Member Info for HunSen

HeresHopin, thanks. Yes, the only plus point of paying 2% or more is that I can switch between their small range of dull, in house, investments for free! But even then they mess up. Over the phone, one investment was not available, so (being out of the house) I asked the SW caller if I could hold that £10k in cash within my policy and get back to him.

He took this as meaning - invest in the SW "money fund", I corrected him, but he explained it was the same as holding cash. So, I agreed over the phone to buy this (as well as their Asia, US, Europe, Japanese... funds)

When I checked the KIID and performance at home, this fund performs at MINUS 2% per year.

In my view, the guy advised me. Finally, he said the changes would be made Tuesday (last), but nothing has happened - only another form about money laundering.

Jayfax,
I totally agree with you, I have written a complaint (the 4th since starting this process), I have had to spend a month tracking down who can help, even the Scottish Widows site is incomplete... extract from last letter;

""
When I follow the trail to your website, I get missing information such as Key documets > Investors guide (http://reference.scottishwidows.co.uk/docs/1_337666-6.pdf) - this sounds important to me. Perhaps not to you though?
What do I get under "investors guide"?

"Document under review" (1_337666-6.pdf)
""

I am realistic and I expect some process to protect my interests and because the investment is so old, however, what if the markets were in free fall?

Through AJ Bell I can sell my shares in 15 seconds, I can sell EFT's in 24 hours or less.

It shouldn't take a month to deal with Halifax.

I will keep you updated as things progress...

HeresHopin, thanks for the advise - we are covered but we may still seek IFA. There is no CGT or income tax exposure. However, as I read more and more, I realise that the charges are way too high and the performance has been average at best.
It's not only the experience that has made me angry, being a shareholder too means that I am really disappointed in the poor level of service I have experienced and seen in branch. While discussing my business in the lobby, Halifax staff even turned away a man who wanted to open an account! What kind of sales culture is that?!

Hi all,
I am a Halifax customer with a large investment held with Scottish Widows (both are Lloyds brands).

I started the policy more than 17 years ago (pre RDR), it was sold in branch by Halifax staff, who made taking my investment very easy. The annual charge is around 2% - meaning I have paid around £90k in charges over the years.

Recently, I have been trying to change the investment, withdrawing £50k to move to ISA's (£20k for my partner and I, plus £10k to my SIPP). I have also requested that the remaining funds are switched to a more geographically diverse holding, including Asia, US and Europe funds - keeping a holding in the UK. I also want to reduce my costs (from 2% to 1% or less).

This was a month ago and I still haven't managed to make these changes! The market has moved 2 pence against me, costing nearly £2,000.

The Halifax staff just will not speak to me - post RDR there is no in-branch advise, but the service is also rotten.

Scottish Widows sent forms for anti-money laundering, which must be certified in a Halifax branch. The branch staff didn't seem to want to help and the who experience seems impossible.

I have made several calls to "help desks", been in branch 4 times and I have sent 4 letters and one email.

My original intention was to just diversify and use this years ISA allowance. Now I feel so angry that I wish to close my Scottish Widows policy, sell my Lloyds shares and get as far away from this company as possible.

I am a shareholder and I believe Lloyds looks like a great investment on paper - but the real life experience, in branch, is really poor.

I think it is important to share feedback like this, which I have also shared with Halifax.

By Julia Faurschou

Marston’s (MARS) is tapping further into the market for US craft beer in the UK with a five-year distribution deal with American brewer Founders Brewing Company. The agreement follows on from Marston’s £55m acquisition of the Charles Wells distribution business in May 2017. Marston’s previously had the rights to distribute Founders’ portfolio of more than 40 beers for one year.

MARS:LSE
Marston's PLC

1mth
Today change
0.35% Price (GBP)
99.50
Over the initial 12-month period, Marston’s increased sales of Founders’ All Day IPA by 274 per cent, with distribution in more than 400 UK pubs and supermarkets. Marston’s head of commercial marketing, John Clements, said the business is working on distribution with numerous independent operators, craft beer bars and well-known names such as Young’s (YNGA), Castle Pub Company and Morrisons (MRW).

IC View
We’re encouraged by the extension of what has already been a beneficial deal for Marston’s and think such an agreement will help boost sales after a difficult start to the year. While debt levels are high, at 100p or seven times forward earnings, we think the shares look attractive. Buy.

Last IC View: Buy, 17 May 2018, 105p

Hey all,
Marstons are running quite an innovative World Cup promotion, which I signed up for as a share holder - not so much a football fan. The game is actually quite good and was apparently developed in only six weeks.
Anyway, after my first match prediction, I was given an on-screen scratch card and I won a pint of Fosters.

This is small compensation, but if they are giving away free pints - I might as well get mine!

I just hope the promotion pays the cost (of all the free pints) and gives some value back to us.

https://matchpredictor.marstons.co.uk/

Good to see the SP recover on Friday.

