Financial products from our partners
Property search
On Google+
The Independent
 
Independent
Google+
i Newspaper
 
TheIPaper
The Independent around the web

Spotlight on: Zopa's 4.9 per cent loans

The deal

Payday loan victim set fire to himself over £1,600

A 36-year-old father set himself on fire last year after being hounded by payday lenders. An inquest heard this week how Antony Breeze died after telling passers-by who tried to help: "I've had enough."

Five questions about: Credit unions

What are credit unions?

Credit unions sign up for scheme to take on payday lenders

Some 31 credit unions have signed up to a £35.6m government scheme that they hope will help them take on payday lenders and banks by offering essential financial services at a fairer price.

Simon Read: Time to act as complaints about payday firms soar

The Financial Ombudsman Service this week revealed that there has been a 75 per cent increase in the last year in complaints about payday lenders. Crucially it added that it is finding in consumers' favour in nearly three-quarters of the cases.

Curb ads for payday loans, urges poverty minister

Britain's only poverty minister will today demand strong action to curb payday lenders who prey on vulnerable people.

Money Insider: Cold-shoulder from the bank? Only consider payday loans as a last resort

Credit cards or guarantor borrowing can be less painful – and help repair debt-history damage

High Street banks must take payday lenders on

Banks should accept some responsibility for the growth of the payday loan market, and should offer an inventive, low-interest and responsible so lution to the need for short-term credit, a charity chief has demanded.

Barclaycard, one of the UK's largest credit-card providers, now reveals all its rates to potential customers

Julian Knight: Barclaycard forced to come clean over interest rates

After Independent on Sunday revelation, provider now spells out the real costs to new credit card applicants

Consumer Rights: Most of us depend on it, but what do we know about the rules of credit?

Lending is ubiquitous and takes many forms, but ensure that you are aware of your rights before signing up

Simon Read: Credit unions can help beat expensive payday lenders

There was good news for credit unions this week after the Government revealed it is splashing out £38m to help the mutuals take on expensive payday lenders.

Simon Read: Lenders shouldn't target gamblers

Ed Miliband's call this week for an overhaul of planning laws to prevent payday lenders, pawnbrokers and bookmakers from swamping high streets is long overdue.

£1,000 debt could force you to sell your home

New rules let lenders use property equity to get cash says Neasa MacErlean.

Money Insider: Take a long view for 0% on your balance transfer

The battle between credit card companies striving to offer the longest zero per cent term for balance transfers shows no sign of fizzling out. The latest moves in this field means that it's now possible to borrow interest-free for 26 months if you meet the credit scoring criteria.

New website aims to help payday loan victims

A 25-year-old from Essex is hoping that his new website will offer a solution for people stuck in the vicious circle of payday lending. That's when they can't afford to repay their loan on time and are forced to take out another loan to cover the spiralling interest and fees.

Independent Dating
and  

By clicking 'Search' you
are agreeing to our
Terms of Use.

Property search

ES Rentals

    Day In a Page

    Independent Travel Shop See all offers »
    Imperial Cities of Morocco
    Seven nights half-board from only £799pp Find out more
    Historic Sicily
    Seven nights half-board from £799pp Find out more
    4* all-inclusive Crete
    Seven nights from only £399pp Find out more
    Budapest city break
    Three nights from only £229pp Find out more

    Johnny Marr talks relationships and reunions

    He's worked with Modest Mouse, the Pet Shop Boys and Beck, to name a few, and recently released his first solo album. So why, wonders Johnny Marr, do people still hark on about The Smiths?
    After the flood: From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands

    In pictures: After the flood

    From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands
    Death becomes her: Meet the very modern mortician who champions 'cool' funerals

    Death becomes her: A very modern mortician

    Ever considered baking a loved one's remains into a cake or putting their ashes in fireworks? If so, talk to Caitlin Doughty, champion of the alternative death industry.
    How long can the 'Keep Calm' trend carry on?

    How long can the 'Keep Calm' trend carry on?

    At first it seemed clever and cute. Then the 'Keep Calm' motif went mad, spawning endless offshoots.
    The man who built Brum: A lament for the demise of John Madin's Brutalist Birmingham

    John Madin: The man who built Brum

    The architect's buildings were supposed to leave an indelible, futuristic mark on his beloved hometown but they are now being inexorably torn down.
    School of chop: Learning the art of butchery at the Ginger Pig

    School of chop: Learning the art of butchery

    How do you butcher a lamb? Or make Mexican street food in a British kitchen? Christopher Hirst finds out.
    James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

    The man who's eaten everywhere

    Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
    A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

    A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

    The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
    Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

    Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

    Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
    Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

    Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

    An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
    Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

    Eat Spam and carry on

    Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
    Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

    Facial hair

    Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
    The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

    The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

    Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
    Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

    Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

    Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
    Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

    Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

    The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats