'Second steppers' caught in new home loans trap as moving can double their mortgage

'Second steppers' caught in new home loans trap as moving can double their mortgage: Ten

The struggle to buy a first home is harder than ever. But now even those lucky enough to be on the first rung on the housing ladder are facing fresh frustrations as they try to move on to the next. New and growing families are fighting over a few properties with higher costs to bear. The Mail on Sunday explains why 'next-steppers' face such difficulties and how to overcome them.

Osborne to face a bigger shares storm over RBS as new 10% stake sale is likely to result in another huge loss for the taxpayer

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne arrives at a European Union finance ministers meeting in Brussels, Belgium, July 14, 2015.   REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

George Osborne could sell a further 10 per cent stake before the end of the year, according to City sources.

Get a taste of investments that can put some fun in your funds: Wine and classic cars provide enjoyment as well as some sparkling returns 

Get a taste of investments that can put some fun in your funds: Wine and classic cars

Alternative investments are coming of age - with many having their fortunes plotted much like stocks and shares. Here, The Mail on Sunday explores options for spreading your investment risk and sees how they compare with traditional equity markets.

Tax haul falls as stamp duty rise hits sales of top homes, suggests data

A pedestrian looks at information leaflets of residential properties displayed for sale in the window of a Savills estate agents in Guildford, U.K., on Monday, June 23, 2014. As Britons brace for the Bank of England to announce steps to restrain the housing market this week, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander dismissed talk of a bubble. Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Stamp duty was cut for most house purchases in December last year, but the rate for the most expensive properties, worth £1.5million or more, was pushed far higher.

Payday lenders boom again despite curbs as QuickQuid owner sees 20% rise in loan volumes in the UK

The Website for the Loan company QuickQuid

Enova International, whose brands include QuickQuid and Pounds to Pocket, told US analysts that loan volumes at its British businesses had jumped 20 per cent in the second quarter.

Expected wage gains of 2.8% to fuel debate on when to raise interest rates

Commuters wait for buses outside Vauxhall bus station, London, as bus passengers in London faced disruption because of a strike by drivers and other workers although many services were running despite the action. 


PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday February 5, 2015. Members of the Unite union walked out from 4am in a row over pay, with further strikes due later in the month. See PA story INDUSTRY Strike. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

The strong wage growth when inflation is zero will fuel the fierce debate over when interest rates should start to rise from their historic lows.

Campaigners take VAT fight to EU summit as small online traders struggle to deal with new rules

BMEN2H Young woman using a laptop computer on a wireless network to shop online at home.

Thousands of small online traders have been struggling to deal with new rules requiring companies supplying 'cross-border digital services' to charge VAT at local rates.

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MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Allergic to pets? New cure will be the cats' whiskers as Benchmark Holdings lines up a vaccine

MIDAS SHARE TIPS: Allergic to pets? New cure will be the cats' whiskers as Benchmark

At 82½p, Benchmark shares offer real, long-term growth prospects. The company is ambitious, operates in a fast-growing market and counts star investor Neil Woodford as an 18 per cent shareholder. The group operates across four related markets: animal health; breeding and genetics; science and medical publishing; and consulting on sustainability - advising companies on how to produce food ethically and efficiently. Customers include leading food retailers such as Tesco and Marks & Spencer and numerous food processors supplying the major supermarkets.

Tesco poised to end its 'junk' status with £5bn sell-offs of its Korean and Dunnhumby businesses

A South Korean woman walks in front of the Homeplus retail store, a joint venture between Tesco and South Korea's top conglomerate Samsung, in Seoul on May 14, 2008.  The South Korean unit of British giant Tesco said it has agreed to buy debt-stricken discount retail chain Homever for 1.86 billion dollars. AFP PHOTO/JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)

The supermarket giant is waiting for the first bids for its South Korean business on August 17, which could net it more than £4billion.

Stop putting the brakes on a major British success story, car industry boss tells Osborne as he warns of road tax impact

Mike Hawes  Chief executive of SMMT for FMoS

Mike Hawes fears radical changes to road taxes could threaten both the future of greener, less polluting cars and the premium and luxury market.

Tour operator Mark Warner fights to keep profit afloat as it takes a hit from uncertainty in Greece

Mark Warner holidays ..pr pics

Mark Warner also runs ski holidays and said the decline in sales was due to 'more difficult trading conditions in both the winter ski and summer markets compared to recent years'.

