Latest news with #JohnWebb
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Carte Blanche's John Webb, a Mzansi media legend
Webb has a simple plan, not to effect change to a television staple favourite, but rather to refine the programme and continue sharing a strong narrative across segments. It's the hot seat, where the heat is on every day. And it's been John Webb's dream to take on one of journalism's biggest challenges for some time. Being executive producer of one of South Africa's longest-running television shows, Carte Blanche, is not for sissies, and Webb's been behind the wheel for almost a handful of years. The show celebrates its thirty-seventh season this year, and keeping it relevant, sourcing compelling stories and maintaining high standards of journalism for such a long time has been no mean feat. Webb has a simple plan, not to effect change to a television staple favourite, but rather to refine the programme and continue sharing a strong narrative across segments. Said Webb: 'We are storytellers, first and foremost, that's what we call ourselves. When we come up with ideas, we call them stories. When we got to shoot them, we say, 'We're going to go shoot a story', and that is our primary focus.' He believes that focusing on characters within a story makes it more accessible to viewers, and getting that element right is not always easy. 'But when it comes together, it's magic.' Exposing rot and corruption Carte Blanche has earned a reputation over the years for its exposés, revealing some of the rot and corruption across various echelons of government, business and society. As the media landscape is changing along with consumption patterns, he believes that it's more important than ever to weave a story within a story. 'It's about more than just hearing negative news about the place we live in; we are fatigued about this. Instead, it is about finding the characters inside this picture, looking at them too, the human narrative.' It's important to him to share stories with integrity, clarity and to ensure balance in reportage. Also Read: What to watch: Stream these Netflix shows Last year, the show covered elections live for the first time. Webb said the focus remained on the human aspect, not the party-political narrative. He said: 'We needed to make a contribution to the national discussion around what was happening, so we went to four provinces, places that don't get a lot of publicity necessarily. And we told service delivery stories without actually mentioning political parties. You know, we told the stories of the people who live alongside rivers of sewage. We told the story of businesses trying to stay afloat and retain their workers when they have intermittent electricity at best.' He added that sometimes sharing in this way is harder hitting than simple reporting. It's South African stories, set in the milieu of an issue or situation, and it brings it to life and reveals home life truths, every time. Veteran broadcaster It's a strategy that works. As a presenter on talk radio for several years, including Talk at Nine on 702, Webb tackled tough issues, and his interviews were challenging for subjects who were on the receiving end of a Webb-terrogation. John Webb is a dynamic storyteller and at the reins of Carte Blanche, which he joined as a journalist and segment presenter in 2004, it's the genesis of subtle nuance to further develop the art of storytelling. Webb said he's never really thought of journalism as a job, nor a calling. The thrill of the chase is there, too, but to him, it's the never-ending flow of stories that makes every day different. The investigations, the hidden cameras that lift the veil on wrongdoing. He said: 'The team are passionate about what they do, some producers have been at it since the beginning of the show. And I have enormous respect for them.' Webb added that it's impossible not to be impacted by the show's content. 'When you are filming in abject poverty or witness injustice, it does affect you on a personal level. I think this is why we are able to speak so powerfully about issues, because we care about them. We are not standing on the outside looking in, but rather, become immersed into it and telling it as it is.' Now Read: What to watch: It's binge weekend
Scottish Sun
23-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
16 ways to boost your credit score before you apply for a mortgage including BNPL mistake and how to add rent history
How the bank accounts you open, your rent history and BNPL payments could impact your score TOP SCORE 16 ways to boost your credit score before you apply for a mortgage including BNPL mistake and how to add rent history Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE key to buying your first home is a healthy credit score, so giving yours an MOT is the first step towards home ownership. We spoke to Experian's expert John Webb about the 16 steps YOU can take to boost your credit history. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The Sun spoke to Experian's John Webb, who is an expert in credit history Credit: Linkedin If your credit score is poor, you might not be able to borrow enough to get the home you want - or you could be landed with higher monthly mortgage payments. There are three main credit reference agencies in the UK which collect information about you from public records, lenders and other service providers. When you apply for credit - such as taking out a mortgage or a credit card - lenders will want to check your record to make sure you're reliable. A "good" score is generally considered to be anywhere between 881 and 960, while a "fair" or average score will be between 721 and 880. If your credit score isn't high enough, or you just want to bump it up a little to get better rates, it is possible to build it up over time. Here are John's tips on boosting your score - including the Buy Now, Pay Later mistake you might be making and how to add your renting history. Martin Lewis explains why credit score 'isn't real' and shares 'the holy trinity' of measures lenders use to assess you Take your time It takes time to build up your credit score, so you need to start planning in advance. John recommends giving yourself just over a year to boost your score. This will allow time for any new accounts you open to mature and to start positively impacting your score. Check all three scores You'll have different scores from each of the three major credit reference agencies. These are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. To get the best idea of where your score is at, you should check all three - it's free to do. There is a service called CheckMyFile that allows you to check them all in one place. You can sign up for a free 30-day trial. Remember