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ASK TONY: Barclaycard threatened my dying husband over a 10p debt

> I would appreciate any advice. H.D., Suffolk. I completely agree with you. To offer £100 after sending letters threatening legal action for a year is insulting.Barclaycard knew you were dealing with your husband’s affairs due to his very poor health. The bank should have made more effort to sort out the issue earlier. After I intervened, the bank increased its offer to £250, but I felt this was still not enough. You had been put through considerable distress at a time when you already had far too much on your plate. Barclays could have sorted out this problem very easily but failed to do so. I pointed its staff towards the Financial Ombudsman’s guidance on compensation. They have now upped the payment to £500, which I think is more appropriate. I became ill with heart problems in 2005, had four stents inserted in my arteries in 2005 and 2006 then suffered five heart attacks from April 2007 onwards. I was diagnosed as being critically ill in January 2006 and have not worked sin

Pension vs Isa: The big debate

Which is better, an Isa or a pension? Over the last few years, it's become the big debate among retirement savers. Everyone from granny to graduate has a view - but for most of us these days, Isas rule supreme. And they dominant the savings world for very good reasons. Ask yourself this: how many ways can you save money, get instant access to your cash, and enjoy protection from the Government's tax-grabbing mitts? Answers on a postcard please (clue: pensions ain't one of them). With the amount you can save each year raised to £10,680, a maximum of £5,340 in cash, savvy savers have quickly come to regard Isas as long-term homes for their nest eggs. But what about pensions? Are they still worthwhile? A few years ago, the final salary pension was a mainstay of the British workplace. And that certainly was worthwhile. Millions of workers knew they would retire in comfort, which often meant two-thirds of their final income. But such bounteous company perks have di

Highest income options for savings and investments: Our advice

With the base rate and savings rates at historic lows, savers are becoming desperate in the hunt for income. Our round-up points you to the best advice and guides on This is Money that will help you to squeeze more out of your capital... Here are some ways to earn income: - Savings accounts- Cash funds - Government bonds- Corporate bond funds- Equity income funds- High-yield - Property and property funds- Peer-to-peer saving and lendingThe basics for each of these is explained here while Money Mail's Tony Hazell provides a good round-up here. Then below, we have packed in links to articles where we explore these options in more depth. Graphic of Magnifying Glass Financial Mail's Income investing seriesFunds that back infrastructure projects such as prisons offer a healthy incomeFunds that can deliver reliable incomeSome building societies are paying 13% to Pibs investorsInvest in infrastructure to boost income Bit of everything ›› Six top income shares paying more tha

Good value funds: What are the best, simple low-cost investments to bank and hold for 20 years?

The financial crisis has shaken many people's confidence in investing, but you would have to be a real die-hard pessimist to believe things won't turn around over the next 20 years. So where should you tuck away your nest egg over the next two decades? We asked financial experts for help in finding simple investments with low running costs that should bring a decent return. Doing just what it says on the tin: Keeping investing simple and cheap Can you commit to a long-haul investment? A 20-year investment is like a house or a car - you need to make some important decisions before you buy, and take care to do some maintenance. Before anything else, you need to be certain you can commit to such a lengthy investment, according to Philippa Gee of Philippa Gee Wealth Management. 'It's all very well thinking you want to invest for the long term, but things happen. Life changes. You might need the money,' she says. 'Make sure you have other money that is acces

How to be a contrarian investor like Warren Buffett

The great money-making investors are not afraid of making big calls against common wisdom - famously Warren Buffett turned a handsome profit from buying into Goldman Sachs at the height of the financial crisis and now he has left commentators scratching their heads by buying into local newspapers. But while anyone can invest wildly against crowd wisdom, that won't make them a billionaire like Warren Buffett. What does it take to be a successful contrarian investor? And if you think you're made of the right stuff, how do you go about finding promising investment opportunities? Read our guide, and the rich rewards might become more than just a dream... Stand out from the herd: Famous investors like Warren Buffett have not been scared to go against the grain, but how can you tell if you have what it takes to be a contrarian? Personality test: Are you a contrarian investor?WARREN BUFFETT: WORLD'S GREATEST INVESTOR The contrarian investor credo on which Warren Buffe

INVESTMENT EXTRA: Hugh Young's top ten share tips to boost your portfolio

Hugh Young, star fund manager at Aberdeen Asset Management, has developed ten golden rules for investing in over more than 25 years in the markets. Tips: Hugh Young, star fund manager at Aberdeen Asset Management 1) Ask who controls the company, and do you trust them to treat minority shareholders fairly? Minority shareholders are just one of many stakeholder groups and as such need to know they will be treated properly by whoever controls the company, whether that be a government, founding family or an individual. 2) Remember companies are about people not assets Rolls-Royce is a great example of a company that always had good technology and operated in a growth market, but for years failed to live up to its full potential. It took an outstanding CEO in the shape of Sir John Rose to recognise its strengths, to develop a business model and execute a long-term strategic plan to turn the promise into profits.  3) Balance sheet strength is critical Premier Foods always stands out a