Aviva to crack down on whiplash fraudsters: Insurer will spend millions fighting spurious claims for compensation

Aviva to crack down on whiplash fraudsters: Insurer will spend millions fighting spurious

The company is aiming to triple the number of whiplash insurance claims it fights in court and it intends to challenge more than 1,000 cases this year alone. The validity of many of the claims will have to be decided by a judge rather than in out-of-court negotiations between legal representatives. The campaign will cost Aviva in the short term, but it hopes the crackdown will help to kill off the booming industry surrounding fake claims.

Middle-aged typically have £53k-plus in a pension pot - but are £9k a year short of their retirement goal

Over-45s expect their pension fund to generate £12,590 a year on top of the state pension - but their current savings would deliver less than a third of this target income.

'I made £152 on a trip to Las Vegas by booking on a cashback website': £17 BILLION - That's the alarming cost of financial apathy...but some easy steps can save you a fortune

'I made £152 on a trip to Las Vegas by booking on a cashback website': £17 BILLION

Misselling and woeful customer service are common curses of the financial services industry but we have found a far bigger cost to household budgets - apathy. It adds up to a massive £17billion a year in spending you didn't need to make. Over the coming weeks, we will examine how to shake up your finances and save a fortune in the process. Lydia McDaid (pictured) is a savvy shopper.

Fancy a coffee on your way to work in the morning? Now you can pay with an Apple...

Last week, phone giant Apple entered the payment fray with its version of a digital wallet on a phone, Apple Pay. We explain how it works... and sometimes doesn't.

Make your holiday money go a whole lot further: From secret hotels to great British days out, our guide to making the most of summer

School is out and the holiday season is in full swing - but you do not need to break the bank to share in the vacation fun. Anne and Gareth Hughes use 2for1 deals for fun days out with their children.

JEFF PRESTRIDGE: When a business starts slinging out loyal customers, it's time for fellow account holders to seek friendlier banking waters

Customers in Cyprus have confirmed Barclays has written to them threatening to close their accounts unless they top them up to a minimum £100,000 by the middle of September. Disgraceful.

I spend £90,000 a year on cars - and £100,000 on number plates ... says Charlie Mullins, the Pimlico plumber

Charlie Mullins grew up on a South London council estate. He left school at 15 with no qualifications to take up an apprenticeship in plumbing. Six years later, he started Pimlico Plumbers.

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Marks & Spencer board spent four days trying to persuade womenswear boss John Dixon to remain with company even though he has already accepted job elsewhere

Marks & Spencer board spent four days trying to persuade womenswear boss John Dixon to

Dixon, whose resignation was formally announced on Friday, tendered it on Monday after being offered a chief executive role at another firm. But chairman Robert Swannell declined to accept Dixon's resignation when it was initially offered. It is understood that chief executive Marc Bolland also tried to persuade Dixon to stay.

SIMON WATKINS: Greece's politicians and people need to use period of calm to prepare for orderly euro exit - and to default on debts

The recent abatement of the crisis must not be wasted. If anything now is the time for even more hard work.

Royal Bank of Scotland to unveil loss ahead of first sale of Treasury stake

Analysts at broker Investec said RBS was set to book a £1.4 billion charge for restructuring and past misdemeanours in the results. City analysts as a whole expect a loss of £300 million.

Iceland boss Malcolm Walker launches scathing attack on rivals who have dragged their feet over paying higher wages to staff

Walker said big supermarkets have a 'moral' duty to pay hard- working staff higher wages and has dismissed suggestions that doing so would threaten other staff perks as 'brainless'.

National Farmers Union welcomes commitment from Weetabix to source wheat from local growers

The commitment will reassure farmers amid speculation that Bright Food is close to taking full control of the business by buying the remaining stake from UK private equity firm Lion Capital.

More than 220,000 past and present workers now rely on Pension Protection Fund for retirement cash

The fund was set up by the Government as a lifeboat to take over the defined benefit schemes of firms that face going bust leaving a possible shortfall in members' promised pensions.