to cancel or you will be charged £14.99 a month. Easy bank account mistakes to avoid You may not realise it but opening new bank or credit accounts can lower your credit score temporarily. That's because you will go through a credit check whenever you apply for a new account - and this impacts your score for a short while. Each new account application and opening can lower your score for up to 12 months. After about six months, the new account will start to have less of an impact on your credit score - as long as you're regularly making payments on time. Once the account is about a year old, it will start to have a positive impact on your credit score. So it's not necessarily a bad thing to open a new account - but you should try to avoid it in the year before taking out a mortgage. For the same reason, you shouldn't open too many bank or credit accounts around the same time. This is because although it's only a temporary dip, opening lots of accounts at once won't give your score time to recover. Being a loyal banker can pay If you've had at least one or two of your bank accounts open for a long time, that will look good to lenders. That's because it shows a consistent payment history over many years. Credit score companies calculate the average age of your bank accounts, and the older that is the better. Ideally you should aim for an average account age of five years or more. Why Buy Now, Pay Later purchases could set you back Buy Now, Pay Later schemes don't yet factor into credit scores. But John says you should try to avoid using them if possible - especially close to your mortgage application. That's because every time you do a new BNPL transaction it shows up on your credit report as a new account. And as we mentioned, you want to limit opening too many new accounts. John says: "If it's entirely affordable to use Buy Now, Pay Later and you don't have any issues making the repayments and so on then that's all right. "But I would tend to be a little bit more cautious, so probably the three months-plus before you apply for a mortgage you should probably avoid it if you can because you don't want those new accounts jumping onto your credit report." Log your council tax and Netflix bills You can add extra information about payments you make regularly through Experian's Boost feature. These can include council tax payments, savings accounts and subscriptions like Netflix and Spotify. You can boost your score by a huge 101 points if you do this. Be aware though that not all lenders will factor this in. Get a credit card - and keep using it Having a credit card and paying it off regularly and on time can help to boost your score. However you should make sure you keep using it. Not using it for a long time could mean it gets marked as "dormant" or the account is closed. "Good practice is to keep it active with very small essential spending, something you would have spent on anyway, and paying off in full every month just so you keep the card active," John says. Of course, if you miss a credit card payment that will have a negative impact on your score so you should only borrow what you can afford. Have a high credit limit... When you take out a credit card, you'll have a limit on how much you can borrow. The higher your limit is, the better it is for your credit score. John says that having a limit of £3,500 or above is good for your score. However this may vary across credit reference agencies. ...but keep your credit card balance low You might want to have a high credit limit - but you shouldn't be maxing it out. John says you can get a "significant" score boost if you have a high limit but you keep your credit card balance below 25% of that threshold. If you're using Experian, doing this could add a huge 90 points to your score. Plus, if your balance is £50 or less you can get another 30 points. Think about timing It's worth noting that credit reports aren't updated in real-time - so it can take a while for things to show up. If you're planning to apply for a mortgage, you might want to make sure any debts or balances you've paid off are showing up on your credit file. For example, you don't want it to say you owe £900 at the point that you apply for a mortgage. Ideally you want to pay off the balance before your credit statement is produced. Add your renting history Not everyone is aware that you can add your renting history to your credit report voluntarily. If you're a private tenant and pay your rent on time, this can help improve your score. You can add the information to your credit report using services like Credit Ladder or Canopy. Reduce your debt If possible, prioritise paying off any debt you have. This can dramatically improve your credit score and potentially mean you get better interest rates on your mortgage. You might also be able to borrow more. The EASIEST way to boost your score This is perhaps the simplest one to do and will give your score a decent boost. Just make sure you're registered on the electoral roll at your current address. Lenders like this because when you register to vote, your electoral details are recorded on your report and this helps them confirm your name and address. Plus, this can save you time on your credit applications because if lenders can't confirm your details through the electoral roll they may ask for other forms of identity and proof of address. Use eligibility checkers Before you go ahead with applying for a mortgage or other credit, you can use eligibility checkers offered by lenders. These can give you an idea of how likely it is you'll be accepted and the terms you might receive. But, crucially, they're "soft searches" so that means they won't affect your credit score. Meanwhile if you apply for a mortgage and get rejected then it will show up on your credit report. Don't let a mistake scupper your chances It's worth going through your credit report carefully to make sure everything is correct. You might spot an inaccuracy - for example, a missed payment that shouldn't be there. If that's the case, you should contact the credit reference agency to dispute it. The agency can then query it with the lender on your behalf. Add notes to your credit score to give you power If there's a negative mark on your credit report, you can explain what happened if it's for a genuine reason. Credit reference agencies will let you add a "notice of correction" of up to 200 words on each mark. You can do this if you missed a payment for reasons like redundancy, illness, bereavement, mental health issues or a gambling addiction. Having a notice of correction means a human will review your application, rather than you getting an automated refusal. However lenders can still refuse you in this case and it can delay the application process.
