ultimate halifax travel insurance

Does Halifax Ultimate Reward Travel Insurance Cover?

• Coverage for you, your living spouse, and any children under the age of 18 (or 24 if they’re in full-time education).

Does Halifax travel insurance cover cancellation?

There is now coverage if you are overseas and are ordered to return home or prefer to leave early to avoid having to quarantine when you return due to an epidemic or pandemic declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) or a government body. The UK government or the government of the nation you’re visiting could issue the order to come home.

If you or someone you’re traveling with has scheduled to fly and the carrier or a government body refuses to allow you go because you or they are showing symptoms of a contagious sickness at the time of boarding, you or they are entitled for additional cancellation coverage.

If anyone traveling with the insurance holder has been advised to quarantine owing to a potential exposure to COVID-19, cancellation coverage will now be offered for those protected under the policy. Local lockdowns and a broader quarantine order are not included in this.

If you become unwell while traveling, you are still insured for emergency medical care. Anyone planned to go and protected under the policy will still have cancellation and medical coverage if they are required to quarantine on an individual basis.

On December 1, 2021, NHS Test and Trace / NHS Test and Protect (Scotland) contacts a friend you’re traveling with and informs them that they need to self-isolate and will be unable to accompany you. You will be insured for travel cancellation in this case.

You are scheduled to depart on December 1, 2021. There were no restrictions on traveling to your destination at the time you booked. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s travel advice to that place changes two days before your journey begins, and now advises against all but essential travel. As a result, you must reschedule your vacation. You would not be protected for any cancellation expenses in this case, and you would need to seek compensation from the travel provider or another source, such as your credit card issuer.

It is critical that you study the terms and conditions of travel insurance to verify that the coverage matches your requirements.

What is covered by Halifax Ultimate Reward account?

The family travel insurance policy covers you, your spouse or partner (if you live together), and any children under the age of 18, or 24 if they’re in full-time education. Personal goods, specific sports and hobbies, and golf excursions are all covered.

Existing medical issues are not covered unless they are initially agreed upon with the insurer, in which case an additional premium may be required.

• Multi-trip travel around the world, including specific winter sports and golf excursions. There’s also coverage for UK excursions that include at least two nights of pre-booked lodging.
• Your children – any of your children who are 18 years old or younger, or who are 24 years old if they are in full-time education. When traveling with the account holder or a responsible adult, you are covered.
• As long as they reside with you, your partner can be a spouse, civil partner, or partner.
• If your personal baggage is lost, damaged, or stolen, you may be entitled to compensation of up to £2,500. This includes assets worth up to £500 and a single article, pair, or set of articles worth up to £500.
• Personal money is covered up to £750 in the event of loss or theft. This includes up to £300 in cash coverage. For those under the age of 16, the amount is limited to £50.
• Pre-existing medical issues are not covered unless the insurer has agreed to cover them.
• The excursion with the longest duration is 31 days. A maximum of 31 days of coverage in a calendar year for winter sports.
• Children are only protected if they are accompanied by you, the account holder, or another responsible adult.
• If you go against the recommendation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) or any regulatory authority, you are not covered.
• If you are unable to travel or prefer not to go because the FCDO or another equivalent government organization in another nation advises against travel due to a pandemic, you are not covered.
• When the account holder reaches the age of 71, all coverage terminates. As long as the account holder is under the age of 71, their spouse, partner, or civil partner (with whom they live) is insured until they become 71. Eligible children can also be covered if they are traveling with the policyholder’s spouse, partner, or civil partner.

If you need support when traveling abroad, dial +44 (0)208 239 3931 for Allianz Assistance’s 24-hour assistance line. Call Allianz Assistance at +44 (0)345 124 1400 if you need to lodge a claim or want additional information. You can also submit your claim online through the Allianz Assistance Hub, which is accessible via your banking app or Online Banking.

AWP Assistance UK Ltd (business as Allianz Assistance) administers the policy, which is underwritten by AWP P&C SA.

Please note that these are only a few of the key issues; the policy document included in the Ultimate Reward Current Account Getting Started Guide has complete details of the limitations and exclusions (PDF 1.3MB).

As part of the account application procedure, we will also send you the Insurance Product Information Booklet (PDF 2.4MB).

If your travel has been disrupted, you may also use our helpful travel disruption tool.

Do the Halifax do travel insurance?

Overview of Halifax travel insurance. Halifax’s Ultimate Reward Current Account package account includes travel insurance. For a monthly charge of £17, the account also includes AA breakdown cover, mobile phone insurance, and home emergency cover. AXA Insurance UK plc underwrites its insurance.

What is not covered in travel insurance?

Baggage delay, damage, and loss plans do not cover all of your belongings. Glasses, hearing aids, dental bridges, tickets, passports, keys, cash, and cell phones are all common travel insurance exclusions. These things are sometimes covered, but only up to a particular cost limit, so if you have several expensive electronic items (such as a laptop, tablet, and mobile phone), you may not have enough coverage to cover the loss of all of them.

Is Halifax Ultimate Reward account changing?

If we don’t hear from you by May 15, 2020, your account will be converted to a current account, and you won’t be eligible for monthly Reward Extras. You can upgrade to a Reward Current Account at any time after your account has been converted to a Current Account if you believe it is the ideal account for you.

We’re also adding a £3 monthly account maintenance fee on June 1, 2020, although this won’t apply if you deposit at least £1,500 into your account each month.

Between June and August, we won’t charge the £3 monthly account maintenance cost to help you get acclimated to your new account.

However, you must still pay £1,500 each month to be eligible for your reward.

To help you decide if this account is perfect for you, we’ve highlighted everything you’ll need to do to obtain Reward Extras.

Can I downgrade my Halifax Ultimate Reward account?

It’s good news for existing Halifax customers since if you haven’t received a switching bonus from Halifax since April 2020, you can still claim the bonus.

However, unlike Natwest, Halifax would not allow you to switch into an existing account and receive a bonus. You will need to create a new account.

If you have a Halifax “Current Account”

The Current Account from Halifax is a no-frills ordinary account. If you have this, all you need to do now is create a Reward or UItimate Reward account.

If you have a Halifax Reward account

Many of you, I’m sure, already have this account thanks to the generous £5 per month offer. As a result, you’ll need to create an Ultimate Reward account. You can downgrade the account once you’ve switched and received the money if you don’t want to maintain it (details below).

If you have both the Reward and Ultimate Reward accounts

If you already have both of these accounts, that shouldn’t be a problem.

Simply downgrade one of your existing Halifax accounts to a different type of Halifax account. After that, reapply for the same account. Then switch back to normal mode! Halifax has confirmed that this is acceptable.

Of course, there may be some differences in your insurance policies if you do this with the Ultimate Rewards account, so compare them before deciding to downgrade the old account.

How do I claim on my Halifax phone insurance?

If you haven’t already done so, you can register your mobile phone number with the insurer via online banking or by dialing 0345 124 1400.

Raising a claim

You must notify the authorities and your airtime supplier as quickly as possible if your phone is lost or stolen. If you do not do these steps, your claim may be denied.

• Your phone’s make and model. Check your instruction manual for this information, or remove the back cover and battery to find a label with this information.
• Your network/service provider. Tip: Your service provider’s information is frequently displayed on your phone’s screen or on your contract or monthly statement.
• The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number is a unique identifier for mobile devices. Tip: Dial *#06# on your phone’s keypad to get this information shown on your phone’s screen.
• Click on your Ultimate Reward Current Account once you’ve enrolled into Online Banking.
• Then, under the ‘Account information and benefits menu,’ select ‘View account benefits.’
• Your policy information will be automatically loaded if you’ve already entered your mobile phone insurance data.
• If you want to file a claim, go to ‘View and update details’, then ‘Make a claim,’ and follow the onscreen instructions.

What is Halifax Reward net?

The Halifax Incentive account is now fee-free and offers a £2 monthly reward provided you deposit at least £750, pay out two or more direct debits, and keep your account in good standing. You have until June 12 to determine whether or not to opt-in if you opened your Rewards account after March 13th.

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Banking and Borrowing

The current accounts that include travel insurance

We round up the free and fee-charging current accounts that offer account holders some form of travel insurance.

John Fitzsimons Updated on 12 November 2019

Finding the right travel insurance can be time-consuming so it’s understandable why some people may be tempted by current accounts that offer free travel insurance.

We reveal what your options are and what they include.

Nationwide FlexPlus

Nationwide’s FlexPlus  account offers worldwide family travel insurance, but the account comes with a monthly fee of £13.

