MONEY MORSELS

Record check

A PETITION is calling on the Government to check its records to find all of the retired women who might be entitled to a better state pension rate.

It comes after former pensions minister Steve Webb found potentially tens of thousands of wives, widows and divorcees were not getting the rate they deserved. To sign the petition, visit petition. parliament.uk/petitions/334388.

Mortgage slump

MORTGAGE agreements have plunged to the lowest level in ten years, according to investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown. Between April and June, the value of mortgages agreed for the coming months halved to £34.3 billion. Some £44.1 billion was lent out — the lowest level since 2013.

Bond bonus

THE Family Building Society has re-launched a rival to National Savings & Investments’s Premium Bonds. Its Windfall Bonds offer savers the chance to win one of 21 cash prizes each month, worth up to £50,000. The bonds pay 0.1pc in interest.

Corona cover

LV= is offering travel cover again, six months after pulling it from the market. Its new offering will cover cancellation claims for Covid-19, medical care costs and if customers have to come home under Government advice.

Council bullies

LOCAL authorities have been accused of aggressive tactics over unpaid council tax. Almost a third of households in England and Wales were issued a court summons in the 2019/20 financial year, and 113 councils have started enforcement proceedings, according to debt help website DebtBuffer.

BT hike

BT CUSTOMERS face price hikes, including an extra £2 and £4 a month for some with BT Sport and TV packages from November 1. An increase of 3.9pc on top of January’s Consumer Price Inflation rate will be applied from March 31 next year across all services. If January’s CPI rate is 2 pc and you currently pay £40 a month, you will be charged £26 a year extra.

Switching offers

HSBC is offering £125 to new customers who switch to its Advance or Premier accounts using the Current Account Switch Service (CASS). You must include a minimum of two direct debits and/ or standing orders within 30 days of the account being opened. Lloyds Bank is offering customers £100 to switch to its Club Lloyds account using CASS by November 9.

Pension planning

MORE than a third of over-50s are not making financial plans until two years before retirement, according to the Money and Pensions Service. This could leave them with a shortfall in income when they retire.