Telegraph
21-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
How expats can avoid a financial headache when returning to the UK
Have you moved back to the UK from abroad and faced difficulties sorting your finances? Get in touch money@ In 2024, as many as 77,000 Britons left the UK, according to government figures. But whether it was in search of adventure, love or work, it won't be a permanent move for many, with estimates suggesting that around 30pc of expats will return home within three years. It doesn't matter how good the weather or lifestyle is, the pull of home can be strong. If you've got children, you might want them to be schooled here, while older expats may want to return to family, friends and free healthcare. However, those expats who make the move back to the UK can find that their return is fraught with financial challenges – especially if they didn't keep a UK bank account or maintain a property at home. 'Returning British expats can face hurdles when re-establishing their financial footprint in the UK,' says John Webb, the consumer expert at Experian. 'One of the main challenges is the lack of recent UK credit history, which can affect applications for things like phone contracts, credit cards and mortgages. 'If lenders don't have much information to assess your creditworthiness, it can make getting credit at good rates more challenging. This can often be the case for returning expats who have something called a 'thin file'.' You'll also need to think about tax, your pension and any investments too. Here Telegraph Money explains the obstacles you might encounter, and shares some ideas for how to ease the move. Finding a home and getting a mortgage Be realistic about your finances Register to vote Open a UK bank account Get a SIM-only phone contract Take out a credit card Transferring pensions Managing tax and investments Finding a home and getting a mortgage Laura Doulton, of Clifton Private Finance, says returning expats are often treated as 'mortgage pariahs' by mainstream lenders. 'Even if they've been earning good salaries and paying rent or mortgage payments abroad without issue, UK banks view them as high-risk because they lack a recent UK credit history. Many discover their excellent credit record from living in Dubai or Singapore means nothing to a UK lender.' However impressive your overseas career might look on LinkedIn, it might not be enough to wow lenders. 'Lenders want to see stable UK employment, but returning expats may be starting new jobs or working for international companies with complex pay structures. This creates a Catch-22 situation where they need a UK address to get a mortgage, but need a mortgage to secure that address.' The key is to give yourself time and consult a mortgage broker who specialises in dealing with expats. 'We guide clients to provide comprehensive documentation of their overseas financial history and work with lenders who will consider foreign income and employment contracts,' says Doulton. Louis Levine, a senior mortgage broker at UK Expat Mortgage, a part of Orton Financial, agrees. 'The other hiccup can be that you're starting a new job that hasn't commenced yet, so we often need to prioritise lenders that are more flexible on credit history and can accept only one month's payslips as income evidence for example. Private banks are much more lenient on this for the right clients.' Doulton says she recommends clients kick the process off around four to six months before they come home. Alternatively, you can consider renting first but, as Levine points out, 'with most rental contracts lasting a minimum of 12 months (or six months at best) it's a logistical complication'. Be realistic about your finances Before you start looking for homes, it's important to think about affordability – both in terms of how much property costs in the UK and the level of disposable income you will have, after HMRC has taken its slice. Doulton says it's not unusual for clients to suffer affordability shocks, particularly those who are returning from tax-free jurisdictions such as the UAE or countries with significantly lower tax rates. 'Someone earning £100,000 in Dubai takes home considerably more than someone earning the same in London. When they return, their net income can drop by 30-40pc immediately due to UK tax obligations.' She adds: 'It's important to note that if a client returns to the UK but continues to earn in say dollars or dirhams, lenders will apply a haircut to their income to allow for currency fluctuation, so this can affect their borrowing power further.' Register to vote In addition to giving you the opportunity to vote in local and national elections, joining the electoral roll can boost your credit score – helping you get everything from a phone contract to a credit card or mortgage. To register to vote, you will need an address, which could be problematic if you don't yet have a permanent residence. If you were registered to vote as an overseas voter, you will still need to re-register once you have a permanent address back in the UK. Open a UK bank account Many expats keep a UK bank account, but if you haven't, you'll need to prioritise opening one as soon as you can. 'Once on the electoral roll, use this to apply for a UK bank account,' suggests Levine. 'Ensure it's an account that reports to UK credit rating agencies like Experian.' Depending on the bank, you may be able to open a UK current account before you arrive. HSBC, for example, lets you have accounts in different countries and lets you easily transfer money between them. Get a SIM-only phone contract A new phone contract will be crucial in helping you find your feet when you first get back, but you might encounter a problem with some deals. 