had CCJ's and owed thousands, has gone into a care home. The house has been sold and she now has about £25,000 capital after all the debts have been cleared. Her only income is her Retirement Pension and Attendance Allowance. Does anyone know where can I find a current account for her that doesn't…
Stopping cheques: Is there any way...
...to tell whether a cheque has been stopped, WITHOUT trying to pay it into an account? My situation: A supplier has decided we need to give them a post-dated cheque which they will cash in the event that we damage their stuff. If we give it back safe they promise to tear up the cheque. We are not best happy because (a)…
Disgraceful Halifax Customer Service.......
Using Halifax’s telephone banking facility, I paid a bill to tune of £175 (the amount becomes more important so bear with me…) on the 28th Sep 2010. I then went to draw some money out of my account today and realised that Halifax had actually paid £475 instead of £175. So…..I rang up Halifax to notify them of the mistake…
Bank Account for au pair with limited ID
Hi all My family has just taken on an au pair for the first time. She's 19, from Austria, and has not lived in this country before. She obviously needs a bank account, and as my wife and I have been satisfied Smile customers for years, we recommended that. Smile rejected the application on the grounds that her ID was…
Santander Zero Account
As an existing Santander mortgage customer I have a Zero account. This account is only offered to mortgage or investment customers and offers no fees on agreed overdrafts. We have now agreed the sale of our property and will be settling the mortgage as we will be moving in with parents to get financially sorted. How quick…
HSBC incorrect wording on Final Demand
I had a student overdraft with HSBC which I was chased for throughout my final year of uni (I later found out because they had my year of graduation wrong!) and it got to the point last September where I was issued with a Final Demand. This said (& I'm quoting) 'you have 18 days to pay in full or let us have satisfactory…
Smile debit card fraud - but they don't think so!
Hope this is the right place to post this - I need help! My debit card was used fraudulently without it leaving my hands 2 weeks ago. 3 payments of 1p, £30 and £600 were made in one day so I rang my bank later that day when my card was refused due to being at its overdraft limit. They cancelled the card and refunded the…

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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Budgeting & bank accounts

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