Sterling hits new highs and borrowers prepare for less cheap mortgages as Carney calls rates to rise around New Year

Pound hits €1.44 after Carney calls rates to rise around New Year

A rise in rates, which have been at the historic low of 0.5 per cent for more than six years and seen fixed mortgage rates plunge below 2 per cent, had previously not been expected until the middle of 2016. A rise in bank rate from 0.5 per cent to 0.75 per cent would add £18 a month or £216 a year to a typical £150,000 lifetime tracker mortgage.

The piers creating a buzz for homebuyers: Cromer and Bournemouth lead the way as more seaside towns regenerate iconic structures

Bournemouth?s beautiful beach and pier

Britain's seaside towns aren't just tempting day trippers. Increasingly, homebuyers are drawn to the coast and in many cases they are prepared to pay a premium to be there, says Fred Redwood.

BM Savings wants to charge me £35 to transfer closing balance from my one-year cash Isa to my current account!?

BM Savings want to charge me half the interest I've made on my cash Isa as a fee for paying the money straight to my account. Why is it free if it's a cheque payment?

Let shoppers park for free in ALL town centres to save the high street from the rise of online shopping, says government minister

An expired parking meter in central London, on the day a report by MPs claimed parking policy and enforcement in Britain is "inconsistent and confused". PRESS ASSOCIATION photo. Picture date: Thursday June 22, 2006. It is "absurd" that some parking offenders are dealt with by police and others in neighbouring areas dealt with by local councils, the report from the House of Commons Transport Committee added. See PA story TRANSPORT Parking. Photo credit should read: Steve Parsons/PA.

Marcus Jones, the minister for high streets, said councils should look to create free zones in city centers, instead of punishing businesses and motorists with 'over-zealous' fines.

Betfair's boss gets whopping 800 per cent rise in pay and perks this year after stellar annual results

The online betting exchange's chief executive Breon Corcoran is in line for an £11.6m package after share awards he received when he joined in 2012 paid out.

HMRC missed out on £34 billion of tax last year as uncollected VAT and income revenue rises by £1billion

The so-called 'tax gap' - the difference between what Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is owed and what it collects - has risen by £1billion in the past year, the National Audit Office has found.

Footballer TWEETS about playing for his team 24 hours after making whiplash claim - and ends up having to pay £11k to Aviva under new rules

A footballer scored a huge own goal this week after a court ruled he made a dishonest whiplash claim following a minor car accident - after he played football 24 hours later.

As Bank of England hints that interest rates could rise by the end of the year: should borrowers lock into a fixed-rate mortgage now?

BofE governor Mark Carney has hinted interest rates are set to rise from the 0.5% they have been glued at since March 2009 - and this could mean mortgage rates have hit the bottom.

Family and friends unknowingly signing up to 'mountains of debt' via growing guarantee loans market, charity warns

Couple looking at home finances on computer.
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debt, internet, sofa, technology, debt, internet, sofa, technology

Citizens Advice said that 43 per cent of the guarantors which contacted them for help were unsure of the extent of their responsibilities.

Private rents soar faster than house prices for first time in two years and hit record high of £789 a month

Private rents soar faster than house prices for first time in two years and hit record

The increasingly less affordable rents have seen the proportion on people in arrears also soaring in June, although this is still below the levels reached during the recession. The average rent jumped by 5.6 per cent to an all-time high of £789 in June compared to a year ago - the fastest pace of growth recorded since 2009, when the index started.

INVESTMENT EXTRA: Luxury fashion brands in a flap over China blip

Luxury goods groups in the UK and Europe have benefited from China's appetite over the past ten years. But in the past two years things have changed.

Diesel cheaper than petrol in most European countries, AA data shows, with petrol under £1 a litre in some

Experts at the AA said UK drivers will discover the 'holy grail' of pump prices - £1 a litre or less for petrol and diesel - when they drive on to the Continent this summer.

Solar power subsidies to be slashed by ministers to cut energy bills as part of a 'big reset' of green taxes

WYMESWOLD AIRFIELD SOLAR FARM, WITH MORE THAN 30,000 PANELS, CLAIMED TO BE THE LARGEST IN THE UK.
Image shot 06/2013. Exact date unknown.
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EXCLUSIVE: Cabinet insiders say the view on tackling subsidies has 'hardened' over fears recent price cuts announced by power firms will be wiped out by rising environmental taxes.

