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By Julia Kukiewicz Staff Writer
Friday, 1 May 2009
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Money News Roundup
If you only do one thing with your money this week...
Make sure you're up to date and organised with any outstanding student loan repayments.
Previous Money News Roundups
See our other recent Money News Roundups and other related news stories:
Money News Roundup (24 Apr 09)
In this week's budget money news with Julia Kukiewicz: why are credit card companies closing their ears to the budget's warnings and how could the 50% tax and deflation affect you?
Money News Roundup (17 Apr 09)
Find out why Swansea's Citizen's Advice Bureau is linked to crime, why PR firms are doing well in the recession and how much kids cost in this week's money news with Julia Kukiewicz.
Money News Roundup (10 Apr 09)
Find out why many Brits fear that they won't be able to pay their fuel bills this year, just how bad the sexist City really is and how to spend abroad this Easter in this week's money news with Julia Kukiewicz.
Money News Roundup (3 Apr 09)
Find out when credit card companies have to help disappointed consumers, how you can make money by doing nothing on a fake spaceshipand what the financial forecast is for the next three months from the G20 summit in this week's money news roundup with Julia Kukiewicz.
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CHANGE all round this week as Egg credit cards, student loans and Iggy Pop hit the headlines.
A Bad Egg?
EGG Money credit card customers will be mourning the card's infamously good credit balance rate this week.
Egg's MasterCard credit card currently offers a 4% rate on credit balances, better than many savings accounts, and cardholders have been overpaying their credit card bills to get the best deal.
Egg Visa credit card customers were also dealt a blow this week as it was announced that their minimum charge for cash machine withdrawals will rise from £3 to £5.
Egg's moves match other credit card companies' response to the recession: raise interest rates and eliminate benefits. It remains to be seen how customers will respond to the changes.
Iggy gets Popped
AFTER a few weeks of rumbling controversy the Swiftcover advert featuring Iggy Pop was banned by the ASA this week.
12 viewers complained about the advert, pointing out that Swiftcover didn't actually cover musicians.
Don't panic though, Iggy won't be gone from our screens long. As a result of the controversy, Swiftcover has introduced policies for performers in the music industry.
The ASA investigation into the bowels of the woman who advertises Senecot is said to be ongoing.
Graduates get Grassed up
WE'VE reported several times here at Choose that the recession has led to a crack down on credit scores so the Student Loans Company isn't exactly making a break for popularity with its announcement that it will be reporting late-paying graduates to credit reference agencies. The changes will only affect pre-1998 graduates.
The announcement is bound to be doubly unpopular due to the SLC's infamously poor organisational skills. A glance at the online response shows that many suspect that they will be wrongly reported, despite the assurance that reporting will be a last resort.
Struggling graduates are warned to keep a closer eye on their repayments to avoid being refused applications for borrowing in the future.
Save Money: Get your Botox Online
ANOTHER week, another Which? survey. This time it's the no-brainer of do-it-yourself Botox kits. Or, as they are more commonly known, obviously-don't-do-it-yourself Botox kits.
The kits available online include needles and a 'face map' and cost around £65, approximately half the price of the cheapest safely-administered face-freezing session.
It goes almost without saying that this is a Bad Idea and in any case I prefer cryogenics. See my picture? I'm actually 102.
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