The Sunday Times January 6, 2019 15 MONEY ENERGY DEALS Table shows the cheapest tariff from the 3 cheapest suppliers. Excludes fixed tariffs of less than 12 months’ duration. Excludes tariffs that do not have national coverage. Excludes tariffs where payments are taken in advance of the customer coming on supply. F=Fixed rate V=Variable rate Supplier Average annual bill Rate Contact Utility Point £988 V 0345 557 7878 People’s Energy £994 V 0131 285 5510 Pure Planet £998 V App only (purepla.net) Source: TheEnergyShop.com — 01259 220 270 What it does The Evenlode Income fund has become so popular it has closed to new investors to protect performance, but the same team launched Evenlode Global Income in 2017. It is run on the same principles of finding high-quality companies with a growing dividend, this time all over the world rather than just in the UK. What it invests in Almost half the assets are in big US firms including Pepsico, Microsoft and Walt Disney. There is a degree of crossover with Evenlode Income, as 17.6% of assets are in the UK including the drinks company Diageo and the pharma giant Glaxo Smith Kline. Performance In its first year the fund has returned 3.1%, compared with a sector average of -5%. It’s a short track record but the fund is run along the same lines as Evenlode Income, which has been strong over the long term. What the manager says Fund manager Ben Peters said: “Companies that listen to customers — keep them happy, look for new ways to make their lives easier and thereby deepen relationships over time — will tend to be enjoyable to own for a patient investor.” What the experts say Ryan Hughes, head of active portfolios at AJ Bell, said: “Ben Peters has followed this process for nearly a decade and, while it’s early days for the global fund, the initial results are encouraging. It is definitely one to watch.” Holly Black FUND FOCUS EVENLODE GLOBAL INCOME Best Buys FOREIGN CURRENCY These are the interbank rates at 5pm on Friday, which show where the market is trading. They are not indicative of the rate you will be able to get. EURO GBP>EUR 1.12 CHILDREN’S ACCOUNTS Provider Account name Account type Min deposit Interest rate Contact Halifax Kids’ Monthly Saver Regular saver £10 4.5% halifax.co.uk Santander 1 123 Mini Current Account Current account £300 2.96% santander.co.uk Cambridge 3-year Fixed-rate Bond Fixed-rate bond £1,000 2% cambridgebs.co.uk 1 Interest rates are tiered: 1% on balances of £100-£199; 1.98% on £200-£299; 2.96% on £300-£2,000. JUNIOR ISAS Provider Account name Min deposit Interest rate Rate Contact Coventry Junior Cash Isa (1) £1 3.6% V coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk TSB Junior Cash Isa £1 3.25% V tsb.co.uk Darlington Junior Cash Isa £1 3.25% V darlington.co.uk V = variable rate. Source: Savingschampion.co.uk — 0808 178 5354 CASH ISAS INSTANT ACCESS Provider Account name Min deposit Interest Transfers in Contact Virgin Money 1 Double Take E-Isa Issue 5 £1 1.45% Yes uk.virginmoney.com Leeds 2 Limited Issue Online Access Isa (Issue 9) £1,000 1.38% Yes leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk 1 Maximum of two easy access withdrawals a year. 2 Matures 01.03.2020. FIXED RATE Provider Account name Term Min deposit Rate Transfers in Contact Shawbrook Bank Fixed-rate Cash Isa 1 year £5,000 1.66% Yes shawbrook.co.uk Shawbrook Bank Fixed-rate Cash Isa 2 years £5,000 1.86% Yes shawbrook.co.uk Source: Savingschampion.co.uk — 0808 178 5354 CURRENT ACCOUNTS CREDIT INTEREST Provider Account name Account fee Interest rate 1 Balance Contact Co-operative Bank Current with Everyday Rewards None £4 a month – 0345 721 2212 TSB Classic Plus None 5% £1-£1,500 0345 975 8758 Nationwide FlexDirect None 5% 2 £0.01-£2,500 0800 302 010 OVERDRAFTS * Provider Account name Account fee Interest rate 3 0% overdraft limit Contact First Direct 1st Account £10 a month 4 15.9% £250 0800 242 424 M&S Bank Current Account None 15.9% £100 0345 900 0900 Starling Current Account None 15% £0 starlingbank.com 1 Based on funding of £1,000 a month. 2 Introductory rate for one year, then 1%. 