Excluding mortgages, personal debts hit a record total of £428billion in the third quarter of 2018 - which is 33 per cent higher than in 2008 just before the financial crisis.

American Express customers could just have been handed the answer to their perennial problem, a trick to get their cards accepted anywhere. We reveal how.

Over-50s in possession of Saga’s Platinum Visa card have just two months to clear their debts and find themselves an alternative after the company announced it was discontinuing the product.

Curve unveiled on Monday a move that would allow Amex customers to use their card in places that do not usually accept it , by adding their cards to its smartphone app.

Those thinking of putting money on the 5.15 at Aintree on Saturday could be making a mistake far costlier than backing the wrong horse - using a credit card to bet.

The Government should introduce new regulation for the bailiff industry ‘to stop unfit enforcement agents and companies from practising’, MPs have said.

Swedish fintech Klarna attracted 25,000 new UK users each week in the last three months of last year, as it celebrated a bumper 2018 that saw global revenue increase 31% to £445m.

Amazon and American Express have slashed the sign-up bonuses and spending incentives on some of their cards.

From June 11, Amex's card will be made from metal rather than plastic, and cost £575 a year compared to £450 now.

'Buy now, pay later' firms will be banned from charging backdated interest on already repaid amounts of money from November, under new rules announced by the financial regulator

Households have just one month left to make a PPI claim with their bank or credit provider. And with the clock ticking, PPI sharks have ramped up their campaign to get a chunk of your money.

Mike Weaver, 61, took out several payment protection insurance policies when he set up his radio hiring business in 1991. He recalls being told that he had to buy PPI to get the loans he needed.

Periods of free borrowing on best-buy balance transfer cards have shortened by nearly 20 per cent in a year, according to figures compiled by data company Moneyfacts.

The final deadline for making a complaint about payment protection insurance (PPI) is midnight tomorrow (August 29).

For five days after it went into administration the company did not mention the matter on its website. Glint says its app still works as normal and users could still deposit money into it.

New research reveals that nearly half of all UK credit card holders -around 17million people nationwide - have never switched their card.

Love it or loathe it, Black Friday weekend is looming. This is when retailers are expected to shower shoppers with juicy discounts for a few days only.

Frequent flyers who fancy adding to their Avios balance have been handed an enticing Christmas bonus by HSBC, though the chances are they don't know it.

Frequent fliers after air miles towards their next holiday could take advantage of a new sign up bonus which could get them to three continents, provided they're happy to pay a fee.

Hundreds of customers of Saga have received an unexpected windfall following its admission that it badly handled the axeing of its popular platinum credit card last year.

The average Briton wastes £640 a year on unwanted subscriptions. Nearly 12million of us have less than £100 in savings. Here is our wealth workout to help you reach peak financial fitness.

Lloyds, Santander, Nationwide, NatWest, Virgin Money, HSBC and Barclaycard all confirmed staff cannot unblock credit cards in branch.Some banks say it must now be done by a specialist team.

While borrowers make no payments for three months, card providers often still charge interest on balances during payment holidays, meaning borrowers continue to rack up interest

Virgin Money apologised and reversed its decision, saying that everyone who had their card suspended will be able to use them to make purchases again from Saturday 9 May.

I have £40,000 of unsecured debts - £20,000 on two credit card defaults - but having never missed a mortgage payment in 12 years, is it possible to obtain a mortgage?

Some longstanding Virgin Money credit cardholders have been left with charges on their accounts after discovering they had only been making minimum direct debit payments.

Virgin Money is refunding loyal customers hit by interest charges after they unwittingly only made minimum payments on their new Virgin Atlantic credit cards.

Paying a £3,000 credit card bill over two years could cost £1,979 more in interest to an appliccant with a bad credit rating, according to data from TotallyMoney and Moneycomms.

A large number of buy now, pay later users do not know the full implications of missing payments while a large chunk don't believe the terms and conditions are clear enough.

Britain's largest banking group, which owns Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, spelled out changes aimed at those in 'persistent debt' for 36 months.

Visa's scheme marks the first time all the UK's banks will pay small stores to offer cashback. Beccy Soper (pictured), of Beccy's Greengrocers in Stockbridge, Hampshire, said: 'It's a win-win'.

The Financial Conduct Authority has told banks to help customers get out of debt, amid concerns of a potential wave of credit cards being scrapped under new rules.

Credit card customers of high street bank Halifax have reportedly been hit by charges when trying to make Klarna repayments, the buy now, pay later firm said.

Payment providers across the UK have upped their contactless payment limits from £30 to £45 in an effort to help customers cut down on cash usage. 

The Foreign Office has now advised against all overseas travel, it's likely cancelling holidays is further up people's priorities than booking new ones - so what can air miles be spent on?

The UK arm of Santander revealed its pre-tax profit fell 58 per cent to £114million in the first three months of 2020.

Newcomers to American Express now have more time to rack up points bonuses for their credit card spending, with the card provider doubling the length of some of its welcome offers.

Customers of Virgin Money rounded on the bank after it suspended their credit cards, despite many of them not struggling with their repayments and clearing their balance in full.

Are you investing in the things that will help make the future that you want possible? Maybe it is something that we should all at least consider.

It’s so easy to come up with stories to tell ourselves to justify spending money. So I’ve started building up an armoury of reverse arguments to tell myself to help save.

A government needs to be able to be nimble, to cut spending where necessary and to raise money should it require.

Interest on tuition fees is now more expensive than some commercial loans. Here are four more reasons why this isn't fair on this cohort of graduates.

Guess what has experienced inflation ten times higher than house prices, gold, petrol or even a pint of beer in central London? Directory enquiries.

Party manifestos are not exactly known for their jokes. But as I trawled through them all over the past few days there were two lines that at least made me snigger.

So how can we possibly plan our finances at a time of such uncertainty and disagreement about what is next to come for British households? I think there are a bunch of things we all can do to prepare.

Of course there are economic arguments to make when considering the value of a degree. But they don't cover the half of it.

With about three clicks of the mouse I have just transferred another free £20 into my bank account. A welcome boost. In total I have accumulated £240 – and it’s taken next to no effort on my part at all.

With about three clicks of the mouse I have just transferred another free £20 into my bank account. A welcome boost.

I’m all for being thorough, but the sooner redress is given the better chance there is of getting those who are mistreated back to the position they would have been in.

Navy Retired, in Merseyside says: ‘If you are a British Gas customer, you might as well put £200 - 300 down the nearest drain. Switch - it is so easy.’ I think he or she is bang on the money.