'I save by bouncing debt between two interest-free cards': Cut your bills by switching to the right credit card

Cut your bills by switching to the right credit card

In the third part of our Get A Better Deal campaign, Laura Shannon looks at how borrowers can save thousands of pounds by choosing a different piece of plastic...

Roam free... of rocketing phone charges: The best deals when using your mobile phone abroad

Charlotte Adlard of North London who ran up a large telephone bill whilst abroad...----------------------------------------..©George Jaworskyj 2015..www.urbanimages.co.uk

Charlotte Adlard is happier using Three's Feel At Home service

SALLY HAMILTON: A high fix rate the AA doesn't boast about

Sally Hamilton, MoS personal finance writer
Picture: Keith Waldegrave

We received our annual renewal for membership of AA breakdown service. The covering letter thanked my husband and me for being members for 28 years. So what do we get for this loyalty?

Looking for a smooth getaway? Check the passport is valid NOW and ask for the 'code' you'll need to hire a car

Some countries, such as Brazil and India, also insist that visitors have at least six months left on their passport when travelling - even if they will return home before it expires.

£1.8BN... the not-so-petty cost of mishandling the office kitty

Person holding English one pound coins. The number of fake £1 coins in circulation appears to have doubled in the last five years, it was reported today.

PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo.  Issue date: Monday September 22, 2008. The results of a sampling test by the Royal Mint, obtained by the BBC, show that up to 2% of all the pound coins in circulation may be fake - approximately 30 million coins.  See PA story CRIME Pounds.  Photo credit should read: PA Wire

File photo dated 20/04/2003

The misplaced cash, amounting to an average of £355 for each of Britain's small companies, would be enough to employ an extra 72,000 people, according to the survey.

How to pass the next big test for new graduates: Dealing with debt and student loans

How to pass the next big test for new graduates: Dealing with debt and student loans

Student Daisy Carling-Rose worked ten hours a week last year.

Diesel prices heading towards £1-a-litre mark as major supermarkets announce further cuts at pumps tomorrow

Three major supermarkets will cut the cost of fuel tomorrow which means diesel is fast approaching the £1-a-litre mark. Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco announced the move today.

Pensions are precious - don't get conned out of your savings by a smooth-talking trickster, warns PENSIONS MINISTER ROS ALTMANN

'I always get angry and upset whenever I hear how innocent people lose their pension to crooks as part of some elaborate scam,' says Ros Altmann.

Finally, a boss puts his foot down and bans flip-flops from the office: New Barclays chief tells Canary Wharf staff to smarten up

Interim Barclays boss John McFarlene has told office staff to smarten up by banning flip-flops, t-shirts, jeans or trainers, a leaked memo has revealed.

Fit for retirement: The communities for the elderly where gyms, spas and pools come as standard

Couple Lifting Weights --- Image by © Betsie van der Meer/Corbis
couples, men, physical fitness, weightlifting, women

A growing group of super sporty, over-70s has spawned a demand for more dynamic fitness facilities in retirement developments - and housebuilders are responding.

Small companies will be able to raise funds by borrowing against unpaid invoices as Minister ends bans on invoice finance

Minister ends bans on invoice finance

The move marks the latest effort from Whitehall to crack Britain's late payments culture, in which big firms delay paying bills, so starving small suppliers of cash. It will enable companies to use invoice financing to get their hands on cash from unpaid bills they have issued. Businesses apply for lending using invoices for money owed to them as security.

Garage comparison site WhoCanFixMyCar sold to backer of the Leon restaurant chain

Alex Rose (company marketing director) talking a customer through their work..Whocanfixmycar.com..Press image

Active Private Equity is putting a sum believed to be in the low millions into the online marketplace, founded in 2011 by former bankers Alistair Preston and Ian Griffiths.

Bakeware firms set for a boost as The Great British Bake Off is back on TV

Pictures by Howard Walker. 07970-809718...FAO  Fran. Money Picture Desk...7th August 2015...Picture shows Becky Broome 28 from Widnes who has created a British Lifestyle brand of amongst others things kitchen baking designed items which have benefited from the interest created by The Great British Bake Off...See words by Vicki Owen

Notonthehighstreet saw a 141 per cent sales increase in bakeware last year, with nearly 100 products being added to the site.

What happens to the dividends of shares in a tracker fund - do they end up in the hands of investors?

What happens to the dividends of shares in a tracker fund?