When will interest rates rise? Bank of England's Carney says bank rate likely to go up 'around the turn of the year'

When will UK interest rates rise?

Britain is out of its short-lived flirtation with deflation, with the consumer prices index up 0.1 per cent in the year to May, according to ONS figures. The news arrived the day before MPC minutes revealed another unanimous hold in June with the course still set for an initial base rate rise in the first half of 2016.

Sterling strong after Bank of England warns first interest rate rise since financial crisis 'is moving closer'

Bank governor Mark Carney told MPs on the Treasury Select Committee that households and businesses should now prepare for higher borrowing costs.

Cheapest holidays to Europe for years: Boost for families ahead of summer holidays as pound soars 'spectacularly' against euro to reach highest level since 2007 

Sterling soared to 1.436 euros yesterday - its highest level since 2007 and up 13 per cent in a year. Holidaymakers exchanging £500 today will receive 696 euros - 132 more than two years ago.

Thousands of expats could see their Barclays accounts shut within months - unless they hold a minimum of £100,000

Barclays tells some expats they need £100k to keep their accounts

Expats in certain countries across the globe have been told to have at least £100,000 in their Barclays accounts, or have their accounts closed within months, This is Money can reveal. In a letter sent to a reader in Cyprus two weeks ago - which This is Money has seen - Barclays says accounts will be closed on 11 September 2015, if the new minimum requirement isn't met.

Supermarket pricing can confuse and mislead shoppers - and offending retailers could face legal action, warns watchdog

BEM7RP Cashier totalling grocery purchases

The CMA said its three-month investigation found that some promotions and confusing unit pricing had the potential to mislead customers and could lead to a breach of consumer law.

Mortgage lending hit seven-year high in June as buyers return to the market after May's general election

A woman walks past an estate agent's window display on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge in London, England.  
The governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has given his strongest warning yet about the dangers to Britain's economy posed by the booming housing market saying that the market represented the biggest risk to financial stability and the long-term recovery.  

(Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images)

Gross mortgage lending soared by 29 per cent in June compared to May to an estimated £20.5billion and by 15 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Register to get a £25 state pension boost if you're too old to qualify for new flat rate deal

Register to get a £25 State pension boost if you're too old to qualify for new flat rate

Men aged 64 or older and women aged 62 or over can boost their pensions by up to £25 a week, or £1,300 a year, from October 12. This group is too old to receive the flat-rate pension which will be introduced next year. The new Class 3A Voluntary Contribution depends on age.

Will you work past pension age? More than one in three delay retirement - and one in 20 even wangle a better salary

Some 15% of people hitting state pension age simply stay in their old job, but 21% take up a post elsewhere or plan to in future, according to a Prudential survey.

Savings battle intensifies as best buy two-year cash Isa hits 2%, with both Halifax and Virgin Money offering the top deals

Coins on scrabble board game.

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Rates on cash Isas and easy-access accounts have started to edge up.
Both Halifax and Virgin Money have launched two-year fixed-rate cash Isas paying a tax-free 2%.

INVESTMENT CLINIC: I am looking for an entirely safe investment for my savings - what would you suggest?

INVESTMENT CLINIC: Can you recommend an entirely safe investment?

I am looking for an entirely safe investment. I'm a pensioner and don't want to take any risk with my money. What would you suggest? I am looking for an entirely safe investment. I'm a pensioner and don't want to take any risk with my money. What would you suggest?

Help! I want to move a £40k pension pot but Phoenix Life says no - it's in an 'unbreakable trust'

Phoenix say the Retirement Annuity Trust with them cannot be broken and I now find that almost all other providers will not take a policy in Trust.

My employer wants to put me into a pension scheme, should I join it?

Bored office worker on the phone.

A new government initiative now means that all employers must set up a scheme and automatically enrol all eligible employees. So should you embrace it or opt out?

There's nothing James Freedman doesn't know about fraud ... so why won't HE use contactless cards?

There's nothing James Freedman doesn't know about fraud ... so why won't HE use

James knows just how easy it is for a criminal to use technology to their advantage. He was recently appointed the UK's first fraud prevention ambassador by City of London Police. He cuts out the contactless chip in his cards, scribbles out the CVV number so hackers can't use his cards to shop online. And he warns that someone can scan your card in a second - even if it's in your wallet.

