An interactive messageboard will shortly be added
Relevant
Links
| "The Governance of Mutuality" - brief outline on research publication commissioned by the BSA | http://www.cbr.cam.ac.uk |
| “Mutuality and Corporate Governance" (research paper - (pdf file) | http://www.chass.utoronto.ca |
| A Review of Britain's Mutual Sector | http://www.demos.co.uk |
| Higgs Report on the role of non-executive directors (pdf file) | http://www.dti.gov.uk |
| Equitable Members Action Group | http://www.emag.org.uk |
| Equitable Late Joiners Action Group | http://www.eljag.org.uk |
| Equitable Life Policy Holders Action Group | http://www.elphag.co.uk |
| Equitable Life Members Action Group | http://www.equitablelifemembers.org.uk |
| Finance Victims | http://www.financevictims.org.uk |
| New Statesman article on mutuality "A Big Idea" | http://www.findarticles.com |
| New Statesman article "Our Mutual Friends" | http://www.findarticles.com |
| Combined Code - Principles of Good Governance & Code of Best Practice (pdf file) | http://www.fsa.gov.uk |
| Investors Association - Corporate governance matters (includes building societies) | http://www.investorsassociation.org |
| Mutual Members Action Group | http://www.mutualmembers.com |
| Economic & Social Research Council (source for research papers on building societies and mutuality) | http://www.regard.ac.uk |
| "Building Societies" - written by Manfred Davidmann | http://www.solbaram.org |
| Mutuals research paper by Prof. Peter Howells | http://www.statsed.co.uk |
| "A Law Unto Themselves" - Mail on Sunday article on building society fat cats. | http://www.thisismoney.co.uk |
| "Executive Pay Rockets at Mutuals" - Mail on Sunday article on building society fat cats. | http://www.thisismoney.co.uk |
| "High Societies" - Mail on Sunday article on building society fat cats | http://www.thisismoney.co.uk |
| "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" - Daily Mail article on building society interest rates (7 May 2003). | http://www.thisismoney.co.uk |
Useful
Links
| Citizens Advice Bureau | http://www.adviceguide.org.uk |
| All Over the U.K. - Shopping Directory | http://www.allovertheuk.co.uk |
| Banking Code Standards Board (see below) | http://www.bcsb.co.uk |
| Building Societies Association (Old pals club for building society directors. Does not represent members of societies) | http://www.bsa.org.uk |
| Council of Mortgage Lenders (twinned with BSA) | http://www.cml.org.uk |
| Companies House (on-line access to files during office hours only) | http://www.companieshouse.co.uk |
| Competition Commission UK | http://www.competition-commission.org.uk |
| Government Guide to Consumer Organisations | http://www.consumer.gov.uk |
| HM Court Service (information for legal actions) | http://www.courtservice.gov.uk |
| Data Protection Registry | http://www.dataprotection.gov.uk |
| Guide to Edinburgh and what it has to offer | http://www.edinburghguide.com |
| Parliamentary Early Day Motions | edm.ais.co.uk |
| Political news (information on MPs. Forums include building societies)information on MPs. Forums include building societies) | http://www.epolitix.com |
| Send a fax to your MP plus info. on your MP | http://www.faxyourmp.co.uk |
| On-line financial services (locates cheap sources for mortgages, insurances, etc.) | http://www.financewarehouse.co.uk |
| Financial Ombudsman Service (includes building societies) | http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk |
| Financial Regulatory Briefing (a monthly digest of official pronouncements including building societies) | http://www.frb.co.uk |
| Financial Services Authority | http://www.fsa.gov.uk |
| Free environmental information on your area | http://www.homecheck.co.uk |
| Home Repossession Information | http://www.home-repo.org.uk |
| Guidance on complaints about goods, services and organisations by ex OFT Director General | http://www.howtocomplain.com |
| HM Stationery Office (Building Societies Act) | http://www.hmso.gov.uk |
| HM Treasury | http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk |
| IBAS acts for borrowers to resolve problems on mortgage shortfall debt arising from home repossession. The site provides info. and case studies | http://www.ibas.co.uk |
| Inland Revenue | http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk |
| Guide to Local Legal Service Providers and their Specialisations | http://www.justask.org.uk |
| Lawrights (source for legal information) | http://www.lawrights.co.uk |
| National Association of Bank & Insurance Customers (advice and assistance with personal finance problems - includes building societies) | http://www.lemonaid.net |
| Moneyfacts monthly magazine - the bible for mortgage and savings rates | http://www.moneyfacts.co.uk |
| Mortgage Code Compliance Board | http://www.mortgagecode.org.uk |
| Mortgage brokers | http://www.mortgage-select.com |
| Direct Marketing Association - Mailing Preference Service (a service that stops junk mail - see below) | http://www.mpsonline.org.uk |
| National Citizens Advice Bureau (guide to local offices) | http://www.nacab.org.uk |
| National Consumer Council | http://www.ncc.org.uk |
| Office of Fair Trading | http://www.oft.gov.uk |
| Government site for all gas & electricity prices (see below). See also http://www.uswitch.co.uk and http://www.pbrs.co.uk | http://www.ofgem.gov.uk |
| Occupational Pensions Advisory Service (voluntary organisation) | http://www.opas.org.uk |
| Open Government (In your dreams) | http://www.open.gov.uk |
| Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority | http://www.opra.org.uk |
