Mark Williams's Blog – June 2011 Archive (7)

The FSA has written to the websites highlighting concerns over fair treatment of customers, following a review that found the websites were offering advice without the proper licence.

The letter called into question how the comparison websites were selling insurance and asked that the websites 'think carefully' about…

The Telegraph reports that the Bank of England has been urged to raise rates sooner and faster than expected by the world's central bank to retain its inflation-fighting credibility and "ward off" another financial crisis.

"Controlling inflation in the long term will require…

The BBC reports today that consumer group Which? is accusing banks and building societies of putting the squeeze on homeowners who have standard variable rate mortgages.

Which? warns that thousands will be pushed into financial difficulty when interest rates go up

ore than 40% of mortgage borrowers are now on standard variable rates, which…

Recent research has found that the number of fathers who have their income protected with an Income Protection policy has fallen a further 5% in the last two years.

It found that only one in five (22%) fathers now have income protection with two-thirds (64%) having life cover and less than a third (30%) critical illness cover.

This low take up could leave families…

Brits are twice more likely to insure their pets or mobile phones than their income, according to research.

However a clear north-south divide exists with Scots faring far better than the rest of the UK when it comes to when it comes to protecting themselves and their families, the Consumer Protection report revealed.

It found that Scots are the…

A mere 4% of people in the UK have income insurance, showing a dangerous lack of concern for the unpredictable economy. 

The YouGov plc survey, highlighted that, despite the recession, people are still overestimating their job security and have no plan B should they end up unemployed due to illness or redundancies.

The survey has presented some surprising statistics but…

Interest rates will rise this August, with a number of further increases taking the base rate to 2.75% by the end of next year, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has predicted.

In its quarterly forecast, the BCC has again reiterated its belief that the base rate should be held until the last three months of 2011 at the earliest, but believes it will be increased in the third quarter.…