Property Scam – A Cautionary Tale
It’s a troubling norm of today’s society that most people will have heard a horror story about property fraud from a family member, a colleague from work or simply reading online. Importantly, these stories need to be kept in perspective: remember, the tales of properties being rented and sold without any noteworthy problems are the ones people usually don’t bother sharing! However, it’s also worth taking heed of the negative experiences of others to ensure you do everything you can to avoid falling into similar traps.
How to avoid HMRC scam emails and phone calls
Anyone with an email address is likely to have experienced a scam or phishing communication landing in their inbox, and unfortunately this type of attack is becoming both more frequent and more sophisticated. Sending a message purporting to be from HMRC is a popular method criminals can use to attempt to get hold of personal and financial details. It’s not limited to email either, with hoax text messages, social media communications and telephone calls also being used in order to illegally extract the information needed.
New steps to combat VAT fraud by overseas online sellers
The loss of VAT from the sale of goods online continues to be a problem for HMRC, with the tax losses for 2015-16 from goods sold by overseas businesses but routinely stored and dispatched to UK consumers from within the UK, estimated to be between £1 billion and £1.5 billion. Following HMRC’s consultation, which concluded in March last year, the responses to the idea of ‘split payment’ as a way to tackle the problem show that whilst such a method would bring challenges, there is broad agreement that it is a workable solution.
Will it really improve my retirement if I increase my pension contributions by 1% – or should I just enjoy the money now?
When retirement is decades away, it’s understandable that many people near the start of their working lives don’t give a lot of thought to exactly how much of a difference the amount they pay into their pension will make when they finally come round to needing it. Increasing your pension contribution by 1% might sound so small as to be insignificant, making it tempting to choose to enjoy more of your hard-earned money today rather than putting a little more of it away for years to come. But is that really the case? What difference would putting an extra 1% into your pension actually make?
What exactly is Mifid II and what does it mean for the ordinary investor?
If you’re an investor, it’s likely that you’ll have heard discussions or read reports around the arrival of Mifid II. It’s just as likely that you won’t have had much idea of what Mifid II is or how it might affect you and your investments.
Winter Driving Tips
It is essential to be prepared for the ever-changing driving conditions. Breakdowns and accidents are more common in the winter when road conditions are challenging. Our personal injury specialists in Sheffield have compiled a list of useful tips to help keep you safe when driving during the winter months.
Winter Driving Tips for Motorists in Sheffield
It is essential to be prepared for the ever-changing driving conditions. Breakdowns and accidents are more common in the winter when road conditions are challenging. Our personal injury specialists in Sheffield have compiled a list of useful tips to help keep you safe when driving during the winter months.
Invalid appointment of administrators
If you are a company director, beware of acting in a way that is contrary to the articles of association of your company, even if the action may on the face of it seem logical. This was a point discovered, to his cost, by the director of BW Estate Ltd.
Reforms to compensation payouts
Measures to change the way compensation pay-outs are calculated by the courts have been unveiled by Lord Chancellor David Lidington. Simon Wright said, “The announcement is welcome and follows a pledge made by Ministers in February to consult on whether there was a fairer way to set the “discount rate” in future.
Nottingham-based Auction Estates Ltd reaches £10m milestone following completion of £1.5m orphanage deal
Auction Estates Ltd, a dedicated property auction house specialising in the sale of residential housing, commercial property, land and specialist property investments, has hit a major milestone this month having completed in excess of £10m worth of auction sales in its first twelve months of business.
Getting the best deal on a cruise to beat those winter blues!
There are those that believe I am well positioned to write this article, and they may be right!
4 steps to stop inflation eating your savings!
Power of Attorney – The case for and against
Setting up a trusted family member or friend with a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) ensures that someone else is able to make important decisions for you when you’re no longer in a position to be able to make them for yourself. But this in itself is always going to be a key decision in your life, so it’s important to consider the benefits and risks before going ahead with giving another person the authority LPA unlocks.
What impact will an interest rate rise have on young homebuyers’ mortgage bills?
Recent official figures have revealed that homebuyers are being lent more money by banks than at any time since the global financial crisis a decade ago, with many of the borrowers being young people for whom stepping onto the property ladder is barely affordable. As such, billions of pounds of debt which may prove unsafe is being taken on by them at a time when interest rates are expected to rise.