Travel insurance is available for those under 69 years of age, but you can pay £65 extra a year to ensure cover after this age.

Worldwide family mobile phone insurance and UK and European breakdown cover and recovery assistance is also included.

The building society recently announced it was tweaking its travel insurance policy, so we got in touch to find out what was changing with the FlexPlus policy.

Here are the key changes, according to a spokesperson:

• Increased the funeral or cremation limit;
• Increased emergency cash limit to £300;
• Introduced new upgrades for cruise cover and personal belongings;
• Reduced the missed delay or abandoned departure cover;
• Added an additional cancellation reason – vehicle accident or breakdown in the seven days before departure for self-drive holidays.

How to get travel insurance if you have a pre-existing condition

Club Lloyds Platinum

Club Lloyds Platinum includes many of the benefits of its Silver account, which is  no longer available  to new customers.

For £19 a month (plus £3 if you fail to pay in at least £1,500 a month), worldwide travel insurance is available to account holders up to the age of 80.

The insurance covers you and your family for up to 45 consecutive days per trip.

Winter sports is covered for a maximum of 31 days in any calendar year.

Other extras with this account include AA breakdown cover, mobile phone insurance, a £300 fee-free overdraft and up to 2% in-credit interest.

Travel insurance for the over 50s

Barclays allows you to personalise your current account by adding ‘packs’ which will cost you a monthly fee.

For £12.50 a month, you can add the  Travel Pack . This offers worldwide, multi-trip travel insurance, which covers you, your domestic partner, children and joint account holders, up to the age of 80.

All trips must start and end in the UK and last no longer than 31 days and includes RAC breakdown cover in the UK and Europe.

There’s also the  Travel Plus Pack , which costs £18 a month and includes worldwide, multi-trip travel insurance for you, your domestic partner, children and joint account holders up to the age of 80.

You get six free airport lounge visits every year, which can be used by you or your family – or you can opt for a free spa treatment at an airport instead.

RAC breakdown cover in the UK and Europe is included, as well as discounts on airport parking and hotel packages.

Compare current accounts with loveMONEY

NatWest Premier

With NatWest’s Premier Reward Black Account, you can get worldwide travel insurance for you and your family for trips of up to 90 days, including 31 days for winter sports.

For those over the age of 70, you need to contact NatWest every year for cover, be medically screened and pay an annual premium of £75 per person.

Mobile phone insurance, UK and European breakdown cover, home emergency service and discounts on theatre and cinema tickets are also included.

You can also get unlimited access to over 1,000 lounges worldwide and discounts at restaurants, cafes and spas in airports among other benefits – all for £31 a month.

On top of these features, you can also receive £150 for switching to NatWest by 6 December, which also applies to the Select Premier account.

The Reward Platinum account costs £20 a month and includes worldwide multi-trip travel insurance, UK breakdown cover, mobile phone insurance, Tastecard membership and discounted cinema tickets.

Again, there's a £75 annual premium on the travel insurance for those over 70.

Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) offers Select Silver and Select Platinum accounts, and the £150 switching offer from RBS is only valid until 29 November. 

All these accounts by RBS and NatWest also allow you to earn 2% in cashback on seven types of household bills paid by Direct Debit although from February 2020, you'll no longer receive 2% cashback. 

Instead, you'll get a set amount, which depends on having at least two Direct Debits set up and you logging into the account every month.

You can find out more about how the Rewards scheme will work here .

The best UK packaged bank accounts

Halifax Ultimate Reward

The Ultimate Reward Account from Halifax costs £17 a month (or £15 if you pay in £750 a month and set up two Direct Debits from the account) and includes worldwide multi-trip family travel insurance.

Other benefits include AA breakdown cover, mobile phone insurance, home emergency cover and the chance to earn cashback with certain retailers when you pay with your debit card.

Do your sums

Before you sign up for a premium current account, it's worth working out the value of the benefits the account offers versus how much they would cost if you bought them separately.

And if you don't use one or more of the benefits, then it's not likely to be worth the monthly fee.

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It will be fine. You are highly unlikely to be asked for proof of insurance anyway.

Thank you Bellagio :-)

No problem. Hope that you have a wonderful trip and please do come back and tell us all about it on your return.

Or for travellers from Europe also.

I would say check with your Insurance provider that your husband is also covered, make sure that your Insurance is not affiliated with USA and carry in your hand luggage your policy, just in case you are stopped. We have never been stopped going through Customs but they do 'spot check' people, would be the one time we did not carry it that we would be stopped :) Have a great time

Thank you for all your help, Halifax bank has no connections to America so I know all is good there and have phoned and triple checked and my husband is covered on the insurance too but just isn't named on the documents as he's covered under 'family' on the document.

I shall definitely be back to tell you all about the fab time I'm sure we will have .... Booked some excursions today, getting very excited, not only for going somewhere new but first holiday in 5 years so definitely much deserved! x

We are staying at the playa pesquero for 2 nights, then spending 3 nights in Havana, staying at the Habana Libre Tryp, then fly back to pp for a further 9 nights.

Excellent. I hope that you have a wonderful time. Please come back and tell us all about it on your return.

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About the Ultimate Reward Current Account

The Halifax Ultimate Reward Current Account charges a monthly fee, offering a range of rewards including cinema tickets and digital magazines. Account holders can enjoy various additional benefits. These include travel insurance, breakdown cover, mobile phone insurance and home emergency cover. Choosing the right rewards account can be difficult. It’s important that you will benefit from the rewards on offer and are able to meet the criteria to receive them. It’s also important that the provider is reputable. Read our Halifax Ultimate Reward Current Account reviews to learn more about the provider and product. Find out how long account holders have had their accounts, and how satisfied they are with the service they’ve received. Learn about the Halifax mobile banking app and the features it has to offer. Read about the rewards available with the account and how valuable customers find them to be. Learn how responsive the customer service team is to be confident that Halifax can swiftly resolve any issues. Make an informed decision when opening your new account by reading our reviews. If you have an Ultimate Reward Current Account with Halifax, share your honest experience with our Smart Money People community. Why did you choose this account and has it lived up to expectations? Do you find yourself redeeming rewards often? What’s your favourite thing about the account? Are there any aspects that you feel could be improved? Share any experience you’ve had with the customer service team. Would you recommend the account to your family and friends? Whether good or bad, write a Halifax Ultimate Reward Current Account review today.

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The three best bank accounts with travel insurance bolted on: We pick our favourites and whether they're worth paying for

• Some bank accounts include annual worldwide travel insurance
• They often also include car breakdown cover and mobile phone insurance 
• Although there is a monthly cost, having such an account may make sense

By Ed Magnus For Thisismoney.co.uk

Updated: 03:28 EDT, 9 August 2022

View comments

Many Britons will feel a bank account isn't something they're prepared to pay for - after all, most current accounts are 'free'.

However, some packaged bank accounts offer a host of benefits that added together could justify their monthly cost.

The typical perks include free annual worldwide travel insurance, car breakdown cover and mobile phone insurance, often with family members included. 

There is also the convenience factor of having three insurance policies taken care of saving both time and effort in having to organise it separately. 

Some bank accounts charge a monthly fee, but throw in perks such as annual worldwide travel insurance.

Michelle Stevens, banking expert at comparison site Finder, says: 'If you and your family are frequent travellers, then a current account with packaged travel insurance could be well worth the monthly fee, especially given the rising cost of travel insurance premiums in the last two years. 

'But before signing up to any premium current account, it’s important you check that the terms of the travel insurance policy - as well as the other account features and perks - suit your needs.' 

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She adds: 'Another benefit of getting free travel insurance with a current account is that a lot of people usually forgo it - up to 8.6million in 2019 - which is not an advisable move. 

'If you get seriously injured abroad then the bill can reach hundreds of thousands of pounds, so having travel insurance included with a current account may result in a lot of people getting covered who may not have done so otherwise.'

We pick our three favourite current account deals for travel insurance, taking into account the monthly cost and the additional perks on offer.

1.  Nationwide Flex Plus  

This account offers worldwide travel insurance as well as mobile phone and European breakdown cover.

It does come with a £13 monthly charge, which, compared to other packaged bank accounts looks relatively cheap.

Its worldwide family travel insurance, includes winter sports, golf, weddings and business cover.

Nationwide offers worldwide travel, mobile phone and European breakdown cover and charges £13 a month for maintaining the account.

Cover for travel essentials includes luggage, documents and cash as well as protecting against travel-specific problems like delays, cancellations and medical expenses.

