Posts Tagged ‘mis-sold ppi’

PPI Claims – The Facts

Friday, August 6th, 2010

Over the last few years, within the United Kingdom, The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been reviewing unjust practices of issuance of Payment Protection Insurance (PPI), and the methods of which it was sold to loan borrowers. Many large United Kingdom banks have been making a lot of money off mis sold payment protection insurance.

PPI was originally created to aid the loan borrower if they became ill or injured at work. This specific insurance would make repayments to the loan companies until they went back to work. At least half of borrowers deny protection, however, of the other half a fair amount were not questioned, they were just sold the policy and pay the premiums without even realizing.

Eventually, there were numerous complaints about the industry. Of all the people that purchased PPI either intentionally or unbeknownst to them, around 5% actually ever filed a claim. Even worse, the facts show, that about 70-75% of people that did file PPI claims failed to meet the terms established in the policy.

When the FSA got involved, careful investigation found that many times the lenders did not tell the borrowers all of the info needed, such as criteria for a claim. Additionally, it found that a great number of these lenders would utilize scare tactics to convince the borrower into agreeing. A number of lenders actually even added in overpriced PPI to the initial loan quotations without disclosing what it was. Investigation also discovered that numerous lenders would add a lump payment to the beginning of the loan repayment plan. As a result, the borrower would have no means of canceling the payment protection insurance.

There are some basic questions to ask if you feel you could most likely make a claim for your monthly premiums. Some include the items we stated above, such as being told you needed to purchase the policy to get a loan, or if you were not told in any way, yet were charged for the PPI; if you were not told of the terms previous to purchasing or had you been sold PPI and had been self-employed.

If any of this relates to you, you happen to be like many people whom were mis sold payment protection insurance and able to now file PPI claims to try and reclaim the moneys they paid for premiums. It is imperative that you find a company that knows what they are doing in terms of reclaiming premiums. Don’t fall for any promises, they cannot guarantee they are going to get compensation; many legit companies will not likely charge any fees in advance. Use due diligence when finding the right specialist in the field.

If you feel you were mis sold payment protection insurance, or you wish to find out more about ppi claims, please visit experts at Simplicity Claims.

PPI – Payment Protection Insurance Facts

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

For the most part, most credit seekers often will worry about what they would do if they were not able to work resulting from injury, illness or if their current position at work becomes redundant. There is actually something called PPI which was created for these types of circumstances.

The abbreviation PPI is short for Payment Protection Insurance. This kind of insurance was established to help cover the repayment of bills such as a mortgage loan, credit card repayment, or similar monthly loans in the event you are injured or are unable to work due to illness or due to redundancy. The PPI will cover a percentage of specific loans monthly for about twelve months and at most up to 24 months.

Before you decide on purchasing PPI you must be sure that it is compatible with your situation. You will not want to fall victim to a high pressured sales associate or lender whom is attempting to pressure you into purchasing their plans.

Additionally it is crucial that you know that there is quite a bit of criteria you will need to meet in case you do need to file a PPI claim. Please find some of these below:

* Make sure that you list any pre-existing medical conditions. Several companies will likely not even sell you the PPI once they are aware of them. Safer to know upfront.

* Your age needs to be between 18 and 65.

* You must work at least sixteen hours weekly.

* If you are going to claim unemployment you will have needed to be employed with the same employer for a minimum of twelve months prior to making the PPI claim.

It is also important that you know that some medical conditions such as back issues or even stress related issues may not be covered under the PPI policy. Be sure to ask this. You would hate to need to file a claim and then discover you would not be covered.

There has been quite a bit of problems in recent times with loan companies attempting to pressure prospective borrowers into buying overly priced payment protection insurance from them. They sometimes have promised lower rates, or said that if the borrower did not buy the PPI then they might be denied the credit. This is something for another article, however, this is now termed mis-sold PPI, which if you fell victim you could possibly reclaim some money back.

If you want to purchase Payment Protection Insurance and you feel it will be beneficial for you, make sure you check prices, as it may add up from 60-65% to the total of the loan. Be wary of high pressure tactics, and watch out for poor sales practices.

For more information on payment protection insurance or if you feel you were mis-sold ppi, please visit Simplicity Claims to see what your options are.

The Importance Of Your Credit Report

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

It used to be that banks and finance companies were the only ones that pulled credit reports. This is no longer true. Just about any place where you are going to be making monthly payment will pull your credit report to see how you pay your bills. Do you know what your credit report says about you?

It is only good common sense to know what your credit record says about you. Keeping watch over your record makes sure no one gets your information and goes out and buys a new house with it. Also if you are going to finance a car you will need to know how good your credit is so you can negotiate prices and finance charges.

