Banks must act on refunds rules
Banks will have to change the way they deal with customers who say their cards have been fraudulently used with the correct PIN.

Pensioners to lose payment choice
New pensioners claiming the state pension will no longer be able to choose to receive it in advance from 6 April 2010.

Personal insolvency rises by 28%
Personal insolvencies hit a record in England and Wales in the third quarter of 2009, with the total up 28% on a year ago.

Sugar firm to shut pension scheme
The Tate & Lyle sugar company becomes the latest to announce the closure of its final-salary pension scheme.

More policing of pedlars planned
Pedlars - who trade on the move - could face regulation by local authorities and instant fines if they flout the rules.

More house price falls forecast
The recovery in UK house prices could be punctuated by a 6.6% drop in values next year, property group Savills forecasts.

Housing association rents to fall
England's five million housing association tenants will get their first ever rent reduction from April because of deflation.

Savers suffering from low rates
Nearly half of all UK variable rate savings accounts pay interest of 0.5% or less, says information service Moneyfacts.

Christmas shoppers 'undeterred'
Christmas shoppers will spend as much this festive season as last year despite the UK remaining in recession, Deloitte predicts.

Pensions safety net shows strain
The effect of the financial crisis on claims to the Pension Protection Fund have been revealed in its annual report.

Shoppers' rights 'under threat'
UK shoppers' rights to reject faulty goods could be weakened under new European rules, two Law Commissions say.

Climate change 'will raise bills'
Property insurance could become more expensive and harder to obtain as a result of climate change, an insurance body says.

Aviva fund freeze ends
A freeze on withdrawals from an Aviva property fund comes to an end amid an improvement in the outlook for commercial property.

'Good progress' at Northern Rock
Nationalised bank Northern Rock says it is making "good progress" in restructuring its finances amid accelerating mortgage lending.

House prices 'rise another 1.2%'
UK house prices rose by another 1.2% in October, the fourth monthly increase in a row, according to the Halifax.

Churchgoers 'face pension bill'
Churchgoers will have to plug the deficit in the Church of England's pension scheme for clergy, a consultant claims.

Debt management in spotlight
A watchdog is to monitor the largely unregulated debt management industry to ensure fair treatment for customers.

Drinkers get VAT New Year break
New Year's Eve revellers will get an extra six hours of reduced-VAT drinking, the government announces.

First £1,000 rail fare criticised
A £1,000 train fare for a journey from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands is described as "scandalous".

Lenders ease mortgage rationing
Lenders are making it slightly easier for borrowers to get a mortgage, says financial information service Moneyfacts.

Tax dodgers are targeted online
The taxman has taken to social networking for the first time to warn people to come clean about offshore bank accounts.

Consumer confidence on rise
Consumer confidence rises to its highest level for 18 months but major job fears remain, says the British Retail Consortium.

Fresh bank rules come into force
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has taken over regulation of the way banks treat their customers.

Break-up for High Street banks
Chancellor Alistair Darling confirms that Lloyds, RBS and Northern Rock will be broken up and parts sold off to create new banks.

Craving for raw garlic sees Irish finance minister through crisis
An economist reveals Irish Finance Minister Brian Lenihan's unlikely fondness for munching on raw garlic.

Not equals
Why some small investors in Lloyds feel left behind

Taking off
Signs of confidence despite the shrinking economy

Christmas debts
How to cope with the festive financial squeeze

Divide to conquer
Will the split up of banks be good for customers?

No reponsibility
Do legal-looking notices make any difference?