Then cancellation cover is up to £5,000, the medical expenses cover up to £10 million, whilst cover for travel disruption will be eligible when caused by natural disasters, or airline or travel end supplier failure.

The policy doesn't cover medical conditions unless they have been declared to Nationwide and accepted. In some instances, you can pay for a medical upgrade to your insurance policy.

Two other clauses to be aware of is that the longest trip length allowed is 31 consecutive days. 

For any person to be insured who is aged 70 or over, they must buy an age upgrade to cover them.

Although the monthly cost will add up to £156 a year, it's possible to offset much of this during the the first year, thanks to Nationwide's current account switching incentive.

Non-Nationwide members can currently get £100 for switching, whilst members who switch to the Flex Plus account could get £125.  

Saves the extra admin: Nationwide's annual travel insurance policy is worldwide, and covers a whole family for multiple trips, not just the individual account holder.

On top of travel insurance, account holders get vehicle breakdown cover both in the UK and the rest of Europe and mobile phone insurance for the whole family.

The car insurance is valid whether someone is a driver or a passenger in a vehicle, and comes with no excess to pay and unlimited callouts.

The mobile insurance covers mobiles belonging to the account holder and those belonging to their partner and dependent children. It covers for loss, theft, damage and faults.

2.  Virgin Money's Club M Account

Virgin's Club M Account comes with a £14.50 monthly charge.

Similar to Nationwide, it offers 31 days' worldwide cover per trip. It will cover the account holder and a partner living with them if there're both under 75, so it's a little more generous on that front.

Virgin's worldwide family multi-trip travel insurance - includes winter sports, golf and weddings. Plus, 24 hour access to a doctor at home or abroad.

There's also cover for up to four dependents under 18 - either in full time education or living with the account holder.

Emergency medical treatment, includes falling ill with coronavirus while away, and cover for the journey home, if it's medically necessary.

It also covers lost, damaged or stolen items, and if the baggage is delayed, any essentials will be paid for in the interim period. It also includes cover for delays or missed departures and winter sports as standard.

Account holders are also covered when cancelling or cutting short a trip if they fall ill with coronavirus as long as they didn't know they had it and weren't being tested for it when they booked their trip. 

The cover includes emergency medical, surgical, hospital, treatment and ambulance costs, as well as any additional accommodation and travel expenses if someone cannot return to the United Kingdom.

There is a maximum allowance of 31 days of worldwide cover per trip.

It covers the account holder and their partner living with them if they're both under 75. There's also cover for up to four dependents under 18. 

A claim will be void if it relates to any medical treatment received because of a medical condition or an illness related to a medical condition which a person knew about at the time of opening the account. 

What else? 

On top of the travel insurance it also offers UK breakdown cover with no call out charges, whether as the driver or the passenger and offers help at the roadside and at home.

It also offers worldwide mobile phone and gadget insurance covering against loss theft, damage, and breakdown

Just make sure you've declared any pre-existing medical conditions and don't leave your valuables unattended to be fully covered.

Its Worldwide family multi-trip travel insurance - including winter sports, golf and weddings. Plus, 24 hour access to a doctor at home or abroad.

Virgin current account holders also benefit from various other perks.

It offers access to an easy-access linked savings account paying 1.71 per cent on balances up to £25,000. C ustomers can also benefit from 2.02 per cent on balances up to £1,000 in their bank account.

New customers switching to the Virgin Money Club M Account can also receive a bonus of 20,000 Virgin Points to spend with Virgin Red, thanks to Virgin Money's latest current account switching offer.

Virgin Red is a rewards club that turns everyday spending into points. Once you are a member, you can earn and spend Virgin Points across almost 200 different rewards.

The 20,000 Virgin Points boost means travellers could get a return flight to Barbados, the Bahamas or St Lucia, while bakery enthusiasts could turn their points into 100 sausage or vegan sausage rolls, 61 coffees or teas or 100 doughnuts or muffins.

3.  Halifax Ultimate Reward Current Account  

Halifax Ultimate Reward current account costs £17 per month, the equivalent of £204 per year. However, there are ways to dramatically reduce this via its cashback and switching offers.

The account includes a family travel insurance policy for the account holder, their spouse or partner and children aged 18 or under, or up to 24 if they're in full time education. 

It includes cover for personal belongings, certain sports and activities such as winter sports golf trips.

At £17 a month Halifax is the most expensive of our three top picks. However, its £150 cash incentive and £5 monthly cashback could help account holders to significantly reduce the cost.

Its cover includes, up to £10million for hospital fees, repatriation, medical confinement, funeral and dental costs incurred if taken ill or injured on your trip. 

Up to £5,000 in total for loss of pre-paid travel and accommodation expenses in the case of cancellation or curtailment. 

It covers personal baggage up to £2,500 if it is lost, damaged or stolen. This includes up to £500 for valuables, and up to £500 for a single item or pair or set of items.

It also covers personal money up to £750 for loss, or theft. This includes up to £300 cover for cash. This is limited to £50 for under 16s.

Watch out: 

Existing medical conditions are not covered, unless these are agreed with the insurer first, and an additional premium may be payable.

The longest trip length is 31 consecutive days. For winter sports, a maximum of 31 days cover in a calendar year.

Halifax's travel insurance covers personal Baggage up to £2,500 if it is lost, damaged or stolen.

It's also worth noting that a £75 excess per adult per incident may apply and to be covered trips must start and end in the UK.

All cover ends when the account holder turns 71. As long as the account holder is less than 71, their spouse or partner will also be covered until they reach 71. 

Eligible children can also be covered so long as they are travelling with the spouse, partner or civil partner of the policyholder. 

What else: 

It also offers car breakdown cover with the AA. This covers any vehicle the account holder is travelling in, at the roadside or at home. But only in the UK. 

For mobile insurance, it covers breakdown, accidental damage, loss and theft up to £2,000. 

However, it only Covers one phone per account holder or two in the case of a joint account. An excess of £100 is payable on all successful claims.

The £17 fee makes it a little more expensive than a few others but there are ways to reduce the cost.

Halifax is currently offering a £150 switching incentive for those who switch from another current account.

On top of the £150 bribe there are other perks to take advantage of. There is a choice of £5 a month paid into the account, two film rentals or three magazine rentals, or a free cinema ticket each month.

In order to benefit from this account holders must choose to either Spend £500 on their debit card each month or Keep at least £5,000 in the account at all times.

They must also pay in £1,500 or more into your account each month and stay in credit - keeping your balance at £0 or above.

THIS IS MONEY'S FIVE OF THE BEST CURRENT ACCOUNTS

Chase Bank will pay £1% cashback on spending for the first 12 months . Customers also get access to an easy-access linked savings account paying 3.8% on balances up to £250,000. The account is completely free to set up and is entirely app based. Also no charges when using the card abroad.

Nationwide's FlexDirect Account offers 5% in-credit interest to new joiners when they switch on balances up to £1,500. This rate only lasts for one year. The account is fee free.

Halifax Reward Account pays £150 when you switch. Also earn up to an extra £75 cashback when you spend £750 each month for 3 months. There is a £3 monthly account fee, but that’s stopped by paying in at least £1,500 each month.

First Direct will give newcomers £175 when they switch their account . It also offers a £250 interest-free overdraft. Customers must pay in at least £1,000 within three months of opening the account.

NatWest's Select Account account pays £200 when you switch. The account has no monthly charges, but to be elligible for the £200, you'll need to deposit £1,250 into the account and log into mobile banking app within 60 days.

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Halifax Insurance: Log in, Reviews, Policies & More

Do you want to know more about Halifax Insurance and what it could offer you? Maybe you currently bank with Halifax and are happy with its other services, or you’re just scoping it out. In this guide we’ll share information about how to log in, the Ultimate Reward Current Account benefits, reviews and policy details. Insurance is there to protect you and your loved ones and you have to trust in your chosen provider. Read on to see if Halifax Insurance is right for you...

Halifax Insurance

Halifax as a finance and insurance provider is a household name in the UK. Originally called Halifax Permanent Benefit Building and Investment Society, it was founded way back in 1853. The name Halifax comes from a town called Halifax in West Yorkshire. Halifax town has an impressive and long history of producing iconic brands, including Rolo and Quality Street chocolates and toffees, and in earlier days being home to the world’s largest textile factories.

History of Halifax Insurance

The Halifax company began in 1853, which is a testament to its success! It grew steadily over the years until in 1928 it merged with Halifax Equitable Building Society and became Halifax Building Society. This move was very profitable and made the company five times larger than its nearest competitor. After being in operation for 166 years , you can bet it has seen some big changes. Let’s take a brief look at its history.

