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More than two-fifths (44%) of people in a relationship admit they have hidden sales spending from their partner in the past, according to research carried out ahead of Black Friday.
Men (48%) were more likely than women (41%) to say they had concealed the true extent of their sales spending, according to the survey of 1,300 people in a couple for website TopCashback.
Men were also more likely than women to suspect that their partner had hidden their spending, with 27% of men being doubtful, compared with 19% of women.
Across all age groups, 18 to 24-year-olds were most likely to have kept sales shopping secret, while over-55s, some of whom would perhaps have been in their relationship for longer, were least likely to keep sales shopping secret.
Nearly a quarter (23%) of people who had kept quiet about their spending said this was because it was an impulse purchase, according to the survey carried out by Censuswide in October and November 2023.
Our research found that buying items on a whim is one of the biggest reasons why we keep sales splurges secret from our partners
Adam Bullock, TopCashback
A similar proportion (22%) said they kept quiet because they had been attracted by the discount and did not need the item and a fifth (20%) said it would cause a disagreement because it was an unnecessary purchase.
The survey also indicated that people plan to spend £249 on average in the Black Friday (November 24) and Cyber Monday (November 27) sales this year.
Nearly four in 10 (39%) people who had found out about a partner’s previously hidden purchase said they did not mind when they found out, but a fifth (20%) said it made them anxious and the same proportion (20%) said they lost trust in their partner.
Adam Bullock, UK director at TopCashback said: “Our research found that buying items on a whim is one of the biggest reasons why we keep sales splurges secret from our partners.
“Our advice is to always plan ahead and use the sales as an opportunity to buy something you really want and need at a discounted price.”
The research was released as HSBC UK issued a warning to people to be on their guard against Black Friday-related scams.
Data from HSBC UK indicates purchase scams between July and September resulted in an average loss to victims of £894, with the typical value per case increasing to over £900 in September.
The three-month period between July and September saw the most purchase scams reported so far this year, according to HSBC UK’s data.
Both our own data and that of UK Finance shows that the scourge of purchase scams is growing
David Callington, HSBC UK
David Callington, HSBC UK’s head of fraud, warned: “Month on month, scammers steal millions of pounds through purchase scams, advertising items such as cars, campervans, holidays or tickets to a ‘must see’ concert or sporting event.
“Both our own data and that of UK Finance shows that the scourge of purchase scams is growing, with scammers content to scam more people with lower value items than specifically targeting victims for higher value frauds.
“Scammers are devious criminals who don’t care about the impact of their crime on the financial or mental wellbeing of their victims.”
Here are some tips from HSBC UK on what to watch out for, to avoid being scammed:
– Purchase scams often involve being asked to send money via bank transfer.
– You may be offered a too-good-to-be-true deal or discount or be told there is limited availability to encourage you to act quickly.
– Purchase scams often originate on social media or other online marketplaces, or in some cases through legitimate-looking websites set up by fraudsters.
– Remember to only use websites you trust when shopping online.
– Check the returns and cancellations policy and research the retailer online to make sure they are legitimate.
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The number of mortgages in arrears has jumped as cost-of-living pressures and higher rates on home loans bite, according to a trade association representing lenders.
Some landlords may not be in a position where they can charge rents which will cover their mortgage, UK Finance suggested.
Across the UK, 87,930 homeowner mortgages were in arrears in the third quarter of 2023, 7% more than the previous quarter.
The number of buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages in arrears was 11,540, a 29% increase during the same period.
In particular, interest rate pressures are felt more acutely in the BTL sector, where landlords may not be able to raise rents to cover the increases in their payments
UK Finance report
UK Finance’s report said: “The increases in arrears are driven by the combined impact of both cost-of-living pressures and higher interest rates.
“In particular, interest rate pressures are felt more acutely in the BTL sector, where landlords may not be able to raise rents to cover the increases in their payments.”
UK Finance said mortgage arrears are still running at less than half the levels seen in 2009.