What happens to the dividends of the shares in a tracker fund? I rely on my shares giving me dividends for further growth. I am not clear how trackers work in this respect. Adam Laird, an investing expert at Hargreaves Lansdown, explains how tracker fund investors benefit from the income they produce.

PREMIER MULTI-ASSET DISTRIBUTION: Fund hits the spot as retirees turn backs on annuities

Those who invested in October 1995 have seen their capital grow by around 35 per cent and £10,000 invested would have produced £9,625 in income.

Ruthless investment sharks are pursuing older savers with offers of 'free' pension reviews and bogus products

Savers are being targeted repeatedly by fraudsters with a stream of cold calls, emails, texts and post, warns Citizens Advice.

MIDAS SHARE TIPS UPDATE: Now City crime pays for training provider Learning Technologies

Eukleia pic bottom of page 90.jpg

Midas recommended the group last November when the stock was 20¼p. Last week, it closed at 22¾p, a step in the right direction.

The Investing Show: Five important questions | Why Asia is the world's best opportunity

Hanoi street, Vietnam.


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Tim Price reveals why he thinks Asia beats the UK, US and Europe and stands out from the emerging markets, in the latest episode of the Investing Show.

INVESTMENT EXTRA: Oil supply massively outstripping demand cripples returns and experts predict price could fall even further

INVESTMENT EXTRA: Oil supply massively outstripping demand cripples returns and experts

Usually, if supply outstrips demand the Organisation of the Petroleum Export Countries will cut production levels to help shore up the price. But this time some countries have refused to reduce output. Some people have speculated that this move may be borne out of fear that quelling oil production would encourage users to move to shale gas instead.

SUNDERLAND ON SATURDAY: As America orders firms to reveal chasm in wages between bosses and workers, is it time to mind the executive pay gap?

image001.jpg

Regulators in the US - a nation often cited as being much more comfortable with the rich than we are - have said firms must disclose their pay gap.

US set for first rate rise since financial crisis as unemployment figures remain at seven-year low

NEW YORK CITY, NY - AUGUST 06: Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on August 06, 2015 in New York City. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 120 points today as Wall Street braces for Friday's employment report which will give a more solid indication of the timing of a rate hike by the Federal Reserve.  (Photo by Spencer platt/Getty Images)

Economists said figures showing the American economy added 215,000 jobs last month have given officials at the US Federal Reserve 'the ammunition to pull the trigger on an interest rate rise'.

Royal Mint issues second £100 silver coin after last one sold out in 11 days - but are they a good investment?

Royal Mint issues second £100 silver coin – but are they a good investment?

Royal Mint has released its second limited edition two ounce fine silver £100 coin after the roaring success of one it launched last year which sold out in just 11 days. The new coin launched this week, features Buckingham Palace - another infamous London landmark - and is made of 999 silver, the purest form, with 50,000 available to buy.

We haggled £25k off the price of our new home after agreeing the mortgage: now the lender wants to raise our loan rate - and charge us £200 for the privilege!

We got £25k off the price of a house - why has our mortgage gone up? 

After the lender's survey, our mortgage application was accepted based on an asking price of £385k. But our survey revealed problems so we got £25k knocked off the price. Our lender now tells us we will have a higher rate of interest and as a result higher monthly payments. In addition, we're being charged £199 to make the change!

The best places to live in the UK: Harrogate residents are the happiest with their lot for third year in a row - but East Londoners are the most miserable

Harrogate is crowned happiest place to live in the UK for third year in a row

The report by website Rightmove, which asked people how they feel about where they live, put provincial towns in each of the top five slots, with Shrewsbury coming in second place, Ipswich in Suffolk third best, and York and Chester taking the fourth and fifth spots. Over 24,000 people were asked different questions regarding their homes and the area where they live.

Got some dates booked off work? Then bag a European break for £17 return with this online cheap flight finder, says LEE BOYCE - as long as you don't mind WHERE you go...

How to bag a European break for £17 return with Skyscanner

I love a city break, but for ages I've been bemoaning the fact I am willing to go anywhere, and want a search tool to show me where the cheapest flights can be obtained. However, I have discovered a new tool on Skyscanner which allows you to type in 'everywhere' - and it pulls up a list of places you can fly, in order of destination.

The trick to DOUBLING your pension tax relief: Temporary loophole could save high earners £18,000

People can massively boost payments into a pension during the current tax year - assuming they can afford to do so, and meet certain conditions.

