http://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/default.aspxen-gbThu, 16 Jul 2009 15:35:48 GMThttp://www.teletext.co.uk/images/Logo64x64.gifhttp://www.teletext.co.ukAmerican Express will be the first of many firms to axe pension contributions for staff, experts have warned.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/news/finance/moneynews/~4/jewRKLufrQw" height="1" width="1"/>
The credit card giant stopped paying money into its stakeholder pension scheme on behalf of staff at the start of this month to cut costs.

Pensions expert Ros Altmann said the move is likely to be a growing trend, with firms offering a choice between pay cuts or pension-payment freezes.

]]>c0911331c928cef7fbc4af52fb25f4c3http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/news/finance/moneynews/~3/jewRKLufrQw/Amex+cuts+pension+payments.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/c0911331c928cef7fbc4af52fb25f4c3/Amex+cuts+pension+payments.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/c0911331c928cef7fbc4af52fb25f4c3/Amex+cuts+pension+payments.aspxMobile phone operator O2 is branching out into the personal finance market in a bid to cash in on growing demand for mobile banking services.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/news/finance/moneynews/~4/srNXcNdBePE" height="1" width="1"/>
The group has teamed up with NatWest to offer two pre-paid cards through its new O2 Money business.

The cards, which will be available from late August, are the first in a planned line of financial products which will be offered to the group's customers.

]]>24359af35226c6dbd0670d5cb6b0070ahttp://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/news/finance/moneynews/~3/srNXcNdBePE/O2+moves+into+finance.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/24359af35226c6dbd0670d5cb6b0070a/O2+moves+into+finance.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/24359af35226c6dbd0670d5cb6b0070a/O2+moves+into+finance.aspxMore than 110 people complained about letting agents each week in the second quarter of the year - up 44% on 2008, the Property Ombudsman said.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/news/finance/moneynews/~4/m4AlzdfNEcU" height="1" width="1"/>
The Ombudsman received a total of 1,446 inquiries from people asking for help.

]]>225d18653f72f960136ebe1b6862ccbbhttp://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/news/finance/moneynews/~3/m4AlzdfNEcU/Letting+agent+complaints+rise.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/225d18653f72f960136ebe1b6862ccbb/Letting+agent+complaints+rise.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/225d18653f72f960136ebe1b6862ccbb/Letting+agent+complaints+rise.aspxBuilding societies continue to provide the most consistent returns on savers&#39; money, according to Moneyfacts.co.uk.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/news/finance/moneynews/~4/y_DIG3n5EcE" height="1" width="1"/>
Mutuals have offered 83% of the savings accounts which have the best rates over an 18-month and 36-month period, after taking 72% of top places two years ago.

Beverley Building Society took the top spot in both charts and Teachers Building Society offered the most consistent rates overall.

]]>1b1516d0d65171b84a730ddded459f53http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/news/finance/moneynews/~3/y_DIG3n5EcE/Building+societies+praised.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/1b1516d0d65171b84a730ddded459f53/Building+societies+praised.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/1b1516d0d65171b84a730ddded459f53/Building+societies+praised.aspxActivity in the housing market fell back slightly during June following a steep increase in May, research shows.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/news/finance/moneynews/~4/XL070wBMGl0" height="1" width="1"/>
There was a slight dip in the number of properties sold and the number of househunters registered, the National Association of Estate Agents said.

But the group said the market remained on a stronger footing than it was a year ago following improvements in activity seen in recent months.

]]>ae7f6aa5720abcccc8efa75c4cbe0484http://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/news/finance/moneynews/~3/XL070wBMGl0/House+market+activity+dips.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/ae7f6aa5720abcccc8efa75c4cbe0484/House+market+activity+dips.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/ae7f6aa5720abcccc8efa75c4cbe0484/House+market+activity+dips.aspxLenders are continuing to hike the cost of their fixed-rate mortgage deals despite recent falls in wholesale funding rates, research shows.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/news/finance/moneynews/~4/xHgIg3RBQSk" height="1" width="1"/>
The average cost of a two-year fixed mortgage is now 5.18%, well up on the 4.67% charged on loans at the beginning of June, Moneyfacts.co.uk says.

Two-year swap rates - upon which fixed deals are based - have fallen from a recent peak of 2.51% in June to 2.04%.

]]>6989dfefd44f1d8df97fb5a0da278d6ahttp://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/news/finance/moneynews/~3/xHgIg3RBQSk/Mortgage+costs+on+increase.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/6989dfefd44f1d8df97fb5a0da278d6a/Mortgage+costs+on+increase.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/6989dfefd44f1d8df97fb5a0da278d6a/Mortgage+costs+on+increase.aspxNearly one in four people claim they are unable to get a mortgage due to the tighter lending criteria of banks and building societies, a survey has shown.<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/news/finance/moneynews/~4/B3nRZPZnJPY" height="1" width="1"/>
About 22.5% of people said they did not qualify for any mortgages currently available, according to the National Association of Estate Agents.

Instead, 56% said lenders would have to relax restrictions and lower required deposit sizes before they could buy.

]]>1f3f7e3ee713e41b1de8b7b4a78cfb2dhttp://feeds.teletext.co.uk/~r/news/finance/moneynews/~3/B3nRZPZnJPY/Mortgage+difficulty+claim.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/1f3f7e3ee713e41b1de8b7b4a78cfb2d/Mortgage+difficulty+claim.aspxhttp://www.teletext.co.uk/personalfinance/moneynews/1f3f7e3ee713e41b1de8b7b4a78cfb2d/Mortgage+difficulty+claim.aspx