Consumer Information
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How and Why to Avoid the SEO Mania

Introduction Yes, just like you, I have read numerous articles about the benefits and necessity of search engine optimization (SEO). Search engine optimization is a technique of selecting specific keywords that position your website to be found easily and quickly by web surfers. And anyone who has a website with a product or service to sell wants to attract more web surfers, i.e., traffic. Th. . .

Is there really Free travel on the Internet?

If you go to Google and enter the term "Free Travel" you would find 2,200,000 Entries. If you check All-the Web, you find 3,990,000 Entries. You find a similar number on any search engine. Obviously these are highly competitive search terms. It is likely that with this many entries under these terms that the bids for such keywords are pretty high for Pay Per Click Advertisers. After researchin. . .

Home Buyers Need the Right Information When Buying a Home

Use Google right now and do a search on, "Home Buying Guide". Take a few minutes to click some of the links to see what's out there and then come right back. Now, try "Home Buyer Guide" and do the same thing. Overwhelming, isn’t it? And that’s exactly the problem facing today’s prospective home buyers; not knowing how to sort through all of the information that is offered to them when buying. . .

Just What Makes Your Computer Tick?

Maybe you want to upgrade your system and you’re spending the weekend trying to make it work. Or perhaps, your system is acting strangely and you are pulling your hair out trying to figure out what to do. Regardless of the reason, it’s important to know how your computer works in order to do anything with it, especially in a technical manner. Know your system One of the first things you’ll . . .

Finding Sales Leads and Contacts goes Hi-Tech

Where sales people used to spend lots of time prospecting for leads and cold calling, now they can simply log on to the Internet and buy, sell or even trade leads and contacts at a new website. Run a quick search on Google and you will find over 400, 000 listings under the term "sales prospecting". Most of the listings involve list brokers, marketing companies who supply leads and lists or actu. . .

Seeking Solutions

Problem Situations: *Eliminate an unwanted situation *Obtain an improved situation Types of Problems: **People – the most difficult to solve **Equipment/Procedure – Ex: The office computer network is frequently off-line. **Financial – Worker productivity is too low in relation to the wages paid. Steps to Making Decisions: 1. Verify that a problem actually exists 2. Clearly and Accurately St. . .

Real Estate Boom To End? – No!

The naysayers are proclaiming the end of the real estate boom once again. Once again, they are wrong. Boom, Boom, Boom In recent years, it's impossible to turn on the television or read the headlines without seeing a warning of impending doom. Experts claims there is a housing bubble and it is about to burst. Should first-time and move-up homebuyers be concerned? No. We keep hearing about the. . .

Mortgage Borrowing Tip – Length of Loan

When borrowing money for a mortgage, homebuyers are primarily concerned with simply qualifying. Still, paying attention to the length of the loan is a borrowing tip that can save you a ton of money. Home Loans In the mortgage industry, the length of your loan used to be the only major issue you had to deal with. How times have changed! In the current market, the variety of loans that exist are . . .

Personal Injury Solicitor - 5 Things To Consider Before Choosing

Mistakes can be made and should be learnt from. So here are 5 pointers to make no mistake for choosing a solicitor. Making sure you have the right personal injury solicitor to represent you in your accident compensation claim is vital. However, with so many people claiming to be accident compensation solicitors, how can you possibly know which accident claim solicitor is going to be the best on. . .

Modular Homes - Affordable Housing

With soaring real estate prices, many Americans are looking to alternative home options. Modular homes are one of the popular affordable housing options. Modular Homes Modular homes represent almost 8% of all new U.S. home sales, with nearly 43,000 of them built in 2004 alone. In the Northeast today, 10% of the houses constructed are modular. It is primarily the states of North Carolina, Michi. . .

Weight Loss Made Easy

Weight loss doesn't need to be this complicated! There are low fat, low carb, low calorie, and even liquid diets. There are dozens of pills and plans promising the world with quick weight loss. I am sure, while you're reading this article, someone is dreaming up another "quick fix" solution to the ever growing obesity epidemic. I would like to tell you an eye opening weight loss related story. . .