Your credit report will have a number on it also. This is your credit score. This will be the first thing that most companies will check to determine if they want to do business with you. The higher you score the better you will be treated at the company that you are doing business with.

You want to also check your credit periodically to make sure that no one gets your information and uses it for their benefit. You will be surprise how many people pull there record to find out they have charges for credit cards that they never had. If this happens you will need to take care of it as soon as you can. The longer you wait the harder it will be to get it taken care of.

If you are worried that pulling your own credit will lower you score, do not be. It is actually a good thing to check your credit at least once a year. This way nothing will be put on your record with out your knowledge. The credit system is not perfect and does make mistakes. So make sure you keep an eye on your credit.

A quick call to the credit bureau will get you a copy of your credit record. All you have to do is give some information and your credit record will be mailed to you. You may have to pay a small charge to get a copy of your record. The price you pay is well worth the confidence you gain knowing that you credit is safe.

If you can get online you can check your credit. A simple search will lead you to sites that will pull you credit for you. All you have to do is give some information and your credit record will be right there before you eyes. Some site will do it as a free service. Especially if it is a site dedicated to guarding your credit.

I can not stress enough how important it is to keep an eye on your credit. Most companies that will be taking monthly installments will pull your credit. They are not allowed to let you know what is on your credit. They just tell you weather you are accepted or denied. So make sure you are always aware of what is on your credit record.

Learn more about PPI Claims. Visit www.BankCharges.com where you can find out all about how to make PPI compensation claims and start to get your cash back.

Home Loan Success: Take Time To Be Ready

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

How ready are you to walk into the office of a lender and ask them to borrow more than a quarter million dollars? If it were for anything other than a house, they would probably laugh at you. Every year, many people apply for a loan and a large percentage of them get turned down. But why? What are some things that you can do to make sure you get the loan you need to buy a home? This is a list of some questions you can ask yourself before applying.

The most important thing that you can do is to make sure that you can afford to buy a house. Establish a budget of all incomes and expenses without a mortgage payment. Do not forget to put costs of food, gas, auto loan payments, insurance premiums, or any other regular bills into the budget. There are a wide variety of resources available online and at local financial institutions to help you make budgets.

After you have determined your budget without the house, include the mortgage and typical homeowner expenses into the budget. Some of these costs include utilities, property insurance, homeowner association dues, and other bills that you probably do not have now. It will also be important that you set aside money monthly for unexpected repairs.

You should begin planning at least six months before even thinking about applying for a home loan. Applying for a home loan is a very serious matter and should never be an impulse decision. Six months will give you some time to think things over and do things to help you get the loan like resolving problems on your credit score and gathering required documentation.

Did you check your credit score? Checking your credit score will give you a good idea of where you stand in terms of getting a loan, provided your budget is in order. If you have a score of 650 or above, chances are pretty high that you will be accepted. If it is lower, you may have a harder time being approved. If you are approved with a lower score, however, you will probably incur higher interest rates and be required to make a higher down payment.

What can you do to increase your credit score? The best thing that you can do to increase your credit score is to pay down your credit. If there are negative or bad things that need to be removed, contact the credit company and come to a resolution. Keep all documentation regarding the matter and allow for up to 60 days for it to clear your credit report.

Most first time buyers do not know that banks will decline loans if the down payment comes from a one time source of income, such as another loan, money from family, or a bonus. This is because they believe that if you cannot afford to save enough for the down payment on your normal income, you cannot afford the house. As proof of down payment sources, the lending bank will usually require up to six months of statements regarding the account the down payment money was saved. If you get your money from a one time source, make sure that you deposit it before that six months and continue to make regular deposits into the account.

There are many things that you can do to ready yourself for a home loan. Doing your research and being prepared is paramount and will drastically increase your chances of getting approved for a home loan that you deserve.

Learn more about PPI Claims. Visit www.PPIRefundsUK.co.uk where you can find out all about how to make PPI compensation claims and start to get your cash back.

The Cause Of PPI Claims For Compensation

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

If you have ever taken out a loan, credit card or finance agreement it is likely that you will have been offered payment protection insurance (PPI). This has been thrust into the forefront recently with reports that many customers were mis-sold this insurance. This has seen a major rise in PPI claims for compensation. Many people making these claims won their cases and the UK is now expecting a ban on the sale of cover at the same time as loans.

Payment protection insurance is there to act as protection for the consumer for if they lose their income and are unable to continue with monthly payments. The loss of income would need to be due to redundancy, accident or sickness.