3 Equivalent annual rate. 4 Fee waived if minimum funding of £1,000 is met. * Based on overdraft of £500 for 15 days a month. Some accounts require minimum funding/direct debits to open or receive rates shown. Source: Moneyfacts.co.uk AMERICA GBP>USD 1.27 SWITZERLAND GBP>CHF 1.26 AUSTRALIA GBP>AUD 1.79 ICONS BY JAMIE JONES MORTGAGES 2-YEAR FIXED RATES Lender Rate Scheme Deposit Fee Notes Contact Leeds 1.39% Fixed to 31.03.21 35% £1,999 V 0345 045 4049 Hanley Economic 1.55% Fixed to 28.02.21 20% £799 LV 01782 255 000 HSBC 1.79% Fixed to 30.04.21 10% £999 LV 0800 494 999 3-YEAR FIXED RATES Lender Rate Scheme Deposit Fee Notes Contact Coventry 1.65% Fixed to 31.03.22 35% £999 LV 0800 121 8899 Coventry 1.79% Fixed to 31.03.22 15% £999 LV 0800 121 8899 HSBC 2.35% Fixed to 30.04.22 10% £0 LV 0800 494 999 LONG-TERM FIXED RATES Lender Rate Scheme Deposit Fee Notes Contact Skipton 1.88% Fixed to 31.05.24 40% £995 LV 0345 850 1755 M&S Bank 2.04% Fixed to 30.04.24 15% £1,094 LV 0800 923 1536 First Direct 2.25% Fixed for 5 years 10% £490 LV 0800 482 448 Coventry 2.35% Fixed to 31.03.29 35% £999 LV 0800 121 8899 TRACKERS */ DISCOUNTS Lender Rate Scheme Deposit Fee Notes Contact Leeds 1.38% Tracker +0.63% to 31.03.21 25% £999 LV 0345 045 4049 Skipton 2.05% Tracker +1.3% for 2 years 10% £995 ELV 0345 850 1755 Nationwide 2.14% Tracker +1.39% for 5 years 40% £999 AELV 0800 302 010 Hanley Economic 1.99% SVR -3.45% for term 40% £999 ELV 01782 255 000 FIRST-TIME BUYER / LOW DEPOSIT Lender Rate Scheme Deposit Fee Notes Contact Monmouthshire 2.55% SVR -2.69% for 2 years 5% £0 PVE 01633 844 351 Hanley Economic 2.69% Fixed to 28.02.21 5% £0 PV 01782 255 000 Barclays 2.13% Fixed to 31.01.24 25% £749 FPV 0333 202 7580 BUY TO LET Lender Rate Scheme Deposit Fee Notes Contact Coventry 2.49% Variable for term 35% £999 LV 0800 121 8899 Virgin 3.83% Fixed to 01.05.21 20% £0 R 0345 605 0500 Skipton 2.57% Fixed to 30.04.24 25% £995 LV 0345 850 1755 Early repayment charge applies unless otherwise stated. * Most deals track Bank of England base rate. Notes: SVR = Standard variable rate; A = £500 cashback for first-time buyers; E = No early repayment charge; F = Help to Buy or shared-equity scheme; L = Free legal work for remortgages; P = Purchases only; R = Free valuation and legal work for remortgages; V = Free valuation. Source: landc.co.uk — 0800 373 300 CREDIT CARDS INTRODUCTORY RATES Provider Card type Introductory purchase APR 1 Reward Contact Post Office Money Online Platinum Mastercard 0% for 28 months 18.9% No 0345 607 6500 MBNA All Round 28/28 Visa 0% for 28 months 19.9% No 0345 606 2062 Virgin Money 28-month Purchase Mastercard 0% for 28 months 19.9% No 0800 389 2875 BALANCE TRANSFERS Provider Card type Introductory purchase Transfer fee 2 APR 1 Contact MBNA Platinum 33-month Visa 0% for 33 months 1.99% 19.9% 0345 606 2062 Post Office Money Online Mastercard 0% for 32 months 2% 19.9% 0345 607 6500 MBNA Platinum 31-month Visa 0% for 31 months 1.1% 19.9% 0345 606 2062 CASHBACK CARDS Provider Card type APR 1 Cashback Contact American Express Platinum Cashback 28.2% 1%-1.25%. Intro 5% for 3 months 0800 917 8047 American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday 22.9% 0.5%-1%. Intro 5% for 3 months 0800 917 8047 Santander All in One Mastercard 21.7% 0.5% 0800 389 9905 1 APR = annual percentage rate, dependent on credit rating. 2 Fee charged on the amount of each balance transfer during the introductory period. Source: Moneyfacts.co.uk SAVINGS ACCOUNTS INSTANT ACCESS Provider Account name Min deposit Interest rate Contact West Bromwich 1 Direct Double Access £1,000 1.5% westbrom.co.uk Virgin Money 2 Double Take E-Saver (Issue 10) £1 1.5% uk.virginmoney.com Marcus 3 Online Savings £1 1.49% marcus.co.uk NOTICE ACCOUNTS Provider Account name Notice period Min deposit Interest rate Contact Secure Trust Bank 4 120-day Notice 120 days £1,000 1.83% securetrustbank.com Secure Trust Bank 4 90-day Notice 90 days £1,000 1.81% securetrustbank.com Charter Savings Bank 95-day Notice (Issue 20) 95 days £1,000 1.81% chartersavingsbank.co.uk FIXED-RATE BONDS Provider Account name Term Min deposit Interest rate Contact Investec Fixed-term Deposit 1 year £25,000 2.05% investec.com Investec Fixed-term Deposit 2 years £25,000 2.35% investec.com Masthaven Fixed-term Bond 3 years £500 2.4% masthaven.co.uk 1 Rate includes conditional bonus, subject to maximum of two easy access withdrawals a year. Rate reduces to 0.25% if conditions not met. 2 Maximum of two easy access withdrawals a year. 3 Rate includes 0.15% bonus for first 12 months. 