A Tipton pub was evacuated after a fire broke out in the kitchen.
The frying range caught fire at the Port ’n’ Ale in Dudley Port at 5.20pm yesterday. Five customers were in the pub. Staff put out the blaze using extinguishers.
Landlord James Earl said: “The damage was minimal, and the fire was out before the fire brigade got here. We are now open as usual.”
Barclays pledge to keep best buy cash Isa deal available
Written by Assistant Editor
Wednesday, 12 May 2010 09:50
As the key competition moves away from offering market leading cash isa deals to new customers, Barclays pledges that it will continue to keep its Golden Isa - Issue 2 on sale to all customers at the best buy leading rate of 3.10% AER until the 1 June 2010
Andy Gray, head of mortgages and savings at Barclays said: “We have maintained our best buy rates throughout the peak Isa season and we will continue to do so for the remainder of this month, as we know that this is still a popular time for customers thinking about opening Isas. To make sure customers don’t miss out on this great rate we would urge consumers who haven’t already taken advantage of a cash Isa for the current tax year to grab this best buy rate as its now a limited offer, they don’t need to be an existing customer, this deal is open to everyone.
Barclays will be removing the 12 month fixed 1 per cent introductory bonus from 2nd June 2010 for new customers taking out a Golden Isa - Issue 2, any customer taking out the Golden Isa - Issue 2 up until 1 June will continue to benefit from this best buy interest rate with the 1 per cent bonus. Customers who bought Golden ISA - Issue 2 before 2 June will get 3.10% AER - this rate will include the fixed 1% introductory bonus which is paid for 12 months from the date of account opening. From 2 June 2010, new customers buying Golden ISA - Issue 2 will receive a core interest rate of 2.06% gross / 2.08% AER. These changes give consumers enough time to come and make their Isa arrangement during the period where Barclays are maintaining the best buy rate.
How Barclays and Barclaycard are helping customers impacted by the volcanic eruptions
Written by Assistant Editor
Wednesday, 21 April 2010 10:16
Barclays and Barclaycard are taking some additional measures to support their personal and business customers who are affected by the travel restrictions in place due to the cloud of volcanic ash moving across Europe.
Woolwich mortgages from Barclays will make substantial cuts on its tracker and fixed rate range from Wednesday 7th April by an average of 0.30% with the largest reductions happening on 75% loan to value. The new range includes a market leading lifetime tracker at 2.49% [Barclays base rate + 1.99%, 70% LTV], rate cuts of up to 0.60% on its 2 year fixed rate to 3.69% [75% LTV], and a reduction of 0.50% on its 3 year fixed rate to 3.99% [70% LTV].
Andy Gray, head of mortgages at Barclays said: “Easter is one of the busiest times of year for the housing market and with more people looking for mortgages, the substantial cuts to mortgage rates are giving people the right mortgage at the right time.
“We are also seeing a trend in the market for lower rates and more competition so our tracker rates are really strong for those who want to take advantage of the low base rate. For those who need the security of a fixed rate, the two year deals at 75% loan to value feature the biggest ever rate cuts at this level.”
The one year lifetime tracker [2.49%] available up to 70 LTV has a £1,499 fee and the early repayment charge is 1% for 2 years. The 2 year fixed rate at 3.69% for 75% LTV has a £999 fee or 3.89% with a £199 fee and minimum mortgage of £50,000. The 3 year fixed rate at 3.99% has a £999 fee, a 4.29% option is available with a £199 fee for mortgages above £50,000.
The mortgages are available at the same rates to both direct branch customers and via intermediaries.
