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<title>ClearStart Video News</title>
<description>Video News articles on finance, debt, IVA, bankruptcy and debt solutions brought to you by ClearStart.</description>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news.html</link>
<copyright>Copyright 2010 ClearStart</copyright>
<language>en-gb</language>
<pubDate>Sun, 05 Sep 2010 08:05:41 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>IVA for negative equity debt trap</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/Debt-Management-Plan/IVA-for-negative-equity-debt-trap-19934406.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Debt advice on options such as an IVA or a Debt Management Plan could benefit those struggling with debt as a new survey predicts that many homeowners face negative equity for years to come.According to research from the National Housing Federation (NHF) people who bought at the peak of the market in 2007 now face another four years before their house is worth as much as the debt taken out against it.It's bad news for those with unsecured debt as it means they may not be able to sell their house to pay off what they owe and are in a precarious position if interest rates start to rise, as many economists have predicted.According to the NHF report the average buyer in England in 2007 paid &pound;216,800 for their home and the Federation believes that they will have to wait until at least 2014 until their property is once again worth the same amount.NHF chief executive David Orr told the BBC &quot;A combination of circumstances in the market have made it very, very difficult for house prices to recover,&quot; &quot;But actually the big problem that we have is that we've created a kind of perfect storm where there is negative equity for some people and they're trapped and can't move, but prices haven't come down enough to make buying a home a realistic option for people in their 20s and 30s in ordinary jobs.&quot;&quot;We really are in danger of pricing people out of owner-occupation.&quot; he said. It comes as separate figures from the Bank of England show that mortgage lending has leveled off with net lending in July totalling just 86 million, a sharp fall compared to the figures for June which totalled 518 million.Speaking to the BBC Brian Murphy of mortgage brokers the Mortgage Advice Bureau said that &quot;The Bank's July mortgage figures offer further evidence of a stabilisation in the level of home loans,&quot; &quot;The October Spending Review — D-Day for consumer confidence — is approaching fast and many prospective borrowers are understandably being cautious.&quot; Whether you have a mortgage or not the recession means that you may have built up other debt on credit cards or through personal loans.If you owe more than &pound;3000 then a Debt Management Plan could be the answer, potentially reducing the interest that you pay and lowering your monthly payments.Even if you owe more than &pound;15,000 then ClearStart has debt solutions that can help.An IVA could resolve your debt problems by letting you pay back what you can afford and getting you debt free within just five years.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>Debt management for false dawn</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/Debt-Management-Plan/Debt-management-for-false-dawn-19933451.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[People in debt could benefit from options such as a Debt Management Plan or an IVA as politicians and economists have warned that the recent economic growth figures may not paint the full picture.According to the latest report by the Office of National Statistics the UK economy grew by 1.2 per cent over the last quarter, the fastest growth for nine years.The ONS had originally forecast growth of just 1.1 per cent for the quarter.However many politicians and experts doubt whether the growth is likely to continue, especially in the face of huge public sector cuts.Speaking in London, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said &quot;I don't know whether that necessarily will be a guide for the next quarter. I think most people expect the water to be a bit choppy, bumpy but hopefully overall upwards,&quot;Meanwhile a spokesman for the Treasury told the BBC that &quot;While the government is cautiously optimistic about the path for the economy, the job is not yet done.&quot;&quot;The priority remains to implement the Budget policies which support economic rebalancing and help ensure the sustained growth that the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast this year and next.&quot;The note of caution was echoed by Graeme Leach, chief economist at the Institute of Directors.&quot;Today's figures are obviously good news, but we shouldn't get carried away,&quot; he said&quot;Instead of looking in the rear view mirror at what has passed, it would be wiser for us to keep our eyes on the road ahead. We don't expect this level of growth to be sustained through the second half of 2010.&quot;&quot;But whether or not this slide will turn into a quarterly decline or a double-dip recession remains highly uncertain.&quot;The uncertainty about the future of the economy was also made clear by figures from the US which showed that the economy there had grown at a slower rate than expected.David Frost, the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, told the BBC that &quot;Clearly the US is a major driver for the global economy. We know that China is performing well, but the US has a fundamental role in driving the economy and any weakness in that will ripple through,&quot; he told the BBC.&quot;So we've got to ensure equally that growth in the US will get back on track.&quot;If you're uncertain about the future of the economy, then maybe it's time to get rid of your debt before things get worse.If you owe over &pound;3000 on credit or store cards, or you have a personal loan, then call ClearStart today to see how our debt solutions, from an IVA to a Debt Management Plan, could get you free of debt and back on a stable financial footing.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<guid>19933451</guid>
