For years the UK has been renowned as an animal loving nation, with cats, dog and other pets common in every day life. While the market for pet food, toys and bedding is enormous - and people do not mind spending upwards of £100 on their pet - the pet insurance market is seen by many as an expensive gimmick - but is it?
In a move which has angered many consumers and caused widespread
disbelief, HSBC have announced plans to create the country’s first walk in branch for “wealthly†customers.
The move is being piloted in the upwardly mobile area of Canford Cliffs,
near Poole in Dorset which boasts some of the most expensive properties in the UK. What is the basis of this new service?
At some point in our lives the majority of us will be involved in a car purchase, whether for ourselves, a partner or one of our children. The majority of UK car buyers will probably opt for the second hand market, which has historically offered more value than the new car market.
It is common knowledge that as soon as you take a new car from the garage forecourt it will probably have reduced in value by at least 10%, but is the second hand market any better?
Over the last few years we have all seen a major increase in the number of “cold calls†from companies in the finance industry, whether a visitor to your door, a telephone call or a letter through the post. Companies are being more and more direct in their marketing approaches as the clamour for business continues to grown.
Are you being taken in by their aggressive marketing techniques?
While many in the UK are highly critical of the financial services sector, how many of us have actually ever complained? Do you know your rights? Do you know how and where to complain?
The surprising answer to many of the above questions is “noâ€, even though the UK has one of the most robust complaints procedures in Europe. All complaints about financial products / services should end up with the Financial Ombudsman Service (website address www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk) if the two initial parties are unable to come to an agreement.
The UK financial sector is perhaps one of the most competitive in the world, which is why it attracts the attention of so many overseas conglomerates. In the midst of this excessive competition we often see some great promotional “incentives†to take out certain products, services, etc.Â
While many of these “offers†sometimes seem too good to be true, who really pays for them?