• 1853 - Halifax is founded as a building society.
• 1913 - It becomes the largest building society in the UK.
• 1924 - Opens its first office in London.
• 1928 - Opens its first office in Scotland and becomes Halifax Building Society after merging with Halifax Equitable Building Society.
• 1977 - It evolves into Halifax plc, a public limited company.
• 2001 - It merges with Bank of Scotland.
• 2006 - It becomes a division of Bank of Scotland.
• 2009 - Halifax becomes part of Lloyds Banking Group.

Halifax Insurance today

Today, Halifax is a division of Bank of Scotland, which is part of the Lloyds Banking Group. Halifax has diversified its product since its commencement and now offers a wider range of financial and insurance products and services. Along with the standard services we would expect an insurance company to offer, they also run a money advice service so people can make informed decisions about their money.

Halifax Insurance policies: car, home, landlord & business

Halifax Insurance offers car insurance , home insurance , landlord insurance, business insurance and life insurance. As of 26 March 2018 it no longer sells travel insurance as a standalone policy to new customers. Customers opening an Ultimate Reward Current Account do receive travel insurance and a range of other benefits included (see more below).

In this section, we will focus on car, home, landlord and business insurance.

Car insurance

Halifax offers three types of car insurance policies:

*You are entitled to 60 days European Union cover with Halifax car insurance . If you drive frequently to other EU countries and think you will go over 60 days, you can find cover for 90 days abroad with other providers.

If you take out Halifax car insurance you will be entitled to these additional benefits :

• Online Banking customers receive a 10% discount.
• Access to an online self-service centre where you can view your policy documents and change payment or policy details. It will also give you access to the Halifax Car Extras site where you can claim a free offer quarterly, as well as other various discounts.
• 24-hour emergency claims helpline.

If you take out Halifax comprehensive car insurance you will also receive:

• A three-year guarantee on approved claims repairs.
• Access to a 24-hour emergency windscreen helpline.
• New car replacement if your car is stolen and not recovered (if you bought the car in the last 12 months).
• Vandalism cover if your car is damaged maliciously.
• A courtesy car is provided while your car is at a Halifax-approved repairer (subject to availability and eligibility).

Read our detailed Halifax car insurance guide for more information (coming soon).

Home insurance

Home is where your heart is...and all your favourite possessions too. Home insurance is definitely one area you don’t want to skimp on. Imagine your house is destroyed by a freak weather incident or fire. Possibly everything you own and spent years accumulating would be no more and you would have to buy it all again . This would be impossible for most of us without saving up for it. That’s where home insurance comes into play.

There are two types of Halifax home insurance policies, which you can take out separately or combine the two in the one policy:

  Buildings insurance - this covers your home and attached structures. Examples of attached structures include plumbing, wiring, kitchen and bathroom fittings, and attached garages.

You will be covered in the event that an insured event occurs. Common insured events for houses include floods, storms and fires. However, buildings insurance won’t cover your personal possessions so you will need contents insurance for that.

There are two levels of cover you can choose with Halifax Buildings Insurance: Halifax Home insurance which offers flexibility to choose the cover you need and Halifax Home Insurance Ultimate which offers more protection as part of the standard package.

  Contents insurance - this covers your personal possessions, from your old CD collection to your favourite shoes. You’ve worked long and hard for your things. If a thief decides you have what they like you will most likely be devastated when you realise they have taken all of your most valuable possessions . If another insured event happens (i.e. flood), you may lose them all in one go. Replacing everything at once will be a costly exercise without good quality insurance.

Read our detailed Halifax home insurance guide for more information (coming soon).

Landlord insurance

Halifax Landlord Insurance is for landlords who rent out residential or commercial properties, whatever the size of your portfolio. Some of the main areas covered include:

• Landlord’s content - if a tenant destroys the furniture or items you own in your house.
• Loss of rent - if an insured event takes place (i.e. fire) and your tenant has to move out, your cash flow is protected.
• Legal expenses - your legal expenses are covered in certain instances, such as evicting squatters or recovering debt.

Business insurance

Most businesses will need some form of insurance, whether yours is a start-up company in your basement or employing people across the globe. Halifax Business Insurance has a long list of business insurance options, including public liability and professional indemnity insurance.

You can view all the policy types online or speak to a Halifax business insurance adviser (see our Halifax contact page for phone numbers, coming soon).

Halifax Insurance: Ultimate Reward Current Account benefits

As we mentioned earlier, Halifax no longer offers travel insurance to new customers unless they are opening an Ultimate Reward Current Account. This bank account has a monthly fee of £17 involved but there are a number of insurance benefits that are included. Below is a summary of just some of these benefits and exclusions:

• Travel insurance - worldwide multi-trip family travel cover for you and a partner (you live with) and children under 18, or 24 if they’re in full time education. The maximum trip duration is 45 days and you have up to 31 days winter sports included each calendar year. The insurance is only valid up until your 71st birthday and no pre-existing medical conditions are included unless you first agree them with Halifax Insurance. You can find out more in our Halifax travel insurance guide (coming soon).
• Car breakdown cover - provides cover, including roadside assistance, within the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
• Mobile phone insurance - covers you for the repair or replacement of a phone up to a maximum value of £2,000 (including VAT) per claim. It also covers you for loss, theft, damage or breakdown.
• Home emergency cover - this cover is to deal with home emergencies that need immediate attention. It will cover costs up to £250 in order to make your home safe again i.e. restore electricity, gas or water if they have stopped working.

This package could save you a bundle depending on your circumstances. Read the full policy details before signing up for anything to see if the limits and cover are suitable. You can contact Halifax via phone or online if you have any questions. Head to our Halifax contact page for all the information you need (coming soon).

Halifax Insurance log in

If you have a Halifax Insurance policy, you can have access to the online portal. Before you can log in for the first time, you need to register. You can do this really easily.

Step 1 - Click on ‘register’ on the top right of the screen.

Step 2 - You will then run through four quick screens and enter information, where prompted:

• Help us identify you
• Sign in details
• Verification
• Registration complete

Once you have registered with Halifax Insurance online you can log into your account with your saved details. Simply click ‘sign in’ on the Halifax Insurance homepage.

How do I get a Halifax Insurance quote?

You can get a quote for Halifax home, car, business or landlord insurance products online . Simply head to the relevant page and start your quote when you’re ready. Alternatively, you can get a quote over the phone (see our Halifax contact page, coming soon).

Make a complaint

If you choose to purchase a Halifax Insurance product hopefully things so smoothly. However, there is always a chance that something can go wrong. If you do need to make a complaint, Halifax will let you do it over the phone with an adviser or by sending an online form with all your information. You can find more details on how to place a complaint in our Halifax contact page.

Halifax Insurance reviews: a quick look

Let’s take a look at what customers are saying about Halifax Insurance .

On reviews.io, there are 272 reviews from current and past customers. It receives an overall rating of 3.29/5 stars (five being the highest rating possible). Furthermore, 60% would recommend Halifax Insurance.

The main things that customers like are the reasonable prices and helpful customer service.

“After reading the reviews on other sites I was wary when I had to ring to change the payment date after a technical glitch online. But I have to say the customer service adviser was pleasant, helpful and even rang me back when she had sorted it so I’m impressed at her efficiency.” - Janet, reviews.io

On the flip side, many of the negative comments are around renewal prices being too high and the claims process taking too long. You will find with most providers that prices increase at renewal. If you ring Halifax you might find that they lower the price. This is why you should never let your policy renew automatically.

“Rubbish service and they don’t record details properly, then have the audacity to apply excess charges and increase insurance when the errors are their fault and amazingly their investigations show no issues with their service.” - Anonymous, reviews.io

Complaints handling

An insurer’s complaints data can give us an excellent insight into a company’s customer satisfaction. Unfortunately the individual complaints data for Halifax Insurance is not made available as Bank of Scotland (Halifax’s parent company) publishes the data from all of its subsidiaries together.

Considering the group has so many subsidiaries (a total of nine), we do not feel that it can give us much useful information in relation to the complaints handling of Halifax Insurance. However, if you are interested in the figures, they are listed below.

The main cause of complaints opened was advising, selling and arranging.

Selectra’s verdict

Halifax Insurance is part of a company that has been around for an impressive amount of time. This can often be a sign of a good company that has customers’ interests at its heart. If nothing else, it proves the company is strong, capable and successful.