Mortgage Qualification Problems – Low Appraisals

The real estate market in the United States is undeniably hot, hot, hot. This toward pace has resulted in an odd mortgage qualification problem – low appraisals. Here are your options if you get a low appraisal amount. Appraisals An appraisal is simply an effort by a qualified person to put a value on a property. The process involves a review of the property, other properties in the area and s. . .

Mortgage Qualification Problems – Not Enough Income

Qualifying for a mortgage can be a stressful affair. A common problem that can occur is not having enough income to qualify for the loan amount. If you have this problem, here are a few possible solutions. Mortgage Creativity You find the house of your dreams and need to get a home loan. You have great credit, almost no debt and have been employed for five years with the same company. You appl. . .

Accident at Work Claim - The Essentials

If you have a workplace accident, do you want to stay quite or do you want to take some action. Regardless of your decision, being the good guy won't help you and being the bad guy could help your employer. An accident at work claim has probably crossed your mind, and rightfully so; every year, thousands of hard working individuals are left injured or disabled due to unsafe workplace conditions. . .

Top 5 Best Gifts For Your Pets

Most individuals or families view their pets as a member of the family as well. That said there is no reason why they should not be included in birthdays, Christmas or any other holiday for that matter. It’s a special day for them as well and it should be celebrated. So what are you going to get for your feline friend on their birthday? Why not consider some of these popular ideas which are sur. . .

Toys For Your Pet That Are Safe and Fun

There are plenty of toys on the market to keep your favorite pet entertained for hours on end, but there are also a number of factors to consider when purchasing toys for your pet. As with children’s toys, safety should be first and foremost in your thoughts when considering a new toy purchase for your pet. Be sure not to give your pet toys that can be broken up and potentially stuck in thei. . .

Home Schooling 101

Most people, when they first encounter the idea of home schooling, have one hundred and one questions. This article is intended to act as a reference point for people interested in the prospect of home schooling their children. The first question many parents ask is “Why would we want to school our children at home?” There are a number of benefits to home schooling your children. Home scho. . .

Tougher Bankruptcy Laws Take Effect October 2005

In just a few short weeks, President Bush’s Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act will take effect. In a nutshell, the new law, which goes into effect on October 17, 2005, makes it more difficult to cancel your debts under Chapter 7 Bankruptcy protection. Instead, consumers will find themselves having to file for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy protection and paying back their credi. . .

Personal Injury Claim - Win Without A Doubt!

Everyone likes winning! If you win by an inch or a mile, winning is winning! Now winning at personal injury is a different ball game altogether. Do you want to claim compensation in direct result of an accident or injury? Okay, that's fine go ahead, you deserve it! Life Before A Personal Injury Claim I bet it was awesome… You were having the time of your life. Winning at everything, football, c. . .

Seven Tips to Maximize Savings on Prescriptions

1. When you travel, bring a copy of your prescriptions with you. - In Mexico, only a few meds require a written prescription because most of them are over the counter there. Take your prescription with you though, just in case your medication is the one that requires a written prescription. - In Canada, a copy of your written prescription is mandatory. You will need to see a Canadian Doc. . .

Home Safety for Your Children

Providing a safe environment for your child is one of the most important factors in how they will grow up. Ensuring your children are safe at all times can be a very difficult task but it is important to do your best to ensure they live in an environment where they feel secure. There are many safety devices and techniques you can use in your home which will help to ensure that nothing bad will . . .

Does Coffee Make You Fat or Help with Diabetes?

Who the heck knows…? According to two studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association the opposite is true and it states if you have diabetes you should get rid of caffeine. Duke University Medical Centre in a 2004 study proved that caffeine ingestion significantly impairs the control of blood sugar and insulin after a meal. According to one study, if you’re under 60 ye. . .

Understanding Credit Scores and Repairs

If you are applying for a mortgage, you’re going to have to deal with credit scores. Here’s a primer on credit scores and methods for improving them. Credit Report Step one in the process is making sure that you have a current copy of your credit report. Congress recently amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act so that consumers may now receive one free credit report annually. There are three maj. . .