“This reflects the benefits of lender stress tests carried out to ensure borrowers will be able to keep up with their mortgage payments, even if their interest rate rises above those in place when they first took out their mortgages,” the report said.
UK Finance expects the combined number of homeowner and BTL mortgages in arrears to remain below 1% of the total number of mortgaged properties by the end of 2023.
Some 630 homeowner mortgaged properties were repossessed in the third quarter of 2023, 9% fewer than in the previous quarter.
And 450 BTL mortgaged properties were repossessed during the same period, unchanged from the second quarter of 2023.
Lenders have support available to anyone struggling with their mortgage payments.
Anyone worried about making their mortgage payments should contact their bank as soon as they can
Eric Leenders, UK Finance
There are a range of options which will be tailored to customers’ individual circumstances.
If customers need support, or are worried about their finances, they should get in touch with their lender to discuss the options available for their circumstances, UK Finance said.
Some 48 mortgage lenders representing more than 90% of the market have signed up to the Government’s mortgage charter, committing them to additional support for borrowers.
This includes giving customers approaching the end of a fixed-rate mortgage the chance to lock in a deal and request a better like-for-like deal if rates change up to six months ahead, and a guarantee of no repossession within 12 months of a first missed payment.
Eric Leenders, managing director of personal finance at UK Finance, said: “Anyone worried about making their mortgage payments should contact their bank as soon as they can.
It is clear that the 14 consecutive interest rate hikes have hit many landlords hard
Myron Jobson, interactive investor
“All lenders have teams of experts ready to help anyone struggling with their mortgage payments with tailored support. The sooner you get in touch, the more support options your lender will be able to offer. What’s more, reaching out to your bank to find out what support is available won’t affect your credit score.”
Myron Jobson, senior personal finance analyst at interactive investor, said: “It is clear that the 14 consecutive interest rate hikes have hit many landlords hard – especially the smaller ones. Those who haven’t been able to pass on the heightened cost burden to their tenants or cover it out of their own pocket have been forced to have a radical rethink of their business model.
“There have been reports of a growing number of landlords selling up because of the double whammy of higher mortgage rates and also the end of mortgage interest relief since 2020, which has curtailed profitability. The sale of rental property could have a telling impact on the balance of supply and demand in the housing market.”
Craig Fish, director at London-based broker Lodestone Mortgages & Protection, told website Newspage: “The buy-to-let sector has been hit harder than any of late. As if the taxation changes weren’t bad enough, we now have higher interest rates and stress testing causing untold pain.”
Laura Suter, head of personal finance at AJ Bell, said: “It’s reassuring that arrears remain low by historical levels, and the current mortgage charter that lenders have signed up to is preventing these numbers from rising further. The agreement means that those struggling to pay their mortgage can switch to interest only, make part-payments or extend their term.
“However, these are all temporary measures and, as we’re not expecting interest rates to fall any time soon, at some point these homeowners will have to face the reality of higher rates – meaning many will fall into arrears.”
DealsEnergy
09 November 2023, 11:33 am 1 minute
Reuters exclusively reported that Siemens Energy had secured a provisional deal for around 15 billion euros in project-related guarantees from the German government, Siemens AG and commercial banks, marking a breakthrough for the energy equipment maker after weeks of intense discussions.
Shares in Siemens Energy rose 8% on the Reuters report, while Siemens AG, which still holds a 25.1% stake in the former division, also advanced 2.4%. The issue around guarantees has been a major concern for investors fearing that Siemens Energy could lose business as a result.
Article Tags
Topics of Interest: DealsEnergy
Type: Reuters Best
Sectors: Commodities & Energy
Regions: Europe
Countries: Germany
Win Types: Exclusivity
Story Types: Exclusive / Scoop
Media Types: Text
Customer Impact: Significant National Story
“I’m already experiencing self-doubt. But now I want to know if there is anything I can do to cope with this situation.”
Around 100 people were injured Saturday when a cruise ship off the coast of the United Kingdom entered rough seas
Saga Cruises’ Spirit of Discovery ship encountered treacherous conditions Saturday in the U.K.’s Bay of Biscay. The vessel’s automatic safety systems were activated, shifting the boat to one side before it came to a stop, according to the BBC.