The sellers of this insurance receive handsome rewards for each sale and therefore many were encouraging their staff to hard sell it to all customers regardless of whether it would be of any benefit to them. There have even been claims that Payment Protection has been added to people’s policies without their prior knowledge or consent.

For some people PPI is pointless are they will not be covered. Those who are self-employed, retired or have an a medical condition that was there before the policy was taken out are unable to claim.

Several complaints were received by the Competition Commission stating that loan providers have an unfair advantage in the sale of insurance. This resulted into an investigation into the sale of the insurance. This investigation found that the consumer tends to lose out when cover and a loan or credit card are sold alongside each other.

Banks proved to be the worst offenders with their staff regularly misinforming customers or failing to fully explain the conditions and costs of PPI.

These findings lead to the Commission recommending a ban on selling loans and PPI together. There now needs to be seven days between the sale of the loan and customers being contacted regarding the insurance.

Barclays Bank appealed this decision claiming it would adversely affect consumers. This sparked another probe by the commission into the validity of this claim. They have now decided to uphold their original decision.

All of this has resulted in many claims for compensation from consumers who were mis-sold this product. In turn this has seen many compensation solicitors actively advertising and campaigning for consumers who took out a loan, credit card or credit agreement that included PPI to come forward to see if they could make a claim. In fact it has become big business and many banks and other financial lenders are finding themselves having to pay out large sums in compensation to their customers.

If you are thinking about making a claim you need to check when your insurance was taken out. Sales only became under the jurisdiction of the FSA in January 2005. Agreements taken out before this date are not subject to the latest rules. However if you wish you can put in a complaint to the Financial Ombudsman. Then they can launch an investigation into whether you have a claim based on earlier rules.

Want to find out more about making PPI claims? Then visit www.PPIClaimsUK.co.uk and find out how to start your mis sold PPI claim today.

The Controversy Behind PPI Claims

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

Just as the UK financial industry was recovering from the Bank Charges Controversy another scandal rocked the financial world with the rather shocking revelation that triggered an avalanche of people into making PPI claims.

The reasons behind this was due to the fact that over a number of years, PPI, short from Payment Protection Insurance, was being miss-sold, knowingly, to millions of customers taking out loan, credit and store card agreements.

A staggering 5.4 billion pounds was being made each year from the sale of PPIs, with nearly 4 billion of this number being cold, hard profit to the financial lenders. This was a huge profit based on a false belief system.

PPI itself, was not a bad thing, more-so, it was the way in which it was being miss-sold to the public that was the bone of contention for many. Many people who had a genuine need to make a claim on their insurance cover were simply finding out that they were not covered for as much as they thought or, in some cases, were not even covered at all.

PPI was made available to assist customers if they were every met with financial difficulties through unemployment, accident or sickness and were unable to repay their creditors. Not only were customers paying huge amounts of money, as well as their loan repayments, but they were paying for cover that simply didn’t cover them. A rather pointless undertaking.

There were a number of ways in which the insurance cover was being miss-sold and consumers need to be made aware of what these misleading sales pitches were, as they could have been paying massively over the odds for a product that did not actually cover them for as much as they had been lead to believe, or, in some cases, at all.

Many of the lenders informed customers that they would not be allowed to have the credit if they did not take out PPI when in actual fact this was not the case at all. It was not compulsory and the customer should not have been told that it was. It was in fact an optional benefit. Some customers were not even aware that they had purchased a PPI within their credit application.

Additionally, many self employed workers were realizing that they were not covered at all when unable to work, as the unemployment cover simply did not apply to them and extreme financial hardship was faced by many.

Another flaw was the fact that most lenders put a cap on the amount of time they would repay the loan, usually limiting it to twelve months. If you were out of work for longer and your loan repayments spanned five years, you were in trouble.

The medical cover offered was also flawed as lenders often did not explain that if you had already suffered from a similar medical condition previously this affected your ability to claim for repayment protection also.

These are only a few of the many ways in which lenders avoided paying their customers credit repayments when they promised they would. Anyone who feels that they had PPI miss-sold to them should seek advice as soon as they can as there are ways to go about reclaiming the money paid towards the cover. Sometimes, the amount they can reclaim will match the amount that they had originally borrowed.

With many companies specializing in PPI claims, it would be a good idea to find out more and take that first step towards recouping any losses you may have suffered.

Learn more about PPI Claims. Visit www.PPIClaimsUK.co.uk where you can find out all about how to make PPI compensation claims and start to get your cash back.

Wiping Away Credit Card Debt

Sunday, May 30th, 2010

There are millions of people that are under loads of stress due to credit card debt. The fact of the matter is people will charge rather than spend the cash that they have and stay within their means. If you are in need of some ways to get rid of some of this debt, you have come to the right place! These tips are sure to come in handy in the worst of situations.