Household savings rise 300% since 1975 thanks to pensions - but we're putting less and less into bank accounts

UK households today have around four times the level of savings that the typical family had in real terms 40 years ago, new findings suggest.

Get ready for Japan's comeback: Fund manager and 'lost decade' veteran Sarah Whitley's tips on growth investing in the Abenomics era

Get ready for Japan's comeback: Sarah Whitley gives growth investing tips

Sarah Whitley joined Baillie Gifford's Japanese investment team in 1982 - she was there for the bubble, the crash, the lost decades, and now what promises to be recovery. Investor interest in Japan is reigniting as the big turnaround project dubbed 'Abenomics' - after ambitious leader Shinzo Abe - starts showing signs of success. Whitley met with This is Money to discuss how she goes about her job, her investing strategy and tips, and what she thinks the future holds for Japan.

Family insurance bill 'to rise by £100': Firms say they'll pass on costs of a £8billion tax raid to households

Family insurance bill 'to rise by £100' as firms say they'll pass on costs of £8bn tax

Insurers have warned that an increase in a premium tax charged on all car, pet and buildings and contents policies could add almost £100 to a family's (file photo) annual insurance bill and described it as a 'stealth tax on people who do the right thing'. The increase, which is expected to raise £1.5billion a year for the Treasury, was announced with little fanfare by the Chancellor in the summer Budget. The Treasury has denied it amounts to a stealth tax on families.

Could I lose out on our dream property if the estate agent snubs me because I refused their financial services?

Can an estate agent snub me if I turn down their financial advice?

In the past month, I have been house hunting. Each estate agent branch I have entered has asked if I need financial advice. I feel that the implication was made that by turning this down, I am less likely to be a successful bidder. Should I take it to enhance my buying position?

With the new term just a month away banks battle to offer best student current accounts with range of perks and overdrafts - how do they compare?

With the new term just a month away banks battle to offer best student current accounts

With the new 2015-2016 term looming, many major banks have released their new student current accounts, or altering their old ones, in a bid to lure a new generation of customers. This is Money takes a look at the best for overdrafts, perks and budgeting for the new academic year.

SMALL CAP MOVERS: Scandal-riven Quindell hits the skids as the Serious Fraud Office opens investigation into firm

Quindell's stock market valuation is now around £400min, having tumbled from heady heights after a series of scandals damaged its reputation, which new management is seeking to repair.

When will interest rates rise? Bank of England hints at an earlier and swifter increase from early 2016

When will UK interest rates rise?

Rate watchers were delivered a triple whammy of news to digest on Super Thursday. The outlook has shifted forwards slightly to about February 2016, despite the Bank of England pushing back expectations of when inflation will return to target in its latest Inflation Report.

Bank of England wary on raising rates as just one policymaker votes for a hike - despite upgrading UK growth forecast to 2.8%

Mark Carney the Governor of the Bank of England speaks during a press conference for the quarterly inflation report at the Bank of England in the City of London. 
The Bank of England has downgraded its forecast for annual UK economic growth for 2015 and the following two years. Policy makers now expect GDP to expand by 2.5% this year, down from 2.9%. It has also cut its forecast for growth next year from 2.9% to 2.6% and for 2017 from 2.7% to 2.4%. 

PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 13, 2015.
See PA story ECONOMY Bank. Photo credit should read: Matt Dunham/PA Wire

Bank of England officials are at odds over when to raise interest rates after one senior economist called for an immediate hike today as the UK economy gains strength.

SIMON LAMBERT: If Super Thursday tells us interest rates need to rise we should welcome the news

TUC Congress at BT Convention Centre Liverpool, Merseyside. -  Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney gives his address to congress.

Pic Bruce Adams / Copy Eccles - 9/9/14

A move up from the past six year's emergency interest rates is a crucial part of returning the economy to health. Super Thursday may deliver a hint that is finally on the cards.

The question of a generation: How will our children and grandchildren ever afford to own their own home?

How will our children and grandchildren ever afford to own a home?

There are 20 properties in the window of Connells estate agents in Watford - just one is available for a first-time buyer for less than £250,000. The town is no different to the 34 others in England identified by Shelter as having no affordable two-bed homes for families. Victoria Bischoff goes on the first-time buyer trail.

The figures in the property market don't add up: Heed the warning signs of a house price crash, says JAMES CONEY

A lot of the figures in the property market don't add up to me. House prices continue to bob along nicely - yesterday, Nationwide reported they were up 3.5 per cent over 12 months.

