Mobile users with a Barclays current account will be able to send up to £300 a day via the Pingit app (image by whiteafrican)

More than 20,000 people have already downloaded Barclays’ Pingit app – a money transfer tool which allows anyone with a UK mobile phone and current account to send and receive money.

Given that almost 12 million people bank with Barclays, the potential is huge. The bank thinks we’ll soon be wondering what we did before it, while industry body The Payments Council is setting up a database which will link all bank accounts to their owners’ mobile phone numbers.

The foundation is being laid for mobile payments to become the norm.

So, how does it work?

Firstly, you need to download the free Pingit app to your iPhone, Android or BlackBerry. Those of us still in the dark ages without a smartphone (myself included) will still be able to receive money but won’t be able to send it.

You register to use the app by handing over your bank account details and various other bits of security information to ensure you’re properly verified. Once you’re signed up, Barclays will link your account details to your phone so that other people can pay you using just your mobile number.

To make a payment, you choose who you want to pay from your list of contacts or type in their number, select how much you want to send and confirm your payment. Barclays will then send them a text telling them how to access their money.

As it stands, Barclays customers can only send up to £300 a day, while anyone receiving a payment must register within 24 hours or the transfer will be cancelled.

Is it safe to use?

The app is protected by a five-digit PIN code, so provided you don’t choose something obvious like your birthday this should prevent phone thieves from sending themselves your cash.

Barclays also claim that the app features ‘industry standard encryption’ and that the app can automatically be wiped from your phone if you tell the bank it’s been stolen.

However, security experts are warning that the device could be copied – replica versions of official apps such as Angry Birds already exist and it’s possible that criminals could create malicious software to target the Pingit app.

What’s next for mobile money?

Mobile banking is already big business across Africa, with millions using mobile phones to move cash, pay bills and buy basic everyday items.

Near field communication – a type of contactless payment technology – is also changing the way we pay for goods in shops and has been in use in Japan and South Korea for several years.

Back in the UK, Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland are both said to be looking at launching similar services to Pingit over the next 12 months, while HSBC has ruled itself out.

So while Barclays appears to have stolen a march on its rivals, there’s still some way to go before using your mobile to send money becomes as routine as sending a text.

Feed-in-tariffs: how do they work?

What is the problem?

Feed-in-tariffs are a government scheme paying you for generating electricity using renewable tech like solar panels and wind turbines. The ‘tariffs’ refer to how much you get per kilowatt of energy generated.

To help the uptake of renewable technology like solar panels (also referred to as solar pv, or solar photovoltaic), the government offered a generous rate of 43.3p for every kilowatt generated over a 25-year period.

The thinking was to help the roll-out of solar and offset the high costs, but installation costs have since plummeted as more of us took up the solar challenge. For example, you can currently buy solar panels and qualify for a feed-in-tariff from £4,000 through uSwitch.

So what is happening now?

The government launched a consultation proposing to cut it in half – to 21p – from the 10th of December. However, this proposed date was 11 days before the end of the consultation.

The industry cried foul and launched a legal challenge with Friends of the Earth – which they won. The higher tariff will therefore remain in place for installations made before the 3rd of March unless the government wins their challenge.

What’s more, as feed-in-tariffs are linked to inflation (RPI) they have now gone up to 45p for some pending the outcome of the court ruling.

Why should I care?

Well, for those who are considering solar, have a home that qualifies, and want to generate their own energy you’re unlikely to find a better time to invest in solar. However, with the deadline of the 3rd of March, you may find it hard to get your solar panels installed in time to qualify for the higher feed-in-tariff rate.

However, even for those who don’t make the 3rd of March deadline, the 21p rate is still generous, with an estimated payback time of around the 10-year mark, depending on the level of solar installation. What’s more, you can skip the feed-in-tariff altogether and get solar panels installed for free. The downside is that you won’t earn anything for them, but you can skip the upfront costs.