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<title>IVA as north south divide narrows</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/Debt-Management-Plan/IVA-as-north-south-divide-narrows-19932246.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[People with debt problems could benefit from debt solutions such an IVA or a Debt Management Plan as new research shows that the South of the country has been hardest hit by the downturn.According to figures from market research firm Datamonitor, in 2006 the number of affluent individuals living in the North grew by 7.7 per cent, compared with just 6.2 per cent in the South, narrowing the gap between the two areas.Michele Gorman, a financial analyst at the firm, said that &quot;It is clear that when it comes to income and assets, the recession does not recognize the North-South divide.&quot;&quot;Although the south is &quot;richer&quot; in terms of the relative size of its affluent population compared with the north, this population has taken more of a beating during the economic downturn, contracting more sharply than the affluent population in the north.&quot;She continued that &quot;Our research has revealed that the South was even more negatively affected than the North by the recession in terms of financial assets and, to some extent, annual income.  One factor could be the high concentration of jobs in the financial service industry in the South.&quot;&quot;However a key question is, as the economy recovers will the divide continue to narrow?  Our forecasts indicated that affluent populations in both the North and the South grew in 2009 but 2010 is slowing as the recession lingers.&quot;It comes as separate research from CCCS found that workers providing &quot;luxury&quot; services, in particular hairdressers, gardeners and taxi drivers were especially hard hit by the economic downturn, making them particularly vulnerable to debt problems.Geoff Waugh from CCCS said that &quot;The economic difficulties of the past few years have meant that a lot of people are carrying out work that they would have previously paid other people to do. This has left many self employed people without work and unable to maintain their debt commitments.&quot;Whether you live in the North or the South, if you're struggling with debt problems because of the recession then ClearStart can help.If you owe more than &pound;3000 then a Debt Management Plan could be the answer, potentially reducing the interest that you pay and lowering your monthly payments.Even if you owe more than &pound;15,000 then ClearStart has debt solutions that can help.An IVA could resolve your debt problems by letting you pay back what you can afford, getting you debt free within just five years.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>IVA solves back to school overspend</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/IVA/IVA-solves-back-to-school-overspend-19932244.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Parents who have overspent kitting their kids out for school could benefit from debt advice on debt solutions such as an IVA or a Debt Management Plan.It comes as research from LV= found that parents in the UK are due to spend around &pound;709 million on back to school preparations.The company calculated that the cost of uniforms, stationary, sportswear and winter coats added up to around &pound;122 per child, rising to &pound;139 for secondary school kids.If you've found that the summer holidays and school preparation have meant that you've built up large amounts of credit card debt, then Debt Free Direct can help.Call now to see how a Debt Management Plan or an IVA can help you to clear what you owe and make sure that you don't get trapped in the credit card debt cycle.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>IVA as poor battered by budget</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/Debt/IVA-as-poor-battered-by-budget-19931516.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Families on low incomes could benefit from debt advice on solutions such as an IVA or a Debt Management Plan as a new study shows that the government's budget will hit them the hardest.The report, carried out by the Institute of Financial Studies (IFS), found that the least well off were most affected by the budget cuts, leaving the rich less affected. The IFS report said that &quot;The biggest losers from the Budget are low income households of working age, while better off working age households without children lose the least.&quot; &quot;Low income pensioners are less affected than other poor groups from welfare cuts, but richer pensioners lose more than richer households of working age as they do not benefit from the increased [income tax] allowance.&quot;&quot;Once all of the benefit cuts are considered, the tax and benefit changes announced in the emergency Budget are clearly regressive as, on average, they hit the poorest households more than those in the upper middle of the income distribution in cash, let alone percentage, terms.&quot;Defending the government's budget, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that the study was &quot;by definition partial&quot;.He added &quot;If you just look at who is receiving benefits then, in a sense, you don't ask the most important question of all, which is how you can relieve poverty and make Britain fairer by getting people off benefits and into work.&quot; However others were quick to disagree and Shadow Chancellor Alistair Darling retorted that &quot;Just last week George Osborne told us that his Budget was 'fair'.&quot; &quot;But it is decisions, not warm words, that count. Today there's conclusive evidence that far from being fair, the coalition has hit the poorest hardest, especially those with children.&quot;The IFA also rejected accusations that it's report was one sided &quot;Low-income households of working age lose the most as a proportion of income from the tax and benefit reforms announced in the emergency Budget.&quot;&quot;Those who lose the least are households of working age without children in the upper half of the income distribution.&quot; &quot;They do not lose out from cuts in welfare spending, and they are the biggest beneficiaries from the increase in the income tax personal allowance.&quot; If you're worried about the future and you already have large amounts of debt then ClearStart can help. Call now to see how an IVA or a Debt Management Plan could help to get rid of your debt and let you start facing the future with confidence.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>Debt Management for finance squeeze</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/IVA/Debt-Management-for-finance-squeeze-19930618.