UK Credit Cards

The US economy is lurching towards crisis with long-term interest rates on course to double, crippling the country’s ability to pay its debts and potentially plunging it into another recession, according to a study by the US’s own central bank.

Is this the Change we wanted?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/5754447/US-lurching-towards-debt-explosion-with-long-term-interest-rates-on-course-to-double.html

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I have the Citibank Platinum Dividend (not the Student version) card with a 18.99% interest. I think it is ridiculous to have a 18.99% APR. I have a great credit history although it is rather short (I am 21/student and started this card at age 18).

I have never been late and I always pay in full so it never really mattered to me. But I feel, after proving myself a responsible credit user for 3yrs, they should cut me some slack. My credit limit goes up every few months (almost $20,000 now) but the APR never goes down!

I called about it and they said there is nothing they can do now but call again in 2 weeks. This is the only request I’ve made in 3yrs. Should I just dump Citibank and go with another bank? I’m afraid my credit score would go down since this is my longest-running card.

Advice?

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Protect World Service From Cuts MPs Urge
The BBC World Service should be protected from spending cuts to preserve its global reputation a powerful Government watchdog has said.

Read more on SkyNews via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News

MPs oppose BBC World Service cuts
The government should abandon its plan to cut funding for the BBC World Service or at least ring-fence some parts of it including BBC Arabic in the light of recent events in the region MPs said on Wednesday.

Read more on Reuters via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News

Wednesday newspaper round-up: Interest rates, National Express, Tigers, helicopters
LONDON (SHARECAST) – Interest rates are likely to remain at their record low level for months to come after falling food prices brought a surprise drop in inflation.

Read more on ShareCast

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Hey so I just recently started sing my credit card again. And have only been using it for about two weeks. My minimum balance due on tomorrow is 0, but will I start gaining interest if I don’t pay off everything that I have already paid. The card is through capital one if that makes a difference.

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Daihatsu Terios review
Daihatsu is in the middle of an effort to increase its European sales from 32,000 in 2003 to 80,000 in two years’ time. That’s a tough assignment, and the model given most of the responsibility for the improvement is the new Terios compact SUV.

Read more on CARkeys

The GCC Hospitality industry outlook positive for medium to long term investors says Alpen Capital’s new report
Dubai, 13 April, 2011: Alpen Capital (ME) Limited Alpen Capital (ME) Limited today announced the publication of its GCC Hospitality Industry Report as a part of its Industry Research services.

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Hamish McRae: Why an interest rate hike is still on the cards
Phew! The gloomy sequence of depressing economic data became a touch lighter yesterday with the news that inflation was “only” 4 per cent and the trade gap has narrowed sharply. The good news was only somewhat deflated by a report from the British Retail Consortium that sales were down nearly 2 per cent year-on-year. So a squeeze on living standards, yes, but might the further squeeze from …

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I know that credit card companies aren’t REQUIRED to lower theirs, but they usually do, right? So can I call my credit card company tomorrow and ask for a lower rate, or should I give them a week, or what?
All I know is that about 6 months ago I called my credit card company and asked for a lower rate. It was at 13.99%, and after spending about 30 minutes on the phone with two very nice gentlemen, I was able to lower my interest rate down to 10.5%, and renew or something a promotional rate from 7.99% for 6 months down to 3.99% for the life of the loan. I asked them how often I could do this and they said whenever the rates change, I could call and ask – I might get it, I might not.
I just thought that I might need to give them time to get a new rate into their system, and with it being more than the .25% change that was expected, I thought it might take a little more time. But I’m not a financial wiz, or I wouldn’t be in debt in the first place.

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Obviously bonds are a relatively safe form of investment (particularly government bonds from one of the world’s major economies), but aside from this, what about the possibility of the value of bonds increasing?

With fears of recession looming, and deflation now a real possibility for the UK economy over the next couple of years, one could say that it is almost an inevitability that the BoE will further decrease interest rates. As bond prices are inversely proportional to interest rates, now would seem a logical time to invest in bonds, as it appears a safe bet the BoE will lower interest rates, which in turn will increase the value of bonds. Quite obviously, this rise in the value of bonds is of no benefit if the bonds are held till maturity. However, it would certainly appear to be advantageous to those willing to trade bonds. Is this train of thought correct?
Hi Robert M

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but if the bonds are held till maturity, the coupon (for fixed rate bonds) and principle payments are still the same, irrespective of whether or not the bond value (for trading) fluctuates. Therefore, if the bonds are held till maturity, the bond holder does not realise any benefit if the value of the bonds increase.

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I have a low interest rate credit card through my University, however it offers no cash back or rewards program. I am solely looking for a good VISA,not anything else, rewards or cash back program that doesn’t get carried away with high interest rates.

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Who is aware that some cards jacked up their rates on people if their credit score went down anytime after they issued the card?

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Guernsey politician supports closure of Channel Islands tax loophole
A Guernsey politician has spoken out in favour of closing the Low Value Consignment Relief (LCVR) VAT loophole in order to ‘re-establish a mutually respectful relationship with the UK.’

Read more on AFP Telegraph Finance News via Yahoo! UK & Ireland Finance

House prices: what the market says
UK house prices fell at the fastest rate in more than a year in February, but was tempered by a surge in demand from potential buyers. Here is what housing companies and analysts say about the sector.

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Bank expected to resist calls for increase in interest rates
PRESSURE to raise interest rates will be maintained this week, but a series of gloomy economic reports will prevent the Bank of England from pushing up borrowing costs at its

Read more on The Scotsman: Business

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