Struggling to Pay? Why Contacting Your Lender Early Helps
If money is tight, the worst thing you can do is go quiet. This guide explains why contacting your lender early gives you the most options…
Rachel Stone
Rachel Stone
Personal Finance Editor
Rachel Stone writes about borrowing, budgeting, credit and consumer rights, with a focus on clear, practical guidance and pointing readers to trustworthy help.
How to Check a Lender Is Legitimate (and Spot Clone Firms)
Before you borrow, confirm the lender is real and authorised. This guide explains how to use the FCA Register, how clone-firm scams copy…
Rachel Stone
Overdrafts Explained: Arranged, Unarranged and the Costs
An overdraft lets you spend more than is in your current account, but it is a form of borrowing with real costs. This UK guide explains…
Rachel Stone
Understanding Your Credit Agreement: A UK Guide
A credit agreement is the contract behind any loan or credit deal. This UK guide explains the key terms to look for — APR, total repayable…
Rachel Stone
How to Complain About a Lender (and the Financial Ombudsman)
If a lender has treated you unfairly, you have a clear route to put it right. This guide explains how to complain effectively, the lender's…
Rachel Stone
Debt Snowball vs Avalanche: Which Clears Debt Faster?
The snowball and avalanche methods are two popular ways to pay off multiple debts. This UK guide explains how each works, why the avalanche…
Rachel Stone
How to Spot Loan Scams and Impersonation
Advance-fee fraud, loan-fee scams and clone firms explained — the red flags that give loan scammers away, and exactly how to check a lender…
Rachel Stone
How Credit Scoring Works in the UK
There is no single UK credit score. This guide explains how the three main credit reference agencies work, what really affects your…
Rachel Stone
The Life of a Loan: From Application to Final Payment
A clear walk through every stage of a loan — application, affordability checks, approval, drawdown, repayments, settlement and closure — so…
Rachel Stone