I wrote some months ago about problems with security of data at the land registry and the fact that people were able to obtain private data, copies of documents and were then able to transfer ownership of other peoples property to themselves.

That article is here…Who Owns Your House?

Action has been taken on these problems and users of the website and the land registry will be required to provide proof of identity.

“As from 3 March 2008 Land Registry requires evidence of identity when an application is made to register a:

• transfer
• lease
• mortgage, or
• discharge of a mortgage in paper form.

This change will apply to all applications to register one or more of the above transactions lodged on or after 3 March 2008.”

A very welcome improvement and we must hope this adequately closes off the loopholes that previously existed.

Money Magic: Seven Simple Steps to True Financial Freedom (Quick Reads)

I’m very pleased to be part of the 142nd Carnival Of Personal Finance and the full list of money related articles can be found here… 142nd Carnival Of Personal Finance

There are a lot of interesting articles refered to from there but here are a few of my favourites.
The 45-cent strawberry: Are organic foods worth it? which considers whether it is right to spend more on organic foods or not. I guess history will prove to be the best judge of that.
The Single Most Important Thing You Can Control (when it comes to your investments) Points out that when it comes to investing you need to look at the cost of those investments.

I really liked this one, and not least because of the brilliant title, whish points out that if you have been going wrong for years it isn’t always to change course instantly. A good read and supportive for those trying to change their financial fortunes. Aircraft Carriers And Personal Finance Management
The Carnival has a homless theme and some interesting facts about homelessness can be found among the lists of articles. Thanks to Baglady for hosting it this week.

Money Magic: Seven Simple Steps to True Financial Freedom (Quick Reads)

Residents of Wales who have any reason to ever visit a hospital will be delighted to hear the news that they are to be able to park for free at all NHS hospitals by 2011. In a demonstration that smaller and more modern government listens to the electorate and responds to their feelings it shows up the westminster government for what it is. A self centred, uncaring bunch of self seeking career politicians who are more concerned with promotion within government than they are with the people who elected them.
Disgust at hospital car parking charges is widespread. There are very few people who support them. Government policies have led to bigger hospitals ever further away from the patients they are supposed to serve. It may be efficient but then the ultimate in efficiency would be to have one big hospital in the middle of England but that would please nobody except the accountants who seem to run public services these days.
Scotland has proposed charging a maximum daily charge of about £3. It is not a perfect solution but at least it prevents hospitals or their outsourced parking supervision companies from ripping people off. It has been argued that any profits from parking can go towards additional treatments at the hospitals. This would also be true if they charged for bed rental while people are in hospital, charges for use of bedpans and maybe even extra charges if you would like neat stiting up after an operation. In other words, it is a ridiculous claim.
People do not go to hospital for fun. It is not an entertainment complex. Of course if it were then parking would be free because businesses know that people prefer not having to pay extra charges. Hospital parking charges make people very angry and it hardly helps a persons health prospects if they have additional financial worries caused by the hospitals parking charges policy.
It’s about time the Westminster government started listening to peoples concerns and stopped worrying about promoting all their great new ideas for making themselves famous. We have had enough laws, rules and regulations brought in, in recent years to last for many generations before we can ever begin to understand what has been enacted, supposedly in our name and for our benefit. When will they start to actually listen to what people thing and care about? It feels unlikely they ever will but they could make a start by removing hospital parking charges straight away.

Money Magic: Seven Simple Steps to True Financial Freedom (Quick Reads)