Customers like the friendly, professional attitude of advisers and this should give you hope should you ever need help. The Halifax Insurance website is also easy to use and customer-friendly. However, as with many insurers these days it seems renewal prices can increase, which doesn’t show the best loyalty towards customers.

Data and information correct as of October 2019.

All material on this page and the selectra.co.uk website is for information purposes only and does not constitute any form of financial advice. Selectra.co.uk is not responsible for any consequences that might arise from your use of the information provided.

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Halifax Travel Insurance

Halifax Travel Insurance Overview

Whether you are traveling within or outside Canada, you need to have peace of mind on your trip. It is equally necessary to ensure that the trip is flexible to your lifestyle, suits your coverage option and offers you the best services. Call Insurdinary today for the best travel insurance for Halifax residents. We will connect you to insurance advisors who offer expert guidance and services on Halifax travel insurance.

To learn more about Halifax travel insurance, click here .

Getting the Best Travel Insurance in Calgary

The unexpected can happen when you travel and you cannot depend on your health or life insurance to cover you. Also, your provincial travel insurance may not be sufficient to cover for trip cancellation, unexpected illness, medical emergencies, multiple trips and so forth. You need more comprehensive coverage. We can help you to get the best coverage you need by connecting you to expert insurance advisors who will guide you through the thick and thin of Halifax travel insurance.

Speak To An Expert

Halifax travel advisory.

Whether you like it or not, the weather of your travel destination might affect you. You definitely need to put it into consideration even before you travel. We provide you travel advisory for Halifax residents to help you to know the weather conditions of your choice travel destinations.

• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/russia
• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/italy
• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/jamiaca
• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/cuba
• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/dominican-republic
• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/saint-martin
• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/australia
• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/thailand
• https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/mexico

Halifax Airports

Halifax has 3 notable airports. The airports are located within and around Halifax and its neighboring cities and serve regional air travel, airline passengers and commercial cargo transportation. Halifax International Airport is the 8th busiest airport in Canada by passenger traffic. It is also a hub for several helicopters.

Here are the airports in Halifax:

• Halifax Stanfield International Airport - https://halifaxstanfield.ca/
• CFB Shearwater
• Porters Lake Airport

You also need to consider the best times to arrive as well as the best arrival routes when purchasing Halifax travel insurance.

Choosing the right airport limos

It is very important that you select the right airport taxi or limo service when planning your trip as this can determine the success of your trip. To get the best price and service, you need to reserve early enough to select the best car and you should shop around to make sure you get the best price.

• Atlantis Limousine - +1 902-240-7100 - 146 Stoney Brook Ct, Halifax, NS B3M 3J7, Canada
• AM PM Limousine Halifax - +1 902-292-6780 - Dartmouth, NS B2Y 3V8, Canada
• BLT Limousine - +1 902-449-5676 - 8 Sugar Maple Dr, Timberlea, NS B3T 1G3, Canada
• Flylink Limousines - +1 902-455-0800 - 40 Sedgewick Pl, Bedford, NS B4A 0G5, Canada
• Town Limo - +1 902-456-6345 - 32 Stone Hill Pl, Beechville, NS B3T 2E7, Canada

Halifax Travelers Story

Tammy Bennett was worried when her doctor informed her that her youngest daughter, Skyla Bennett, had developed a tumor in her brain. She knew she had to spend a lot of time in the IWK Hospital in Halifax. Tammy was scared for several things especially about how she would pay for the bills. She was also scared that she might lose her home and how she would take care of all her family without income.

The tumor was located deep in the hippocampus of Skyla’s brain, a region of the brain that controls the memory. Due to the location of the tumor, doctors could not perform a biopsy or a surgery due to the risk associated with it.

Thankfully, Skyla was indigenous and as a result, Bennett got enormous help from the Membertou band council for accommodations and travel. The support from the Membertou was intended to cover the entire trip. Bennett expressed her appreciation to the Membertou stating that the situation would have been hopeless without them.

Some medical appointments and treatments cannot be done in the patient’s home. The Department of Health and Wellness, MSI, handles such appointments. This includes up to $1,000       for round trip travel for patients and another $1,000 for round trip travel for an approved escort. It also includes up to $125 each day for accommodation with a maximum of $1,500 per month. For a patient to request this financial support, he/she needs to be referred by a Nova Scotia specialist and an MSI medical consultant needs to pre-approve the patient.

The Bennetts spent $100-150 for transportation, $75 for food per day, $15 for tolls and parking per day, and $125 for accommodation per night. Each trip attracts these expenditures. Bennett and her daughter were required to embark on the trip every two weeks and stay up to a week for treatment when Skyla was first diagnosed. But the travel frequency has dropped to once or twice a year.

Irrespective of the support from Membertou, Bennett lost income because she had to close her at-home daycare or hire someone else. In their last trip to Halifax, she lost up to $800. Even though the Membertou’s help was relieving travel cost weighed greatly on the Bennetts.

To learn more about Halifax travel insurance click here .

Travel Insurance Related Pages

• P&O Cruises ( UK )

Travel Insurance with bank?

By boatboy2000 , February 15, 2022 in P&O Cruises ( UK )

Recommended Posts

boatboy2000

Hi does anybody have travel insurance with their account and what banks have cruise cover included with the account?

Thinking of switching banks TIA

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

Nationwide Flexplus but it costs £13 per month.

Halifax Ultimate Reward £17 per month but pay in a certain figure per month - sorry can't recall how much - and they give you £5 back.  Offers Allianz insurance with cruising but not the bells and whistles. Does have benefit of offloading cover.

Plugtheleak

I'm with Natwest and travel insurance policy included with Platinum Account seems to be good

For Cruise cover you have to distinguish two separate sections:

1)  Are you covered for medical and evacuation whilst on the ship

2)  Are you covered for additional things like missed ports.

We have the Nationwide plus account which covers the first one (which is the essential part). The second one is an optional extra if you want it.

2 hours ago, AlanCruise said: For Cruise cover you have to distinguish two separate sections: 1)  Are you covered for medical and evacuation whilst on the ship 2)  Are you covered for additional things like missed ports.   We have the Nationwide plus account which covers the first one (which is the essential part). The second one is an optional extra if you want it.

Yes that's what I meant by bells and whistles.  Do beware some policies do not include item 1.

19 hours ago, Megabear2 said: Halifax Ultimate Reward £17 per month but pay in a certain figure per month - sorry can't recall how much - and they give you £5 back.  Offers Allianz insurance with cruising but not the bells and whistles. Does have benefit of offloading cover.

Trouble with Halifax Ultimate is you have to pay £1500 minimum into account each month and the biggie is have a balance of £5000 or more for every day of the month to get the £5 back.

32 minutes ago, majortom10 said: Trouble with Halifax Ultimate is you have to pay £1500 minimum into account each month and the biggie is have a balance of £5000 or more for every day of the month to get the £5 back.

You do pay in £1500 or more but there is no obligation to have £5000 in your account.   You need to spend £500 a month on your debit card which with fuel and food is sadly easily achievable! We use ours for household bills and it never has that amount in it, at most usually £2,000 at a time.

There is no requirement on the Nationwide Flexplus account to have regular amounts paid in, or to use it for D. D. payments etc.  We no longer use it as our principal current account so don't have a lot in there.  Also, if you have a joint account both account holders are covered.  

3 hours ago, Megabear2 said: You do pay in £1500 or more but there is no obligation to have £5000 in your account.   You need to spend £500 a month on your debit card which with fuel and food is sadly easily achievable! We use ours for household bills and it never has that amount in it, at most usually £2,000 at a time.

Correct we get the five pounds a month than they take seventeen off us to run it

Having tipped over the 75 age, there are not many Banks that will cover me. Co op does until you are 80, so I may change to them this year. Anyonne with them ?

34 minutes ago, bobstheboy said: Having tipped over the 75 age, there are not many Banks that will cover me. Co op does until you are 80, so I may change to them this year. Anyonne with them ?

Nationwide will including over 80, but at an additional premium. 

5 hours ago, Megabear2 said: You do pay in £1500 or more but there is no obligation to have £5000 in your account.   You need to spend £500 a month on your debit card which with fuel and food is sadly easily achievable! We use ours for household bills and it never has that amount in it, at most usually £2,000 at a time.

If you dont spend £500 every month on your debit card which is not easily achievable for everybody you have to have £5000 in your account for each day of the month to get £5 reward cashback.

1 hour ago, kruzseeka said: Nationwide will including over 80, but at an additional premium. 

