MONEY MORSELS

Pensioners’ tax

OVER-65s pay an average of £3,258 each in tax a year.

This makes up 11 pc of the £157 billion total income tax paid every tax year, according to analysis by insurer Prudential.

Bad choices

PSYCHOLOGISTS at the University of Sheffield are working with CompareTheMarket. com to find out why customers fail to shop around for the best deal and continue to make financial decisions that leave them worse off.

Priced out

HOUSE prices in London are more than eight times the national average income in all but two boroughs — Bexley, and Barking and Dagenham, according to research by charity Sutton Trust.

The average UK house now costs 5.34 times the typical salary, data from Halifax shows — the most unaffordable that a home has been in seven-and-a-half years.

Health app

BUPA customers who have health insurance through work can now speak to a GP via videolink using a new smartphone app, Babylon.

They can use it to text questions or photos for advice, store medical notes and organise appointments.

Holiday cover

THE RAC has increased the age limit on its travel insurance policies to 85 for single-trip and annual policies.

Travellers are also being given a free driving holiday add- on that includes emergency car hire and cover for camping equipment and towing trailers.

iPad advice

INVESTORS are being offered free investment advice via a video conference on their iPads with Yorkshire Building Society.

Customers need to call to make an appointment and will then be sent a link via email, which connects them to an adviser when clicked.

Student hunt

STUDENTS in the top 25 university towns have access to only 40 pc of the privately rented properties — because many landlords don’t want them as tenants.

A shortage of accommodation means there are up to 22 students searching for every available room available, according to property website SpareRoom.co.uk.

Account launch

ONLINE-only German bank Fidor has launched a UK current account paying 0.25 pc on in-credit balances. Visit fidorbank.ukfor details.

Cash is protected by the European guarantee scheme up to €100,000.

Credit card offer

HALIFAX has launched a credit card with a 20-month interest-free balance transfer offer.

There is no fee if you move over a debt within the first 90 days. After 20 months, borrowers will pay interest at 18.9 pc.