Hire Purchase vs Finance Lease UK: Tax Treatment, Key Differences and Which to Choose
Hire purchase transfers ownership at end of term; finance lease keeps it with the lender. HP gives AIA and capital allowances up to £1m.
Merilledge Invest Ltd: FCA Warning — Not Authorised (5 June 2026)
Merilledge Invest Ltd is not authorised by the FCA. Added to FCA Warning List 5 June 2026. Do not invest or transfer money to this firm.
One Stop Loans: FCA Warning — Not Authorised (5 June 2026)
One Stop Loans is a clone of an FCA registered firm and is not FCA authorised. Added to Warning List 5 June 2026. Do not transfer money.
Armchair Invest Limited: FCA Warning — Not Authorised (17 June 2026)
Armchair Invest Limited is not authorised by the FCA. Added to FCA Warning List 17 June 2026. Do not invest or transfer money to this firm.
www.crownunionbank.com: FCA Warning — Not Authorised (18 June 2026)
www.crownunionbank.com is not authorised by the FCA. Added to FCA Warning List 18 June 2026. Do not invest or transfer money to this firm.
vg-investments.com: FCA Warning — Not Authorised (17 June 2026)
vg-investments.com is a clone of Vanguard (FCA authorised) and is not FCA authorised. Added to Warning List 17 June 2026. Do not transfer money.
Nexusbank Ltd: FCA Warning — Not Authorised (22 June 2026)
Nexusbank Ltd is not authorised by the FCA. Added to FCA Warning List 22 June 2026. Do not invest or transfer money to this firm.
Shell Invest: FCA Warning — Not Authorised (23 June 2026)
Shell Invest is not authorised by the FCA. Added to FCA Warning List 23 June 2026. Do not invest or transfer money to this firm.
TGLB-Trust Global Ledger Bank: FCA Warning — Not Authorised (23 June 2026)
TGLB-Trust Global Ledger Bank is not authorised by the FCA. Added to FCA Warning List 23 June 2026. Do not invest or transfer money to this firm.
TRUE INVESTMENT WORTH: FCA Warning — Not Authorised (24 June 2026)
TRUE INVESTMENT WORTH is not authorised by the FCA. Added to FCA Warning List 24 June 2026. Do not invest or transfer money to this firm.
Unauthorised Investment Firm Fraud UK: Boiler Room Scams, Warning Signs and What To Do
Unauthorised investment fraud costs UK consumers over £1bn per year. Cold calling about investments is illegal. Check every firm on the FCA register.
Forex and Crypto Investment Fraud UK: How Scams Work and How to Protect Yourself
Forex and crypto scams promise high returns then block withdrawals. No FCA firm can guarantee returns. Check every trading platform on the FCA register.
FCA Clone Firm Fraud: How to Detect and Avoid Investment Scams Impersonating Authorised Firms
Clone firms impersonate FCA-authorised firms to steal money. Verify contact details on the FCA register directly — never use details given by the firm.
JupiterBanking: FCA Warning — Not Authorised (24 June 2026)
JupiterBanking is not authorised by the FCA. Added to the FCA Warning List on 24 June 2026. Do not open an account or deposit funds with this firm.
UK Alternative Investment Hub: FCA Warning — Not Authorised (25 June 2026)
UK Alternative Investment Hub is not authorised by the FCA. Added to the FCA Warning List on 25 June 2026. Do not invest or transfer money to this firm.
Fidelity Guarantee Trust Bank: FCA Warning — Not Authorised (25 June 2026)
Fidelity Guarantee Trust Bank is not FCA authorised. Added to Warning List 25 June 2026. The name mimics Fidelity International. Do not deposit funds.
Before You Use Invoice Finance: Factoring vs Discounting, True Costs and Bad Debt Risk
Invoice finance advances 70-90% of unpaid invoices. Factoring is disclosed to customers. Discounting is confidential. Minimum contracts are 12-24 months.
Before You Take Out a Bridging Loan: Exit Strategy, Costs and What Happens If It Goes Wrong
Bridging loans cost 0.4-1.5% per month. Without a confirmed exit strategy the lender can appoint a receiver and force a sale. Know the total cost first.
Should Pension Tax Relief Be Tied to UK Investment? The £60bn Question
Proposal would restrict £60bn pension tax relief to UK-invested savers. Not current law. Critics warn of reduced saver choice. Pensions review ongoing.
FCA Secures Ponzi Scheme Confiscation Order: How to Spot Investment Fraud
FCA secures confiscation order against Ponzi fraudster. FSCS covers up to £85,000 from authorised firms. Check every investment firm on the FCA register.
UK Energy Bill Debt Hits £3.7bn: Every Way to Cut Your Bill and Get Help
UK household energy debt tops £3.7bn. Standing charges rising. Warm Home Discount, direct debit switch and hardship grants can cut your bill significantly.
Smart EV Charging Plan Could Save Drivers Up to £1,000 a Year on Electricity Bills
Government and Ofgem plan makes smart EV charging default. Saves up to £1,000 per year by shifting to off-peak hours. Smart charge points required.
Covid Loan Fraud: Government Fraud Squad Pursues Bounce Back Loan Abusers
Government fraud squad recovers millions from Covid loan abusers. HMRC and Insolvency Service pursue cases. Custodial sentences issued for serious fraud.
FCA Takes Action Against Neil Woodford for Operating Without Authorisation
FCA acts against Neil Woodford and W4.0 for operating without authorisation. His fund collapsed in 2019 trapping hundreds of thousands of retail investors.
Universities Face Visa Sponsor Ban Over International Student Compliance Failures
Universities enabling Student visa abuse face loss of their sponsor licence. Affected students have 60 days to find alternative sponsors or leave the UK.
Nuisance Calls Crackdown: ICO Strengthens Enforcement Against Firms Targeting Vulnerable People
ICO strengthens enforcement against nuisance call firms. Fines up to £500,000. Register with TPS free. Pension cold calls have been illegal since 2019.
CMA Investigates Ryanair Over Fees Charged to Parents Who Want to Sit With Children
CMA investigates Ryanair over charges to parents wanting to sit with children. Examining whether the practice breaches consumer protection law.
Pension Scam Crackdown: How to Spot a Fraudster Targeting Your Retirement Savings
TPR cracks down on pension scams. Losses average £50,000. Unsolicited pension contact is a scam warning. Check all firms on the FCA register before acting.
Before You Close a Bank Account: What Stays Linked and What Does Not
Closing a bank account does not automatically cancel direct debits, redirect payments or close linked products such as savings accounts or loans. A closed
Before You Open a UK Bank Account as a Migrant: Right to Bank Rules
Banks must offer a basic bank account to anyone who is legally resident in the UK, regardless of immigration status or credit history. If a mainstream acco