House prices to keep rising as lack of homes for sale hits, says Halifax, but property values dip in July

Halifax.jpg

The average home still costs almost £13,000 more than a year ago, at £198,833, with prices up 7.9 per cent annually, according to Halifax.

How can my HSBC pension pot plunge by £1k in just one month - right when I want to cash it in? TONY HAZELL investigates...

ASK TONY: Why did my HSBC pension fall £1,000 in just one month? 

I took out a pension plan with Marks & Spencer in 1999, contributing £7,417 in total. It was transferred to HSBC in around 2011/2012. In 2013 it was £12,815; in 2014, £13,227; and in April this year, £15,164. When I rang HSBC to inquire about cashing in the pension, they said the total value at May 21, 2015, was £14,730. I rang them up again thinking they had got their numbers wrong and they told me it was now worth £14,571. The value seems to be going down day by day.

Would you pay £715k for a studio flat in a London tower block? The Versace-designed flats that cost more than an eight-bed mansion in Devon...

A new development popping up in Vauxhall, London, will have studio flats starting from a whopping £715k. This is Money looks at what else you could snap up for that price tag.

Properties in Westminster cost 24 TIMES the average salary while homes in Blaenau Gwent are best value as UK's affordability gap grows

Buying a typical property in Westminster cost 24 times the average annual salary in the area last year, making it the least affordable spot in England and Wales to buy a home.

Greece heading for bigger economic contraction 'than any country suffered during the Great Depression'

Greece heading for bigger economic contraction 'than any country suffered during the Great

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research said the country's output will fall another 3 per cent in 2015 and 2.3 per cent in 2016. By 2017 the Greek economy will be more than 30 per cent smaller than it was at its peak in 2007, and 7 per cent smaller than when it joined the euro in 2001.

America's TV switch off: Big broadcasters under threat from a revolutionary change in viewing habits, says ALEX BRUMMER

TELEVISION PROGRAMME...' The Royle Family '
The new baby for the new series   -  This is the first sighting of the newest addition to Britain's favourite family of couch potatoes, the Royles  The boy, with Caroline Aherne, who plays his mother Denise, makes his first appearance when the award-winning Royale Family starts a new run on BBC1 on October 16  -  Twin brothers James and Matthew Hughes, from West London, will share the duties of playing the new arrival, David Keanu Ronan Royle.

As access to better and faster mobile signals becomes more common The Royle Family image of several generations gathered around a TV set to gawk at the same programmes will fade.

UK Mail shares hurt by parcel pickle: Blundering bosses invested £20m in a new plant which can't handle large items

Man at back doors unloading UK Mail express parcels and mail delivery van part of the Business Post group. Image shot 2008. Exact date unknown.
B0YWKG

Shares in the courier firm fell 13.21 per cent, or 70p, to 460p after it said annual profits would be £10million-£12million, short of the £20.4million expected.

CITY FOCUS: Meet the 'hawks, doves and owls' - the seven men and two women who set our interest rate

TELEVISION PROGRAMME: BANKERS
Exterior of Bank of England, Threadneedle Street  - (C) BBC - Photographer: Alex Barrett

One member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) that sets rates voted for an immediate increase in borrowing costs yesterday following months of umming and ahing.

UK has £20bn Coke deal in the can: Three European bottlers merge in bid to slash costs

DGXD60 Laughing little girl drinking from a Coca Cola can through a straw, Cambodia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Coca-Cola Enterprises has agreed to combine with German subsidiary CCEAG and Coca-Cola Iberian Partners to create the world's biggest Coke bottler to cut costs.

String of potential blockbuster sets the scene for Cineworld update 

Film, 'Cinderella', (2015)..Lily James as Cinderella.

Releases such as Disney's Cinderella, featuring Lily James (pictured) and Jurassic World were behind a 10.5 per cent rise in first half UK box office takings.

Wages are set to rise even faster than we thought, says Bank: Low prices and rising salaries set to make Britain's families feel richer

epa04874332 Bank of England Governor Mark Carney speaks to the press during a press conference at the Bank of England in London, Britain, 06 August 2015. Carney delivered the banks Inflation report on 06 August.  EPA/ANDY RAIN

The Bank of England expects weekly wages to increase by three per cent this year, with governor Mark Carney saying the economy is growing and unemployment has fallen substantially.