Avoid These 5 Most Common Workout Myths

Do you know the health and fitness industry is plagued by an over abundance of workout myths? A myth is a fiction or half truth, especially one that forms part of an ideology. Rob tells Jen about a new fitness program that is suppose to deliver amazing results; Jen tells Ted, and Ted then tells Pam, but only half of what Rob said. Confused? Just image how confusing Rob's "cutting edge" theory . . .

A Whiplash Injury Claim Is NO BIG DEAL... Or Is It?

Are you aware of how important your compensation for a whiplash injury can be? Too often, a whiplash injury claim is overlooked or is under-compensated. It is often considered minor, but is it really? After all, you've suffered an accident, been injured even if the injury is 'just' whiplash. Do you realize what a whiplash injury is? A whiplash typically causes injury to your neck. Do you thin. . .

Pest Control Tips for Maintaining Your Greenhouse

Greenhouses provide a warm, humid atmosphere and are home to a variety of different plants and flowers which is why they are a perfect target for insects. There are numerous types of insects which will want to live in your greenhouse and feed off of the wonderful plants and flowers which you have put so much time and effort into maintaining. The information below will provide you with tips and . . .

3 Things to Consider when Building a Greenhouse

A greenhouse has the potential to provide many benefits for the average flower-lover. However, if they are not built in the appropriate location the results can be detrimental. That said, before you build a greenhouse, it is important to consider all aspects in order to ensure you receive the best results possible. If you are thinking of building a greenhouse, but are unsure of factors which c. . .

How To Get Rid Of Cockroaches

There are five basic types of cockroaches that enter our homes. American Cockroach Smokeybrown Cockroach Oriental Cockroach Brownbanded Cockroach German Cockroach The American Cockroach is probably the largest of all five. The American cockroach has a yellow band across its head. The smokey brown cockroach can be just a little smaller than the American Cockroach and is a dark brown or Mahoney i. . .

Celebrating a Special Occasion with Jewelry! How to Buy Jewelry? (Part I)

The concept of jewelry implies fashion, ornamentation, and adornments. But jewelry is much more than just that. It reflects your personality and shows what you value in life. It defines your style through colorful stones and gems jewelry. Colored precious gemstone jewelry is the latest fashion. Colored gemstones are worn in rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants, and bracelets by every one. . . .

How To Make A Successful Car Accident Claim

If making a claim for compensation has diluted your thoughts over the years thanks to large corporate companies gone bankrupt. You can now broaden your horizons as that's history and personal injury compensation has entered a new era. A car accident is never the same, similar but never the same. So logically a car accident claim can never be the same. Accidents do on the other hand occur in the. . .

A Quality Accident Solicitor Is On Your Side

Distinguishing a solicitor from the good, bad and maybe the ugly is a difficult task itself. But once you learn these strategies you'll know how to select only the quality solicitors. When you have an accident, where do you turn for help? Who plays the most important role in helping you recover from your accident? Most people would answer 'hospital' or 'doctor'. Few think about the important ro. . .

An Accident Compensation Claim Can Be Settled In 2 Months

Personal injury claims can be settled within 2 months, if you know how. If you make an effort with the accident solicitor, then you never know, you might also have a record breaking settlement. Over the years, people have started wondering, if anything said by a salesperson is true. Settling an accident compensation claim within 'x' amount of days, weeks, months or years. But as time goes by, y. . .

Looking For a Safe Investment? Try a Certificate of Deposit

Looking for a safe investment? Try a Certificate of Deposit Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt If you are looking for a safe investment and you have between $100 -$1,000 to invest, you should consider a certificate of deposit or CD. When purchased through a bank, CD’s are federally insured up to $100,000. When you invest in a certificate of deposi. . .

Sound Advice For First Time Credit Card Users

If you are just entering the world of credit cards, there is important information you will need to know in order to manage your credit and your finances effectively. Establishing good habits and a good credit history now is the foundation for a solid financial future. Applying for a credit card in your own name can help you establish a sound credit history and will be a valuable asset in app. . .

Essentials for Hurricane Season

According to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, the East Pacific expects 15 to 16 tropical storms. Nine of these end up becoming hurricanes with five becoming deadly major hurricanes. If you live in the southeastern part of the U.S. then you know that hurricane season started on June 1st. Are you prepared for Hurricane season? Did you know that Hurricane season lasts until t. . .

