FOS sees rise in PPI complaints
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) said it dealt with a total of 925,095 queries from consumers in the last financial year – a 46% increase on the previous financial year.However, it said it resolved a record number of disputes (166,321) and in 50% of these cases, consumers were awarded compensation.It did highlight, though, that [...]
Publ.Date : Wed, 19 May 2010 08:41:26 +0000

PPI rarely provides adequate cover
“Onerous clauses” on payment protection insurance (PPI) mean that borrowers unable to pay back their loans rarely receive an insurance payout, a finance expert has claimed.David Kuo, director of Motley Fool, said consumers are being duped into believing PPI will cover them if they have legitimate reasons for failing to make loan repayments.“Borrowers think, ‘Oh, [...]
Publ.Date : Fri, 21 May 2010 07:59:52 +0000

Student Loans Company provided “unacceptable” service, say NAO
The National Audit Office (NAO) has warned the student loans and grants system is at “substantial” risk of being hit by delays again in 2010.Last year, almost a quarter of a million students were left without cash prior to the start of term, as a new system resulted in delays.The student loans system plunged into [...]
Publ.Date : Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:15:47 +0000

Students to face higher interest rates on loans
The Russell Group, which represents 20 elite, research-intensive universities, has suggested that graduates may have to start paying back their student loans earlier and at a higher rate of interest, in order to prevent a major funding crisis.Following an official review of student finance and fees, the group warned that the financial sustainability of the [...]
Publ.Date : Fri, 14 May 2010 09:23:32 +0000

Microfinance: robbing the poor to feed the rich?
India-based SKS Microfinance has announced an initial public offering (IPO) which is expected to raise $250-$350 million in shareholder investments.The IPO is the first by an Indian microfinance company, and has sparked a debate around the ethics of profiting from the poor.Some argue that the IPO is necessary after microfinance firms (MFIs) reach a certain [...]
Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:00:50 +0000

PPI rarely provides adequate cover
“Onerous clauses” on payment protection insurance (PPI) mean that borrowers unable to pay back their loans rarely receive an insurance payout, a finance expert has claimed.David Kuo, director of Motley Fool, said consumers are being duped into believing PPI will cover them if they have legitimate reasons for failing to make loan repayments.“Borrowers think, ‘Oh, [...]
Publ.Date : Fri, 21 May 2010 07:59:52 +0000

Microfinance defies economic slowdown
Microfinance is one of the few sectors to have escaped the impact of the financial slowdown, according to a new report published this week.Unitus-Hewitt Microfinance Compensation & Benefits Survey found employee compensation in India-based microfinance institutions (MFIs) has held steady through the recession.Looking at employee compensation is a considered a reliable measure of how much [...]
Publ.Date : Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:44:56 +0000

FOS sees rise in PPI complaints
The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) said it dealt with a total of 925,095 queries from consumers in the last financial year – a 46% increase on the previous financial year.However, it said it resolved a record number of disputes (166,321) and in 50% of these cases, consumers were awarded compensation.It did highlight, though, that [...]
Publ.Date : Wed, 19 May 2010 08:41:26 +0000

Students to face higher interest rates on loans
The Russell Group, which represents 20 elite, research-intensive universities, has suggested that graduates may have to start paying back their student loans earlier and at a higher rate of interest, in order to prevent a major funding crisis.Following an official review of student finance and fees, the group warned that the financial sustainability of the [...]
Publ.Date : Fri, 14 May 2010 09:23:32 +0000

Microfinance loan rates to be published online
The interest rates charged on microfinance loans given to the rural and urban poor in India will soon be available online.The decision by the newly-formed Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), a self-regulatory body, comes after criticism of the excessive rates charged by some microfinance providers.Microfinance institutions (MFIs) in India charge interest rates upward of 24%, significantly [...]
Publ.Date : Fri, 23 Apr 2010 07:48:08 +0000

Zopa offers an alternative for high-risk borrowers
Savers wanting to earn a good rate of interest while avoiding high street banks now have an alternative option.Zopa matches up people who have spare cash to lend with those who want to borrow money.John Hudson, professor of economics at Bath University, hailed Zopa as “a new way of borrowing and lending money”.Zopa “shows what [...]
Publ.Date : Tue, 04 May 2010 06:24:13 +0000

