THANK THE BANK 

LLOYDS TSB has cut its charges for unauthorised overdrafts, the first High Street bank to do so. Instead of £30 per day the bank will charge £15 a month and then between £6 and £20 per day depending on the size of the overdraft. Well played, Lloyds TSB.

HIPS IN FOR 3-BED HOMES

HOME INFORMATION PACKS (surely the worst idea since the Poll Tax) are now a requirement for three-bed homes. “Much to the despair of the anti-HIP lobby here we are welcoming them for over 60% of housing stock,” said Dominic Toller of HIP provider LMS. And it’s much to the despair of this column that Toller has said that.

HANGING ON THE TELEPHONE?

IF YOU HAVE been kept hanging on the telephone by a utilities company (water, gas, electricity, phones, Internet service providers and digtial TV companies) then Citizens Advice would like to hear about your problems on www.adviceguide.org.uk Citizens Advice promises a “quick and easy survey” and your answers will “help promote good practice and put an end to poor customer service.”

CREDIT FEARS COULD KO SMALL FIRMS

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned that the liquidity crisis in the banking system could be a body blow to small firms that now face the prospect of paying rates of over 10% on their loans. “This is a big worry,” said Matthew Knowles of the FSB.