Financial news

• Philip Green tries to stop Topshop group falling like a house of cards

  04-05-2019 17:00 via theguardian.com
  After the failure of restructuring plans, the owner of the Arcadia brands is at the mercy of landlords and pension fund trusteesSir Philip Green is battling to rescue his Topshop empire from collapse and time is running out.The billionaire’s Arcadia group, which employs about 19,000 people, is desperate to secure a rescue restructure that will involve the closure of about 50 of the group’s 570 British stores. Continue reading...
  
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• Bumper British strawberry crop may rot as EU pickers stay away

  04-05-2019 16:00 via theguardian.com
  Fruit farmers fear loss of summer workers to higher wages in Germany and RomaniaFirst, the good news: Britain’s love affair with the strawberry remains undimmed. And thanks to the good weather earlier in the spring, this year’s crop arrived some two weeks ahead of schedule.But while there appears to be sufficient numbers of workers to pick the berries at the start of this potentially bumper season, whether they will be here at its end is becoming a key concern for the nation’s
  
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• Number spoofing: meet the customers who lost thousands

  04-05-2019 12:00 via theguardian.com
  Scams using fake caller ID are reaching epidemic proportions – but, with our help, some bank customers are getting refundsBank fraud victims likely to be offered fairer treatment‘I told Barclays about a £4,000 scam within minutes of it happening – but they said they could do nothing’
  Jean Bishop was called on her mobile from someone claiming to be from Barclays. When she asked how she could be sure it was genuine, she was told they would call her back from Barclays
  
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• Bank fraud victims likely to be offered fairer treatment

  04-05-2019 12:00 via theguardian.com
  New voluntary code comes into play to protect scams in which victim pays fraudster directlyNumber spoofing: meet the customers who lost thousandsBank customers who fall victim to frauds after 28 May will have a greater chance of being refunded. On that date, a new code of conduct comes into play that will require the banks to treat fraud victims better.For over a year the Authorised Push Payment Scams Steering Group has been working on a voluntary code that has now been adopted by all the big ba
  
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• How good are you at money maths? - quiz

  04-05-2019 09:45 via theguardian.com
  Are you able to split restaurant bills, work out mortgage interest or calculate exchange rates?Working with National Numeracy Day on 15 May, we’ve compiled a quiz – and some tips on how to improve your skills. Answers below.1. Overdrafts Continue reading...
  
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• Property: is this an ethical alternative to buy-to-let?

  04-05-2019 09:02 via theguardian.com
  If you’re keen to invest your cash but want to be sure it’s doing some good, Reap is worth a lookIt’s described as an ethical alternative to buy-to-let aimed at those keen to invest in housing but who want their money to do good.Reap (it stands for “real estate annuity plan”) allows people to lend money to a social enterprise that specialises in providing affordable rented homes for people in housing need, including those at risk of homelessness. Investors will rece
  
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• Which type of car seat should I buy for a toddler?

  04-05-2019 08:00 via theguardian.com
  I’m not sure if the £200 versions are better than the £40 ones, and am hoping I can find a bargainEvery week a Guardian Money reader submits a question, and it’s up to you to help him or her out – a selection of the best answers will appear in next Saturday’s paper.We need to buy our toddler a car seat, but which one? Are the £200 versions that much better than the £40 ones - is there a standout bargain out there? Continue reading...
  
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• ‘I quit a career in high street retail to set up a clothing brand’

  04-05-2019 08:00
  Carrie Hyndman, 38, on how she managed to launch a business – and buy her own houseName: Carrie Hyndman
  Age: 38
  Income: £20,000
  Occupation: Fashion designerI started working in retail when I was about 13 at the steam railway in Llangollen as a trolley dolly offering refreshments and earning £1.10 per hour. From there I worked in a friend’s candle shop for 18 months, so by the time I finished my A-levels I’d had a taste of independence and a regular income. After app
  
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• How to book trains in Europe – by rail expert the Man in Seat 61

  04-05-2019 08:00
  Follow his advice and your trip will not only be more be eco-friendly and enjoyable than flying, it could be similarly priced, tooI take train not plane within Europe because it’s a better travel experience. But switching to rail can also be the single biggest thing an individual can do to cut their carbon footprint.Eurostar says its research has found that taking the train instead of the plane from London to Paris cuts CO2 emissions by 90%. The benefit could be even greater, as CO2 emitte
  
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• Energy switchers to receive compensation for delayed refunds

  04-05-2019 08:00 via theguardian.com
  Ofgem says suppliers must return final credit balance within 10 working daysGas and electricity customers are set to automatically receive compensation if their supplier fails to hand back their final credit balance within 10 working days.Under the new Ofgem rules, which started on 1 May, customers will also be entitled to compensation of up to £120 for so-called “erroneous switches”, where they are mistakenly switched to the wrong supplier. Continue reading...
  
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• Burberry scraps plans to build factory in Leeds

  04-05-2019 07:00 via theguardian.com
  Company’s enthusiasm for building new manufacturing site waned after Brexit vote Burberry has scrapped plans for a new factory to produce its trademark trenchcoats in Leeds. The site had been the centrepiece of a vaunted £50m investment in its British manufacturing base.The luxury brand announced the ambitious plan in 2015 but has now confirmed that the 4-hectare (10-acre) site in Leeds is to be sold off after several years of stalling in the wake of the Brexit vote. The scheme was t
  
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