April 2008 Newsletter
| Created: 24/04/2008 |
Dear Stoozer
Welcome to the latest edition of our Stoozing newsletter. In this edition we focus on techniques to help you maximise your stoozing profits with three useful stoozing articles.
Stooz and Clariman
Read Our New Articles
This month we focus on driving stoozing profitability to its maximum with three useful articles. Firstly we explain how you can "Make your Stoozing Profits tax free" by using an offset mortgage. Next we have a fully updated ""Exploit Your Lucky Breaks"" article giving you all the latest tips for building and maintaining a large and profitable stooz pot. Finally, we include a link to our ever popular article on "Negotiating 0% Deal Extensions" which has helped many stoozers since it was written at the beginning of 2007.
Card News
Capital One has bounced right back to the top of the pack with a no fee credit card offering 8 months at 0%. Citibank also rejoins the 0% race with 12 months 0% with a 3% fee. Citibank has also dropped its typical APR by 1% to 16.9%. Is this a sign of renewed competition in the 0% deals market?
Other news
The banking industry has re-affirmed a policy that makes online banking customers responsible for losses if they have out of
date anti-virus or anti-phishing protection. New Banking Codes for consumers and businesses took effect on Monday.
The Banking Code produced by the British Bankers' Association (BBA), and followed by most banks, makes it clear that banks will not be
responsible for losses on online bank accounts if consumers do not have up to date anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software installed on
their machines.
"If you act without reasonable care, and this causes losses, you may be responsible for them," says the code. "This may apply, for example,
if you do not follow section 12.5 or 12.9."
Section 12.9 says: "Keep your PC secure. Use up-to-date anti-virus and spyware software and a personal firewall."
The BBA said it was not aware that any bank had ever invoked that clause of the code to avoid covering a consumer's online banking losses. The new code came into effect at the beginning of this week. The latest edition of the Business Banking Code took effect the same day.
Other banking news which is hot off the press today, is that the banks have lost the test case about overdraft charges. This means that the Office of Fair Trading can now use contract law to decide whether bank charges are unlawful. Watch this space. The banks have a month in which to lodge an appeal.
Best Deals
Top fee free and capped fee deals
Top fee free deal - Capital One 8 months - NO FEE - typical APR 15.9%
Top capped fee deal - (recommended for repeat deals and high credit limits) Virgin Atlantic
Top 3 longest Balance Transfer Cards
1)
Barclaycard Platinum Extended BT
with 24 months. -
Typical APR 17.9%
2)
HSBC
with 23 months. -
Typical APR 17.9%
3)
Halifax BT card
with 22 months. -
Typical APR 17.9%
Top 3 longest Purchases Cards
1)
Nationwide Select Credit Card
with 18 months. -
Typical APR 12.9%
2)
Marks & Spencer
with 15 months. -
Typical APR 15.9%
3)
Tesco Clubcard
with 15 months. -
Typical APR 16.9%
Top 3 highest cashback cards
1)
AMEX Platinum Cashback Card
with 5.00% max. -
Typical APR 18.5%
2)
Capital One World Mastercard
with 5.00% max. -
Typical APR 19.9%
3)
Santander 123 Cashback Card
with 3.00% max. -
Typical APR 22.8%
Top 3 Life of Balance Cards
1)
Barclaycard Simplicity
with 6.8% intro APR. -
Typical APR 7.9%
2)
Virgin Charity Card
with 9.9% intro APR. -
Typical APR 12.9%
3)
Co-op Platinum Fixed Rate
with 9.9% intro APR. -
Typical APR 9.9%