You should be aware though that while the government will contribute to a building’s energy efficiency rating, anyone wishing to register for the feed-in-tariff from the 1st of April must obtain a Level D Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) on their house.

What if i’m not ready for solar?

Insulate, insulate, insulate. Insulation is often heavily subsidised, and offers huge energy savings that will make your annual statement look a lot healthier. Take a look at our insulation page for more, where you can currently get insulation from £49.

image by didbygraham

Earlier this week the AA announced plans to introduce a ‘black box’ car insurance policy, called Drivesafe, which will enable careful drivers to reduce their car insurance premiums.

The scheme is not the first of its kind – the Co-operative announced its own version last year and several smaller insurance companies have been providing the service for sometime now.

Following backing from David Cameron this week, who has called for ‘telematics’ – technology which integrates the use of telecommunications – to be rolled out more widely across the industry, it looks like ‘black box’ insurance policies could become more widespread.

How does it actually work?

The black box device itself is fitted beneath the bonnet of your car and monitors how you drive, taking into account speed, cornering force, braking and road types.

By monitoring your driving, car insurance companies are able to recalculate your premiums based on how you’ve driven over a certain period of time.

Therefore, instead of paying a set quoted price for a year’s coverage, your premium will be recalculated after an agreed period of time. If you have driven carefully you’ll be reimbursed a percentage of your premium. However, if you have driven recklessly you could be charged more.

Who will benefit the most?

These types of policies are predominantly aimed at young drivers, as statistically they’re more likely to have an accident and therefore pay higher premiums.

Currently, the average standard premium for a male aged 17-22 is £3,163 – it’s just £1,799 for a female of the same age.

The Co-op expects young drivers aged 17-25 to receive a reduction of more than £500 on their initial premiums in return for having the device fitted in their cars, while the AA believes it could be as much as £850 a year.

Other ways to save on car insurance

If you don’t like the idea of having your driving habits monitored, there are several other ways to reduce your car insurance premium:

• Choose to pay a higher excess (the amount you pay towards each claim)
• Limit who drives your car to you, or you plus a named driver
• Park your car in a garage or off the street
• Keep your mileage low (doing under 12,000 miles a year)
• Fit a security device such as an alarm or immobiliser

uSwitch today called for the government to cut VAT on its energy bills.

New research released today revealed that deaths from hypothermia in the last five years had doubled, prompting concerns about the effects of the cost of energy in the UK.

Fuel poverty, when a customer spends over 10% of their income on their energy bills, has become an increasing concern, with over 7 million of already suffering.

uSwitch has today called for the government to cut the VAT on our energy bills, which will bring energy bills down by £60 and help to lift 250, 000 households out of fuel poverty.

So what do you think? Should the government cut VAT on energy or do you think it should be doing more elsewhere? Vote on our poll and leave your comments below!

Follow uSwitch Energy on Twitter and hashtag #axetheVAT to let us know your opinions!

Two of the world’s biggest names in the world of technology posted their quarterly earnings late last month – and the numbers were immense.

Korean manufacturer Samsung announced healthy profits of $3.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011, whilst the behemoth of Apple had earnings to the tune of a whopping $13.1 billion.

The astronomical figures above are due in no small part to huge successes in the smartphone market, both brands proving unbeatable against all of the established players in a highly contentious sector.

The popularity of the iPhone 4S and the Galaxy S II – currently two of the bestselling mobiles on the scene according to the uSwitch Mobile Tracker – is a clear indicator that Apple and Samsung are at the top of their respective games, despite both having vastly differing strategies to tackle the mobile market.

Apple unveils a single annual update to their iconic iPhone, taking strong yet incremental steps forward in hardware and features each time, with a both a slick marketing machine and rabid fan base driving global interest behind each launch.

For the rest of the year, software-driven updates and new services via iTunes fuel the flames of consumer interest in the latest iPhone…until the next iteration, that is.

Conversely, Samsung has leveraged the Android mobile operating system to assault the market with a range of smartphones to suit all wallets – from entry-level handsets to high-end devices that can give the best competition a run for their money.

