Money
Navigate your finances and money with confidence: investment, savings tips, and economic trends from Creative Media News.
How to find out whether you were affected by 1.7 million credit card leak after hackers infiltrate payment processing provider
Almost 1.7 million individuals in the United States and Canada may have compromised their information in a massive credit card database breach. Slim CD, a Florida-based payment processor, is emailing clients to notify them that their information may have been accessed between August 2023 and June 2024. The company supplies merchants with software systems that allow them to accept any electronic payment, both online and in-person, using various devices.
Aston Martin’s £330k V12 Vanquish is their fastest road car ever
Aston Martin has unveiled its fastest-ever production car, the new £330,000 'howling' Vanquish, which boasts a top speed of well over 200mph. The historic British sports car manufacturer believes the resurrection of the famed Vanquish name and a strong, politically incorrect V12 engine will be used to maintain some old-school 'halo' model for the brand in an electrified generation. It is also technically the first new car launched under the reign of new Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark, who joined from Bentley and officially took up his new position on Sunday.
House prices will rise 2.5% in 2024, but a housing surplus will limit expansion
According to Zoopla, house prices are on track to conclude the year 2.5 percent higher than when it began, although sellers are still advised not to set unrealistic asking prices. It represents a more optimistic forecast from the property marketplace, which expected a 2% price drop. The property website stated that house prices increased by 1.4% in the first seven months of 2024, compared to 0.1% the previous year.
Why are over-60s self-employed and working after retirement?
According to studies, the number of adults over the age of 60 who work for themselves has hit a record high of about one million. According to research conducted by Rest Less, a digital community for over 50s, there are around 4.3 million self-employed workers. While the number of self-employed workers aged 50 and up has increased since 2021, those in their 60s have established a new record high.
PwC fined £15 million for fraud at London Capital & Finance
PWC has been fined £15 million for failing to warn about alleged fraud at London Capital & Finance (LCF). The auditor is the first accounting company to be penalised by the City authority. The Financial Conduct Authority's inquiry discovered that while working on the minibond company's 2016 accounts, PWC's audit team discovered several red lights but neglected to notify the regulator.
More mortgage rate cuts as Nationwide offers 3.83%
Major lenders continue to cut mortgage rates daily, with Nationwide launching a new market-best purchase tomorrow. The building society is preparing a five-year fixed rate of 3.83 per cent, the lowest mortgage available from any lender. It applies to both new and existing Nationwide customers who are moving house. It costs £1,499. The mortgage has a 4.1 percent interest rate if no fees are paid.
Fifth Banksy mural in five days over Walthamstow chip shop
On Friday morning, the silhouette of two pelicans, one of which was devouring a fish, appeared above Bonners Fish Bar in Walthamstow, northeast London. A fifth Banksy painting has surfaced above a fish and chip shop in London, following four verified by the artist in various parts of the city earlier this week.
I checked my bank statements using a VR headset—is NatWest’s new VR app the future of banking?
As I looked around the room, I noticed lists of the most detailed bank account records suspended in the air in front of me. There are thousands of transactions made in the last year. Welcome to the brave new world of banking, where you can apply for a mortgage agreement in principle with the flick of a wrist in ten minutes. I'm visiting NatWest's headquarters in Liverpool Street, London, to try out the company's new virtual reality (VR) banking app, which launched two weeks ago. Through the VR headset's goggles, a variety of bank statements, direct debits, and account balances appear in the centre of my field of vision. The centre of the screen appears identical to NatWest's iPad app.
The savings account offers 10% interest! Virgin Money launched a top deal
Virgin Money has launched a regular saver with an eye-catching double-digit interest rate. Savers can save a maximum of £250 each month in the account. You can keep additional money in the account, but you will not earn interest on anything over £250. A saver who deposits £250 into this account every month for 12 months will have £3,162.40 by the end of the term, with £162.40 in interest.
Half a million taxpayers to get HMRC ‘tax demand’ letter: What to do if you acquire one
According to a renowned tax firm, ignoring a 'tax demand' notice from HMRC could result in significant penalties for over half a million taxpayers. According to HMRC's calculations, 560,000 people will receive straightforward tax assessments for the fiscal year 2023/24 in the coming weeks. Simple assessment letters will be sent to those who owe income tax that cannot be automatically deducted from their earnings, owe HMRC £3,000 or more, or must pay tax on their state pension.
Starbucks’ app crashes, causing millions of Americans’ morning commute coffee woes
Starbucks is closed for Americans countrywide, preventing people from getting a coffee before heading to work. DownDetector, a website that tracks digital difficulties, reports that the app went down about 8:30 a.m. ET. Other followers have noticed difficulties with the coffee giant's website, implying that mobile orders are not accepted.
First-time buyers have eight months to beat stamp duty increases or pay thousands extra
First-time buyers have eight months to take advantage of the current stamp duty land tax regulations and save hundreds of pounds on home purchases. A first-time buyer pays no stamp duty on a home worth up to £425,000. If their residence is more expensive, they only pay tax greater than £425,000. However, this ceiling, which has been at its present level since 2022, is set to return to the previous barrier of £300,000 in April 2025.