Hi, Motley Fools have stayed bullish... https://www.aol.co.uk/news/2018/06/20/looking-for-high-yield-forget-bt-and-check-out-lloyds-bank-shar/?guccounter=1

livestock Perhaps this represents uncertainty (?), it will become clear (hopefully) on Wednesday, good or bad news this clarification could boost the sp as things become more certain - I will hold off for the news then make a sell/hold decision. thanks

Does anyone have a view on this? My broker didn't have this news, so it's new to me... http://www.lse.co.uk/ShareNews.asp?shareprice=LLOY&code=bh8m1rse&headline=British_lawmakers_threaten_publication_of_report_on_fraud_at_Lloyds_unit

Hi, I just noticed on directors deals that no Lloyds director has purchased more than £150 worth of shares since December last year. I'm not sure what times of the year insider buying is allowed, but with all the bonuses flying about you would think some of these guys would invest in Lloyds??

Hi all, I'm still long on Lloyds, but I am thinking of cutting my losses. Some have stated here that the banks are out of favour, however, Lloyds seems to be under-performing the bank sector by 10% and the gap is getting wider. Others mention BREXIT, which is worth looking at, but, BREXIT is priced in to the market already. Also there is questions on the technical's - the trend is your friend (in this case not), it does look like a breakout on the down trend, the fast moving average passed the slow MA at the end of May. We have passed support at 63p - this will become resistance and the next support level (on two year chart) is 53p. It hasn't dropped lower than 48p on the three year chart. I still believe the fundamentals are good - and I am struggling to understand these price movements, while the FTSE has been hitting new highs. Please don't shoot me down! I am long on Lloyds but I think we should raise all points. My option now is to free my LLOY capital for use elsewhere or ride it out - I don't like the look of this ride.

Oh, thanks. My mistake. I reviewed this a while ago, they seemed safe but it was close. Hopefully they won't drop too much tomorrow.

MARS is still in the FTSE 250, it missed demotion by 3 or 4 places. This should boost the price as those funds won't be dumping the share PLUS it is undervalued. Hopefully we will see a boost from the World Cup if England can manage to survive the first round.

Hey, there is life in this board, thanks for the comments. jayfax, they also offer current account banking and it's covered as all banks should be; Is my money safe with Monzo? Your money is fully protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), meaning that all your money up to �85,000 is guaranteed by the British Government. Source: https://monzo.com/faq/ I agree also with your view on traditional banking, however, the combined effect of branch closures and modern tech means that these "digital" banks will thrive. Look at Ocado the online supermaket, it's about to join the FTSE 100 at 888p a share - it was launched in 2004. Sainsbury and Tesco will continue but these new routes to market will eat into their profits (IMO) I am still bullish on Lloyds, but I would also like to find the next Ocado :-) HunSen

Hey all, I come here sometimes looking for chat on lloy, only to see not much on-topic discussion. I have a reasonable holding, but I sold half last week, only because it's one of the only FTSE 100 shares standing still. However, I still have an interest and I would possibly buy in before the full year results. So, does anyone want to discuss any bullish / bearish points? + PPI payments should be winding down + profits are up + branch closures (49 more - 1,230 jobs) should deliver more profit + new web interface will cost, but should pay back - but a risk of issues (as with TSB) + the above is part of a 3-year plan to improve digital services and reduce costs + share buyback should be returning value (but I'm concerned that it is not) - BREXIT - uncertainty is never good, we have never left the EU before and our government cant win on this issue - traditional banking seems to be out of favour - economy is also facing uncertainty - several "digital" banks have been granted licences by BOE, including Monzo, Starling and OakNorth (lloy may have to compete with new, lean companies in this market) These points are just from what I have read in Investors Chronicle. Please feel free to add to this HunSen

Tip Update: Buy at 105p Tip style VALUE Risk rating MEDIUM Timescale LONG TERM Our previous tip We said BUY at 119p on 04 Jan 2018 Tip performance to date -12% By Julia Faurschou Marston�s (MARS) chief executive, Ralph Findlay, reckons that February's cold snap knocked �3m off half-year profits. This seems to be the fallback position for any underperformance on the part of the pubcos at the moment, but we think the two percentage point contraction in the underlying operating margin has less to do with Jack Frost than costs linked to tenancy to franchise conversions, along with lower-margin assets brought in with the acquisition of Charles Wells Beer Business (CWBB). MARS:LSE Marston's PLC 1mth Today change -12.23% Price (GBP) 98.30 Snow obsessions aside, underlying trading, though mixed, gives cause for optimism. Like-for-like sales at taverns were up 2.9 per cent during the first half, compared with a 1.8 per cent decline in destination and premium pubs. The beer business remained resilient, with an added boost from CWBB, bringing sales in brewing up 79.2 per cent to �169m. Total volumes sold improved by 74 per cent, with market share growth of nearly a quarter each in both premium cask ale and packaged ale. The acquisition doubled the size of the export business, now around 8 per cent of total volumes. Analysts at Numis expect pre-tax profits of �107m in the year to September, giving EPS of 13.8p, compared with �100m and 14p in FY2017. MARSTON'S (MARS) ORD PRICE: 105p MARKET VALUE: �666m TOUCH: 104.9-105.2p 12-MONTH HIGH: 146p LOW: 96p DIVIDEND YIELD: 5.4% PE RATIO: 21 NET ASSET VALUE: 142p* NET DEBT: 155% Half-year to 31 Mar Turnover (�m) Pre-tax profit (�m) Earnings per share (p) Dividend per share (p) 2017 452 36.7 5.2 2.7 2018 529 -13.4 -2.0 2.7 % change +17 - - - Ex-div: 24 May Payment: 03 Jul *Includes �298m of intangible assets or 47p per share