Samsung has found great success in democratising the smartphone, bringing e-mail, the web and apps to all with the ‘Galaxy’ family of handsets.

The iPhone 4S and Galaxy SII jostle for position on an almost daily basis in the charts, illustrating the overlap between the two firms despite such divergent ideologies for how to dominate the mobile space. The argument is less ‘which phone is better’; it is more of ‘why are these two better than the rest’?

They may have vastly differing strategies, yet they share a similar ethos of trying to deliver a phone that homes in on precisely what the consumer is looking for – an intuitive and versatile mobile companion in the case of the iPhone or an approachable, affordable smartphone experience in the Galaxy range – and executing on it.

Whilst many of the other once lauded names in the mobile industry find it difficult to target their intended demographic, both Samsung and Apple have found their respective audiences and continue to iterate on them successfully.

With all eyes on this month’s Mobile World Congress for a showcase of the best new phones of the new year, it is interesting to note that both Apple and Samsung will not be unveiling their flagship efforts at the Barcelona-based event, instead choosing to host their own parties later in the year.

Whether shrewd release date tactics or hubris on their parts, it simply underlines how much the success of the two companies have placed them in a unique position, leading from the front whilst phone fans eagerly anticipate a new device.

Whether iteration or innovation, one thing is certain – both Apple and Samsung will be coming out swinging for 2012.

Image by Images_of_Money

Stoke Newington in North London recently topped a list of burglary hotspots, while the tiny village of Bodelwyddan in Denbighshire, Wales, is one of 17 areas where homeowners are unlikely to have ever made an insurance claim for theft or burglary.

Unsurprisingly, London featured heavily in the top 20, with areas such as Wood Green, Mill Hill and Streatham all recording high numbers of claims.

The top 10 burglary hotspots based on number of claims made:

1. N16 – Stoke Newington, London, 33.6 claims per 1,000 inquiries

2. BD10 – Apperley Bridge, Bradford, 31.7

3. B71 – West Bromwich, West Midlands, 31.7

4. N22 – Wood Green, London, 30.3

5. LS13 – Bramley, Rodley, Swinnow, Leeds, 30

6. LS15 – Austhorpe, Barwick-in-Elmet, Colton, Cross Gates, Halton, Halton Moor, Scholes, Whitkirk, Leeds, 28.

7. BD18 – Saltaire, Shipley, Windhill, Wrose, Bradford, 28.6

8. LS7 – Chapel Allerton, Chapeltown, Little London, Meanwood, Potternewton, Sheepscar, Leeds, 27.4

9. DN2 – Intake, Wheatley, Wheatley Hills, Doncaster, 27.3

10. SW16 – Streatham, London, 27.2

Does living in a high-risk area mean paying more for home insurance?

Home insurance providers take into account a number of factors – including postcode and its history of crime – when pricing your home insurance policy. Yet most insurers take a blanket approach, which means properties classified as being in a ‘high-risk’ area can attract more expensive cover, even if they’ve never experienced a break-in.

In the meantime, the best thing you can do is to improve your home’s security. Not only will this reduce the risk of your property being broken into, but it could help you gain cheaper home insurance in the long run.

According to Directgov, homes with no adequate security measures in place are ten times more likely to be burgled. Follow our list of safety measures you can take to reduce the likelihood of falling victim to crime.

Top tips to avoid being burgled:

- Don’t keep valuables – such as laptops or jewellery – on view, and always close your curtains and blinds after dark. You might also want to keep an inventory of your valuables, either on paper or online with a property registering company like Immobilise.com.

- Outside lights can make it more difficult for burglars to stay undetected – make sure they’re tamper-proof or positioned where it’s difficult for intruders to reach them. On the inside, leave lights switched on or use timer switches to make it look like you’re in when you’re not.

- Make sure your doors and windows are locked when you’re not using them. Most burglars break into houses or flats through the door, either by forcing the lock or kicking it in, so make sure your doors are strong and secure.