Try to talk with the credit card companies that you owe money to. If you can get on top of your debt situation right away, you still have a chance at getting better payment terms. You might even be able to get away with lower interest rates which means more of your money will go towards the balance on the card!

You should get a detailed figure of the amount of money that you owe these creditors. You should get out all of the bills that you have, especially the most current bills with the current balances on them. Once you have the actual number totaled up, you should be able to figure out where to start now.

Any and all credit cards that still have an open account and balance need to be hidden. If you continue to spend your money on your credit cards, you are never going to get ahead. Pull out the cash and leave your credit cards in a drawer or even a safe to keep them away from yourself.

Along with no longer using the cards that you have, you should not even apply for more credit cards. This again, will increase the amount of debt that you owe and deepen the hole. If you get any offers, shred them up and throw them away. You should not even bother with gas or store credit cards. Steer clear and protect your assets.

Debt services are also a great way to get out of credit card debt. These services can be found online and will help you to manage and work at this debt. Take the time to find out which services work the best for people and you can go from there. Try not to invest too much money in these services, otherwise you could find yourself in more debt!

The debt services that you choose should help you to create a set budget. You will need to make sure that you follow this budget exactly. If you stray away or use a credit card, you could screw up the entire system. Budgets are designed to show you what you make and what you can spend on yourself each week. Do not overspend and do not reach for the credit card!

You do not have to worry much longer about your credit card debt. As long as you take these simple steps, you will be debt free in a couple of years. Look around right now and see which resources and tools are going to help you out the most! Before you know it, you will never get credit card bills again!

Looking to get your cash back from mis-sold ppi? Then visit www.PPIClaimsUK.co.uk to start your PPI claim today.

Credit Card Debt: A Major Problem In The UK

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

The UK is suffering a major credit card debt crisis. Credit card debt has become a global issue. Out of all of the countries in Europe, Britain has the worse debt issue. There are many reasons for this financial crisis.

It is essential to have a plan with your finances. Setting budgets that can be adhered to are a major first step. It is important not to spend what you don’t have. This is one of the major causes of debt. When bills go unpaid the fees and charges increase. A bad solution some cardholders resort to is paying one card off with another until it is maxed out. This furthers the debt issue with unpaid bills over a series of credit cards.

Payments need to be paid and they need to be paid on time. When the fees and interest adds up, the bill becomes that much more harder to pay off. Many cardholders idly let charges mount up, putting themselves further and further into debt. This is not good money management. If you cannot afford to pay the bill with cash then you should not have a credit card. Credit cards should be used with caution. They should supplement the income that you do have and used for purchases that you may need a little bit more time to pay off. But you should have the financial means to pay it off. Credit cards should not be used as a permanent replacement for the money you don’t have. This is a bad practice that should be avoid if you want to stay out of debt.

The fees are charges are higher for people with bad credit. This is another contributor to the debt problem. Cardholders are already making purchases at a premium and when the bill is due, they cannot afford to make the payment.

More education on credit card spending is necessary if this problem is ever going to get resolved. For lack of information, many cardholders are misinformed about the financial aspects of the cards that they have. Oftentimes, individuals take on new cards without being fully informed about the fees and interests rates. They will end up with cards that cost them more than what was advertised in the introductory offer.

The main issues is when cardholders neglect their credit card bills and the money owed continues to increase. A lot of cardholders use their cards too often. Instead of reserving the cards for major purchases, they will use them for very minor purchases which is not wise. Statistics reveal that too many individuals rely on their credit cards. This is another contributor to the debt issue.

Credit card debt has gone up recently due to the poor economy. Many people are making less due to various reasons. This has tripled the debt problem. When people become cash poor, they rely on their credit cards.

Reducing credit card work takes discipline. It is important to stick to a budget and not to spend money you do not have. Credit card companies are often willing to work out payment arrangements if you fall behind. It is best to remain communicative and not just let the bill go on unpaid. There are places to go to for help. There are organizations that educate consumers on how to use a credit card wisely. They will teach credit card holders how to stay within budget. And for those already deep in credit card debt, there are settlement agencies that will help you reduce your debt thus lowering the monthly payment.

Learn more about PPI Claims. Visit www.PPIRefundsUK.co.uk where you can find out all about how to make PPI compensation claims and start to get your cash back.

categories: personal finance, insurance, loans, credit cards, ppi claims, ppi claim, ppi compensation, mis-sold ppi

Credit Card Debt – A Real Problem For The UK

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

In the past year in the UK alone it is thought that over ten billion pounds was put on credit cards. This is a staggering amount and it shows just how much people in the UK rely on credit cards. Credit card debt today has reached a stage where it cannot be ignored. There are some people who blame the recession or credit crunch at it is known, whereas others blame the lenders. So what are the issues with the amount of debt that is on credit cards?