4 Maximum three capital withdrawals a year. DEALS ARE LISTED ONLY IF THEY ARE COVERED BY THE UK FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPENSATION SCHEME (FSCS) OR A EUROPEAN EQUIVALENT Source: Savingschampion.co.uk — 0808 178 5354 Fast broadband is ‘tantalisingly close’, but BT just can’t close the gap promises have all been broken. “They even close the road to connect a line, but then this is cancelled,” said Chris, a retired defence consultant. After being contacted by Money, BT connected the service just before Christmas. Chris’s account has been credited with 12 months of free broadband and he has received £350 as a gesture of goodwill. BT said: “While more than 95% of homes and businesses in the UK can access fibre broadband from BT, speeds vary due to a number of factors including distance from the fibre cabinet, home wiring and the home environment.” Telecoms companies are expected to make a connection within 10 working days of a request, according to Ofcom. From April, they will have to compensate customers automatically if this deadline is missed, with the charge set at £5 for each day of delay. Missed appointments will incur a £25 payout and there is an £8 daily charge for repair delays. About 677,000 homes and offices in the UK are without decent broadband — defined as a download speed of at least 10Mbps. Most of these (496,000) are in rural areas. Ofcom is working to implement the government’s broadband “universal service obligation”, giving people the right to request decent broadband, by next year. Baz Parmer has spent three years trying to persuade BT to connect him to the superfast internet received by almost every other household in his village of Fulking, West Sussex. Although he pays the company £39.99 a month for a 50Mbps service, he only gets 12Mbps at the best of times. He and his daughter, Madelaine, 15, get faster internet from their mobile phones — or by popping to the local library. Fulking has a population of about 350, but six houses, including Baz’s, are stuck with slow internet. “Surely, BT should be able to extend their fibre [optic cable] to us as we are only 1.4 miles from the exchange box. What else could we do to get the same broadband as our neighbours?” said Baz, 60, a retired orthodontist. The inhabitants of Fulking rely on BT as rival providers do not offer broadband in the area. About 250,000 Britons are in this position, according to the telecoms regulator Ofcom. Baz and other residents of his road have offered to pay for the extension of the superfast broadband, asking BT for an estimate of the cost. They have received no reply. BT said Baz was receiving speeds within the range predicted when he joined the company — and added that his monthly payments included a £15 discount. However, it has emerged that only £12.50 had been refunded since February last year because of a system error. The shortfall was made up this month. Money has been inundated with letters from readers frustrated at BT’s failure to connect their homes — despite numerous promises to do so — even though the company has upgraded the cable up to the cabinet at the end of their road, or to the base of their block of flats. David Ferrar has spent 2½ years trying to get the company to connect his home to the superfast fibre cable that has been laid at the bottom of his block of flats in Weston, near Crewe in Cheshire. He pays £20 a month for a service that averages about 0.5Mbps. The most he can get is about 2Mbps. He has tried to contact Openreach, the BT division responsible for upgrading Britain’s broadband infrastructure, but it will not deal directly with individual customers. “It’s tantalisingly close, but no one at BT or Openreach seems to be able to get a wire from the service cupboard at the bottom of our building to people’s homes,” said David, 72, a retired businessman. He has suggested that BT make the final part of the connection using the older copper wire technology instead of fibre optics, but to no avail. BT said it was waiting for Openreach to make the final connection. Openreach said it was waiting for permission from the landlord, Estates & Management, so it can gain access to the block of flats. Estates & Management said it had yet to receive proper health and safety assurances from Openreach so the access can be provided. Chris Howe, 62, from Ewerby, near Sleaford in Lincolnshire, applied for broadband in April 2018 but was still waiting last month. BT made five promises to turn up and do the work to connect his home, but the Baz and Madelaine Parmer, with their dogs Barney and Leap Rural homeowners and flat dwellers are still missing out on top speeds, writes Ali Hussain