| Parliament (information on MPs, Parliamentary Committees, etc.) | http://www.parliament.uk |
| Webcasting of Parliament (Commons, Lords and Select Committees live on webcam) | http://www.parliamentlive.tv |
| Treasury Select Committee (reports on banks and building society matters) | http://www.parliament.uk/commons/selcom/treahome.htm |
| Treasury Select Committee 9th Report (demutualisationdemutualisation) | http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk |
| Pensions Investment Research Consultants (site for ALL corporate governance matters - not at all popular with directors) | http://www.pirc.co.uk |
| Government publications (includes building societies and register of interests of all MPs) | http://www.publications.parliament.uk |
| Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors | http://www.rics.org.uk |
| Trading Standards site where you can provide information on rogue traders. | http://www.ripofftipoff.net |
| National Association of Pension Funds | http://www.simplerpensions.org.uk |
| The Insurance Ombudsman | http://www.theiob.org.uk |
| Daily Mail Money Site | http://www.thisismoney.co.uk |
| The Times - Money Section (saving) | http://www.times-money.co.uk/invest |
| The Times - Money Section (borrowing)borrowing) | http://www.times-money.co.uk/borrow |
| Trading Standards Service (directory of local offices) | http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk |
| Enter your postcode and discover details of your local area, services, schools, childcare, public transport, property prices, crime figures, etc. | http://www.upmystreet.com |
| Consumers' Association | http://www.which.net |
| Seniority (useful on-line community site for 50ish+ folk) | http://www.seniority.co.uk |
Useful
Contacts
| Association
of Household Distributors
Freepost 22 London W1E 7EZ |
Advice on unwanted mail |
| Banking
Code Standards Board
33 St James's Square London SW1Y 4JS |
Chief
Executive - Seymour Fortesque
Tel: 020-7662-9694 (an organisation financed by the industry itself to monitor itself - SEE BELOW) |
| Campaign
for Community Banking Services
50 Roundwood Park Harpenden Herts AL5 3AF |
Tel/Fax: 01582-764760 (campaigns against closure of bank & building society branches) |
| Financial
Services Authority
25 The North Colonnade Canary Wharf London E14 5HS |
Tel: 020-7676-1000 |
| Financial
Services Ombudsman
183 Marsh Wall South Quay Plaza London E14 9SR |
Tel:
0845-080-1800 (Help line)
Tel: 020-7964-1000 (Switchboard) Fax: 020-7964-1001 |
| Institution of Structural Engineers | Tel: 020-72354535 |
| Insurance
Ombudsman
City Gate One 135 Park Street London SE1 9EA |
Tel: 020-7928-7600 or 020-7902-8100 or 0845-600-6666 |
| Mailing
Preference Service
Freepost 22 London W1E 7EZ |
Tel: 0845-307-7707 (stops junk mail) |
| National
Association of Citizens
AdviceBureaux |
Tel: 0207-833-2181 |
| Occupational
Pensions Regulatory Authority
Invicta House Trafalgar Place Brighton BN1 4DW |
Tel: 01273-627610 |
| Office for the Supervision of Solicitors | Tel: 0845-6086565 (for problems with solicitors) |
| Office
of Fair Trading
Fleetbank House 2-6 Salisbury Square London EC4Y 8JX |
Director
General - John Vickers
Tel: 020-7211-8000 |
| Office
of Gas & Electricity Marketing
(Ofgem) |
Tel: 0800-451451 or 0800-887777 (provides details of tariffs for all suppliers of gas and electricity. Find your cheapest source here) |
| Pensions
Ombudsman
11 Belgrave Road London SW1V 1RB |
Tel: 020-7834-9144 |
| Postwatch | Tel: 08456-013265 (how to complain if you have problems with your postal service) |
| Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors | Tel: 0207-2227000 |
| Royal Mail - Postcodes | Tel: 08457-111-222 (for all postcodes) |
| Subsidence Claims Advisory Bureau | Charter House, 43 Saint Leonards Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN40 1JA |
| Taxaid | Tel: 020-7624-3768 - 10.00-12.00 Mon. to Thur. (charity for free tax advice)) |
| Telephone Preference Service Ltd | Tel: 0845-070-0707 (Stops unwanted telephone sales calls) |
Building Societies Links
It's refreshing to know that there are still some building societies which have remained true to their founding ideals.
Barnsley
Bath
Beverley
Britannia
Buckinghamshire
Cambridge
Catholic
Century(Note:
This society does not adhere to the Banking Code).
Chelsea
Chesham
Cheshire
Chorley
& District
City
of Derry
Clay
Cross Benefit
Coventry
Cumberland
Darlington
Derbyshire
Dudley
Dunfermline
Earl
Shilton
Ecology
Furness
Hanley
Economic
Harpenden
Hinckley
& Rugby
Holmesdale
Ipswich
Kent
Reliance
Lambeth
Leeds
& Holbeck
Leek
United
Loughborough
Manchester
Mansfield
Market
Harborough
Marsden
Melton
Mowbray
Mercantile
Monmouthshire
National
Counties
Nationwide
Newbury
Newcastle
Norwich
& Peterborough
Nottingham
Portman
Principality
Progressive
Saffron
Walden Herts & Essex
Scarborough
Scottish
Shepshed
Skipton
Stafford
Railway
Staffordshire
Stroud
& Swindon
Swansea
Teachers
Tipton
& Coseley
Universal
Vernon
West
Bromwich
Yorkshire
The Banking
Code is the trade's own voluntary code. It has been produced by the
industry and the industry is monitored by the Banking Code Standards Board
which is funded by the industry!
The code
has many shortcomings for members and it may not always conform with the
Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations.
A random
check performed by the Banking Code Standards Board proved that although
most societies state that they conform with it, in fact many do not.
Reference
to this code by building societies may be misleading and should not be
taken as an assurance that societies act fairly. The code is not
a mark of excellence it is a base line standard only and can be misused
and abused.