'Phone contracts often require a credit check, and without a recent UK credit history, providers may be hesitant to offer a contract. Starting with a SIM-only deal can be easier, and help build your credit profile,' says Webb. Take out a credit card Spending money on a credit card and making timely repayments, can be a helpful way of padding out a thin credit history and give your score a boost. 'It's a good idea to look for a credit builder card, which is designed for people with limited credit history,' says Webb. 'Using it responsibly – keeping balances low and making payments on time – can help demonstrate reliability to lenders.' Most comparison sites will also be able to tell you which cards you'll be eligible for, without damaging your credit score. Transferring pensions If retirement is still a long way off, what you need to do with your pension might not feel immediately pressing – especially when you're dealing with challenges such as finding somewhere to live. Nonetheless, it's something that needs attention sooner rather than later. David Denton, of financial planners Quilter Cheviot points out that lots of returning expats believe that their pensions will seamlessly follow them, wherever they go. The reality, he says, is much more complex. 'If you've built up an overseas pension, you'll need to understand the local rules around transfers and whether your scheme qualifies for a transfer to a UK-recognised provider. Not all overseas pensions are eligible, and tax charges can apply if you get it wrong. 'A financial adviser who specialises in cross-border planning can help you obtain the scheme documentation, explain your options, and model the impact of transferring versus leaving it where it is.' The UK state pension Your entitlement to the UK state pension, meanwhile, will depend on how many years of National Insurance contributions you'll have under your belt when you eventually reach state pension age. To get the full amount, you'll need 35 years. If you have between 10 and 35 years, you'll get a pro rata payment. You'll only end up with no state pension in the UK if you rack up less than 10 years of contributions (either by way of payments from earnings or credits if you were claiming certain benefits). That means it's important to get a state pension forecast to find out where you stand. Denton adds: 'You may be able to make voluntary contributions to fill in any gaps and boost your entitlement.' However, while your entitlement to the UK state pension may have been impacted during your absence, you may have been building up entitlement to an overseas scheme. Denton explains: 'If you've spent time working abroad, you may also be entitled to a state pension from that country. It's important to check whether the UK has a social security agreement with the country you've worked in, as this can affect whether your overseas contributions count towards your UK entitlement or whether you can claim two separate pensions. 'Understanding the interaction between systems is key to avoiding disappointment when you reach retirement age.' He adds: 'For your overseas state pension, it's best to contact that country's pension authority. You'll usually need to provide records of your work history and tax ID. Some countries will coordinate with the UK to streamline claims, while others require completely separate applications, so timing and paperwork can get complicated without help.' Managing tax and investments What could give you an even bigger headache and a shock is tax. Denton warns: 'If you've been in a lower-tax jurisdiction, the UK's income tax, plus things like dividend tax and capital gains tax, can come as a surprise. 'If you've retained overseas assets or income streams, those can also create complications, as the UK taxes you on your worldwide income once you're a resident again. It's crucial to get ahead of the UK tax rules before you return, not after.' Finn Houlihan, the managing director at wealth adviser, AAF Financial, recommends getting specialist tax advice. He suggests starting the process 12 to 18 months before you come home. 'It would be reasonable to assume that the date you will become a UK tax resident would be the date you physically arrive in the UK. However, this would be far too simple for the UK tax authorities. The date you become a UK resident is dependent on your particular circumstances and is assessed under legislation known as the Statutory Residence Test (SRT).' The basic rule for the SRT is that an individual will be resident in the UK for a whole tax year. However, he adds that there are certain circumstances where 'split-year treatment' can be claimed. 'For example, when an individual comes from abroad and starts to work, split-year treatment enables part of a tax year to be taxed as a non-UK resident and the other part to be taxed as a UK resident.' When it comes to investments, Houlihan says that the rule of thumb is to crystallise your gains while you're still non-resident. 'Problems arise if this step is missed and the individual could bring all the gains back into scope of UK tax which could have easily been avoided. The same applies for bank accounts, any interest due should be paid out whilst non-resident.' Before returning home, Houlihan says it's important to work with an adviser to agree the following: Identify the date you will become UK resident for tax purposes. Review all assets and income streams to understand how you will be taxed once you become UK resident. Consider the appropriate restructuring of assets such as pensions, properties, investments and life assurance. Identify and undertake any pre-residence planning opportunities available. He adds: 'Generally most problems can easily be avoided with good planning and advice.'