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Families could increasingly benefit from debt advice on solutions such as an IVA or a Debt Management Plan as new research reveals that household finances continued to come under pressure in August. According to the Household Finance Index from market researchers Markit and YouGov, 30 per cent of households said that their finances had deteriorated significantly compared to the month before, with only 6 per cent saying that they had improved. The research, which questioned 2000 households, also found that people were getting more and more worried about unemployment and the increased cost of living. It comes as the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) survey showed that the spending power of families was falling and was down 2.5 per cent since last year. It also found that the average household in the UK had only &pound;175 of discretionary income a week in July this year, compared to &pound;180 the same time last year. Tim Moore an economist at Markit said there were signs that &quot;the renewed bout of employment concerns has reverberated beyond the public sector&quot;. He added that &quot;Stronger growth in the UK economy has done little to put a floor under the downturn in household finances. [They] continue to suffer from a backdrop of squeezed disposable income, stubbornly high inflation and ongoing public sector spending cuts.&quot; There was more bad news for families that have borrowed money as a leading think tank warned that the Bank of England base rate could hit 8 per cent, something which personal finance website Moneyfacts claims could trigger mortgage rates of up to 14 per cent. It could also have a major affect on unsecured borrowing as well. Darren Cook of Moneyfacts added &quot;I would hate to think what overdraft, credit cards and personal loan interest rates will look like at the same time&quot;. If you have large amounts of unsecured borrowing on credit cards or personal loans and you're worried about the squeeze on household finances then ClearStart can help. Our professional Debt Advisers can make sure that rising interest rates don't catch you out by talking you through our full range of Debt Solutions. If you owe more than &pound;3000 then a Debt Management Plan can help to reduce the amount of interest you pay and make it easier to clear your debt. If you owe more than &pound;15,000 then an IVA may be the best solution, allowing you to only pay what you can afford and getting you completely debt free in as little as five years time. So whatever your debt situation, call ClearStart now and let us help you to get rid of your debt, so that you can start concentrating on the future instead.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>IVA as experts fear 'debt boom'</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/IVA/IVA-as-experts-fear-%27debt-boom%27-19929968.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[People borrowing on credit cards should consider an IVA or a Debt Management Plan as new research has indicated that Britain may be on the edge of a 'debt boom'.Despite widespread fears about the threat of a double-dip recession due to planned government cuts, credit card companies have begun to offer even cheaper deals to customers. A report in the Daily Telegraph has indicated that some credit card companies are now offering even cheaper unsecured debt than was available before the credit crunch hit, sometimes for periods of over a year. However once the introductory period runs out the interest rate on the debt can skyrocket, leaving many households struggling to make the repayments. The research also found that it was not only introductory rates that the banks were using to try and lure customers into debt, but that they were also offering cash rebates and interest-free &quot;balance-transfer&quot; deals to encourage those already in debt to move what they owed onto other cards.Martin Lewis, from consumer website moneysavingexpert.com, said that credit card customers had to be extremely careful &quot;Debt is like fire, used well it is a great tool, used badly you'll get burned,&quot; he said.&quot;The worst thing to do with a credit card is to use it to fill the gaps your income does not meet each month, that will see borrowings constantly grow and can leave you in a debt spiral.&quot;Kevin Mountford, from moneysupermarket.com, added: &quot;While interest-free periods may be getting longer, the sting in the tail is that the rates of interest charged once they end are also increasing.&quot;If you've been tempted by the banks into building up credit card debt, don't live with crippling repayments that you can't afford. ClearStart has a range of Debt Solutions that could get rid of what you owe so call now and let our professional Debt Advisers talk you through all the options. If you owe more than &pound;3000 then a Debt Management Plan can stop letters from creditors and lower your monthly repayments. If you owe more than &pound;15,000 then an IVA can not only reduce your monthly repayments, but can actually completely eliminate your debt in as little as five years. So if you have large amounts of unsecured debt, stop switching it between cards and start tackling the problem. Call ClearStart today and let us help you to get Debt Free.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>Debt Management for high costs</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/IVA/Debt-Management-for-high-costs-19929256.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Homeowners should consider debt advice on option such as an IVA or a Debt Management Plan as increased mortgage costs are likely to make it harder for them to meet repayments on their unsecured debt.According to a report in the Daily Telegraph high street lenders are not passing on the benefits of historically low interest rates to their customers and instead are using the difference to increase their profits. This is especially true for fixed-rate mortgages which have seen a large increase in the difference between the base rate and the amount charged.Just two years ago the difference between the rate at which banks borrowed money and the rate that they lent it out to customers wanting fixed-rate mortgages was 1.28 per cent.Now the difference between the two rates is 3.29 per cent, the highest since records began over 20 years ago according to personal finance website Moneyfacts.It is making life hard for those struggling to pay their monthly bills and is especially difficult for those trying to repay credit or store card debt as well.According to housing minister Grant Shapps &quot;Banks have enjoyed unprecedented support from the taxpayer and so it is important that they step in for the aspirational home owner with reasonable rates as the economy recovers.