Lidl announces record turnover of over £4BILLION as it splashes out £10million on a new UK headquarters

Shoppers leave a supermarket of German discount grocery chain Lidl in Berlin, Germany. 
Lidl is under investigation by the German Ministry of Interior and faces possible lawsuits by employees after it was revealed that the company has been systematically spying on its employees. According to an investigation by the German magazine Stern, Lidl used miniature cameras and sound recording equipment to monitor activity such as how often employees went to the bathroom and personal relationships between employees, as well as to make notes of conversations, appearance and demeanour. The service industries union ver.di is encouraging Lidl employees to file charges in court. German has strict laws on the collection and use of private data.  
BERLIN - MARCH 27:  
(Photo by Carsten Koall/Getty Images)

As well as increasing its sales in the UK, it also boosted its exports of British products across Europe, including £30million of British cheese and £100million of Scottish whisky.

Workers see real incomes rising at 3.2% - the fastest rate in seven years - but unemployment is on the up for first time in two years

Figures showed that pay rises continued to accelerate, with average weekly earnings growing by 3.2 per cent year-on-year, well above the pre-financial crisis norm of around 2.5 per cent.

ASK TONY: First Utility said I was owed money - then sent a £685 bill

ASK TONY: First Utility said I was owed money - then sent a £685 bill

First Utility said it had made a mistake in my billing, but that, if anything, I'd probably end up with a small credit. Staff then sent me the bill for after revising all my bills back to 2012! It has demanded payment. I've suspended my direct debit, but am worried that current bills are racking up. I wrote to the chief executive, Ian McCaig, but he has not responded.

Savers grab £1.8bn since launch of pension freedom as number of annuities sold continues to fall

An elderly couple are seen embracing on a beach.
Posed by model.

People with small pots tend to be cashing them out, but those with larger ones are more likely to buy an income drawdown product, the Association of British Insurers said.

High blood pressure could get you an extra £6k and obesity more than £5k in old age - why it's worth shopping around for an annuity

If you have a £100,000 pension pot, a common condition like high blood pressure could net you about £300 extra a year or nearly £6,200 over 20 years, research shows.

Financial watchdog boss Martin Wheatley quits after four controversial years... but will still be paid £700,000 for another year

Financial watchdog boss Martin Wheatley stands down after four years

He joined the Financial Services Authority, the forerunner to the FCA, in 2011 from the Hong Kong Secrurities and Futures Commission, where he was chief executive. Under his leadership the FCA handed out some of the biggest regulatory fines ever seen in the City as he pledged to 'shoot first and ask questions later' in his drive to clean up the Square Mile.

Online poker operator 888 Holdings wins race for rival Bwin.Party as board agrees to takeover

Online poker operator 888 won Bwin's hand by offering 104.09p per share for the bookmaker - which had said as long ago as last November that it was in takeover talks.

Ofcom's threats to Royal Mail rule: Watchdog's probe into firm's dominance hits share price

Shares slid after regulator Ofcom set out the terms of a 'fundamental review' into the way the company operates.

Sales slowdown at cheap-and-cheerful chain labelled 'new Woolworths' fails to halt growth ambitions

B&M; Bargains reported sales up 1.1 per cent for the first quarter. This was slower than the 6 per cent sales growth in the same period the previous year but it brought in £456.6m of revenue.

Barclays in spotlight again after investment banking arm breaches US rules on reporting share trades for second time

The lender has been fined £511,000 by the American Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, which said Barclays Capital did not properly update its electronic systems.

DOGBERRY: Unipart chairman spouts garbled mess to announce joint venture with Rolls-Royce

Constable Dogberry in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing mangles every word he utters - and so do many business leaders. We put the worst offenders in the dock.

MARKET REPORT: Housebuilders subside as Bank of England warns that interest rates may start to rise at end of this year

Fears that rising mortgage costs would choke off demand for homes dragged down the FTSE 100 by 21.37 points to 6775.08. One of the sector's biggest fallers was Bovis Homes.

ALEX BRUMMER: FCA boss Martin Wheatley walks the plank - but chairman Griffith-Jones should too

Even without the significant banks, policed by the Bank of England's Prudential Regulatory Authority, it has a very wide remit, and prioritising was going to be key.

