http://blogs.independent.co.uk| Blogs from the Independent newspaper - news, views and features from the world's most free-thinking newspaper| Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:21:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2| en hourly 1 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/24/helping-youngsters-to-gain-financial-skills-will-help-us-all/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/24/helping-youngsters-to-gain-financial-skills-will-help-us-all/#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 07:19:58 +0000 Simon Read http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=34410 Debt-ridden young adults face years of money woes. But a new movement hopes to help them.]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/24/helping-youngsters-to-gain-financial-skills-will-help-us-all/feed/ 7 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/16/how-much-does-a-phone-call-cost-heres-how-we-could-know-when-dialling/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/16/how-much-does-a-phone-call-cost-heres-how-we-could-know-when-dialling/#comments Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:34:32 +0000 Simon Read http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=34194 It's almost impossible to work out how much it costs to ring your bank or energy supplier. But that could change if Ofcom adopt our proposal]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/16/how-much-does-a-phone-call-cost-heres-how-we-could-know-when-dialling/feed/ 14 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/11/new-current-account-battle-set-to-erupt-if-post-office-gets-it-right/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/11/new-current-account-battle-set-to-erupt-if-post-office-gets-it-right/#comments Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:00:12 +0000 Simon Read http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=34048 The Post Office is launching a current account in the Spring. It could be a massive challenge to the banks.]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/11/new-current-account-battle-set-to-erupt-if-post-office-gets-it-right/feed/ 18 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/09/why-are-five-million-households-now-in-debt-to-their-energy-supplier/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/09/why-are-five-million-households-now-in-debt-to-their-energy-supplier/#comments Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:22:49 +0000 Simon Read http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=33963 Debt woes are rising as heating bills soar. The energy firms must do more to help.]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/09/why-are-five-million-households-now-in-debt-to-their-energy-supplier/feed/ 6 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/08/payday-lenders-are-they-targeting-gamblers/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/08/payday-lenders-are-they-targeting-gamblers/#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:04:31 +0000 Simon Read http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=33938 Ed Miliband's crackdown on payday lenders is long overdue. They're already preying on vulnerable people.]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/08/payday-lenders-are-they-targeting-gamblers/feed/ 2 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/06/unscrupulous-traders-can-no-longer-charge-rip-off-plastic-card-fees/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/06/unscrupulous-traders-can-no-longer-charge-rip-off-plastic-card-fees/#comments Sat, 06 Apr 2013 07:00:33 +0000 Simon Read http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=33908 New rules mean retailers can no longer rip-off consumers by adding extra charges when you use plastic]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/06/unscrupulous-traders-can-no-longer-charge-rip-off-plastic-card-fees/feed/ 10 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/04/liars-the-energy-firms-must-be-stopped-from-ripping-us-off/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/04/liars-the-energy-firms-must-be-stopped-from-ripping-us-off/#comments Thu, 04 Apr 2013 11:22:58 +0000 Simon Read http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=33838 Energy firms face massive fines for flogging dodgy deals to unsuspecting customers. But they should be forced to compensate people, too.]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/04/04/liars-the-energy-firms-must-be-stopped-from-ripping-us-off/feed/ 12 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/20/the-budget-red-boxes-and-booze/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/20/the-budget-red-boxes-and-booze/#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 08:00:49 +0000 Simon Read http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=33488 It's the traditions that make the Budget interesting. But today's won't be as traditional as you'd hope.]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/20/the-budget-red-boxes-and-booze/feed/ 0 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/19/small-print-which-are-the-most-annoying-hidden-charges/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/19/small-print-which-are-the-most-annoying-hidden-charges/#comments Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:11:27 +0000 Simon Read http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=33459 Small print and hidden extras annoy us all. But what are the worst? And what can be done about it?]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/19/small-print-which-are-the-most-annoying-hidden-charges/feed/ 21 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/14/consumers-message-to-osborne-help-us-cope-with-household-bills-that-have-climbed-25/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/14/consumers-message-to-osborne-help-us-cope-with-household-bills-that-have-climbed-25/#comments Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:54:53 +0000 Simon Read http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=33308 The Chancellor has a chance to help the millions hit by soaring home energy and car costs in next week's Budget. Where have the increases hit hardest?]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/14/consumers-message-to-osborne-help-us-cope-with-household-bills-that-have-climbed-25/feed/ 5 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/13/local-communities-can-help-crack-payday-lenders-hold-on-the-vulnerable/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/13/local-communities-can-help-crack-payday-lenders-hold-on-the-vulnerable/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:26:26 +0000 Simon Read http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=33254 While MPs fail to control payday lenders, local groups are coming together to protect vulnerable people]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/13/local-communities-can-help-crack-payday-lenders-hold-on-the-vulnerable/feed/ 3 http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/12/classic-cars-a-way-to-beat-the-taxman/ http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/12/classic-cars-a-way-to-beat-the-taxman/#comments Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:47:04 +0000 Simon Read http://blogs.independent.co.uk/?p=33203 Vintage cars may cost a packet, but could save a fortune in tax]]> http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2013/03/12/classic-cars-a-way-to-beat-the-taxman/feed/ 3