&quot;Speaking to the Daily Telegraph Melanie Bien, of Private Finance, a mortgage broker, said: &quot;Home owners will be wondering why banks are already making such big profits when it was only recently that they needed us to bail them out.&quot; &quot;With the cost of living rising and incomes falling, borrowers are hard pushed and more help from lenders in the form of lower mortgage rates would not go amiss.&quot; If you are struggling with household bills because of expensive unsecured debt repayments, then call ClearStart today to see how our straight-talking debt advice can help. If you owe over &pound;3000, then a Debt Management Plan may be the most appropriate debt solution, allowing you to take control of your debt and pay it off in a more manageable way. If you owe above &pound;15,000 then other debt solutions such as an IVA may be more appropriate. An IVA allows you to consolidate your debt into one, lower monthly payment and become completely debt free within just five years. Whatever your debt situation, ClearStart's friendly, professional advisers are standing by to help you get to grips with your debt.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>IVA, not kids, for debt solution</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/Debt-Advice/IVA%2C-not-kids%2C-for-debt-solution-19929257.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[People in debt may be wise to seek advice on all the available solutions, such as an IVA or a Debt Management Plan, as new research has found that grown-up children are increasingly lending money to their parents.According to research carried out by YouGov on behalf of Scottish Widows, thousands of adults have lent their parents cash during the recession, with one in ten saying they had recently helped out and nearly half saying that they made a contribution last year. The study also found that the average amount that had been lent out was &pound;8250 compared to &pound;6500 only two years ago and that more than a third of parents used the money to pay off debt.However the report warned that young people could leave themselves exposed to debt by lending to parents, as 29 per cent had to dip into savings or investments and more than a third believe that they will have to lend their parents more in the future.Iain McGowan, savings expert at Scottish Widows, said: &quot;The 'bank of mum and dad' is calling in its debts and sapping more money than ever from their children. It is likely more parents will have to ask their kids for money in the future, particularly parents who are near to retirement and are struggling to put enough money aside.&quot; &quot;It's no surprise that significant holes are left in parents' finances and these will need to be filled in somehow, whether by sapping funds back from their children or by other means. This reinforces the need for parents and children to plan their finances and start preparing as soon as possible.&quot; If you're struggling to meet household bills and you do not want to ask your children for help, then call ClearStart today to see how our straight-talking debt advice can explain the other options. If you owe over &pound;3000 then a Debt Management Plan may be the most appropriate debt solution, allowing you to take control of your debt and pay it off in a more manageable way. If you owe above &pound;15,000 then other debt solutions, such as an IVA, may be more appropriate. An IVA allows you to consolidate your debt into one, lower monthly payment and could even get you completely debt free within just five years. Whatever your debt situation, ClearStart's friendly, professional advisers are standing by to help you get to grips with your debt situation so call now and start enjoying life again.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>Debt management as lending slows</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/IVA/Debt-management-as-lending-slows-19928611.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[People with large amounts of debt should look into debt solutions such as an IVA or a Debt Management Plan as lenders predict a slowdown in the housing market. It comes as the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) predicts that the mortgage market is likely to slow through the rest of 2010. The latest figures from the organisation found that new lending in July amounted to &pound;13.6 billion of mortgage debt, down from nearly &pound;14 billion lent in the same month last year. Although the figure was five per cent higher than the amount of lending for June, many experts think that the rest of the year will be subdued.  Paul Sater, an economist with CML said that &quot;It is difficult to see anything other than a slow market for the rest of this year as underlying activity remains subdued.&quot;  However he also said that for most home owners, the situation is not that bleak. &quot;The vast majority of households continue to pay their mortgages in full every month, and many have benefited from the record low interest rates. This looks set to continue for some time yet. While there are a range of risks to the outlook, low rates will further help most stay on top of their finances.&quot; However once the rates do start to rise those with mortgages will find that their repayments are likely to increase, with the situation likely to be especially difficult for those that also have unsecured debt. It also means that things are very difficult for those trying to get onto the housing ladder. Andrew Montlake, of mortgage broker Coreco, told the BBC that the home loan landscape was &quot;by no means close to returning to normal&quot;.  &quot;Mortgage lending criteria have toughened, making it difficult for borrowers, particularly the self-employed and first-time buyers who are struggling to obtain the borrowing they require,&quot; he said. &quot;Consumer demand will begin to rise again after the traditional summer lull, with buyers keen to take advantage of low interest rates and a softening of house prices, but I would expect the rest of the year to remain pretty subdued as lenders continue to err on the side of caution.