BEN GRIFFITHS: Science booms as Britain backs research and development

Thanks partly to the progressive decision to introduce the patent box in 2009, lower corporation tax is paid on profits derived from inventions.

Unilever's fortunes cool down as consumer goods giant is set to reveal weaker performance during first half

Investors will be keen to hear news of emerging market sales, in the wake of slowing first-quarter growth of 5.4 per cent, down from 5.7 per cent for 2014.

Not just any old job: First blood drawn in battle for top spot at M&S; as main board director quits having failed to get the nod

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Head of general merchandise John Dixon is understood to be joining another retailer, having failed to get the nod to succeed Marc Bolland as chief executive.

B&Q; owner Kingfisher expected to post solid second quarter figures on Thursday as DIY group pushes ahead with turnaround plans

B&Q owner Kingfisher expected to post solid second quarter figures on Thursday as DIY

Brokers at Jefferies expect B&Q; UK and Ireland to report same-store sales up 2.2 per cent in the ten weeks to July 23, compared with a 1.1 per cent fall in the previous quarter and a 0.7 per cent rise a year ago, as the impact of slowing housing transactions is offset by rising wages among shoppers.

Goldman Sachs profits halve as it sets aside $1.5bn for legal costs - but Citi cheers best profit in eight years

A Goldman Sachs sign is seen above their booth on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in this January 19, 2011 file photo. Goldman Sachs Group received a subpoena from New York prosecutors seeking information on the investment bank's role leading into the global financial crisis, a person familiar with the matter said. The subpoena from the Manhattan District Attorney's office is based on information contained in a U.S. Senate subcommittee investigation into Wall Street's role in the housing market collapse. Picture taken January 19, 2011. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/Files  (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS CRIME LAW)

Goldman reported net income of $916million (£587million) in the three months to the end of June - down 53 per cent from $1.95bn last year.

Greeks panic buying TVs boosts Dixons Carphone profits after high street giants merger

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Because credit and debit cards still work, consumers are splashing out on big-ticket items in Greece as a way of protecting their money from the prospect of a Government-imposed haircut.

JD Wetherspoon boss branded a 'hypocrite' for moaning about paying his staff the living wage

16J-weatherspoons biz Tim martin 2 (Read-Only).jpg

JD Wetherspoon chairman and founder Tim Martin (pictured) complained that paying staff more would hit the company's profits.

Think a late holiday flight means compensation? Think again! Dirty tricks airlines use to fight you when you're DELAYED

Think a late holiday flight at least means compensation? Think again ... Dirty tricks

We name and shame airlines who won't commit to joining a scheme aimed at ending the five-year stand-off over flight delay compensation. Later this year an independent complaints service will launch for passengers. A major role of this will be to judge whether travellers are entitled to compensation after suffering a delay. But six big names have refused to say whether they will sign up.

Holidaymakers may no longer be subject to complicated terms and conditions when they hire a car abroad

Five major car rental companies have agreed to review their practices and make their systems more transparent and fairer for customers.

Millions of British Gas customers advised to look to smaller suppliers for cheaper deals after meagre £35 price cut

The price cut, the company's second in six months, will affect 6.9 million British Gas customers on standard and 'fix & fall' tariffs and come into effect on August 27.

I have returned to UK after living abroad for seven years to find my old £7k bank loan written off: now how do I rebuild my credit score?

I have returned to UK after living abroad for seven years to find my old £7k bank loan

I moved back to the UK and have heard nothing about the debt. I asked the bank and they said it will have been wiped. When I try to register for credit rating agency sites they do not recognise my bank card to my address. How do I find out how my credit score is and start to improve it?

Stock markets rise 10 per cent - but endowments keep on falling

More than £1.3 billion a year is still being pumped into endowments - even though the payouts on these savings plans continue to plummet.

Savers who want spouse to inherit their Isa allowance being kept in dark by banks and building societies after changes in April

Even though you've been able to inherit the allowance for three months, many of Britain's biggest banks and building societies have failed to offer accounts for this money.