Many economics experts believe that many lenders are primarily to blame for giving consumers such high credit limits. These figures were set in the years prior to the recession when many people were in high paying jobs with minimal outgoings. Move forward a decade however and things are very different.

As unemployment has soared, so has the amount of debt that is on personal credit cards. People were and still are prioritising other debts over their credit cards. This is leading to record numbers of missed payments and threats of court action over unpaid credit card bills.

Those people who are still in work and making minimum payments on credit cards are now using them for everyday items. No longer are credit cards just used for large purchases. They are being used to sustain people’s lives, until they can no longer afford to make the minimum payments as their debts grow.

Once the credit limit was reached many people would simply apply for another credit card or shift the balance to another. Yet again this is another short term method of staying in the black that is not sustainable. Instead more focus should have been put on clearing debt on credit cards and not creating more.

Over time as personal debt on credit cards has grown so has the number of people who are filing for bankruptcy. They believe that they can simply have their debts wiped out by doing this. However, the bankruptcy affects will be felt for several years after it has been filed, so it should not be seen as the easy option.

Today there are consumer credit counselling and debt advisory services in the UK that are helping people who have a high level of debt. They provide practical advice and assistance that can be a real benefit to anyone experiencing difficulties. Most of these services are totally free and can be used by anyone in the UK. So if you are feeling the strain of debt this is something to think about.

From the evidence shown credit card debt is problem that is not going away quickly. The banks and credit card companies are feeling the strain of over lending and so are the borrowers. However, this is a problem that could have been avoided with more responsible lending. Yet this did not happen and it is the UK consumers that have overspent and are paying the price.

Want to find out more about making PPI claims? Then visit www.BankCharges.com and find out how to start your mis sold PPI claim today.

The Rights Associated With PPI Claims

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

Payment Protection Insurance also known as PPI, Credit Protection Insurance, Loan Repayment Insurance pertains to an insurance that covers a present debt. The debt normally comes in a loan or overdraft. PPI is usually provided by banks and credit companies as additional charges to loans or overdrafts. PPI claims may be processed in different ways but usually it is used to insure a customer from accidents, sickness, loss of job or death. These situations prevent him from making monthly repayments.

This insurance pays for the minimum repayments needed in a loan or overdraft normally within a span of 12 months if the debtor cannot pay due to the above mentioned reasons. When 12 months have lapsed, the client must find other means to pay for the loan.

The rejection rate for PPI insurance is quite high compared to other kinds of insurance. This is because the insurance was not underwritten while at the sales stage. Most customers would apply for insurance without assessing their situations or if they are eligible. Some customers are not even aware that they do have a PPI insurance.

PPI coverage is needed to insure loan and overdraft repayments. This policy is optional not a requirement. PPI policy is important but you have to be sure it meets your needs or requirements. The clients should be told beforehand that the PPI coverage is optional.

PPI rates differ. Normally though it will cost the customer 25 to 30 percent of the total loan. This charge could be paid monthly. One could also pay in full. Full payment is released along with the total loan borrowed. Insurance providers often require additional charges for giving this kind of coverage which would add up to the total payments.

Controversies are hounding PPI because they say it is broadly mis-sold. PPI mis-selling is done by banks, providers or even third party agents. To avoid mis-selling, the customer must know what is in the contract. Signing the contract means you agreed to the terms and they may not be advantageous to you. Be cautious when dealing with insurance coverages. If you do not do so you could end up losing your lifetime savings. In their bid to be careful, sometimes lenders and credit providers might need the PPI even if it is unnecessary given the circumstances.

A number of people want to avail of loans due to the recent recession. They approach lenders that offer low APR and interest rates. But they found out that they also get charged with PPI so their regular installment payments will get insured. Some of these clients complained that they pay higher monthly installments to maintain their PPI policy and later when they make PPI claims got rejected.

They wanted to ask payments for PPI claims because they lost their jobs or underwent car accidents. This issue often comes from the fact that the customer did not read the contract thoroughly before signing.

The lenders actually are not allowed to force clients to sign the PPI policy against his will. But some customers do not know this law and just signed the policy so the loan money be released immediately. Often people with lower age or with bad credit history would have difficulties making PPI claims. That is why it is extremely important that before you get a PPI insurance, you make sure that you are eligible to do so.

Looking to get your cash back from mis-sold ppi? Then visit www.PPIClaimsUK.co.uk to start your PPI claim today.