Personal Injury Lawyer - Do We Need Them?

Sometimes we know what we're dong, however getting that little bit extra help can make a substantial difference in the long run. Following an accident you'll hear a person say that they don't need to see a personal injury lawyer, TOO expensive! In this article we will set out for you some reasons why NOT seeking, at minimum, a consultation with an accident lawyer could end up costing you a lot . . .

PMI – Private Mortgage Insurance

Many a first-time homebuyer has grumbled about paying private mortgage insurance. This article discusses the particulars of private mortgage insurance, also known as “PMI.” Private Mortgage Insurance Unless they owners are insane, every business in the United States carries some form of insurance to protect against losses. The various lending institutions that issue home loans, equity lines and. . .

Why Consumers Need a Nationwide Credit Freeze NOW

What do a shoe retailer, an online discount broker, and a popular clothing retailer all have in common? All three - DSW Shoe Warehouse, Ameritrade, and Polo Ralph Lauren - sustained breaches to their customers’ accounts. Unfortunately, these three are not alone when it comes to security breaches. CitiFinancial, Bank of America, LexisNexis and other companies have also experienced similar eve. . .

Mortgage and credit card companies under the spotlight on consumer charging

For the first time since May 1996 reports have indicated that wage increases have risen faster than house price inflation. According to Nationwide, "The overall picture remains one of a gently softening market". The signs indicate that the housing market activity is finally starting to pick up, with estate agents reporting that buyers have begun returning to the market and sellers are more wil. . .

Rate tarts no longer welcomed by mortgage and credit card providers.

Following on from recent moves in the credit card industry (see Cashzilla, “Rate tarts losing ability to cherry pick” ) to reduce the number of people switching from one financial provider to another, mortgage lenders are now looking to follow suit. Abbey is the latest High Street mortgage lender to notify its customers that they are increasing the costs associated with switching from their mor. . .

How Come No One Told Us About This When We Were Buying a Home?

Development, it’s bound to happen. Simply because there is a large open field, or the property you’re looking at borders woods, doesn’t mean it will or can stay that way in the future. I could rattle off instance after instance where home buyers who may have just closed on a property are being notified as an abutter that some proposed development, they hadn’t heard about previously, was taking . . .

Don't Get Stuck Having to Deal With the Seller's Household Hazardous Wastes - After You Move In!

I have a confession to make! I was just outside with Frankie (my dog) and noticed I still had an old car battery sitting by the foundation, at the rear of my house. Yes, I'll admit it's not right, and quite environmentally insensitive for me to have it there. However, even though I know I should have disposed of it by now, that fact is, it's still there. Seeing it there prompted me to think . . .

The Simple $10 Debt Elimination Solution

Ask a friend what resolutions they made for 2004 and your bound to hear them reply “Pay off my credit cards.” Ask them how they planned on reaching that goal and many of them will not have a clear cut answer. The obvious first step to paying off credit card debt or paying down credit debt load is to cut back or eliminate the use of your credit cards. For some people this first step can ofte. . .

How to Know if Your Yard is the Tacky One on Your Street

We’ve all seen it, we’ve all pointed at it and we’ve pretty much all lived beside it. The yard with tacky written all over it. What makes a house look like it is from What Not to Wear. Bottom line is it’s you and your taste and love of dollar store trivialities. Or, it’s your friends and family and your weak-willed nature that fills your front yard with the abominable, plastic doodads. Wel. . .

Greenhouse Calamities – Thoughts from a Novice Gardener

Greenhouses are a great addition to anyone’s garden. They come in all different sizes and you can nestle them right where you want them and with smaller versions of greenhouses you can move them quite easily. That said, as great as they look and of course smell, there should be some type of manual to buy when you are first setting up shop in there. There are many things no one bothers to tell. . .

UK graduates looking short-term at their long-term financial responsibilities

With almost two thirds of university entrants from England and Wales who applied for maintenance grants for this year being unsuccessful, and the average graduate owing £13,501 when they leave, according to Barclays, combined with a survey by High Fliers Research showing that only 21% of students were confident of managing to enter a graduate-level job this year, it is not surprising that there. . .