New Isa means tax-free interest from peer-to-peer investments fuelling the lend-to-save boom

New Isa means tax-free interest from peer-to-peer investments fuelling the lend-to-save

The Innovative Finance Isa will cover investments made through websites where savers lend their cash to other individuals. These types of investment have soared in popularity over recent years and it is estimated around £1.3 billion is held in them. Loans to other individuals are risky but promise attractive returns.

The pick 'n' mix strategy for investing in emerging markets: MAIKE CURRIE explains how to pick your way selectively through risky - and less risky - funds

Pick 'n' mix when investing in emerging markets, says Maike Currie

Blindly lumping emerging economies together under a single banner is a risky strategy for any investor. Don't adopt a 'bulk buy' approach, rather think of emerging markets as a pick 'n' mix investment opportunity - selectivity is key, says Fidelity's investment expert Maike Currie.

The top performing investment trusts of the moment: Smaller company focused funds get election boost but Asian players struggle amid China woes

SmalI company investment trusts got a May election boost

Investment trusts specialising in smaller firms were among recent top performers after the election improved confidence in the sector, new research shows. But commodity and Asia-focused investment trusts were among the stragglers as investors shunned stocks exposed to an economic slowdown in China or a US rate rise, according to performance tables for the past three months compiled by QuotedData.

The ground rent on my leasehold flat just went up by 25% after only five years: Is the freeholder entitled to do this?

The ground rent on my leasehold home just went up by 25% Can the freeholder impose such a

I bought my maisonette with 125-year leasehold five years ago. My ground rent then was £200 per year but I have just had a letter advising me it is to be increased to £250, which is a massive jump. How legal is this? Combined with the service charges it amounts to just over £700 a year. How feasible is it to buy the freehold or extend the lease in the future?

Buy-to-let mortgage boom continues with lending up 22% compared to a year ago - but number of first-time buyers drops

A selection of estate agents letting and for sale signs

The Council of Mortgage Lenders said 22,700 mortgages worth a total of £3.4bn were handed out to first-time buyers. This is a 16% decrease compared with a year ago.

Average UK house price hits new record of £274k, 50% higher than the 2009 low - thanks to booming Northern Ireland

House prices hit record levels while recent rises are down to booming Northern Ireland

House prices are now £57,000 higher than May 2008 when the financial downturn prompted a dramatic collapse in the property market, official figures show. Property values now sit at £274,000 according to the Office for National Statistics, which is equal to the index peak reached in August last year.

Cost of car insurance accelerates with older drivers hit hardest - but 17-year olds see premiums halved compared to four years ago

Motorists are forking out £21 more for car insurance than this time last year with average premiums accelerating from £579 in June 2014 to hit £600 in the same period this year.

Big car rental firms promise to play fair with customers after inquiry finds charges and fees are unclear

Five of the biggest car hire firms in Europe have vowed to improve the way they deal with customers after an inquiry by the CMA - supported by the European Commission

Do you trust politicians not to double-tax your pension pot? Osborne review could end upfront tax relief and make withdrawals free instead

Do you trust future politicians not to double-tax your pension pot?

A Government rethink of the £34billion pension tax relief system has raised the threat of savers getting walloped twice if the changes unravel by the time they retire. Chancellor George Osborne launched a consultation on changes to retirement savings in the Budget, suggesting: 'Pensions could be taxed like ISAs. You pay in from taxed income - and it is tax-free when you take it out. And in-between it receives a top-up from the Government.' But critics suggest switching to a pension regime where contributions are taxed before they go in, not when taken out during retirement as now, would cause a raft of problems and involve trusting future politicians not to slap taxes back on later.

State banks prime the buy-to-let timebomb: BoE fears surge in loans to landlords could hit the economy when interest rates go up

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The boom in buy-to-let lending, which has prompted the Bank of England to warn of a risk to stability, is being fuelled by a surge in lending to landlords by Britain's state-backed banks.

Investment firm launches three-way split fixed-rate deal that protects savings up to £225k under FSCS - but how does it stack up?

Flagstone Investment Management has launched an account for savers with big pots who don't want to put the legwork into getting top rates but do want their cash protected if their bank goes bust.