'A £50 policy helped me pay off my mortgage when I got cancer': The real value of critical illness insurance cover revealed

'A £50 policy helped me pay off my mortgage when I got cancer': The real value of critical

When 30-year-old Ricky Lovelace was diagnosed with testicular cancer last summer, his first thought was of his young family. He and his wife Sarah, 28, had just bought a four-bedroom house. As the main breadwinner, Ricky feared the mortgage would go unpaid.

As investors flood into Absolute Return funds - are these 'low risk' funds everyone's suddenly buying as safe as they seem?

Are ‘low risk’ Absolute Return funds as safe as they seem?

Cautious investors are being put into Absolute Return funds to beat interest on a cash savings account without taking risks with your money. The funds are designed to produce constant returns - whether the stock market rises or falls. Investors are rushing in, but is that wise?

Five of the best small cars: They're cheap to buy and run, but how do the big name superminis stack up?

Five of the best small cars: How do the big name superminis stack up?

They may not be the most lusted after cars on the road, but Britain's love affair with the humble supermini shows little sign of cooling. If you're in the market for a supermini, how do the big-selling little cars stack up? Russell Bray runs the rule over five of the UK's favourites.

British manufacturers continue to be squeezed as exports fall further in June, while imports rise on oil boost

The UK's exports in goods fell £300million on the month in June to £24.9billion, while imports increased by £500million to £34.1billion, according to Office for National Statistics data.

Sky facing Ofcom probe over complaints from customers who claim they are unable to cancel its TV, phone and broadband services

sky office hq brentford.jpg

Ofcom said it had launched an investigation into Sky following complaints from customers who claim they are unable to cancel its TV, phone and broadband services.

I invested in property in India for a decade, but now want to sell and bring my money back to the UK. Must I pay tax to HMRC?

I invested in property in India for a decade. Must I pay tax to HMRC?

My wife and I have invested in property in India for a decade - the money was sent through a UK bank. Now I want to repatriate by selling the property in India and reinvest in the UK. How can I bring my money back? Will I have to pay capital gains tax as the money is being reinvested in the UK again.

Would you buy a £40,000 Skoda? Car maker pushes for million in sales and goes after luxury market with launch of new Superb

Skoda is getting serious after all the jokes as it speeds to a million sales 

The Superb is aimed at taking market share from Ford's Mondeo and Vauxhall's Insignia and the entry level price is £18,640. But the top-of-the-range Laurin & Klement, named after founders Vaclav Laurin and Vaclav Klement, has a starting price of £35,825 and added features can take this north of £40,000.

ASK TONY: Virgin Media is charging me £220 to buy myself out of a contract when I move house - what can I do?

ASK TONY: Virgin Media is charging me £220 to buy myself out of a contract when I move

I have a TV and broadband package with Virgin Media and am halfway through my contract. I am due to move house next month and Virgin doesn't offer services at the new address. They say I have to pay £220 to buy myself out of my contract, but this doesn't seem fair when I haven't made the decision to cancel it. Can you help?

Leeds BS launches 'flexible' five-year fixed savings account that you can break into early - but is it worth taking?

Leeds Building Society launches 'flexible' five-year fix savings deal

Leeds Building Society has today launched a new five-year fixed-rate savings account which comes with partial access. The deal, which comes with a 2.6% rate, is available in its branches, post or online, and allows savers to access 25% of their investment without penalty during the term.

Switch accounts to protect your fixed-rate savings before lower £75k protection kicks in from October

From January, the amount protected in a UK savings account will fall from £85,000 to £75,000. The cut will expose savers who have put more than £75,000 into fixed-rate bonds.

'I couldn't find good kids clothes, so I started my own business selling them': How mumpreneurs are boosting the UK economy

Babymoo2.jpg

Single-mum of two, Anna-Lee Keeley is just one of thousands of 'mumpreneurs' running small businesses on eBay, adding billions to the UK economy.

'We were quoted £2,323 for superfast broadband': Suffolk family is asked to pay eye-watering sum just to upgrade their internet connection 

Zen quoted Suffolk family £2,323 for superfast broadband

The Watson family, from Lavenham in Suffolk, face the massive fee just to improve the speed and reliability of their internet connection. Zen, the business internet provider that gave the quote, said it was passing on the cost of connection quoted by Openreach - the BT service that connects customers' broadband and telephone lines.

