Recent research found that the number of Welsh households suffering from fuel poverty is double the level in London.

While 32% of British homes in Wales suffer from fuel poverty, only 16% of houses have the same problem in London.

Wales not only experiences the highest fuel poverty level, but also sees some of the highest energy prices in the UK, as revealed by recent research from the independent price comparison site, uSwitch.com.

The east of England comes second after Wales, with 31% of households classed as fuel poor. Many consumers are turning to loans without upfront fees to cope.

“Rocketing energy prices mean that no area of the UK is safe from the clutches of fuel poverty. The fuel poor can be found in all types of households and in all parts of the country, but some regions and households are clearly more vulnerable than others,” said Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com.

In only five years, household energy bills have increased by 96%. Overall, 27% of British households are now registered as ‘fuel poor’.

“There is now real urgency for the Government to deliver on fuel poverty and to act quickly to alleviate the misery being faced by those who cannot afford to heat their homes. But, in the meantime, households have to start protecting themselves and there are two key steps to this: pay the lowest possible price for your energy and learn to use less of it,” added Robinson.

Regarding financial uncertainty, the latest survey released by the Institute of Financial Planning (IFP) asked Brits: “With inflation still high, how confident are you about keeping your finances on track in 2012?” as a response, only 33% of those asked suggested that they were confident that their finances will be under control next year.

A number of British consumers affected by the increased cost of living are relying on quick decision loans to fight the current financial uncertainty.

Anyone contemplating transferring money abroad is likely to encounter a number of questions and decisions. Understanding the process behind international transfer is therefore vital. Here are some of the most common money transfer questions and their corresponding answers. Look for currency transfers for the best deals and the cheapest way to send money abroad now.

How much does it cost to transfer money abroad?

This is one of the most important questions and transferring money abroad is likely to encounter a few different costs. Whilst most people will be aware of the exchange rates which are in force for international money transfers not everyone is aware of costs which are incurred when receiving the money.
Some foreign banks will charge as much as 3% for transferred money to be received – something which can amount to a hefty sum for those looking to transfer larger amounts.

How can you overcome these costs?

In order to keep these costs to a minimum, individuals should look to transfer their money to accounts which will not be subject to banks receiving fees – such as those held by solicitors or estate agents in that country. These are known as notaire or resident accounts and will not be subject to the same fees as other accounts.
Using companies which open bank accounts on your behalf is a sensible option for those likely to make numerous transfers. This is because these will often be exempt from such bank charges.

Alternatively, it is always possible for you to discuss these charges with the bank and negotiate a lower fee. If you manage to do this then it is vital that you get written confirmation of the agreement. Ensure this is obtained before you transfer your money to give yourself some financial protection.

If you fall into any of these categories you should look to claim compensation for a well earned ppi refund. Read on for more information on how to reclaim PPI today.

Students Mis Sold PPI

Payment protection insurance is designed to cover people who have lost their jobs and protect their incomes; as a result students are not usually eligible for PPI, so would not be able to claim even if they were paying premiums.

Self Employed Compensation for PPI

The PPI miss-selling scandal first came to light regarding this group in particular. Self-employed people by their very definition do not have a job that they can lose, therefore the chances of receiving a pay out on their PPI policy are very slim should they lose their job. They may even struggle to make a case for loss of earnings due to ill-health. If you are self employed you are likely to have a strong case for missold PPI.

Pensioners Mis Sold PPI

Pensioners are another group not eligible to receive PPI payouts so should not be contributing towards a policy. Again, they do not have an income to lose due to job loss or ill health. They therefore should not be paying into a policy at all.

Contract Workers PPI Compensation

Similarly to the self-employed contract workers only work at a particular company for a set amount of time. It is therefore difficult for this group to claim on their PPI insurance if they knew in advance when their employment contract would end. If you were a contract worker when you took out the PPI policy the sales staff should have let you know about the situation in advance.