Watch out for emoji: The high-tech text message hieroglyphics that can add more than £100 a year to mobile bills - and leave you feeling :-(

Emoji is Britain's fastest growing language but make sure you're not charged extra

Some handsets turn text messages that contain an emoji symbol into a multi-media message, which can cost 40p to send. To add insult to injury, some phones will turn a combination of characters in a standard text message into an emoji automatically, meaning these high-tech hieroglyphics can add more than £100 a year to mobile bills for those simply using colons and brackets to add a smile or a frown to the end of their message.

BUDGET 2015: Winners and losers from George Osborne's reforms of inheritance tax, minimum wage and pensions

BUDGET 2015: Winners and losers from George Osborne's reforms of inheritance tax, minimum

Wednesday's Budget rolled out big reforms - of inheritance tax, the minimum wage and pensions. In this must-read special report, The Mail on Sunday's awardwinning personal finance team identifies the winners and losers from the Budget, and shows how you can benefit.

SMALL BUSINESS BLOG: George Osborne side-stepped the elephant in the room for small retailers in his Budget - business rates, says Financial Mail's Vicki Owen

Amid the excitement and apprehension over George Osborne's Budget last week, one barrier to the growth potential of businesses in Britain was overlooked: our antiquated business rates system.

JAMES CONEY: Future Budgets from crafty Chancellor George Osborne may be even bolder

In his Budget last week, he showed once again his deft ability to raise billions of pounds for the Treasury by tweaking taxes that once mentioned, are quickly forgotten.

TONY HETHERINGTON: RBS can't erase its disgrace over mishandled current account mortgage switch with paltry £350 offer

TONY HETHERINGTON: RBS can't erase its loan disgrace with paltry £350 offer

Some years ago, my husband met a Royal Bank of Scotland representative who assured him we needed an RBS current account mortgage. We duly switched to this in 2004, but it quickly became apparent it was not a good idea as our photographic business became a victim of digital photography. We constantly asked RBS to change our mortgage, but unsuccessfully. I told the bank manager we were in difficulties, but he answered that he could only do something once we went into arrears. We borrowed from the family and over the next few years we paid £74,000 in interest alone. Finally, in despair, I rang a different department at RBS. It immediately offered a better deal, based on the information the bank had held all along.

From tying the knot abroad to earning cashback on spending, here's how you can cut your wedding bill

fmos3 Amy Hunting and husband

Everyone loves a wedding but most couples are less enamoured of the cost - £27,364 on average, according to a recent survey by Brides magazine.

Equitable Life savers to share an extra £45million compensation after payment scheme closes at the end of the year

The extra payment, announced in the Budget, will be made to those who have are in receipt of either the guarantee or savings credit - or both. The average pay-out will be around £800.

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50 ways to save money: Simple steps to cut what you spend that could clear your debts or seriously boost your savings

50 ways to save money....

To clear the average national household debt of £13,000 at 6% interest with a monthly repayment of £100 will take around 17 years. There are, however, plenty of simple ways to make significant savings on your regular spending that could clear your debt - or boost your savings - in less than a year. This is Money's top 50 - updated - money-saving tips may appear light-hearted but are deadly serious.

How to choose the best (and cheapest) DIY investing Isa - and our pick of the platforms

Pick the best (and cheapest) investment Isa platform

Choosing the right DIY platform is crucial but a wealth of choice and changes to charges have left many investors scratching their heads. We pick some of the best. We also highlight why investing in an Isa makes sense, as it should protect your hopefully growing investments from tax forever.

Revealed: The world's cheapest and most expensive stock markets - and where the UK stands

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We highlight the world's cheapest and most expensive stock markets, measured on three popular valuation tools and where the UK sits.

INVESTING TIPS: Fund and trust ideas for beginner and cautious investors

L Board sign on the rear of a blue saloon car , UK

If you are new to investing then the huge number of funds and investment trusts on offer can be confusing. Fortunately, This is Money's experts have some ideas to get you started.

INVESTING TIPS: Top fund and trust ideas for income investors

Income investing: Dividends can deliver both a healthy boost to long-term growth and a way to earn from your investments.

Income investing can let you draw on your portfolio or reinvest dividends to build solid growth over time. Our experts give their fund and investment trust recommendations.

INVESTING TIPS: Top fund and trust ideas for emerging markets

On the up: Emerging markets such as Brazil are where much of the world's growth is expected to be over future years.

