PEOPLE struggling to make ends meet are being forced deeper into debt in greater numbers, with cases getting more complicated “by the week”.

LAWS to prevent a repeat of the loans scandal which rocked Anglo-Irish Bank were signalled yesterday.

Financial regulator Patrick Neary is to make his first public appearance since resigning over a secret loans scandal at troubled Anglo Irish Bank when he is grilled by an Oireachtas Committee in Leinster House tomorrow.

LAVISH spenders have been advised to keep their hands in their pockets this year as a survey shows a quarter of people have experienced a drop in income in recent months.

CONSUMERS can save hundreds of euro annually on home insurance by shopping around and negotiating with providers according to a new survey by the Financial Regulator.

Householders can save almost €400 a year on home insurance by shopping around, the state’s financial watchdog claimed today.

SOME of the country’s top banks are still not dealing adequately with complaints from customers, the Financial Regulator has said.

Two out of five consumers plan to use some form of credit to finance their Christmas spending this year, a survey from the Financial Regulator has found.

SOME money transfer businesses are not providing accurate and transparent information about their charges for sending money, according to the Financial Regulator.

THE Financial Regulator, Patrick Neary, will be forced to answer questions on whether Irish banks were involved in irresponsible lending leading to the current financial crisis when he meets a Dáil watchdog today.

THE Financial Regulator has said it is “unreasonable” to expect consumers to provide receipts when making travel insurance claims for loss or damage to personal items.

MOTOR insurance premiums are down and claims are being settled in less time and at less cost than before, despite an increase in the frequency of road traffic accidents.

ONE in 10 people do not have a bank account, and more than 60% of consumers do not have a credit card.

THE Irish Nationwide Building Society is offering the biggest return in the country for regular savers, according to a survey conducted by the Financial Regulator.

THE Financial Regulator’s office has warned it will punish anyone selling investment products they know to be unsuitable for customers.

AN advert aimed at enlightening consumers about their rights has won a top EU award, to be announced today.

ONE in 10 men and women has admitted to lying or being economical with the truth when dealing with their insurers.

The Financial Regulator today encouraged consumers to get informed about fees and charges before buying financial products.

MOTORISTS are reaping the rewards of dramatically lower insurance premiums as accident and death rates on Irish roads tumble, figures show.

CONSUMERS remain unhappy with the way banks, credit card firms and lenders handle complaints — despite a new charter on customer rights.

Being in debt is a major cause of ill-health among women in Ireland, a study launched today has claimed.

Launching its annual report for 2006 today, the Financial Regulator said it was now focusing on dominant credit card companies and insurance corporations who are charging over the odds.

DUAL life policy?

SAVERS were last night warned to make sure they get the best rate of interest they can if they want to keep saving their SSIA windfalls.

HOUSEHOLDERS looking to insure their homes could cut their costs in half if they avoid giving their custom to the big insurance companies, according to a new cost comparison.

SSIA savers expecting to share in a multi-billion-euro windfall over the coming months were yesterday warned against putting their cash into current accounts.

SSIA savers expecting to share in a multi-billion euro windfall over the coming months were today warned against putting their cash into current accounts.

SMOKERS are paying up to €18,000 more for life assurance than non-smokers, with their premiums up to 150% higher.

INSURANCE companies paid out claims for more than 80,000 road accidents in 2004, according to figures from the Financial Regulator.

CONSUMERS have been warned to be vigilant when using their plastic cards during the festive season.

Festive shoppers were today warned to step up security measures as it was revealed one in 20 people take no precautions using bank cards.

IMPROVED access to financial services could help people on low incomes to avoid the poverty trap.

THE Financial Regulator has been monitoring the SSIA maturity process as part of its consumer protection role.

Today’s ECB interest rate increase of 0.25%, the fifth increase in 11 months, will make a big difference to many people’s monthly mortgage repayments, the financial regulator said today.

The announcement yesterday of a new consumer protection code to ensure that banks are not allowed to rip off customers should be welcomed, but with a health warning.

Some €118m is being paid back to consumers who were wrongly charged for services by financial institutions, it was revealed today.

People of all ages were urged to begin thinking about their pensions today as the Financial Regulator published a new guide on the subject.

Savers should use windfall payments from their Special Savings Investment Accounts to pay off expensive debts and borrowings, the Financial Regulator said today.

SAVERS should use payments from their SSIAs to pay off expensive debts and borrowings, the Financial Regulator said yesterday.

Shopping around for car insurance could save you more than €1,000, the Financial Regulator promised today.

The Financial Regulator today warned consumers about using an unauthorised Swiss investment firm.

THE Financial Regulator yesterday warned consumers about using an unauthorised Swiss investment firm.

The Financial Regulator has published its first cost survey on business current accounts.

Consumers were today urged to negotiate with banks to have fees and charges on their accounts reduced.