Nationwide Flexplus covers you for travel insurance up to the age of 70 and over that you have to pay a premium of £65 every year and have a medical screening on a yearly basis.

CRUISENSNOOZE

Hi, We are with Barclays Travel Insurance. They have 2 levels £12.50  and £18. We have the Travel Plus Pack at £18pm which gives us worldwide cover, RAC recovery in UK and Europe and 6 Airport Lounge Passes a year. We used to have RAC cover which cost us about £120 p.a. and if you use Airport Lounges on special offer, it would still be about £20 ea...so £216 per year for the travel insurance is very cheap. They give full coverage for cruising and repatriation. I believe this Travel insurance is to the age of 80. (we are 66 and 69).

The downside...sort of. The insurance only covers for holidays/cruises up to 31 days. The upside..they will give you full cover for any additional days for a one off payment. For example: we are on a 65 day cruise around South America and back through Caribbean. We had to pay an additional £236 for the 2 of us. We are away in France and Germany for 75 days with our car and caravan and the cost for this including upgrading the RAC cover was £136.  For us this works out very cheaply considering what P&O travel insurance quoted us for the single trip around south America!!...I must look out the quote again.

Lloyd's cover you till the age of 80. That's with Allianz insurance cover for £21 per month.

1 hour ago, majortom10 said: If you dont spend £500 every month on your debit card which is not easily achievable for everybody you have to have £5000 in your account for each day of the month to get £5 reward cashback.

Yes I did say that.  As I say we use ours for household expenses so don't find £500 difficult but I acknowledge everyone is different.  However the travel insurance is excellent and with Allianz will cover my husband's myriad of serious health conditions on renewal for £293 a year compared to the £1,400 we had to pay Avanti in September for insurance that doesn't have the offloading cover.

On 2/16/2022 at 10:16 PM, Megabear2 said: Yes I did say that.  As I say we use ours for household expenses so don't find £500 difficult but I acknowledge everyone is different.  

Intetested as to why you use a debit card rather than a reward credit card (B.A, Virgin, IHG, Tesco - which includes several cruise lines in their reward scheme - etc.)?

Only use Amex credit card mainly for travel.  I fly a lot so have my monthoy debit card linked to Virgin to get extra shopping points which become free flights or upgrades.  I also use the debit card to get the benefits on Halifax account mentioned above. My husband's travel insurance costs mega amounts so with phone insurance and RAC spending £500 per month in groceries and fuel is worth the price of £17 per month reduced by a fiver.  

On 2/16/2022 at 3:33 PM, kruzseeka said: There is no requirement on the Nationwide Flexplus account to have regular amounts paid in, or to use it for D. D. payments etc.  We no longer use it as our principal current account so don't have a lot in there.  Also, if you have a joint account both account holders are covered.  

My partner has a Nationwide FlexPlus account, and the annual travel insurance covers me too.

4 hours ago, Wacktle said: My partner has a Nationwide FlexPlus account, and the annual travel insurance covers me too.

That's good - I thought it had to be a joint account for both to be included. 👍

For the nationwide account, you only need to make it a joint account for the car breakdown insurance part, so that you can both call them out whatever vehicle you are driving.

2 hours ago, kruzseeka said: That's good - I thought it had to be a joint account for both to be included. 👍

No it covers not just 2 but your dependent children as well.

28 minutes ago, majortom10 said: No it covers not just 2 but your dependent children as well.

Even better! 

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Money latest: First time house buyers expected to benefit from new law

Building society reforms could help people trying to get on to the property ladder. The bill is backed by cross-party MPs, saying the changes will support "more working people to become homeowners". You can also listen to the latest Sky News Daily podcast about inflation as you scroll.

Friday 19 April 2024 19:28, UK

• Barclays criticised for making 'ludicrous' decision to limit cash deposits
• Scammers targeting pet owners - here's what to look out for 
• Do solar panels work in Britain's wet and cloudy climate?
• Ketchup swaps that could eliminate tablespoons of sugar from your diet

Essential reads

• Spotlight on unpaid carers: 'You can't afford to feel': The woman who cares for her daughter, son and husband
• Ian King analysis: Why an interest rate cut may not come as soon as you think
• Basically… How to improve your credit score
• Money Problem: My boss ruined end of maternity leave with ultimatum - what are my rights?

Tesla has recalled more than 3,800 of its Cybertruck models following complaints that the accelerator pedal is at risk of getting stuck, US regulators have announced.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had contacted the carmaker, founded and run by Elon Musk, about the issue earlier in the week.

That was after a video came to light, on the billionaire entrepreneur's X platform and TikTok, showing how a rubber cover attached to the accelerator could come loose, pinning the pedal down.

It has since been watched millions of times on both platforms.

Meta's AI has told a Facebook user it has a disabled child that was part of a New York gifted and talented programme.

An anonymous parent posted in a private parenting group, asking for advice on which New York education programme would suit their child.

They described the child as '2e' which stands for twice-exceptional and means they have exceptional ability and also a disability.

"Does anyone here have experience with a '2e' child in any of the NYC G&T [Gifted & Talented] programs?" the user asked.

"Would love to hear your experience, good or bad or anything in between."

Instead of getting a response from another parent, Meta's AI replied.

"I have a child who is also 2e and has been part of the NYC G&T program," it began.

Read more on this story here ...

People who are fit to work but do not accept job offers will have their benefits taken away after 12 months, the prime minister has pledged.

Outlining his plans to reform the welfare system if the Conservatives win the next general election, Rishi Sunak said "unemployment support should be a safety net, never a choice" as he promised to "make sure that hard work is always rewarded".

Mr Sunak said his government would be "more ambitious about helping people back to work and more honest about the risk of over-medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life" by introducing a raft of measures in the next parliament.

You can read more about what they include here ...

Building society reforms - backed by MPs - could help people trying to get on to the property ladder.

The Building Societies Act 1986 (Amendment) Bill is closer to becoming law after its third reading was unopposed in the Commons.

The idea is to expand societies' lending capacity via modernisation.

Tory MP Peter Gibson the bill would help with "cutting red tape" and removing "outdated bureaucratic governance systems not faced by the big banks". 

It follows a government consultation which looked at how to allow building societies to "compete on a more level playing field with banks".

The bill is government-backed and Labour is behind it too, saying the changes will support "more working people to become homeowners".

Labour's Julie Elliott, the bill's sponsor, said: "It is important to acknowledge that whilst the housing sector has recovered significantly since the record low mortgage approvals during the COVID pandemic, approvals currently are still below that which we saw before the pandemic. 

"That is why I think a bill like this, which gives more choice to the building society sector to operate in the interests of its members, is a good thing."

Treasury minister Gareth Davies offered the government's support and said the bill would help ensure the "future growth and success" of the building society sector. 

Labour's shadow Treasury minister Darren Jones said building societies "direct a significant proportion of their lending to first-time buyers" and the bill "could unlock significant additional lending capacity".

The bill will undergo further scrutiny in the House of Lords.

By  James Sillars , business reporter

There was a worse than expected performance for retail sales last month, defying predictions of a consumer-led pick up from recession for the UK economy.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported sales volumes were flat in March, following an upwardly revised figure of 0.1% for the previous month.

It said sales at non-food stores helped offset declines at supermarkets.

Sales of fuel rose by 3.2%.

ONS senior statistician Heather Bovill said of the overall picture: "Retail sales registered no growth in March.

"Hardware stores, furniture shops, petrol stations and clothing stores all reported a rise in sales.

"However, these gains were offset by falling food sales and in department stores where retailers say higher prices hit trading.

"Looking at the longer-term picture, across the latest three months retail sales increased after a poor Christmas."

While the performance will not damage the  expected exit from recession  during the first quarter of the year, it suggests that consumers are still carefully managing their spending.

While the  cost of living crisis  - exacerbated by the  Bank of England's interest rate rises  to push  inflation  down - has severely damaged budgets, wage growth has been rising at a faster pace than prices since last summer.

Separate ONS data this week has shown the annual rate of inflation at 3.2% - with wages growing at a rate of 6% when the effects of bonuses are stripped out.

Economists widely believe consumer spending power will win through as the year progresses, despite borrowing costs remaining at elevated levels.

"Misleading" labelling in some supermarkets means shoppers may not know where their food comes from, Which? has said.

Loose cauliflowers, red cabbage, courgettes and onions at Sainsbury's, peppers, melons and mangoes at Asda, and spring onions at Aldi had no visible origin labelling on the shelf or the products themselves, the consumer organisation found during research.

Only 51% of people find origin information on groceries helpful, a survey found.