- Don’t hide your keys under a doormat or a flowerpot – it’s the first place a burglar will look.

- Think carefully before announcing upcoming holidays on Facebook or Twitter. Putting information about your absence from home into the public domain could be making life easier for opportunist thieves.

‘The Green Deal’, a campaign promise that’s become the political buzzword of our time, but what is it? If everything goes according to plan the Green Deal will ‘revolutionize the energy efficiency of the nation’s homes and businesses.’ Well, that’s what the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) claims anyway. Others have labelled it, in slightly less flattering terms, as a ‘middle-class subsidy’.

Whatever your view, the proposals are due to be rolled out from October this year, so to help prepare you for what’s coming – or just impress the neighbours with your knowledge – we’ve pulled together the Top Five Must-Know Facts about the Green Deal:

1) What’s the ‘deal’?

This is the corner-stone of the Green Deal, it’s main selling point; in a nutshell, the Green Deal will fund energy-saving upgrades for your home like  boilers, draught-proofing, loft and wall insulation. You’ll still pay for them, but not upfront, rather the cost will be staggered over time as an additional charge on your electricity bill.  But here’s the deal:  your repayments will have to be less than the energy savings you make by installing the product. How’s that being calculated? Well, that’s a whole separate issue.

2) So how will it work? 

From a consumer point of a view there’s a few key steps you will have to take. First, what needs to be done to your home? You’ll have to get a property assessment, which will lay out exactly which energy-saving upgrades are suitable for your property. Next, shop around.  Take that assessment to Green Deal providers (don’t worry, we’ll get to that in a minute) who will give you a range of quotes for the work. Take your pick, have the work done with no upfront costs, and start paying it back in your energy bills.

3) Where does the money come from?

The Green Deal is essentially a loan from the private companies installing these energy efficiency measures. There’s a maximum amount of £6,500 per household and crucially this is tied to the home, rather than the owner, so if you move house the debt is passed on to whoever buys it. The loan is then paid back through the electricity bill over a 25-year period. Also, unlike many other home improvements initiatives, the Green Deal is not dependent on people’s income, with the loans being available to everyone.

4) And when is all this happening? 

Don’t worry, you’ve got a bit of time to let all this bed in. The Green Deal was part of the Energy Act, which came into force in October 2011, meaning the proposals under Green Deal itself should start to be rolled out in October this year – one year on. However, don’t expect Green Deal mayhem straight away.

5) But didn’t the energy secretary just resign?

Yes, former Energy Secretary and champion of the Green Deal Chris Huhne has resigned to tackle charges of perverting the course of justice. However, his replacement Ed Davey has already made it clear that he’ll be following through on the Green Deal. He said:

“My department is already implementing bold and ambitious reforms – like electricity market reform and the Green Deal – to unlock private investment, drive innovation and build a resilient, green, competitive economy. It’s now my job to see those through.”

Until the Green Deal arrives read all about how to save energy to cut your bills on the uSwitch site. 

Lloyds Banking Group this week announced it was scrapping its Halifax and Bank of Scotland branded charity credit cards. Charities such as Cancer Research UK and the NSPCC have benefitted to the tune of over £15m from the cards over the 23 years they’ve been around.

The bank said it was still committed to charitable giving, but that demand for the cards had slumped heavily in recent years and they were no longer proving to be cost-effective.

At first glance, the move might seem a bit mean-spirited. Last December, research from the Office for National Statistics found that while more people are giving to charity, the average amount being donated has fallen. Charities are struggling, and they clearly need every pound that comes their way.

Yet, the truth is that charity credit cards have never really been the most effective way to donate.

Cashback vs charity cards

Take cashback credit cards. Where most charity credit cards give just 25p for every £100 spent, cashback cards offer far greater rates of reward which can then be donated to the charity of your choice.

