Last Chance! Get £130 free in bank price war
Take advantage of banks trying to bribe you to switch | Two top bank deals end this week
Four big banks have been flinging out bribes in a scrap to win your current account custom. One's already gone and two more top current accounts drop their promos this week. So to take advantage you need to act quickly.
 Ends Sun: Free £125, top customer service, 0% overdraft, 8% linked savings. (Min salary £23,100) Sign up to First Direct's* 1st Account until Sun via this MoneySup link you'll get £125 cash after 4 mths (£100 after Sun). It's topped every service poll we've ever done, has a 0% overdraft up to £250 & linked 8% regular savings. - Ends Sun: Free £130, 0% overdraft, 5% interest, 5% linked savings. (Min salary £14,200) Santander* gives £100 cash after 14 wks and until Sun a £30 Amazon voucher (via this link). In year one, it's got a 0% overdraft and 5% in-credit interest on up to £2,500 and a 5% linked Regular Saver. Yet it's bottom in every service poll.
- The other hot deals. Until a week Sun, the Halifax Reward ( £14,200 salary) gives £100 bonus plus £5 each month. Never go overdrawn though or it's £1 a day. New and existing Nationwide* FlexAccount customers ( £9,800 salary) get free European travel insurance (up to age 75).
All accounts require a credit check and a full switch. You must pay in a min monthly deposit (converted into equiv salary above). FULL info & breakdown in the Updated Guide: Best Bank Accounts Related: Basic Bank Accounts, Credit Rating
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Say NO to credit card interest hikes
You've the RIGHT to reject increased APRs within 60 days — don't let costs increase unnecessarily
We've heard of a new batch of letters hitting doormats declaring the APR (interest) on credit cards is jumping — particularly nasty as Xmas bills squeeze pockets. Know your rights, and as our Reject Rate Rises guide says, you can tell them to stuff it. Please report APR hikes in our forum.
 Use your 'right to reject' if you won't borrow more. Anyone told their credit card APR will rise has a right to reject it within 60 days of getting the letter (unless they defaulted). To do this you must agree not to borrow more — but despite sometimes confusing wording, you are allowed to keep debt at the existing level, and just continue making the usual monthly repayments.
- Lost 0% deal through late payment?
If you've a 0% promotional deal and make a late payment, some credit card companies, eg MBNA, may instantly ditch the cheap deal, fine you £12, and jack you to the standard APR rate of 15% or more. Though it's your boo-boo, call it up, politely explain what happened and it may reinstate the deal.
- Shift the debt to 0% for 22mths. If the debt's expensive, or you've lost your 0% deal, provided you've a decent credit score then cut the cost. Barclaycard* lets you shift debts to 22 months 0% for a 2.9% fee (17.9% rep. APR after so ditch and switch before then). If you've got one of those, next is Halifax* 22mths 0% with 3.5% fee (17.9% rep.APR after) and NatWest* 20mths 0% with 2.9% fee (17.9% rep. APR after). FULL info in Best Balance Transfers (Official APR Examples).
More help in the Updated Guide: Reject Rate Rises. Related: Problem Debt Help, Boost your Credit Rating
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- Top Savings: Limited Access: West Brom* 3.13% AER incl 1.38% bonus (min £1,000), 4 withdrawals/yr. Unlimited Access: Santander* 3.1% AER incl 2.6% bonus, unlimited withdrawals (min £1)
- Car Insurance: Use both Gocompare* + Confused*, add Direct Line* & Aviva* that they miss then get cashback. Also see: Van, Motorbike
- Urgent. Perfect time to switch. Now's the moment to compare; full info in Cheap Gas & Elec. Top comparison site: Energyhelpline*
- Cashback Credit Cards: Get 5% for 3 mths, up to 1.25% after with Capital One*; 5% for 3 mths then 1.25% after with Amex Platinum* (£25 annual fee); or 3% on petrol, 1% on food with Santander 123* (£24 annual fee). Repay in full or it's 19.9%, 18.5% or 22.8% rep APR.See guide for key application info
- Cheapest Line Rental: Primus* £6.79/mth, BT* £120/yr (equiv to £10/mth)
- Home Insurance: Use as many as poss of CompareTM*, Gocompare*, MoneySup* & Confused* + Direct Line* & Aviva* that they miss
- Cheap Broadband: Plusnet* £6.49/mth (plus £25 connection), up to 10GB download
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Martin's Stuff |
Cheap Travel Cash |
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| Appearances This Week |
Lorraine, ITV1, Thu, between 8.30 & 9.30am. Real Deals.
Shelagh Fogarty, Radio 5, Thu, 12 to 1pm. Consumer Panel.
This Morning, ITV1, Mon, between 10.30am & 12.30pm. PPI and payday loans.
Daybreak, ITV1, Tue, between 7 & 8.30am. Subject tbc.
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| UK's Best Currency Rates |
| £100 will buy you: |
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Best |
Worst |
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€ |
119.80 |
104.86 |
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$ |
158.36 |
138.97 |
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TL |
271.50 |
235.56 |
| Rates correct at 9pm Tues |
Find all top currency rates
Compare travel cash |
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 Martin's Facebook Page |
All Martin's Appearances |
Cheap Travel Money Guide |
This week's poll: Is it ok to use a 2for1 voucher on a first date? |
Last week's poll result |
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Valentine's is coming, have vouchers finally broken through the last taboo? Is it acceptable to use a 2for1 voucher on a first date? We asked this 3yrs ago, let's see if it's changed ...
Imagine Bob asks Sarah to dinner on a first date, saying he'll pay. When the bill comes, he pulls out a 2for1 voucher – what advice would you give Sarah?
I'm a man
Bob's great with cash. Sarah, HE'S A KEEPER! |
Vote |
It's not an issue, Bob's still paying. |
Vote |
Bob's being tight. Sarah, RUN! |
Vote |
I'm a woman
Bob's great with cash. Sarah, HE'S A KEEPER! |
Vote |
It's not an issue, Bob's still paying. |
Vote |
Bob's being tight. Sarah, RUN! |
Vote |
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What'll happen to house prices in 2012?
Totting up all votes, the average prediction is a small 1.3% fall over the year, with nearly half (43%) guessing no change, and a quarter bracing for a 2-5% fall.
Wildly out of sync are the less than 1% foreseeing a 20%+ boom. See the full results.
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Question of the week |
Board of the week |
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Q: With the tax year end approaching, am I likely to find a better cash ISA deal towards the end of this tax year or after the start of the next one? John G, by email
MSE Dan's A: For savers, this is THE £5,340 question (or £5,640 from 6 April). In my experience, Cash ISA mayhem takes over MoneySaving Towers from the start of March and lasts to the end of April each year, so picking the right moment can be tricky.
Knowing when the best rate launches is far from an exact science. However, there are key players that usually launch close to the best buy every year — Barclays and Santander spring to mind. So watch for them — we'll monitor in the weekly email.
It's important to realise that if you don't use 2011/12's cash ISA allowance by 5 April, it's gone for good, and as the tax-free interest wrapper will last for as long as the Government supports ISAs, if you've got the dosh now you should get it in ANY account before the deadline. You can always transfer to a better-paying account at a later date.
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You'll be snow amazed by these frozen waves
That's all for this week, yet before we go, check out these stunning photos of enormous 'frozen waves' in the Antarctic. Freezy does it!
We hope you save some money,
Martin & the MSE team
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