http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mg74/features/wonga-fraud-complaints-continue

Bad debt charges rose for the third consecutive year at rent-to-own retailer BrightHouse, hitting £23.7m for the year ending March 2013. This was a 10% increase on the £21.5m bad debt charge the firm incurred in 2012, according to a results statement for BrightHouse Group that said bad debt fell from 8.1% to 8% of total turnover in the 12 months to March 2013. But a rise in turnover meant on that basis that bad debts stood at £23.7m for 2013 based on annual revenues of £296.9m, a rise on the £21.5m of bad debts incurred in 2012 from revenues of £266.4m. The rise could in part be attributed to increased customer numbers, which climbed to 246,800 in the last year from 227,200 in 2012. BrightHouse also opened 27 new stores during the year to take its total number of stores to 280. The company said demographic analysis had revealed the potential for up to 450 stores in the UK, though there is no timeline for this expansion. In a trading statement, the business said 2013 had been a “challenging environment” due to the pressures on customers from high inflation, low wage growth and uncertainty over employment. “In addition, the government’s much heralded changes to the welfare system have increased uncertainty for a significant portion of BrightHouse customers who are completely or partially reliant upon benefits,” the firm said. “This environment leads consumers to be cautious when purchasing large ticket items for the home and reluctant to extend themselves when signing up to a three-year credit agreement.” Despite the rising bad debt charge the firm, which sells household goods to customers with poor credit histories paid for through weekly instalments, posted rising profits and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). The Group made pre-tax profits of £8.3m for the year, down from £12.4m the previous year, while EBITDA grew by 10.8% to £49.4m in 2012/13 from £44.6m the year before. Leo McKee, chief executive of BrightHouse, said: “BrightHouse has delivered another year of growth in what has been a tough retail environment. “We have continued to focus on delivering exemplary service and meeting the evolving needs of our customers. Our focus on the customer has helped us deliver these results.” Link: http://www.credittoday.co.uk/article/15826/online-news/bad-debt-rise-at-brighthouse

Thames Water has asked its regulator, Ofwat, for permission to raise prices. It wants to put up bills by about £29 per household during 2014-15, but has asked Ofwat if it can spread the rise over more than one year. The company says the rise is needed because of increases in Environment Agency charges and to cover the cost of preparing for the construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel. Ofwat will examine the proposal and make a decision in three months. More...

Started work for a company on 10th June 2010 pay rises are on 1st July every year didn't get the pay rise as they said I wasn't entitled to it as I was a new starter and still have never received that pay rise but have had my yearly pay rises the same as everybody else but people on the same grade as me are being paid more as they got this pay rise. Should I not havebeen entitled to it after I passed my 6 months probation Also could this pay rise be back dated

Hello, I can't find this subject anywhere, so I hope its ok to post it here. I have received a letter from Santander explaining that they did not specifically tell me about the Cap Margin increase, (and, that part of my mortgage was on a fixed rate) I have looked at my statement of 2008 to date. It shows: 1) Details of the early repayment charge 2)The interest rate (SVR) is 5.34% I'm very confused about what I should do (if anything), the gist of the letter is that Santander could have mislead me as the communications sent to me in 2008 may have left me unaware that I could have moved to a better deal offered by another lender. Their letter says that I would need to call them if I have any complaints, I'm slightly unsure about phoning them, as it might be a way of them putting me off making a claim,(if I'm eligible) I would appreciate any constructive advice on this please many thanks

Hi I currently have a problem with a pay rise that i should have received a long time ago. I work in a small team but i currently earn less than the others. I have been told various things i need to achieve before i get my rise. I have hit all the targets that have been asked of me and new ones are added every time i go back. I have just recently hit the last targets and was told i won't be getting a pay rise and they can't say why.... Is this classed as being discriminative?? I have worked 10 years more in the company than others and my work is more productive. Yet i'm still being refused a pay rise to match others. I was promised on each occasion of the meetings that i'd get a rise if i hit the set targets. My boss ignores all my emails requesting my review meetings. So overall i've worked at the company longest, work faster than others paid more in the same job (I have statistics to back everything up) Constantly being denied a pay rise i was promised and being ignored whenever i raise my issues. Is this right and is there anything i can do? Thank you

i know its not a huge rise but wifes on a low wage and isnt happy shes just had a letter to say her contracts going up by 50p a month shes still fixed into a contract, only 9 months into a 2 year contract i assume theres some sort of get out clause for them to put it up even tho its now going to be more than agreed

