MONEY MORSELS
Wills woe
HIGH Court inheritance disputes between family members have risen by 62 pc in two years. The number of probate disputes at the High Court rose from 227 in 2016 to 368 in 2018, according to law firm Nockolds. It says the rise could be down to the use of DIY wills, which are more likely to contain errors.
Bill hike
EE and TalkTalk customers are encouraged to switch broadband providers ahead of bill hikes next month. EE is set to increase prices from June 26, while out-of-contract TalkTalk customers will see bills rise on June 1. Try haggling or switch to a better deal.
Filthy riches
TEN-pouND notes are the most germ-ridden payment method, according to lender ocean Finance. Swabs were taken of notes, coins and credit cards and left in petri dishes in a warm place for five days. The experiment revealed the £10 note produced the most bacterial growth. In terms of coins, 5p pieces were the dirtiest. Credit cards were the cleanest payment method.
Broadband boost
BROADBAND speeds in UK homes rose by nearly a fifth in just a year, according to an Ofcom report. Figures show average download speeds passed the 50 megabits per second (Mbps) mark for the first time, rising by 18 pc to 54.2 Mbps. Researchers found only one in ten households with copper broadband — as opposed to fibre optic cable — were able to stream programmes in ultra-high-definition, however.
Energy switch
MoNZo customers can now switch energy suppliers via the bank’s mobile app. But you can currently only switch to two providers — ovo Energy or octopus Energy. A spokesman could not say if other suppliers would be added soon.
Steel yourself
AMERICAN Express has launched a steel Platinum Charge Card in a bid to be eco-friendly. But the annual fee for the non-plastic card rises from £450 to £575 from June 11. New cardholders will also have to spend £4,000 in 90 days, rather than £2,000, to obtain 30,000 in sign-up reward points.
Money making
No NEw 20p or £2 coins were made in 2017, says the Royal Mint. A total of 212,625,000 20p coins and 2,925,000 £2 coins were manufactured in 2016. But none were made the following year — partly due to a lack of demand as people spent more old £1 coins ahead of the 12-sided coin launch in 2017.
Buyers beware
SEVEN in ten self- employed borrowers say it is harder for them to get a mortgage than fulltime employees, suggests Trussle research. Self-employed people often need more documents, such as two or three years’ accounts, the online broker found.