For example, if you spent £250 a month on Capital One’s World Mastercard, which pays 5% cashback for three months and up to 1.25% after, you’d receive £48.75 in cashback over a year. The same spending on the Co-operative Bank’s Christian Aid charity card – one of the best charity cards on the market – would net the charity just £25.

Then there’s Gift Aid, the government scheme which allows charities to reclaim tax on your donation. Gift Aid means that your £48.75 in cashback would be worth £60.94 to the charity with basic rate tax, and £81.25 for higher-rate taxpayers – that’s more than three times as much as the charity card.

The main benefit of a charity credit card is that it does most of legwork for you – all you have to do is spend money on it and the card will take care of the donating.

But while giving to charity via a cashback card requires a bit more effort, the numbers speak for themselves – cashback credit cards beat charity cards hands down.

Based on the results of millions of speed tests and consumer ratings – as well as thousands of uSwitch visitors surveyed and the opinions of our panel of experts – winners were decided in fifteen categories including Best Customer Support, Most Reliable and Best Value Provider.

Highlights

Winner of five awards including Fastest Mobile Broadband, Best Broadband + Home Phone Package and Best Technical Support, O2 was recognised for offering speedy 3G connections, fast and reliable broadband and 24-hour technical support at UK based contact centres.

Best Deal 

Appealing to those on the lookout for a great affordable broadband package, O2 are currently offering a package with speeds of up to 20Mb and unlimited downloads, all at half price for twelve months. An exclusive for existing mobile customers, this discount makes the deal just £6.25 per month.

Find more details on the deal here, or call 0808 144 4502.

Winners of four awards including Most Reliable and Most Likely To Be Recommended, users surveyed on uSwitch appreciated the competitive pricing, high level of customer support and quality of service provided by the Yorkshire-based broadband supplier.

Best Deal 

PlusNet’s value package offers up to 20Mb speeds (albeit with a 10GB monthly usage limit), free evening and weekend calls, and free activation for a mere £3.24 per month. Find out more about the deal by clicking here.

With free cinema tickets thanks to Orange Wednesdays, free meals at Pizza Express, free weekly movie downloads on iTunes and access to free music via Deezer, the panel felt the wide range of benefits offered to Orange’s broadband customers were truly market-leading.

Best Deal 

Orange are currently offering a deal that highlights benefits for existing customers, where those on the network can get speeds of up to 20Mb, unlimited usage, free calls and free connection for just £5 per month.

An exclusive for uSwitch customers is also a free £40 Sainsbury’s voucher, available here or by calling 0800 072 4046 to order.

Check out the full list of winners on the uSwitch Broadband Awards page.

Image by LZBone via Flickr

Extreme couponing is the latest craze to hit America – it’s so big it even has its own TV show. Yet here in the UK, relatively few shoppers are taking advantage of the discounts on offer.

Savvy shoppers in the US spend hours trawling newspapers and magazines for vouchers to use on their weekly shop and some ‘extreme couponers’ are so adept at the game they can reduce entire shopping bills down to zero.

Unfortunately, the savings to be made in the US aren’t quite matched by those on offer in the UK, but you shouldn’t let that deter you.

There are still bargains to be had and if you follow these steps you should be well on your way to reducing your weekly shopping bill:

1. Get online

In the UK, relatively few coupons are printed in newspapers and magazines. However, the internet is packed with websites and forums bursting with special offers and vouchers.

A few good places to start looking are: wowcher.co.uk, discountvouchers.co.uk and myvouchercodes.co.uk.

2. Stockpile

Supermarket vouchers and offers generally have an expiry date, so it’s best to take advantage while you can.

Stockpile non-perishable items that are on offer, but make sure you do so within reason – you don’t want your bathroom taken over by a lifetime supply of toothpaste!

3. Use coupons on discounted products

One of the most popular techniques used by ‘extreme couponers’ is to find vouchers for products that are already discounted or part of a deal.

Using this technique you can significantly reduce the price of the item further and you can sometimes even get it for free.