Women are being urged to check their car insurance ahead of a new rule coming into force next month which will ban firms from taking gender into account. It means female drivers will see their premiums go up by as much as 25% after 21 December. Some insurers say it might even be cheaper to cancel a policy and sign a new deal before the changes come in. More ... It was obvious they would up the womens policy and not lower the mens. This is twice now the government has forced extra profit on insurance companies and forced us to pay more. First was the con of the 'continuous insurance' and now the 'no gender concessions'. Are MPs shareholders in insurance companies, it would seem that way.

Good news is customers will be allowed to leave without any penalties. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/bills/article-2216136/Sky-hikes-line-rental-18--charges-SECOND-time-year.html

The second wettest summer on record has blighted UK harvests and will lead to food price rises, farmers and retailers have warned. Wheat yields in England are down by almost 15% on the five-year average, the National Farmers' Union (NFU) reported, with some areas in the west of England suffering worst from the summer rain. The world price of grain has already been rising in recent months following a heatwave in Russia and the worst drought in 50 years in the US, which destroyed 45% of corn and 35% of the soya bean crop. Read more here :- http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/oct/10/food-prices-rise-wettest-summer?fb=native&CMP=FBCNETTXT9038 Farmers are taking the first hit as feed wheat and compond foods for stock have risen by £50 a tonne this month !!! Lex

Hi guys... Basically, since i upgraded my contract back in march 2011, i have had no signal. I moved a day or two after i upgraded, and my new area has no signal. I called orange, and they basically said "tough sh.." so ive been in contract, paying for the past 16 months for a phone i cannot use. O n 29th may i signed into my account, and found out my price had been increased! - I was not informed of this... apparently texts were sent, but i didnt get one... So, as the text would be stored on Orange systems, I have put a SAR request in... under the DPA, Orange are not entitled to request more information than absolutely necessary in order to process the request... this has been going on since may 29th, and no luck is progressing , ive refered my case to CISAS... what i want to know is Orange has my details, account address, bank details ETC, so therefore my SAR request below would stand correct? below are last few messages... I recieved a letter in the post this morning from orange saying that they want a copy of a utility bill showing my full address (Orange could provide me with this) and a copy of my passport (they are already well aware of my ID) - their letter also states they will not deal with my SAR until i complete their form... which i do not intend to do, but the letter also states "A fee for the sum of £10 made payable to Orange (we are entitled under the DPA to charge a fee of this ammount)" on their actual SAR form it states "Under the DPA 1998 you have the right to ask if we process your personal data and if so to be provided with a copy of that information. Please complete this application form (typed if possible) and return it to us together with a payment of £10 (cheques should be made payable to Everything Everywhere t/a Orange. We will reply within 40 days of reciept of the completed form and fee" now please correct me if i am wrong on my possition that my email started the 40 day limit on 13th June 2012, as i gave them permission to debit my bank / card with the £10 fee... my CISAS complaint does not revolve mainly on the price increase, but the numerous complaints i had with orange for poor broadband service, lack of billing, failure to provide service, and failure to reply to complaints... The CISAS have accepted a previous message from Orange as a "Deadlock letter" as Amanda has stated in it " We are happy for you to seek independant advice on this matter and we will not reply further" but wont actually issue a deadlock letter... I intend to take ORange to Small Claims court, so my SAR (see how detailed my request is below) will be my main weapon against them, with the numerous complaints ETC I filed with them. i also like the fact that orange wont respond to my complaint for lack of service as she cannot "locate my previous correspondance" (totally rude, and absolutely irresponsible in my view)... - but it all goes in my favour with CISAS... I have asked for CISAS to basically give me £120 (contract payments for mobile service not being recieved) and a formal letter of appology from orange for lack of support / reply to complaints, and a termination of my account with no fee. I feel this is well below what i am entitled to. I have put no claim in for damages ETC... so would you guys say this is would go through well? if CISAS cant deal with it appropriately, I will take it to small claims, and the SAR will be key with "Cell Data" showing i have been unablee to use my phone in my home area.