The taxman says three and a half million people are due a refund, but two million will have to fork out for underpaid tax.
Questions to ask your mortgage broker
If you are going to see a broker about arranging your first mortgage, here is a list of questions you should ask.
Image: Paul Faith - PA
Here's a list of things to bear in mind when meeting a mortgage broker for the first time:
1. How independent are you? Will you advise me on every product on the market or do you operate on the basis of a restricted panel of lenders?
2. Are you regulated by the Financial Services Authority and under what trading name?
3. What mortgage qualifications do you have?
4. What exactly will you be doing for me that I couldn’t do myself?
5. How do you charge for your advice? Is it on a fee basis or by earning commission from the lender whose mortgage you recommend?
6. Will you tell me what the commission you earn from any lender whose mortgage you recommend? Will you recommend the right mortgage for me regardless of the commission you earn from lenders?
7. Will you be trying to earn more money by recommending other financial products for me, such as life insurance or similar protection?
8. If you are going to recommend other products, are you tied only to those of one company or a handful of companies? Or are you truly independent?
9. Are you also an independent financial adviser, able to help me with all other aspects of my financial planning such as investments and pensions, or do you only specialise in mortgages?
10. If you are an independent adviser, what qualifications do you have in non-mortgage related areas specific to my financial needs? Do you have special pensions and investment qualifications?
Useful links
Compare mortgage rates
Compare quotes on home insurance
Find a financial adviser
related stories on msn
0Comments
latest money videos
more on msn money
Fed up with low savings rates and high borrowing rates? As Dave Fishwick and his Bank of Dave has demonstrated, there are other options out there.
US couple have found an innovative solution to the problem of sky-high house prices.
The two banks have now joined the Post Office's banking network, meaning customers can make withdrawals and deposits at branches around the UK.
Get 5p off per litre of fuel at Shell, broadband from £2 a month and more in our latest discount and freebie round-up.
Lifestyling is supposed to mean that your pension pot becomes more secure the nearer you get to retirement. Yet your pension provider might be switching you to overpriced and therefore riskier investments.
If you want to borrow a larger sum of money and repay it over time, a conventional personal loan is not always your best option.
Look out for these warning signs when house-hunting
Analysts at Barclays calculate Co-op – whose debt has been downgraded to junk – could need £1.8bn in worst case scenario
Government measures responsible for pickup in demand that has yet to be matched by increase in supply, says Rics
Majority of Brits feel no more optimistic about their finances despite economic revival
![Travellers often face hefty fees while abroad [Image © PA] Image © PA](http://db2.stb.s-msn.com/i/22/63AFC34E4B2C59772D8A39F7E616DB_h85_w116_m4.jpg "Travellers often face hefty fees while abroad [Image © PA] Image © PA")
The two banks charge the highest fees for withdrawing money overseas using their debit cards.
