Household Bills
Christmas preparations are more important than personal finances and careers
It may only be one day of the year, but in the winter months preparing for Christmas takes priority over both personal finances and career.
UK shoppers buying ethical Christmas presents
Over 15 million UK shoppers will show how big hearted they are this festive season by buying ethical Christmas presents, according to a new survey by Friends Provident the founder of the UK’s first ever ethical retail fund, Stewardship.
BT Vision - passing you the control
BT has launched its next generation television service, BT Vision. This service puts the viewer in control by combining the appeal of TV with the interactivity of broadband. Customers will be able to watch what they want when they want and not be tied to TV schedules. The service does not require a regular monthly subscription.
118 goes free – but just for landline callers
Steve Weller, Head of Communications Services, at independent comparison and switching service uSwitch.com, comments on the launch of 0800 118 FREE.
Don’t waste money on overpriced presents this Christmas
Yorkshire Building Society (YBS) warns against buying lavish, impersonal gifts for your loved ones this Christmas as the majority would prefer to receive an inexpensive, thoughtful and personal gift.
Switch to green energy? We wood
Green is the new black, with more people now recycling and purchasing eco-friendly products. However, when it comes to switching to a green electricity provider people remain reluctant.
Babysitting costs squeeze parents’ finances
If you're thinking of having a night out away from the kids this weekend, prepare yourself for a big bill. Booming babysitter wages mean that hiring a sitter can now cost more than the night out itself.
3 launches X-Series
3 breaks the mould with flat-rate, unlimited mobile internet access plus free Skype calls from your mobile for all X-Series customers.
British Gas makes the right move for poor customers
energywatch and Citizens Advice warmly welcomed the decision by British Gas to stop backdating price rises for token prepayment meter users - a practice that has left customers with huge bills they weren’t expecting through no fault of their own.
Brits worried about cost of Christmas
The cost of presents, parties and entertaining is rubbing the sparkle off the festive season for millions of Britons who are worried about their cash flow at Christmas time.
‘MAC’ migraine in store for Orange customers
At a time when 2.8 million UK broadband customers confirm their dissatisfaction with their broadband supplier, Orange adds further misery by introducing the first switching charge.
Co-op Bank warns against complacency as ethical sales and boycotts outstrip beer and fags sales
Co-op Bank warns against complacency as ethical sales and boycotts outstrip beer and fags sales
Energy suppliers hit by customer service crisis
2006 has been a truly awful year for domestic households, who have suffered the ‘triple whammy’ of rising interest rates, council tax hikes and soaring energy bills. There have been an unprecedented 13 domestic energy price hikes in 2006, which have resulted in annual gas and electricity bills rising by an average of £277 or 38%. The average energy bill has risen from £735 since the start of the year to £1,013 today, and the number of energy customers struggling to pay their bills continues to escalate at an alarming rate, with an additional 1.25 million consumers estimated to have fallen victim to fuel poverty this year alone. At the same time customer service levels have hit rock bottom, while the energy companies themselves continue to enjoy healthy profits of £6 billion.
How to burn £1 Billion!
Over 11m UK households squander £1 billion in energy savings by not switching, says The Motley Fool.
Financial alka-seltzer in time for Christmas
Has your girlfriend asked for some hair straighteners this Christmas? Or does your brother want an Xbox 360?