If you're looking to add some flair to your investing Isa with emerging markets, This is Money's experts have some ideas to get you started

When will interest rates rise? Deflation ends already but even an early 2016 rate rise remains 'touch and go'

When will UK interest rates rise?

Britain is out of its short-lived flirtation with deflation, with the consumer prices index up 0.1 per cent in the year to May, according to ONS figures. The news arrived the day before MPC minutes revealed another unanimous hold in June with the course still set for an initial base rate rise in the first half of 2016.

Our savings picks: This is Money's five favourite best buy cash Isas for 2015

"No smoking" sign on a wall --- Image by © Christopher Stevenson/Corbis

We pick our five favourite cash Isas for savers. This is essential Isa reading and is kept up-to-date throughout the year

What next for mortgage rates? Fixed rates tumble to as low as 1.09% as homeowners get golden opportunity to lock in

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If you are looking for a mortgage, rates have never been lower. We run the rule over the top deals available and whether now is the time to fix.

Looking for a better bank? This is Money's five of the best current accounts

Best five: which current accounts offer the best perks?

How hard does your bank account work for you? Here's our pick of the best accounts to make your money work harder, cut down on fees, or get free stuff.

What next for house prices? House prices rise across the UK but London has caught a chill

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House prices are rising across the UK but London has caught a chill - property in the capital remains expensive but prices are slipping back from their peaks. We look at the latest figures.

Ten tips for buy-to-let: the essential advice for property investors

Ten tips for buy-to-let

For many buy-to-let looks an attractive income investment in a time of low rates and stock market volatility. Climbing house prices, rising rents and improving mortgage deals are tempting investors - although they will need a big deposit. Read This is Money's top ten buy-to-let tips

Best paid UK jobs 2014: Compare your pay to the national average in the league table of salaries across 350 trades and professions

Best paid UK jobs 2014 Compare your pay to the national average

The influence of financial services on the economy is spelled out again as City brokers steal top spot in this year's official list of highest earners. According to the detailed 2014 annual salaries survey, brokers pocketed around 40 times more this year than those at the bottom of the list - the people responsible for keeping children safe on the way to school. Lollipop crossing patrols earned around £3,400.

Premium Bonds winners

July 2015
Prize value Winning bond No. Area
£1,000,000 198PN029367 Surrey
£1,000,000 163QV328228 Wales
£100,000 229ZM049427 Cambridgeshire
£100,000 213DV007322 Buckinghamshire
£100,000 209KZ745395 Dorset
£100,000 197EM281903 Manchester
£100,000 189NX181806 North Yorkshire
£50,000 53LP325516 Avon
£50,000 237XN005700 Harrow
£50,000 230HE820063 Lancashire
£50,000 179VQ404335 Stockport
More Premium Bonds winners
   

MOST READ MONEY

More than £1bn pumped into Twitter's Wall Street shares after hoax report claiming social media firm was about to be bought

A website mimicking financial news agency Bloomberg - with a web address bloomberg.market - posted a report that the company had 'received an offer to be bought for $31bn' (£20bn).

Tourist rates

Currency Rate Buy now
Updated 18 Jul 2015.
Euro 1.4116 Buy Now
US Dollar 1.5373 Buy Now
Australian Dollar 2.0539 Buy Now
Canadian Dollar 1.9811 Buy Now
Chinese Yuan 9.3235 Buy Now
Croatian Kuna 10.514 Buy Now
Czech Koruna 37.813 Buy Now
Danish Krone 10.39 Buy Now
Egyptian Pound 10.656 Buy Now
Hong Kong Dollar 11.787 Buy Now
Hungarian Forint 428.38 Buy Now
Israeli New Shekel 5.6649 Buy Now
Japanese Yen 189.94 Buy Now
Malaysian Ringgit 5.7137 Buy Now
New Zealand Dollar 2.3344 Buy Now
Norwegian Krone 12.371 Buy Now
Polish Zloty 5.6971 Buy Now
Singapore Dollar 2.0803 Buy Now
South African Rand 18.873 Buy Now
Sterling 1.0 Buy Now
Swedish Krona 12.948 Buy Now
Swiss Franc 1.4604 Buy Now
Thai Baht 51.493 Buy Now
UAE Dirham 5.599 Buy Now

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