MONEY MORSELS

Equity surge

HOMEOWNERS aged 55 and over

will unlock a record £4billion from their homes this year, according to the Equity Release Council. Customers agreed 10,023 new equity release plans between July and September this year, up from 9,898 in the previous three months.

Last call

THE self-employed are being urged to file their paper tax return for 2020/21 before midnight on October 31. Those who miss the deadline face a £100 fine. If you have already filed, you may be able to spread the payments. Visit gov.uk/pay-self-assessment-taxbill/pay-in-instalments

Quiet hour

HSBC has become the first bank to introduce a daily ‘quiet hour’ across its 511 branches for customers with conditions such as autism, dementia, and ADHD. During the week between 2pm and 3pm the inbranch radio will be turned off and a designated quiet space will be available for anyone who needs it.

Switch offer

HSBC’S current account switching offer ends before midnight on Sunday. Customers who move to its Advance or Premier accounts using the Current Account Switch Service will get £110 plus a £30 voucher for takeaway service Uber Eats or The Dining Out Gift Card. They must meet set criteria, which may include a minimum monthly deposit.

Accident spike

HOME insurance claims for

accidental damage have risen 6pc since 2019 as a result of more people being at home and undertaking DIY projects, says comparison site GoCompare. But homeowners should check their small print as 79pc of policies do not cover these claims as standard.

Payee checks

THE payments watchdog is calling for more providers to bring in a vital security measure to help cut fraud. Confirmation Of Payee crosschecks the name of recipients with their account number and presents a warning when they do not match.

Gender pay gap

THE gender pay gap among fulltime employees increased from 7pc in April 2020 to 7.9pc in April 2021, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. However the difference between what men and women earn remained lower than in April 2019 when the figure stood at 9 pc.

Gadget grab

ALMOST eight million secondhand tech items were sold on eBay this year, or one every two seconds. The online marketplace claims users who sell five common gadgets — including a smartphone, speaker, headphones, robotic vacuum cleaner and smart speaker — could make £500.