Income to afford 300 000 home

Furious couples and disappointed holidaymakers demanding refunds for cancelled weddings and getaways have driven a wave of complaints to the competition watchdog during the coronavirus pandemic. More than 60,000 consumers have complained to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) about firms treating them unfairly during the pandemic, the watchdog said. The majority of complaints since mid-April related to cancellations and refunds as customers struggle to recover cash for cancelled flights, holidays and weddings. Holidays and airlines accounted for 27,000 of the 60,000 issues reported to the watchdog between March 10 and May 17 as travel companies knocked by a liquidity crisis battled to hang on to cash - despite many having a legal obligation to hand out refunds. The CMA launched its Covid-19 taskforce in March to prevent firms from using the crisis to exploit consumers. Earlier this week it asked the Government to pass emergency laws to help it tackle … [Read more...] about 60,000 coronavirus complaints to competition watchdog

Tamara says her current conditions are beginning to affect her mental health (Image: Daily Record) Sign up for our news briefing, including a daily special Russia-Ukraine edition SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info After being made homeless, Tamara Mcdonald agreed to move into a council property in April last year. The 40-year-old told of how she had been sleeping in her mother’s living room but had to find alternative accommodation after her mother returned home from hospital after being in a coronavirus coma, the Daily Record reports . Related articles Mum's anger as council orders her out of home with two days' notice Families held hostage by swarm of '30,000 bees' in council flats Tamara, who works as a sign … [Read more...] about Woman’s plea after being forced to live in flat with black mould for over a year

Brexit: George Osborne discusses impact on UK economy Get pensions news and advice plus latest money alerts for FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info House prices are among a long list of consumer goods that have sky-rocketed in recent months. New data has charted the rise of these prices in 50 cities around the UK, with millions of Britons potentially sitting on a goldmine. Inflation rates have increased — the key factor behind the rise in the cost of living across the board. While housing is considered a consumer good, the right to it is a central aspect of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Related articles Can Ukrainians … [Read more...] about Britons could be sitting on property GOLDMINES in one of these 50 UK cities

Joe Biden won the US presidential election – with running mate Kamala Harris – after receiving  the most votes of any US candidate in history. It is widely expected that Biden will roll the clock back as much as possible to January 2017, when he and Barack Obama left office. Biden wasted no time signing executive orders , with his official schedule for January 20 showing he set aside 30 minutes in the afternoon to begin that process. Biden signed 17 orders and actions just hours after being sworn in as US leader to break from policies of departing President Donald Trump and set new paths on immigration, the environment, fighting Covid-19 and the economy. In first-day moves, he ended Trump’s much-assailed ban on visitors from several majority-Muslim countries and halted construction of the wall that Trump ordered on the US-Mexico border to stem illegal immigration. He also set a mask mandate on federal properties to stem the spread of Covid-19; restored protections of … [Read more...] about Joe Biden’s policies: The President’s views on Covid-19, immigration and the environment

The average UK house price hit a new record high in June but there are “tentative signs of a slowdown”, according to an index. Prices were up by 10.7% in June, slowing from 11.2% in May, Nationwide Building Society said. Across the UK, the average house price in June was £271,613, up by 0.3% month on month. Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist, said: “The price of a typical UK home climbed to a new record high of £271,613, with average prices increasing by over £26,000 in the past year. “There are tentative signs of a slowdown, with the number of mortgages approved for house purchases falling back towards pre-pandemic levels in April and surveyors reporting some softening in new buyer inquiries. Recommended Over £130m handed to housing providers named and shamed by regulator “Nevertheless, the housing market has retained a surprising amount of momentum given the mounting pressure on household budgets from high inflation, which has already … [Read more...] about Average UK house price hits new record high but there are ‘signs of a slowdown’

A SHADOWY figure races across the high street to a gaunt-looking couple. Within seconds they’re passed a small bag and he darts away through the shoppers and families. It’s not an unusual sight in Boscombe , Dorset , which for years was known as the “ drugs capital of the South” and ranked on the top 50 worst places to live in England . While the former spa town has shaken off that unsavoury title this year, locals nonetheless paint a picture of rampant drug use, street drinking and vicious attacks. It’s clearly a tale of two Boscombes, as just a stone’s throw away properties overlooking the picturesque beaches can sell for £1.5million. In the first of our Broke Britain series, where we visit towns struggling to survive amid the cost of living crisis, Boscombe locals speak of violence on the streets and a "forgotten" high street on its knees after a number of shop closures. When The Sun visited we saw rundown rows of pound shops and vacant businesses, many of … [Read more...] about How seaside town a stone’s throw from millionaires’ row was turned into ‘drugs capital of the South’

TEMPLEGATE takes on Saturday's blockbuster action confident of finding you a winner or two. Read on for our man's top tips and back a horse by clicking their odds below. CHECKANDCHALLENGE (2.25 Sandown, nap) Touch of class, not disgraced in the 2,000 Guineas, hard to beat on handicap debut. HEREDIA (3.00 Sandown, nb) Smashing filly, slick win in a top handicap at Royal Ascot, looks different class. TACARIB BAY (4.25 Haydock, treble) Highly tried this season, drops in class and can outclass his 12 rivals. Most read in Horse Racing MATT CHAPMAN Why this French superstar can light up Coral Eclipse at Sandown FIVER FLUTTER Smash the bookies to bits with these three eyecatching tips on Saturday TEMPLEGATE'S TIPS Templegate's 3-1 NAP can win again after scoring at Royal Ascot YARD SALE Racing billionaire puts £45m property - with full-size football pitch - on market … [Read more...] about Horse racing tips: Templegate NAP looks really, really hard to beat on handicap bow plus Coral-Eclipse tip at Sandown

TV ad breaks could become longer and more frequent, under new plans mooted by the government's tv regulator. Ofcom said the number of ad breaks on TV could increase and commercials may include more product placements. The regulator is considering changes to the rules as traditional broadcasters try to keep pace with streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime . In a report to the Secretary of State on Wednesday, Ofcom said it was looking at the rules around making commercials longer. It added "initial discussions with stakeholders" had taken place and plans to outline next steps would happen later this summer. In the report, Ofcom said the presence of added competition had "put pressure on broadcasters, squeezing revenues". Read more in Money What a toothache Shoppers fuming as Sainsbury’s refuses to honour price glitch ISA ISA BABY I lost £1,000 due to Isa loophole - how you can avoid it An … [Read more...] about Major change could be coming to TV under new advertising rules

Michael Gove grilled by Hartley-Brewer on car ban cost This article contains affiliate links, we may receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more Sign up for FREE driving tips, latest models and breaking news SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) published the “Getting Cities Moving” report which provides the Government with advice on how to support sustainable economic growth. It states that measures to discourage private car journeys should be taken seriously as an option. Related articles Drivers told to use secret button to reduce fuel consumption New driving laws to be introduced in July will affect all UK motorists Potential … [Read more...] about National congestion charges should be used to ‘discourage private car journeys’ across UK

Announcement of the results from BT Group strike ballots Sign up for FREE for the biggest new releases, reviews and tech hacks SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info According to reports, around 25,000 members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) at BT and Openreach and 9,000 BT call centre workers were balloted and overwhelmingly backed industrial action, the (CWU) recently said. BT employees have voted overwhelmingly in favour of holding a national strike for the first time in 35 years, sparking the latest industrial action dispute over wages. Related articles Where is the safest place in the UK during nuclear war? Top 20 areas Trade unions and Labour could split as 'summer of discontent' looms … [Read more...] about BT national strike threatens to severely hamper broadband as employees set to walk out