Students to face higher interest rates on loans
The Russell Group, which represents 20 elite, research-intensive universities, has suggested that graduates may have to start paying back their student loans earlier and at a higher rate of interest, in order to prevent a major funding crisis.Following an official review of student finance and fees, the group warned that the financial sustainability of the [...]
Publ.Date : Fri, 14 May 2010 09:23:32 +0000

Budget 2010: Bailed out banks to lend more to businesses
In yesterday’s Budget, Chancellor Alistair Darling unveiled plans for rescued banks, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group, to lend more to businesses.In a legally binding agreement, RBS and Lloyds, which are 84% and 41% owned by the taxpayer respectively, were rescued at the height of the financial crisis but there have been [...]
Publ.Date : Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:01:30 +0000

Microfinance defies economic slowdown
Microfinance is one of the few sectors to have escaped the impact of the financial slowdown, according to a new report published this week.Unitus-Hewitt Microfinance Compensation & Benefits Survey found employee compensation in India-based microfinance institutions (MFIs) has held steady through the recession.Looking at employee compensation is a considered a reliable measure of how much [...]
Publ.Date : Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:44:56 +0000

Competition Commission step nearer to banning PPI
The Competition Commission is pressing ahead with its proposal to ban the sale of the controversial payment protection insurance (PPI).Under a PPI policy, an agreed sum of money is paid out each month to fully cover, or cover a percentage of the payment due on your mortgage or loan if you are unable to work, [...]
Publ.Date : Sun, 16 May 2010 17:15:27 +0000

Microfinance: robbing the poor to feed the rich?
India-based SKS Microfinance has announced an initial public offering (IPO) which is expected to raise $250-$350 million in shareholder investments.The IPO is the first by an Indian microfinance company, and has sparked a debate around the ethics of profiting from the poor.Some argue that the IPO is necessary after microfinance firms (MFIs) reach a certain [...]
Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:00:50 +0000

Microfinance defies economic slowdown
Microfinance is one of the few sectors to have escaped the impact of the financial slowdown, according to a new report published this week.Unitus-Hewitt Microfinance Compensation & Benefits Survey found employee compensation in India-based microfinance institutions (MFIs) has held steady through the recession.Looking at employee compensation is a considered a reliable measure of how much [...]
Publ.Date : Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:44:56 +0000

Budget 2010: Bailed out banks to lend more to businesses
In yesterday’s Budget, Chancellor Alistair Darling unveiled plans for rescued banks, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group, to lend more to businesses.In a legally binding agreement, RBS and Lloyds, which are 84% and 41% owned by the taxpayer respectively, were rescued at the height of the financial crisis but there have been [...]
Publ.Date : Thu, 25 Mar 2010 09:01:30 +0000

Students to face higher interest rates on loans
The Russell Group, which represents 20 elite, research-intensive universities, has suggested that graduates may have to start paying back their student loans earlier and at a higher rate of interest, in order to prevent a major funding crisis.Following an official review of student finance and fees, the group warned that the financial sustainability of the [...]
Publ.Date : Fri, 14 May 2010 09:23:32 +0000

Microfinance: robbing the poor to feed the rich?
India-based SKS Microfinance has announced an initial public offering (IPO) which is expected to raise $250-$350 million in shareholder investments.The IPO is the first by an Indian microfinance company, and has sparked a debate around the ethics of profiting from the poor.Some argue that the IPO is necessary after microfinance firms (MFIs) reach a certain [...]
Publ.Date : Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:00:50 +0000

Students to face higher interest rates on loans
The Russell Group, which represents 20 elite, research-intensive universities, has suggested that graduates may have to start paying back their student loans earlier and at a higher rate of interest, in order to prevent a major funding crisis.Following an official review of student finance and fees, the group warned that the financial sustainability of the [...]
Publ.Date : Fri, 14 May 2010 09:23:32 +0000

Competition Commission step nearer to banning PPI
The Competition Commission is pressing ahead with its proposal to ban the sale of the controversial payment protection insurance (PPI).Under a PPI policy, an agreed sum of money is paid out each month to fully cover, or cover a percentage of the payment due on your mortgage or loan if you are unable to work, [...]
Publ.Date : Sun, 16 May 2010 17:15:27 +0000