Two thirds (64%) said they would be more likely to buy a product labelled "British" than one that was not. 

Almost three quarters (72%) said it was important to know where fresh meat comes from, while 51% said they wanted to know where processed and tinned meat comes from.

Under current rules, meat, fish, fresh fruit and vegetables, honey and wine should be labelled with the country or place of origin.

"Research has uncovered a surprising amount of inconsistent and misleading food labelling, suggesting that - even when the rules are properly adhered to - consumers aren't getting all the information they want about their food's origin," said Which? retail editor Ele Clark.

"Supermarkets should particularly focus on labelling loose fruit and vegetables more clearly."

An Aldi spokeswoman said: "We understand that our shoppers want to know where the food they buy comes from, and we work hard to ensure that all our labelling complies with the rules.

"When it comes to fresh fruit and veg, we are proud to support British farmers and aim to stock British produce whenever it's available. Customers understand that at this time of year that isn't always possible, but we remain firmly committed to supporting the British farming community."

Asda said: "We have stringent processes in place to ensure country of origin is clearly displayed at the shelf edge and on products themselves where applicable, at all our stores.

"We have reminded our colleagues at this particular store of these processes so that customers are able to clearly see the country of origin."

A spokesman for Iceland said: "At Iceland our products are great quality and value for customers and we follow UK government guidance on food labelling, including country of origin."

A Sainsbury's spokeswoman said: "We have processes in place to make sure country of origin information is clearly displayed on the product or shelf and we carry out regular checks working closely with our regulator, the Animal and Plant Health Agency."

By Jess Sharp , Money team 

Barclays has been criticised for making the "ludicrous" decision to limit how much cash its customers can deposit in a year. 

Ron Delnevo from the Payment Choice Alliance said the move was a "disgrace" and accused the bank of trying to force businesses to stop accepting cash. 

From July, the change will mean Barclays customers can only deposit up to £20,000 per calendar year into their personal accounts. 

The limit will reset every January. 

It comes after Natwest made a similar decision last year, capping deposits to £3,000 a day, or £24,000 in any 12-month period. 

"The decision by Barclays is ludicrous. This is plainly an anti-cash move," Mr Delnevo told Sky News. 

"It is trying to take free choice from people. It's like it is saying, 'if you are using cash, then we think you are a criminal'.

"It's a disgrace quite frankly and there is no excuse for it. It's just wrong." 

Asked if he was concerned other banks could follow suit, he said: "Definitely." 

He gave the example of someone selling a car for cash. "How would you deposit the money into your account?" he asked.

Barclays said the change was being made to help it identify "suspicious activity". 

"We take financial crime and our responsibility to prevent money laundering seriously," a spokesperson said. 

"We have contacted customers to let them know that from July we are making some changes to the amount of cash customers can deposit into their Barclays accounts.

"We have set the limit at an amount that will allow us to better identify suspicious activity, while still ensuring our customers have access to cash."

The UK's estimated 23 million pet owners are at risk of a new kind of scam, one that took nearly £240m in the first six months of last year. 

Scammers are now targeting the most vulnerable owners – those who’ve lost their pets. 

Fraudsters are turning to lost pet forums and websites to claim they've found missing pets, demanding a ransom payment for their return.

Figures from UK Finance reveal this type of fraud – known as Authorised Push Payment (APP), when a victim is tricked into sending money directly to a criminal’s account - cost British consumers £239.3m in the first six months of 2023.

James Jones, head of consumer affairs at Experian, has some tips on how to avoid the scam...

• Never pay the ransom – If someone is demanding a large sum of money in exchange for your pet's safe return, call the police immediately. Never pay the money upfront, as it will most likely be a scam. Be sure to take a step back and analyse the situation.
• Examine the photos - is it a fake? – In an era where the use of artificial intelligence to fabricate photos is becoming increasingly commonplace, spotting a fake is becoming more challenging. But if you do receive a suspicious photo, make sure to take a closer look to determine whether it is in fact your pet. To do this, check if the photo has been taken from your social media profile and reframed to pass as a recent photo. You should also check for any signs of photoshopping. This could be the way the image has been cut, or the lack of shadows. It is also always helpful to get a second opinion – what you might miss, another person could spot.
• Spotting fabricated stories – Scammers may share specific personality traits you recognise about your pet to convince you they legitimately have it in their possession. However, they may be getting this information from adverts you’ve shared on missing pet websites, or even details shared about your pet on your social media profiles. Be extra cautious and question their authenticity.
• Be careful not to overshare on social media – While sharing information of pets on social media channels is commonplace, this can make them a goldmine for fraudsters. Always be careful about posting personal details, such as your address, pet’s name, or your location in real time. This is all information a fraudster could use to their benefit. Even if you have a private account, you still need to be cautious, as fraudsters have sophisticated methods for obtaining personal information.
• Avoid using your pet’s name as your password – The easiest password to remember is your pet’s name, but unfortunately fraudsters know this too. Of course, you need to be able to remember your passwords, but it’s vital not to make them too simple. The ideal password should contain a minimum of 10 characters using a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. As a rule of thumb, it’s also best to ensure you are using muti-factor authentication, when possible.

The British public donated some £13.9bn to charity last year, but higher earners who give to their chosen causes could be missing out on a tax break. 

"Many may be missing out on the tax perks of giving to charity, which can help to reduce their tax bill and save them from tax traps," Charlene Young, pensions and savings expert at AJ Bell, said. 

There is some £500m of unclaimed Gift Aid rebates - which you could be eligible for - according to data seen by AJ Bell. 

In order to get to the bottom of this, we need an understanding of Gift Aid. 

"Gift Aid is a tax incentive that gives a top up on donations from UK taxpayers to a UK registered charity or community amateur sports clubs (CASC)," Charlene explains. 

Within the scheme, the government tops up the charity donation by 25% - turning a £100 donation into £125 for the charity or CASC. 

"But there’s a tax break on offer for higher and additional rate taxpayers too - they can claim up to 20% or 25% on their donations," Charlene adds. 

Not only does the scheme mean charities can access more money at no extra cost - higher band taxpayers can claim some cash back. 

This table shows how much you can claim back...

"Claims are usually made via a self-assessment tax return, but you can ask HMRC for a P810 form to fill in if you don’t normally file a return. You can also backdate claims for up to four years, so it is worth looking into this as soon as possible," Charlene says. 

Although 94% of higher earners donating to charity have heard about Gift Aid, only 52% are aware they could claim a tax rebate on their donations, according to HMRC data. 

That leaves expected unclaimed rebates at around £500m. 

Geoff, a higher rate UK taxpayer, pays £780 in charitable donations over the course of a year. 

Gift aid tops this up to £975.

Geoff is eligible to claim back £195 (20% of £975) in tax relief from HMRC via self-assessment, or by contacting HMRC directly. 

In total, this means the charity has received £975 - but it has only cost Geoff £585. 

Avoiding tax traps

"If you're caught by tax traps, gift aid could help you lower your tax bill and put money towards good causes," Charlene says. 

"You might be a parent who has gone over the £50,000 high income child benefit charge, meaning you'd start to lose child benefit [HICBC].

"Or if your earnings have breached £100,000 you start to lose your tax-free Personal Allowance at a rate of £1 for every £2, a whopping effective rate of tax of 60% on earnings between £100,000 and £125,140.

"Making a charity donation and claiming Gift Aid means the full value of the donation [what you pay plus the government top up] is deducted from the income that would otherwise count towards the £100,000 limit [or £50,000 for HICBC]."

The market reaction to Israel's attack on Iran is muted so far.

While Brent crude oil rose by 2% in response initially, it is currently just over 1% up on the day at $88 a barrel.

That is below where it started the week after Iran had launched its drone and missile strikes on Israel.

The future direction will probably depend on how Iran chooses to respond to events overnight.

Stock markets are also feeling some strain and, being Friday, we could see a rush to protect positions over the weekend later in the day.

Japan's Nikkei was 2.6% down though the Hang Seng was just 0.9% lower.

In Europe, the reaction was similar to that seen in Hong Kong.

The FTSE 100 fell 0.4% at the open - with small gains in energy stocks offsetting some of the wider hit to sentiment from events in the Middle East.

Travel-related stocks were seeing some of the worst pain due to the threat of disruption.

British Airways owner IAG shed 3.5% while easyJet was 2.3% off and Ryanair not far behind that figure.

By Ollie Cooper, Money team

It can be hard to balance getting nutritious foods that make you feel good without emptying your wallet.

