AS A 69-year-old widow, I read Money avidly and have found some very useful advice in it. Every generation has its hurdles to overcome (“Generations play the blame game”, last week). The one point I have not seen made is that as my contemporaries and I come to the end of our lives, our money and homes will be inherited by our descendants and will flow back into the economy — unless, of course, it has flowed into the coffers of care home owners.
CH , Horsmonden, Kent
SOMETHING Steve Webb omitted from his excellent article about the disadvantages suffered by pensioners is that very many of them served their country, such as during the Second World War. Many often had to take great risks and none was paid more than a pittance. Present-day whingers might not be alive but for that service.
MF , Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
Borrowers are good business
GOOD to see Nationwide revising its policy, but surely it is one of many lenders missing the point (“Nationwide raises bar with mortgage age limit of 70”, last week). Eligibility for a mortgage should be based on affordability, irrespective of age. My own income in retirement is far more secure than when I was working. Why should people of any age be denied the opportunity to move house? After all, lenders always have the house to repay outstanding loans in the event of death.
IF , Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
IN OCTOBER, a high street bank turned down my application for a mortgage because I would be 69 the following month. Crazy. I have been in banking all my life and I am asset-rich with a comfortable retirement income.
EM , Barnet, north London
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Brexit gamble for house sellers
WE ARE selling our property in France, independent of the Brexit referendum. Having read your article (“Pound could fall through ‘trapdoor’ after Brexit”, last week), it will probably be better to hold the sale proceeds in euros and convert to sterling later.
RK , Bermuda
I INTEND to vote to remain in the EU for mainly non-economic reasons but even if the vote went the other way, sterling is fundamentally sound and the euro would probably be more damaged.
BO , Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Don’t take no for an answer
I RECEIVED a refund from my travel insurer, bar the £68 airport tax, when I cancelled flights (“Airline diverted by social media storm”, last week). I asked the airline to return the £68 but was told only £40 was refundable — and there would be an admin fee of £40! I sued and was awarded £68 plus costs.
PB , York
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Age shall not weary investors
I’VE just turned 80. I’m still in the stock market with a small stake in biotech companies and emerging markets and a little gold (“Happy 100th — your savings have lasted for 42 years”, last week). One never knows what lies ahead.
PW , Hereford
Find a better deal on landlines
I HELPED my mother-in-law, who is 88, to arrange a new landline-only deal. She was paying TalkTalk a monthly line rental fee of £17.70. We switched her to Direct Save Telecom at £14.95 a month, with the bills being emailed to me so I will print them out and send them to her.
We were going to go with the Post Office, which was £16 a month, but it couldn’t guarantee that she could keep her number, which at her age is crucial. It’s the only number she’s ever had.
SD , Cardiff
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Beware venture capital trusts
WHEN I retired 18 years ago from BT, I invested £15,000 of my lump sum in £1 shares in Albion Ventures’ Crown Place VCT (“Stung savers make a beeline for VCTs”, last week). Their value is now only £5,551. If I wanted to sell on March 31, I would just break even, taking into account my original 20% tax relief, script shares, dividends and sales charges. Be warned!
VT , Wilmslow, Cheshire
Can you beat this 12-week wait?
I WROTE to Halifax more than 12 weeks ago to inquire about an account balance and I’m still waiting for a response. Is this a record or can anyone beat it?
TT , Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset
Write to: Money, The Sunday Times 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF
Email: money@sundaytimes.co.uk. Twitter: @ST_Money