How to double or quadruple the value of Tesco Clubcard points: The online voucher trick and 'boost' event that could save you money on shopping and days out

How to double or quadruple the value of Tesco Clubcard points

The supermarket claims that the promotion is its 'biggest ever' Clubcard event but shoppers can already get four times the value for vouchers to spend at restaurants, days out and travel through the retailers website.

Brussels law threatens cheap home loans for millions of households, experts warn 

Experts warn that the EU rules could lock millions of households in Standard Variable Rate mortgages, which can cost hundreds of pounds extra a year.

Easy-access savings deals start to edge up as banks and building societies offer new accounts 

The second issue of Skipton Limited Edition eSaver pays 1.12 per cent after tax (1.4 per cent before). Savers in the first issue, which pays a lower 1 per cent, can switch to the better deal.

Cost of cancer: What it's like to find out you're seriously ill - and how to deal with the financial fallout while undergoing treatment...

The cost of cancer part 1: how do you deal with the financial fallout while on

Sorting out your personal finances can be difficult at the best of times. But what's it like when you're seriously ill? In the hope that this essay will help other people who face this problem, journalist Richard Browning explains the journey that a healthy holidaymaker must take when the worst kind of news breaks.

How much money do I need to save for my pension? A quick guide to retirement saving...

How much money do I need to save for my pension?

The amount you can save into a pension ultimately depends on what you can afford - but the longer you leave it the more you will need to save. We tend to put ambitious targets on our hoped-for income in retirement and then underestimate how much we will need to set aside to achieve that. So how much should you save?

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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.

SIMON LAMBERT: Eight simple but important lessons about money

Dr. Albert Einstein writes an equation for the density of the Milky Way on the blackboard at the Carnegie Institute, Mt. Wilson Observatory headquarters in Pasadena, Calif., in this Jan. 14, 1931 file photo. Einstein achieved world reknown in 1905, at age 26, when he expounded a theory of general relativity which proposed the existence of atomic energy. Though his concepts ushered in the atomic age, he was a pacifist who warned against the arms race. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921.  (AP Photo)

Learning more about money is a good way to keep hold of it and make more of it. Here are some simple but important things I'd teach people.

How to complain to the chief executive: We reveal the names and contact details of Britain's top company bosses

Businesswoman Using Cell Phone, while looking at her laptop computer screen, she is angry.  For feature on broadband technical support.   --- Image by   Morgan David de Lossy/Corbis
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20-25 years
20s adult
25-30 years
Access
Adults
Business and commerce
Businesspeople
Communications
Computer
Computer hardware
Connection
Connectivity
Desk
Females
Frustration
Head and shoulders
Indoors
Laptop
Mid-adult
Mid-adult woman
Mobile phone
Mobility
Multi-tasking
Office
People
Personal computer
Room
Telephone
Whites
Young adult woman
Young adults

Here is a list of the name and address for the chief executive of Britain's largest consumer facing companies: big banks, building societies, utilities companies, telecoms and mobile networks.

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

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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? Bank of England hints at an earlier and swifter increase from early 2016

When will UK interest rates rise?

Rate watchers were delivered a triple whammy of news to digest on Super Thursday. The outlook has shifted forwards slightly to about February 2016, despite the Bank of England pushing back expectations of when inflation will return to target in its latest Inflation Report.

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

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

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.

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

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.

What next for mortgage rates? Fixed rates tumble to as low as 1.05% 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.

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

August 2015
Prize value Winning bond No. Area
£1,000,000 9FH577549 Dorset
£1,000,000 196LW907254 Outer London
£100,000 247CG456672 London
£100,000 239FJ527896 Hertfordshire
£100,000 176NJ778140 Hampshire and Isle of Wight
£100,000 141WH537262 Stockport
£100,000 134TV460124 Leicestershire
£50,000 46AN736045 South West Wales
£50,000 26NX238485 Essex
£50,000 245ZC702896 Northern Ireland
£50,000 22BY778725 Buckinghamshire
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Bakeware firms set for a boost as The Great British Bake Off is back on TV

Pictures by Howard Walker. 07970-809718...FAO  Fran. Money Picture Desk...7th August 2015...Picture shows Becky Broome 28 from Widnes who has created a British Lifestyle brand of amongst others things kitchen baking designed items which have benefited from the interest created by The Great British Bake Off...See words by Vicki Owen

Notonthehighstreet saw a 141 per cent sales increase in bakeware last year, with nearly 100 products being added to the site.