How Creditors Get Access To Your Credit Information
Posted on April 13th, 2010
When you apply for a loan or credit, the potential lender will request a copy of your credit report from one or more of the major credit reporting agencies or bureaus. The result of their summary report will in large part determine whether you get the loan or not. So how does the whole process work?
If you live in the United States and have ever applied for a loan, and were approved, you have been assigned a credit rating by one or more of the many credit reporting agencies. What is a credit rating? It’s a written record of the loans that you have received along with your repayment history of those loans. Read more…
Households struggling with winter fuel bills
Posted on April 13th, 2010
According to recent reports there are now many households that are struggling with winter fuel bills as a result of very cold weather coupled with lack of price cuts from energy suppliers. The high energy bills that some households are having to try and cope with will add further strain to the already difficult financial situations of many people.
The average amount that households are expected to pay for the fuel that they used over the winter period is £532.70, and this takes it above the previous record of £475, reflecting an increase of over £50. Ma
Go global for growth
Posted on April 12th, 2010
The holiday season is approaching but consumers aren’t the only ones looking to go abroad this year. According to the latest export figures, businesses are also venturing overseas.
The UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) have long championed exports as a means to boost the UK’s lack-lustre growth. A
Weekend link exchange
Posted on April 10th, 2010
TODAY’S recommended economics writing:
• Euro zone finance ministers are committing to an offer of €30 billion in low-interest rate loans as adjustment assistance to Greece. That’s nice and all, but a recent Economist analysis indicated that Greece may actually need more than twice that to avoid default. (Financial Times)
• I think Sebastian Mallaby makes a good point in noting the importance of the vastly different downsides to making a trader’s bet against a bubble and to acting as central banker to rein in a potential bubble. On th
VAT could rise to 20%
Posted on April 10th, 2010
The Labour Government is not ruling out a VAT rise but is set to pledge not to raise income tax rates for the lifetime of the next Parliament.
These are two items set to be on Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s election manifesto today in Birmingham.
However, while the PM is leaving open the possibility of VAT reaching 20%, items such as children’s clothing and newspapers are set to remain zero rated.
Today, Ed Miliband, Energy and Climate Change Secretary, was asked about the VAT issue on BBC Breakfast today.
He was asked if Labour was “leaving the door open” for further VAT increases, he replied: “No, and in fact we haven’t raised VAT in the last 12 years. I just don’
GRS Video Contest Update (and PR Week)
Posted on April 9th, 2010
Time is winding down on the Get Rich Slowly video contest. For a while, I was worried that nobody was going to enter. Last week at this time, we only had five entries. The pool is up to 23 videos now, though. And at Monday’s meet-up in Chicago, a couple of folks reminded me that most of the entries will come in at the last minute.
I haven’t watched all of the entries yet, but I love the ones I’ve seen. It takes a lot of guts to make a video like this, and you guys are putting your fears aside and sharing some great stories and tips. For e