 |
By Justin Schamotta
Staff Writer
11 December 2009
|
Prepaid MasterCards can avoid new Ryanair fees, pre-budget report unveiled, credit card fraud set to hit £200m and Michael McIntyre has principles... at least in this week's money news roundup.
Prepaid Mastercards can avoid new Ryanair fees
MASTERCARD Prepaid cardholders will be feeling smug this week as Ryanair announces that it will exempt only them from its transaction fees. All other cardholders will have to stump up the £5 fee per flight, regardless of whether it is credit or debit.
Ryanair isn't the only one to charge pounds for a transaction that costs a few pence. Among the other airlines requesting considerable fees are Monarch and Jet2, which charge a 5 per cent fee and a minimum of £4.99 plus 2.25 per cent for credit card bookings.
British Airways and Bmi charge £4.50 for credit card bookings but make no charge for bookings made with a debit or Prepaid card.
Prepaid cards are fairly new in the UK, they're more popular in mainland Europe and the US, but you can compare them at our sister site Credit Card Comparison Online.
Pre-budget report unveiled
With a general election on the way, the Chancellor, has tried to appease the electorate with his pre-budget report.
The Government plans to extend the mortgage interest support scheme(SMI)for struggling homeowners for a further six months. The scheme will enable those who suffer a temporary loss of income to cut their mortgage interest payments for up to two years to help them get back on track.
Those on a pension will be pleased to hear that the Basic state Pension will rise by 2.5pc in 2010, despite inflation falling in September. The Government has also extended its 2008-09 increase to Cold Weather Payments so that eligible households are receiving £25 for each seven day cold spell recorded or forecast where they live.
Energy efficient homeowners will be rewarded with tax breaks for their wind turbines, solar panels and electric cars, although this will only apply to a handful of people in the UK.
Credit card fraud set to hit £200m
Unlucky shoppers are set to lose £200million through credit card fraud this Christmas, a study has shown.
Life assistance company CPP says the number of lost and stolen cards will peak on December 18th as consumers become less careful with their bank cards.
The threat of Christmas postal strikes has many shoppers heading out into the high street. More than two-thirds will be buying at least half their gifts in person with just a quarter saying that they would do some of their festive shopping online.
Michael McIntyre has principles
Everyone's favourite stand-up, Michael McIntyre, is reported to have walked out on a gig after realising the audience were debt collectors.
Cabot Financial Limited, the Kent-based company in question, had booked the comedian as compere for a £200,000 private party for its employees at London's O2 Arena.
McIntyre, who had faced debt problems before his recent rise to success, is said to have discovered the audience's profession half an hour before he was meant to make his entry.
His spokesman revealed: "Michael was in debt himself and has a conscience, especially at this time of year.".
 Choose Money
Compare Credit Cards
Compare Loans
|