UK house price increases take a summer holiday

Property website Rightmove has released its latest house price index announcing a “Summer sale” for house buyers. The report shows that on average, house prices fell by 1% over the four weeks leading up to 9th July, indicating that the “affordability gap” between house prices and buyers ability to purchase, is at last starting to close. The price fall has been heralded as a great boost for ho. . .

Your Kitchen Wants to be Sexy - Top 5 Snazzy, Sexy Coffee Makers that are Sensational

When it comes to coffee makers there are thousands to choose from. Among these thousands there are differences in price, functionality, warranty and style. Sure, you can go to the closest big box store and pick one up for about 20-bucks, but generally the machine is just plain boring. Why not spend some more cash for better longevity, better functionality and sexiness-factor? We all like to. . .

How to Make a Great Tasting Cup of Coffee - It’s Not Rocket Science

There is good coffee and absolutely abysmal coffee. Both may start with the same elements, but one cup can taste completely different to another. Freshness is the key to great tasting coffee. Here is the play by play smackdown of how to create a fantastic tasting cup of coffee. 1. Use good beans. Go to a local coffee roaster and buy only enough coffee beans to last you a week. Buying fresh. . .

Avoiding College Credit Card Traps

Avoiding College Credit Card Traps Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt Congratulations college freshman! You’re about to embark on one of the most exciting times of your life. By now your parents, siblings, and friends have offered you all kinds of advice on how to make your transition to college smoother - how to get along with your roommate, what . . .

A Budget Doesn’t Limit You, It Gives You Freedom

A Budget Doesn’t Limit You, It Gives You Freedom Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt Mention the “b” word, as in BUDGET, to a friend and they’ll look at you like you have a third eye growing from the middle of your forehead. For most people the word budget too often carries negative meanings such as limits, restrictions, living on an allowance, givin. . .

First-time house buyers: to buy or not to buy that is the question.

Buying your first house is always a difficult time. There are so many important decisions to make, and problems to be solved, which combine to make it one of the most stressful events that will occur in most people’s lives. Some of the most obvious problems include the need to: * find a suitable house to purchase * plough through complicated financial information * choose an appropriate mo. . .

Parents turn down free money

The British government at the beginning of this year officially launched its Child Trust Fund (CTF) initiative in an effort to encourage parents and children to develop the savings habit and to teach children the value of saving their own money. Chancellor, Gordon Brown said, "The Child Trust Fund is designed to ensure that every child in our country has assets and wealth and that no child is. . .

How To Make Your Raise Really Pay

How To Make Your Raise Really Pay Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt Were you lucky enough to get a pay raise recently? If so, what are you planning to do with it? Here are 4 tips on how to make your raise pay real dividends for you now and into the future: 1) Open a savings account - Baby boomers can probably remember parents or grandparents mak. . .

Negotiate Your Way To A Lower Credit Card APR !

Negotiate Your Way To Lower Credit Card APR'S ! Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt I have three major credit card accounts that I've had for many years. The other night I was reconciling my monthly statements and noticed a large discrepancy in the APR's (annual percentage rate) I was paying on these three accounts. My first card, card "A", has an. . .

Monitoring Your Credit Is Easy As 1-2-3!

Monitoring Your Credit Is Easy As 1-2-3 Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt Thanks to the FACT(Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions) Act, all U.S. residents will be allowed one free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting agencies - Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian. This legislation makes it easy for you to keep an eye. . .

Be Cautious When Using Your Nest Egg as an ATM

Be Cautious When Using Your Nest Egg as an ATM Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt About five years ago I moved from the ranks of being a renter to that of being a homeowner. Now, not a week goes by that I don’t receive some type of offer through the mail encouraging me to refinance my mortgage, open a home equity line of credit (HELOC), or apply for. . .

How Healthy Is Your Credit?

How Healthy Is Your Credit? Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt There’s only one way to discover the “health” of your credit. You need to examine your credit report. Your credit report is your “consumer identity” that potential lenders will use to judge your credit worthiness. Use these tips to give your credit profile the “tune-up” it needs: Tip. . .