&quot;  Even if the mortgage lenders are tightening their criteria, it is still easy to get hold of unsecured debt on credit cards or through personal loans. If you owe more than &pound;3000 then call ClearStart now to see how our experienced Debt Advisers can help. With one of our Debt Solutions, such as an IVA or a Debt Management Plan, you could get rid of your debt and start getting on with your life.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>Debt advice as females paid less</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/IVA/Debt-advice-as-females-paid-less-19928612.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Females in debt should seek professional advice on solutions such as an IVA or a Debt Management Plan as new research shows that women may have to wait more than 50 years until their pay equals that of men. The survey, carried out by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) questioned almost 50,000 managers in more than 200 companies and discovered that there were still large pay gaps between males and females. On average the survey found that female managers earned &pound;10,000 less than male managers. It also predicted that women faced a 57 year wait until their take-home pay equalled that of their male colleagues. CMI head of policy Petra Wilton said: &quot;Girls born this year will face the probability of working for around 40 years in the shadow of unequal pay.&quot; &quot;We want to see government take greater steps to enforce pay equality by monitoring organisations more closely and naming and shaming those who fail to pay male and female staff fairly.&quot; &quot;It's not just government that needs to act. Competitive businesses need to attract diverse workforces and appeal to the most talented employees.&quot; &quot;To do this, managers and employers need to recruit from a wide talent pool, but they cannot expect to attract the UK's best female talent if they continue to undervalue it.&quot; A spokesman for the Equality and Human Rights Commission said that &quot;Forty years after the Equal Pay Act, women can still expect to earn less than 85p for every pound their male colleagues earn. In some sectors the pay gap is far worse.&quot; &quot;Our research shows the causes for this persistent gap remain stereotyping women's capabilities and skills, women bearing the brunt of caring responsibilities, and discrimination in pay systems.&quot; &quot;The commission has been working with the business sector, trades unions and others to develop a consistent and transparent way to measure the gender pay difference in organisations which we believe will provide a significant impetus to addressing the gender pay gap.&quot; Whether you are male or female, if you're finding that your pay is insufficient to meet the repayments on your credit or store card debt, then ClearStart can help. We have a range of debt solutions that can get rid of what you owe and get you back on the financial straight and narrow. If you owe more than &pound;3000 then a Debt Management Plan may well be the best answer and can lower your monthly repayments and get creditors off of your back. If you owe more than &pound;15,000 then an IVA can help you to completely eliminate your debt within just five years.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>Debt Management for benefit cuts</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/IVA/Debt-Management-for-benefit-cuts-19927911.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Millions of people struggling to pay bills or make debt repayments may have to turn to a debt solution such as an IVA or a Debt Management Plan as the government reviews its spending on 'universal benefits'. Payments such as child benefit and winter fuel allowances have been dubbed by some as 'middle class benefits' as they are not means tested and so in some cases are available to those that do not need them. However according to the BBC a source has said that such payments could well be frozen after the comprehensive spending review in October. Another option may be to taper the payments so that while everybody still gets them, the poorest will get the most and the richest the least. However Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg refused to outline the government's plans and said that the suggestions were pure speculation. &quot;We are engaged as a government in a collective effort to get this right to both make savings to the welfare bill and to create a simpler, fairer welfare system that, above all, gets people into work.&quot; he said. Adding that &quot;Sometimes I wish we could get the comprehensive spending round done in a day so that we could deal with all of the fears that are raised.&quot; However the government has already decided to raise the age at which the winter fuel allowance is payable from 60 to 65 and has not ruled out bringing that change forward. A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman told that BBC that they refused to give a &quot;running commentary&quot; on the coalitions plans stating that  &quot;The qualifying age for winter fuel payments for men and women is rising in line with the increase in women's state pension age.&quot; &quot;This is a gradual process. Under the current system women's state pension age is rising from 60 to 65 between April 2010 and April 2020. We have launched a call for evidence on raising state pension age to 66 and will publish our response in the autumn.&quot; If you're concerned that cuts to benefits like child credit could mean that you struggle to repay your debt then ClearStart can help. If you owe more than &pound;3000 then talk to our debt advisers to find out how a Debt Management Plan can help to get your finances back on track. If you owe more than &pound;15,000 then an IVA from ClearStart could help you to become debtfree within just five years.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>IVA debt help for 'choppy' recovery</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/IVA/IVA-debt-help-for-%27choppy%27-recovery-19927217.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[People with debt are being warned to seek debt advice to find out about solutions such as a Debt Management Plan or an IVA, as the Chancellor has warned that the recovery is likely to be choppy. George Osborne made the remark in a speech to the City ahead of the government's comprehensive spending review this autumn, which is likely to see cuts of around 25 per cent made across nearly all departments as the coalition sets out to target the country's &pound;155 billion budget deficit. However Mr. Osborne rejected accusations that the public spending cuts were jeopardising the country's economic recovery.   &quot;There are some political opponents who claim that in setting out our decisive plans to deal with the deficit we have a taken a gamble with Britain's economy.&quot; he said. &quot;In fact the reverse is true. The gamble would have been not to act, to put Britain's reputation at risk, and to leave the stability of the economy to the vagaries of the bond market, assuming investors around the world would continue to tolerate the largest budget deficit in the G20.&quot;   Bur shadow Chancellor Alistair Darling disagreed, saying that &quot;The Budget George Osborne introduced in June will result in people from lower-income groups suffering more.&quot; &quot;The problem that George Osborne has is that this government is slowly and surely being defined by cuts.&quot; &quot;He's trying to disguise that by talking about fairness... If you hit growth and jobs, that will result in unfairness.&quot;The General Secretary of the TUC Brendon Barber also criticised the Chancellor's approach &quot;His spending cuts are hitting the most vulnerable, his one big tax rise was VAT - the unfairest tax of all - and his economic policies are bearing down on the young, trapped between unemployment and an education sector with not enough places.&quot; &quot;Meanwhile, those in banks and finance who caused the recession are back collecting their bonuses and celebrating their biggest windfall, their escape from being asked to make a proper tax contribution to clearing up the mess they made.&quot; If you are worried that the huge public spending cuts could worsen your debt problems then call ClearStart today to see how our debt advice can help. We're specialists in helping people to deal with a build up of unsecured debt such as credit cards and personal loans and we can offer a range of debt solutions that can help to get you debt free. If you owe more than &pound;3000 then a Debt Management Plan may be the most effective solution. If you owe more than &pound;15,000, then an IVA from ClearStart could help you to completely eliminate your debt rather than just trying to scrape by.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title>IVA could help with expensive debt</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/IVA/IVA-could-help-with-expensive-debt-19926513.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Millions of people in desperate financial need could benefit from debt advice on solutions such as an IVA or a Debt Management Plan as new research shows that more people are turning to expensive debt in the form of payday loans. According to a study by Consumer Focus the number of people turning to the emergency form of debt has quadrupled over the last four years. The report estimated that the number of people using payday loans has increased fourfold since 2006 and now stands at 1.2 million people, who between them have borrowed a combined 1.2 billion pounds. The charges on payday loans can be extremely expensive, typically ranging from &pound;13-&pound;18 interest for every &pound;100 borrowed, right up to &pound;30 for every &pound;1000 borrowed with some online companies. In terms of APR the rates can work out at a staggering 1000%-2000% a year. Worryingly the research found that the average payday loan borrower took out 3.5 loans a year, suggesting that many people with debt problems were becoming dependent on this kind of high interest borrowing. As an example of how expensive it could be the study noted that if a payday loan cost &pound;20 for every hundred pounds borrowed, then a &pound;300 loan rolled over for just six months could quickly build up to a debt of &pound;660. Marie Burton, financial services specialist at Consumer Focus, said that &quot;With the credit crunch, demand for short term borrowing has significantly increased despite the eye-watering interest rates charged by some payday lenders.&quot; &quot;Such expensive rates can leave consumers who defer payments, or take out repeat loans, caught in a debt trap.&quot;&quot;These products are controversial, but we don't agree with calls for them to be banned. Outlawing payday loans could leave some borrowers vulnerable to illegal loan sharks.&quot; &quot;Instead we need sensible safeguards now to stop borrowers becoming dependent on this high cost credit and prevent even more stringent controls being needed in the future.  We also need banks to provide alternative short-term credit to suit the needs of cash-strapped consumers.&quot;If you are struggling month to month and have turned to unsecured borrowing, for example on credit cards or through personal loans then ClearStart can help you to get debt free.If you owe more than &pound;3000 on unsecured loans then ClearStart can negotiate with the people you owe money to and try and lower your repayments. As well as Debt Management Plans we can offer other debt solutions such as an IVA or a Debt Relief Order, or if necessary just give you clear, professional advice. So call ClearStart today to see how we can help you get rid of your debt and let you live a life without the burden of debt hanging over you.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<guid>19926513</guid>
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<title>Debt advice for helpful parents</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/Debt-Management-Plan/Debt-advice-for-helpful-parents-19925815.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Parents of students could need Debt Advice, or even a solution such as a Debt Management Plan, as new research predicts that their children could be liable for an average of &pound;25,000 worth of debt. A new survey from university research experts Push said that the financial strain of university, likely to be shared with parents, amounts to around &pound;5600 for every year of study. If supporting your child through further education is proving difficult and has led to extra borrowing then ClearStart can help. If you owe over &pound;3000 on credit or store cards then our debt advisers can give you information on all the options available, from a Debt Management Plan to an IVA, that can help you to get clear of debt.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<guid>19925815</guid>