In this series every Friday, we're trying to find the cheapest ways to identify the healthiest options in the supermarket.

We've asked  Sunna Van Kampen,  founder of  Tonic Health ,  who went viral on social media for reviewing supermarket products in the search of healthier choices, for his input. 

The series does not aim to identify the outright healthiest option, but to help you get better nutritional value for as little money as possible.

Today we're looking at ketchup - which contains a surprising amount of sugar. 

What's the worry with sugar?

"Reducing added sugars in your diet can lead to significant health benefits, including weight loss and decreased risk of heart disease," Sunna says. 

"But fear not, ketchup connoisseurs: there's a way to enjoy your sauce and look after your health too."

How much sugar? 

The average bottle of ketchup has around 4g of sugar per tablespoon. 

If you're having a generous dollop of ketchup three times a week, you're adding more than 600g of sugar to your diet each year from one condiment. 

"That's a whole lot of sweet for something that's supposed to be savoury," Sunna says. 

"Another way to look at it is that you're having a teaspoon of sugar drizzled over your French fries - it feels wrong, doesn't it?"

The good news is there's plenty of options.

Avoiding premium ketchups can save your wallet and your sugar intake - they tend to up sugar content by 35% to more than 30g per 100g.

A standard bottle of Heinz contains 22.8g of sugar per 100g.

"Without getting into the taste debate, Heinz's rival Hellman's comes up trumps for your health by lowering the sugar content to 18g per 100g," Sunna says. 

Heinz has created two lower-sugar versions: a 50% less sugar option (at 11g per 100g) and Heinz's No Added Sugar & Salt (4.4g of sugar per 100g).

"But watch out here," Sunna says, "as they do add artificial sweeteners in their place (sucralose)". 

In his view, there are two newer challenger brands that deserve a mention as they cut sugar without the artificial additives. 

"Dr Wills Ketchup using dates instead of sugar (15g per 100g) and Hunter & Gather keep the sweet stuff out entirely (6g per 100g). 

So, he says, there is "plenty to choose from to suite your taste buds and health needs".

What does that look like over time?

Making small changes for your health can build up to a big impact over the long term. 

"Going from standard Heinz to the brand's no sugar option will save you more than 500g of sugar a year in your diet," Sunna says. 

What's the cost? 

"Surprisingly, opting for a healthier ketchup doesn't mean squeezing your wallet dry," Sunna says. 

A bottle of Heinz No Added Sugar & Salt costs around £0.80 per 100g and is the most expensive.

The 50% less sugar version is cheaper at £0.54 per 100g. 

That's only 4% more than the standard, more sugary version, which costs £0.52 per 100g. 

"This way you'll save 32% on the price of your ketchup (compared with no sugar) and 50% of the sugar content for your health - that's a win-win," Sunna says. 

"In the grand scheme of dietary changes, switching ketchup varieties might seem small. But it's these little tweaks that can add up to a big difference in your health."

The nutritionist's view -  from  Dr Laura Brown , senior lecturer in nutrition, food and health sciences at Teesside University

"I would say that yes, they are correct in that the focus should be health over money and the reduced sugar version does not make too much of a difference. 

"Also, there is the option of making your own ketchup too, in which you could manipulate the ingredients to add more natural flavours that will reduce the need for the added sugar - provided it is consumed within a shorter space of time."

Read more from our series... 

By Bhvishya Patel, Money team

This week, we've been speaking to some of Britain's struggling unpaid carers, hearing at times heart-breaking accounts of their physical, emotional and financial struggles.

In our final instalment in the series, a woman who cares for her daughter, son and husband says it is a "lonely job" and you often feel "looked down on" as she urges the government to "look at the bigger picture" when it came to help.

"I care for three people but I'm allowed to get Carer's Allowance once. The allowance is deducted from my Universal Credit so in effect I do not get paid for caring at all." Suzanne Buckner, unpaid carer

Suzanne's daughter Charlotte, or Lottie as her mother and father Mark call her, was three when she was diagnosed with a neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that affects children and develops in early nerve cells, in 2010.

Her gruelling treatment left her with a number of healthcare problems, including the development of three benign tumours in her liver, non-autoimmune type 1, type 2 and type 3 diabetes and asplenia.

Charlotte, now 17, is also deaf and has severe back problems due to discs growing into her vertebrae.

"My daughter was told by her oncologist in December they didn't actually expect her to survive," Suzanne, 56, says.

Suzanne is also a carer for her son, 23, who has multiple complex conditions and her husband, 62, who has mental health conditions.

"It's an eclectic collection - one minute I'm a mental health nurse, then I'm dealing with behavioural problems and then it's just classic nurse," she says.

Suzanne receives universal credit of around £972 a month after her carer's allowance is deducted.

She says the carer's allowance earnings limit, set at £139 a week, means carers like her are "caught in this trap" where they can't earn above the limit for fear of losing their benefit money.

"I care for three people but I'm allowed to get carer's allowance once. The allowance is deducted from my universal credit so in effect I do not get paid for caring at all," she says.

"It's ridiculous because if I handed my family over to the state, can you imagine how much money it would cost?

"I sometimes think central government does not have the ability to calculate or look at the bigger picture."

Recently, Suzanne got "quite poorly" and was told to go to A&E after she was unable to get an appointment with her GP.

"I thought 'I can't go to A&E I've got to look after my family'. I think that's another area that's not looked at - the health and wellbeing of carers. It's a lonely job," she says.

"Even though I was sick, I was making sure Lottie was having her injections and medicines. You can't afford to feel.

"Emotionally it is hard because sometimes you can't fix the problem. There isn't a magic solution and you can't make a phone call.

"It doesn't matter to a degree how much money you've got, it  isn't going to go away. If someone is poorly, they are poorly."

Suzanne used to run several companies, including an advertising agency, before becoming a carer for her family and now does telecoms regulation consultancy work when she can.

Holding down a 9-5 job is "not possible for most carers".

"Lottie getting cancer taught me so much about life - do not plan," she says.

"If she had to go to hospital today that means I have to change all the tutors she's having and it can happen overnight.

"Having a child with cancer is even more of a lonely thing because it's quite a rare thing. If she gets sick, life just turns upside down."

After undergoing chemotherapy, Lottie was left with a low blood temperature and therefore keeping the house warm is important, Suzanne says, which increases heating costs.

The costs can go up further if Charlotte needs to go to hospital as this means trips "all over the country" to hospitals in Birmingham, the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, increasing fuel and food costs.

'Less of a citizen'

Suzanne says there is "absolutely" a pressure on her finances and if it were not for the inheritance her mother left her, she "wouldn't be living".

"Both my husband's parents are dead and my parents are dead. I don't have siblings that live close by so I don't have any support," she says.

"I think the problem is, unless you've walked in somebody's shoes, you really don't understand."

Suzanne says there are some things central and local government could do to help, such as giving personal budgets through direct payments, which would allow carers to choose the support and help they needed.

"Personally I feel you get looked down on. People think you're only a carer, you get benefits, you're less of a citizen - that really annoys me," she says.

"I think the benefits system doesn't work. I'm not suggesting that all carers in the UK should be paid a certain amount, but they should be paid equitably so that people don't get to the point mentally where they say 'I can't do this anymore'. 

"There need to be some serious, high-level debates and they need to involve carers in those debates. 

"The government need to look at how much money they are wasting in the care system by doing the wrong things."

Speaking of her daughter's battles, Suzanne adds: " I don't know how she copes - I think she's an inspiration.

"She has to be pulled and tugged by doctors and have test after test, and she tolerates it all. Sometimes when I'm watching her have these tests I think to myself 'I don't know how she does it'". 

Charity calls for review

Helen Walker, chief executive at Carers UK, says it is in the state's interest to support unpaid carers because "if a carer goes down then the state has to look after two people".

If you have to give up work to care, she says, "you are going to find yourself spiralling into poverty".

"Carer's allowance hasn't had a fundamental review for years so we would like a review looking at who is eligible for it, how it works and an increase to the amount," she adds.

"And also there needs to be an increase to the amount of hours you can work while caring.

"Social care is underfunded so it needs some real investment in order for unpaid carers to be able to care safely and well.

"What many carers will say is they need a break. It's not that they don't want to care, it's that they are exhausted. They are at breaking point."

A government spokesperson said: "Unpaid carers play a vital role in the lives of their family and friends, which is why from April we're boosting carer's allowance meaning carers receive an extra £1,500 a year compared to 2010.

"Those in low income households may also be eligible for additional financial support such as universal credit."

You can read the previous parts of our series here:

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