Mortgage details:
Tracker
LTV
Old Rate
New Rate
Fee
Min Loan
Max Loan
Early repayment charge
70%
Base + 2.09%
Base + 1.99%
£1,499
£200,000
£1,000,000
1% 2 years
70%
Base + 2.29%
Base + 2.29%
£999
£5,000
£1,000,000
1% 2 years
70%
Base + 2.79%
Base + 2.49%
£0
£50,000
£1,000,000
1% 2 years
75%
Base + 2.79%
Base + 2.59%
£999
£5,000
£500,000
1% 2 years
75%
Base + 3.29%
Base + 2.79%
£0
£50,000
£500,000
1% 2 years
Fixed Rates
Term
LTV
Old Rate
New Rate
Fee
Min Loan
Max Loan
Early repayment charge
2
70%
3.39%
2.98%
£1,999
£200,000
£1,000,000
3% 2 years
2
70%
3.59%
3.39%
£999
£5,000
£1,000,000
3% 2 years
2
70%
3.79%
3.59%
£199
£50,000
£1,000,000
3% 2 years
2
75%
4.29%
3.69%
£999
£5,000
£500,000
3% 2 years
2
75%
4.39%
3.89%
£199
£50,000
£500,000
3% 2 years
2
80%
5.49%
5.29%
£999
£5,000
£1,000,000
3% 2 years
3
70%
4.49%
3.99%
£999
£5,000
£1,000,000
3% 3 years
3
70%
4.59%
4.29%
£199
£50,000
£1,000,000
3% 3 years
3
80%
5.89%
5.69%
£999
£5,000
£1,000,000
3% 3 years
3
85%
6.39%
6.19%
£999
£5,000
£1,000,000
3% 3 years
5
70%
5.29%
4.99%
£999
£5,000
£1,000,000
3% 5 years
5
80%
5.99%
5.99%
£999
£5,000
£1,000,000
3% 5 years
The mortgages are available at the same rates to both direct branch customers and via intermediaries. More information on the full range of Woolwich mortgages through Barclays is available at www.barclays.co.uk/mortgages.
Consumers set to lose out on cash ISA allowances
Written by Assistant Editor
Thursday, 25 March 2010 11:15
Thousands of consumers will lose out on cash ISA allowances this tax year, missing out on strong interest rates which are up to six times higher than base rate. New research from Barclays shows that 56 per cent of consumers will not open an ISA in the current tax year, but will leave more than £4,000 sitting in instant savings/and or a current account.
The research looked at intentions to invest into ISAs in the current and new tax year comparing this against their current level of instant savings. It revealed:
· 71 per cent of people don't think they have the money to invest, despite having thousands of pounds sitting on instant access
· 13 per cent didn't understand what an ISA was
· 11 per cent are under the impression that their money would be tied up
· 46 per cent of people have never invested money into an ISA before
· 4 years is the average time money has been in an instant access account
However, of the people who have or intend to open an ISA in the current tax year, 37 per cent have already opened, and a further seven per cent will open. The average amount they have or will pay into an ISA is around £2,500. The key reasons given for opening an ISA were 77 per cent of people want to make the most of their tax free allowances and 39 per cent stated they pay a better interest rate than their other accounts. Looking to the new tax year just under a third of people intend to open one.
Comment on the Office of National Statistics (ONS) UK Trade Statistics for January 2010
Written by Assistant Editor
Tuesday, 09 March 2010 19:27
Iain MacDonald, Head of Trade Product, Barclays said:
The UK's seasonally adjusted deficit on trade in goods and services was £3.8 billion in January, compared with the deficit of £2.6 billion in December
Excluding oil and erratic items, the seasonally adjusted volume of exports was 6 per cent lower and the volume of imports was 1.2 per cent lower in January, compared with December
“The widening trade gap reported in today’s figures will be cause for further concern over the UK’s ability to fully recover in the short term. Sluggish growth and fiscal instability in markets which have traditionally been UK exporting destinations will have contributed to the imbalance in trade.
“Recently, we have been noticing mounting interest from exporters exploring opportunities in markets less affected by the recession, particularly as UK manufacturing gathers pace.
“Though the mid-to-long-term effects may still be too early to tell, the recent weakening of sterling against the euro could bolster exports in the months to come and provide some respite for companies selling abroad.
“However, caution will still need to be exercised as both importers and exporters aim to strike the right balance in their working capital levels in order to seize upon potential growth opportunities throughout the rest of the year.”
06:25
Finance News
Thousands of consumers will lose out on cash ISA allowances this tax year, missing out on strong interest rates which are up to six times higher than base rate. New research from Barclays shows that 56 per cent of consumers will not open an ISA in the current tax year, but will leave more than £4,000 sitting in instant savings/and or a current account.