A spokesperson for Saga Cruises told the outlet that the ship docked on Monday in Portsmouth, adding that nearly 100 people suffered minor injuries during the ship’s maneuver. The spokesperson said that five people were transported to area hospitals once on land.
The ship had embarked on a 14-day cruise to the Canary Islands, which left on Oct. 24 with around 1,000 people onboard before cruise staff made a decision to turn around and head back to the U.K.
OFFICIALS UPDATE ON CRUISE SHIP CREW MEMBER WHO WENT OVERBOARD
One passenger, Emma Danbury, provided Fox News Digital with a video from her cabin showing waves hitting the ship. (Emma Danbury)
However, one passenger told the BBC that the situation was dire. Another said people “feared for their lives.”
“To say ‘minor injuries’ is an insult to the many horrific broken bones, pelvises, lacerations, stitches etc. that were caused [to] a very old passenger clientele,” the passenger said. “People were writing texts to their loved ones in case we capsized.”
“People were writing texts to their loved ones in case we capsized.”
“The tone of voice in our captain… he was physically scared. We had crew crying. We had many passengers in awful states of fear,” the passenger added.
Jan Bendall, a passenger on the ship, told the BBC that the captain came over the speaker system and told passengers to “remain seated or lie down.”
One passenger, Emma Danbury, provided Fox News Digital with a video from her cabin showing waves hitting the ship.
CRUISE SHIP FALL LEFT VIRGINIA WOMAN FEARING ‘SHE WAS GOING TO DIE’ IN FOREIGN HOSPITAL, DAUGHTER SAYS
Saga cruise’s Spirit of Discovery ship entered rough seas on Saturday in the U.K.’s Bay of Biscay, causing the safety system’s to shift the boat suddenly to the left and come to nearly a stop, according to the BBC. (Emma Danbury)
Bendall said the ship was at a standstill for about 15 hours during the storm, adding that her husband and herself were “holding on for dear life.”
A portion of the dining room was converted into a “makeshift medical area,” Bendall said, adding that passengers were asked to remain in their cabins for a portion of Saturday and all of Sunday.
Alan Grisedale, a passenger on the ship, said “tables were flying” with waves “throwing people around all up and down the place.”
In a statement to the BBC, Saga said there was “very limited” damage to fixtures inside the ship, but it “remained safe at all times.”
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Passengers are seen on upper decks as the Spirit of Discovery, a 58,250 GT cruise ship operating for Saga Cruises, sails the Tagus River after leaving the city’s cruise terminal on August 09, 2023, in Lisbon, Portugal. (Horacio Villalobos/ via Getty Images)
“While the weather is clearly beyond our control, we want to offer our sincere apologies to all those affected who are now safely on their way home in calmer seas,” the spokesperson said.
Fox News Digital reached out to Saga Cruises for comment.
Adam Sabes is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Adam.Sabes@fox.com and on Twitter @asabes10.
Business & FinanceDeals
07 November 2023, 5:23 pm 1 minute
Reuters exclusively reported that Activist investor Elliott Investment Management has built a stake in BioMarin Pharmaceutical (BMRN.O) and has been in discussions with the biotechnology company for months about its future. The hedge fund, which oversees some $60 billion in assets, has spent over $1 billion on the stake in BioMarin, which focuses on rare genetic disorders and is valued at about $16 billion.
BioMarin shares rose 12% to $85.36 on the news in morning trading in New York on Tuesday. Prior to news of Elliott’s engagement, BioMarin shares were down 24% year-to-date, significantly underperforming the iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB.O), which is down 8.6%.
Article Tags
Topics of Interest: Business & FinanceDeals
Type: Reuters Best
Sectors: Business & FinanceMergers & AcquisitionPharmaceuticals & Healthcare
Regions: Americas
Countries: US
Win Types: Exclusivity
Story Types: Exclusive / Scoop
Media Types: Text
Customer Impact: Significant National Story