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Budgeting & bank accounts

Archives for December 2015

Direct debits for current account switching incentives - Hargreaves Lansdown
Has anyone successfully set up direct debits with Hargreaves Lansdown for the purpose of switching current accounts? (Am doing a switch for a family member so rather than opening tesco savers was going to set up one direct debit for his own Hargreaves account and one for his daughter's junior ISA.....first payment to be…
Best basic bank account?
I'm trying to save money by sticking with a very tight budget but as you all know, temptation is hard to resist... So I'm hoping to open a very basic account and transfer my living money each month into that account so I know that's all I have to spend. Which basic account would you recommend? All I need is an account that…
Fee Free Bank Accounts -NO INCOME CAN I OPEN ONE?
I have a relative who at the moment has no job/monthly income and is not drawing benefit. He has a four figure sum leftover from selling his house and I am currently holding it for him and doling out money as he asks for it, no sign of him signing on for JSA in the future. I don't want to do this for much longer and he has…
Who should cancel a DD??
So I am sorting out my MILs affairs as she is now in a care home. All fairly straightforward but EDF say I have to cancel the DD to them. The bank won't let me do this till we have power of attorney, this is applied for but will take many weeks. Meanwhile the EDF account builds up credit, £500 so far as her house is empty!…
Changes to bank interest calculation from April 2016
I received a letter from Tesco today detailing changes to their terms and conditions, and this one caught my eye. From Changes to your Tesco Bank Current Account agreement:- Does this mean everyone with a bank account will be expected to fill in a self assessment form?
First Direct £150 switch
I see that First Direct are now offering £150 to switch accounts. I signed up with them to switch last week when the offer was £100. I have rang up today and been told that I cannot get the £150 even though I have not yet done any banking with them. I even suggested that I could get the £100 for signing up and then receive…
Current Account Switching Rewards
Hello all, Quick question. Regarding the cash rewards on offer for switching current accounts at the moment (Halifax, M&S, HSBC, First Direct), is it possible to switch from one to the other as soon as you receive the bonus? It almost sounds too good to be true. I currently have a joint account with my mum with RBS as I…
unknown company on bank statement
Hi, Does anyone know who "CROSS TERRACOTTA CD 8370" is? A couple of debits from my Mum's account coming out- different amounts at regular intervals and google comes up blank. Thanks.
Can I switch bank accounts?
Hi everyone, I'm completely new to this so apologies if this question is in the wrong place! Basically I was with Santander up until 3 years ago and then switched banks to nationwide as I was taking out a nationwide mortgage and was told I could only get that mortgage rate if I banked with them. I'm tied into a 4 year fix…
HSBC switch offer - £120 - apply by 28/02/16
Full T&Cs: http://www.hsbc.co.uk/1/PA_esf-ca-app-content/content/pws/content/personal/pdfs/Switching_offer_terms.pdf Might be worth digging out the previous HSBC switching thread if you are interested. Everyone reported that you needed to be extremely patient.
Santander 123 interest - Direct Debits
I, like many here, use direct debits such as a Tesco account to earn interest on the Santander account. How long does the direct debit last? Do I need to pull funds from my Tesco account on a regukar basis? How long does it usually take before it becomes inactive? Could I link one Tesco account with two Santander accounts?…
First Direct £150 switch back?
I missed out on this deal last time but according to the below link it is back until Feb 2016. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-best-bank-accounts#firstdirect However when I click the link there is no mention of £150 just the standard £125, does anyone know if this is normal?
Expired cards
What do you do with your expired debit/credit cards - keep/collect or shred/destroy/cut?
TSB 5% Savings acc
Just opened one up today, the Standing order (SO) is set for 30th Dec. On the 31st Dec, should I change the date of the SO to the 1st by amending it from the current account page and then leave it like that, to maximize my interest?
Standing Order between accounts moved back from 1 January
I move money between current accounts by standing Order to meet their eligibility requirements. I pay out of my Santander account on 1st day of the month, then pay back into Santander on the 2nd of the month. But in January my Santander account shows the payment will be moved back from 1st to 4th of January (the first…
Question regarding TSB Easy Saver
Hi All, I have been with TSB for 4 or 5 years and foolishly never looked into using a savings account which makes me interest so have simply had my money in a eSavings Account. I have enough saved that I want to earn interest and so have opened a Monthly Saver (which caps at 250 a month) and am looking at also opening an…
Post Offices
Can you get money out of your bank acc in the Post Office? If so, is there a daily limit?
Why UK banks require monthly “pay in” into current account?
Many UK banks require minimal monthly "pay in" (often 500-1500 GBP) to get interest rate payed on their current accounts. Sometimes there is a restriction that payment must come from another bank (payments from other accounts in the same bank do no count). At the same time, as far as I know, there are no restriction for…
What an ordeal! With First Direct
I phoned up my bank today FIRST DIRECT to open an Easy Saver account. I was on the phone to them for 30 mins which I will have to pay for. They asked all manner of questions regarding employment, outgoings etc. The last time I opened a savings account it took five minutes. I will seriously consider changing my account or…
Wake up call to ditch Santander 123 current account
I have just completed my online switch from Santander 123 current account to Halifax Reward Account to get the £100 bonus and the £5 a month reward. The switch is to be completed the week before 11/1/16 when the fees go up from £2 to £5. This will avoid paying the £5 fee for my last month. Anyone thinking of switching…

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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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