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<title>Debt Management for wasted cash</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/Debt-Management-Plan/Debt-Management-for-wasted-cash-19925817.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[People in debt difficulties could benefit from debt advice on solutions such as an IVA or a Debt Management Plan as a new survey has found that Britons waste millions of pounds unnecessarily. A study by MSN money has found that carelessness and neglect are costing individuals in the UK huge sums of money, something that may lead to a build up of unsecured debt on credit cards.In all the report found that things like losing mobile phones, putting the wrong type of petrol in the car and forgetting travel tickets cost Britons a total of around &pound;4.4 billion each year.If wasted cash, or just everyday living, has left you with expensive, unsecured debt repayments, then call ClearStart today to see how our straight-talking debt advice can help. Our range of debt solutions such as an IVA or a Debt Management Plan can help wipe out what you owe, so that you can get on with your life.]]></description>
<pubDate>Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<guid>19925817</guid>
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<title>IVA before repossessions increase</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/IVA/IVA-before-repossessions-increase-19925133.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[People with large unsecured debts on top of their mortgages could benefit from a Debt Management Plan or an IVA as experts warn that arrears and repossessions are likely to get worse in the future. It comes even though the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has announced that the number of properties repossessed in the second quarter of 2010 has fallen once again. There were 9400 repossessions this quarter, 400 fewer than last quarter. There also appeared to be good news when it came to mortgage arrears with the number of loans that were in arrears to the value of 2.5 per cent of their overall balance falling by 17 per cent compared to the same time last year. However the CML warned that the headline figures may well mask the true picture of what is going on behind the scenes rather than reflecting the reality of the situation.  CML director general Michael Coogan said &quot;Mortgage difficulties have so far been contained at lower levels than we expected at the start of the year, and by comparison to the 1990s recession.&quot; &quot;However, the safety net for borrowers is weakened by the prospect of higher interest rates, a possible rise in unemployment, a counter-productive stigma hanging over mortgage payment protection insurance, uncertainty over future debt advice funding, reduced government support for mortgage payments, and mortgage rescue schemes being reviewed as part of the deficit reduction plan.&quot; &quot;While we don't want to cry wolf, it seems obvious that the ongoing prognosis for arrears and possessions is far from a healthy all-clear. We hope the coalition government will not risk undermining the chances of extending the welcome trends this year by removing support mechanisms that work.&quot;If you worry that having to make large payments towards credit or store card debt could leave you struggling to make your mortgage payments then call ClearStart today to see how our debt solutions can help to reduce them.If you owe more than &pound;3000 on unsecured loans then ClearStart can negotiate with the people you owe money to and try and lower your repayments. As well as Debt Management Plans we can offer other debt solutions such as an IVA or a Debt Relief Order or if necessary just give you clear, professional advice. So get in touch with ClearStart today to see how we can help you to get rid of your debt and let you get on with your life.]]></description>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<guid>19925133</guid>
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<title>Debt Management for bank warnings</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/IVA/Debt-Management-for-bank-warnings-19924391.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Warnings of economic trouble ahead could mean that those with debt problems should seriously consider a debt solution such as a Debt Management Plan or an IVA.  It comes as the Bank of England has revised its predictions regarding the growth of the economy and the level of inflation. New forecasts suggest that the country now faces a weaker recovery and higher levels of inflation than previously predicted. The bank has now downgraded its figures for expected growth in the economy to just 3 per cent, down from the 3.5 per cent it predicted previously. The most recent figures from June put the UK's inflation rate at 3.2 per cent, well above the banks target inflation rate of 2 per cent. The Retail Price Index measure, which takes into account housing costs, stands at an even higher 5 per cent. Mervyn King, the Governor of the Bank of England said that &quot;It will take many years before bank balance sheets and fiscal positions return to anything like normal.&quot; &quot;In the meantime they will act as headwinds to the recovery. But continuing monetary stimulus and the earlier depreciation of sterling will act as tailwinds.&quot; &quot;Looking ahead, the UK economy is facing a major rebalancing away from private and public consumption and towards net exports. Achieving that rebalancing, while confronting those headwinds, is likely to mean a choppy recovery.&quot; While many people fear that the difficulties ahead could threaten a double dip recession, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne, speaking to BBC Radio 4, did his best to reassure &quot;The reality is that it's very unusual that there is a double-dip recession in economic history and there are a lot of forces that are working to sustain the recovery.&quot; &quot;We've got good export growth. We've had a recent report on manufacturing. I'm delighted to say the government is really keen on manufacturing.&quot;However the news caused a dramatic fall on the stock markets as the FTSE tumbled by 1.7 per cent. It also lead to a severe weakening of the pound against the dollar. If you have large amounts of debt on credit or store cards then it may be worth seeking debt advice now to see how you can clear what you owe, before interest rates go up or the economy gets worse. A Debt Management Plan can help those who owe more then &pound;3000 to take control of their debt and consolidate their payments into a single, affordable monthly sum.An IVA may be the most suitable solution for those that owe over &pound;15,000 and could completely eliminate your debt within just five years. However much you owe, don't let the situation get out of control. Call ClearStart now and see how our friendly, professional debt advice can get you free of debt so that you can start to enjoy life again.]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<guid>19924391</guid>