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Elderly man goes ballistic during feud over ex-wife's estate: 'You got to die first'
An elderly man brandished a revolver and started firing during a family feud that nearly turned 'catastrophic.' John Webb, 81, was taken into custody on charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault after cops say he opened fire on his ex-wife's heirs who were trying to sell her Micanopy, Florida home. The heirs - who Law & Crime identifies as Webb's ex-wife's daughters and son-in-law - arrived at the home to prepare it for sale at around 1pm on Thursday. As soon as they pulled up, deputies said they noticed Webb's car outside - and they began to record video on their cellphones. The family then went inside the home, where they allegedly found Webb in the living room. At that point deputies say, the family told Webb - who had divorced their mother in 1998 - he 'was not supposed to be there,' the Miami Herald reports. The comment apparently sent Webb on a rampage, pulling out a revolver and firing into the ceiling. As the victims then scrambled to leave, Webb allegedly told them: 'No, don't move. You got to die first.' But the heirs were able to get safely back into their vehicle and reverse down the driveway, when Webb exited the home and allegedly fired multiple shots at the car. One bullet struck the engine, which caused the vehicle to break down on a nearby road, but none of the victims were injured. In the aftermath, Webb drove away - but deputies were able to conduct a traffic stop and take him into custody without incident, they said. When police later questioned him about the incident, Webb reportedly claimed that his ex-wife's family 'harassed him,' according to an affidavit obtained by Law & Crime. 'They come in threatening me and I fired a shot in the air, then fired some into the radiator of their car, period,' he allegedly admitted. But cops wrote that his actions were 'imminently dangerous' to the victims and 'demonstrated a depraved mind without regard to human life.' 'Had those rounds impacted maybe just a couple more inches up, unfortunately, you probably would've had a catastrophic incident where multiple victims would have been harmed,' Alachua County Sheriff's Office Capt. Chris Sims, a public information officer, told WCJB. 'I think it's important to remember that there are no age restrictions on people who make poor decisions or try to harm someone,' he added.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- The Independent
29% of wedding guests say ‘I don't' to ceremonies overseas, survey finds
Nearly three in 10 (29%) people have declined invites to marriage ceremonies being held abroad in the past three years, a survey has found. The average cost of attending a wedding held overseas was put at nearly £2,000 by credit information firm Experian, which commissioned the research. Those who declined invites for weddings abroad had done so for various reasons, with some saying they could not afford to take time off work, the journey was too far, or that they were unable to afford the transport and accommodation costs. Some said they did not know the couple well enough to justify the cost while others said they had received too many invites to weddings being held abroad recently, according to the survey carried out by Censuswide among 2,000 people across the UK in May. Researchers also surveyed those who had attended overseas weddings, with the average cost put at £1,956, and travel, accommodation, outfits and gifts taking up the biggest chunks of guests' budgets. John Webb, a consumer expert at Experian, said: 'Attending a wedding abroad can be a magical experience and a great opportunity to explore somewhere new. But it's important to be mindful – costs can add up quickly.' He suggested: 'If you're worried about the financial side of attending, don't be afraid to talk to the couple. They'll want you there but not at the expense of your financial wellbeing – so it's always worth having an honest conversation.'