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<title>IVA helps clear debt as dip looms</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/IVA/IVA-helps-clear-debt-as-dip-looms-19923618.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[People struggling with debt may be forced to turn to a debt solution such as an IVA or a Debt Management Plan as new figures have found that there is &quot;increasing uncertainty&quot; over the future of the economy. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), house prices are beginning to fall as fears of a double dip recession erode price rises created by a lack of supply. According to the report this month eight per cent more surveyors reported a fall rather than a rise in prices, the lowest reading since a year ago when 16 per cent reported similar falls. It's a quick turn around as just last month eight per cent more surveyors reported rising rather than falling prices. The demand for new properties, which is measured by the amount of new buyers making enquiries, has fallen for the second month in a row. It's thought that difficulty in securing mortgages and an increasing cautious outlook from consumers is contributing to the trend.  RICS spokesperson Ian Perry said that &quot;The fall in the RICS house price measure is broadly consistent with most other recent data that has been released. This is a reflection of both the increase in supply following the scrapping of HIPS and the more cautious stance from buyers.&quot; &quot;Significantly, the forward looking price expectations numbers suggest that this softer trend will continue through the second half of the year. However, agents are still generally optimistic about sales activity which should benefit from more realistic pricing of properties.&quot; A double-dip recession could lead to severe debt problems for those that find themselves overexposed with big loans. If you owe a significant amount on credit cards, store cards or on personal loans, then get in touch with ClearStart today to see how our debt solutions could help you to get your finances in order before the economy gets any worse.If you owe more than &pound;3000 then a Debt Management Plan can help you to come up with a sensible and affordable repayment scheme and help you to stop letters from creditors. If you owe more than &pound;15,000 then an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) will freeze the interest that you are paying and get you completely clear of debt within just five years.  For those that live in Scotland a Protected Trust Deed is similar to an IVA and could be the solution that you are looking for. Whatever your current situation, if you owe a significant amount in unsecured debt then call ClearStart today and let us take the stress away and help you to get back on track.]]></description>
<pubDate>Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<guid>19923618</guid>
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<title>IVA to prepare for job cuts</title>
<link>http://www.clearstart.co.uk/debt-video-news/IVA/IVA-to-prepare-for-job-cuts-19922825.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Many households could face Debt Problems and need Debt Advice on options such as a Debt Management Plan or an IVA as new research predicts that the UK job market is likely to plummet back to mid-recession levels of redundancies. A study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has found that a third of employers are planning to make redundancies over the next three months, that's up by 29 per cent from the spring quarter and 26 per cent from the winter quarter. As well as a larger proportion of companies expecting to make redundancies, the paper also discovered that those planning to make cuts also aimed to cut a greater proportion of their workforce than was previously the case.The big split in employers was between the public and the private sector with the employment index indicating a +19 employment intention in the private sector with a -35 for the public sector.Gerwyn Davies, public policy adviser at the CIPD and report author, said: &quot;The employment situation looks like a case of the good, the bad and the ugly.Most striking this time is that, while the number of employers planning to make redundancies is similar to that in the spring report, this trend masks the true extent of forthcoming job losses in the third quarter of the year; as the proportion of the workforce that will be affected by these redundancy programmes has jumped by 50 per cent.&quot; &quot;This is being driven chiefly by public-sector organisations, where redundancies will affect almost 8 per cent of the workforce.&quot;Davies added that a rise in unemployment in the next two years &quot;remains a distinct possibility&quot; as the private-sector recovery is offset by the 600,000 public-sector job losses expected by the government over the next five years.Alan Downey, head of public sector at KPMG, added: &quot;Managers in the public sector have woken up to the scale of the financial crisis that they face, and many are now contemplating redundancy programmes. Surprisingly, some are still intending to recruit, albeit at a reduced pace.&quot; If increased redundancies could spell financial disaster for your family then maybe its time to get debt advice before it is too late. If you owe a significant amount of unsecured debt, such as credit, store cards or personal loans, then ClearStart could help you to reduce your repayments and clear the amount you owe. A Debt Management Plan can help those who owe over &pound;3000 to take control of their debt and get it paid off much more easily. An IVA, suitable for those that owe more than &pound;15,000, can help make your repayments more manageable and could get you debt free within just five years. However much you owe, Clearstart's friendly, professional advisers can help, so call now and make sure you get your finances back on track.]]></description>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
<guid>19922825</guid>
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