Consumer Action: Putting the “Freeze” on Credit Files

Consumer Action: Putting the “Freeze” on Credit Files Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt In the wake of 40 million MasterCard, Visa, Discover, and American Express accounts recently being breached, consumers and legislators are scrambling for ways to protect their personal and financial information from being hijacked and used fraudulently by hackers. . .

New Credit Scoring Model Could Help Millions

New Credit Scoring Model Could Help Millions Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt Mark and Beth, a young married couple in their twenties, established a goal to buy a home within the first three years of their marriage before starting a family. They budgeted and used their money wisely in order to save for the down payment. Whenever they purchased so. . .

Debit Card vs. Credit Card, What Are The Differences?

Debit Card vs. Credit Card, What Are The Differences ? Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt Ah, the “good old days”. If you are a baby boomer, like me, then you probably remember how important it was to rush to the bank on payday. You had to get there before the teller lanes closed so that you could have your “cash allowance” for the week. Otherwi. . .

Credit Repair Scams

Credit Repair Scams Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt “Erase Bad Debt !” “Remove Negative Items From Your Credit Report” You’ve probably seen these headlines and others just like it promising to clean up or “fix” bad credit. For someone who suffers from a bad or poor credit rating, these headlines are certainly an appealing offer. Imagine finally b. . .

Think Twice Before Co-Signing for Anything!

Think Twice Before Co-Signing for Anything! Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt A few years ago a friend asked me to co-sign on an apartment lease for him. This friend didn’t have perfect credit and couldn’t get the apartment without a co-signer on the lease. He assured me that he was cleaning up his credit; in fact, the manager of the apartment tol. . .

Protect Yourself From ATM Scams

Protect Yourself From ATM Scams Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt In this day and age, ATM’s have become a fast and efficient way of getting our hands on our money. But if you’re not cautious, the automatic teller machine can also be a quick way for others to get their hands on it too. Not long ago, ABC News ran a story showing how easy it was to c. . .

Convenience Can Be Costly - Understanding Cash Advances

Convenience Can Be Costly - Understanding Cash Advances Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt You’ve just opened your credit card bill and attached to your statement you find a “convenience check” included. It may already be filled out with a dollar amount such as $300, $500, or even $1,000. Your mind fills with ideas of what you could buy with this . . .

Poor call centre performances driving motorists online for insurance

In their efforts to cut costs more and more finance companies are looking to use offshore call centres to provide their customer services and administration. This is especially prevalent in the insurance industry, where it seems as if there is a newspaper announcement of previously UK based services migrating abroad every day. As more insurers use offshore call centres, recent research from. . .

Car insurance gearing up to drive down costs

For once finances seem to be going in favour of the UK motorist, with Esure (http://www.esure.com/) announcing plans to double its share of the UK's car insurance market - a move which is likely to spark a price war, other internet-only direct insurers passing on to consumers savings based on their low overheads, and specialist insurers offering reduced rates for their particular target markets. . .

Programs To Help You Fund Your American Dream

Programs To Help You Fund Your American Dream Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt The American Dream of home ownership is on the rise across the United States. According to the latest figures available, the US homeownership rate reached a record 69.2 percent in the second quarter of 2004, up from 68.3 percent in 2003. And for the first time, the majo. . .

4 Steps To Creating Good Credit

As a consumer you’ve learned the importance of establishing a good credit rating with your lenders. Whether you are shopping for a new home or auto, or searching for the best deals on insurance, your credit worthiness will be judged by your credit rating or credit score. A bad credit history or bad credit habits will place “black marks” on your credit profile. These include things such as lat. . .

The World is Not Enough - Calling for a More Ethical Approach to Personal Finance

At a time when the entire world’s attention is focused on the problems of world debt, with the Live 8 (http://www.live8live.com/ ) concerts, the G8 summit in Scotland, the Make Poverty History Campaign ( http://www.makepovertyhistory.org/ ) (MPH) and the various anti-poverty marches, it seems that everyone wants the world’s governments to behave more ethically towards the manner in which inter. . .

BBC announces online financial health check

Controlling your finances in the UK has never been more difficult; national levels of personal debt spiralling out of control, house prices out of reach for most first-time buyers, high street banks warning of increased numbers of people unable to pay off their debts, and the oncoming pensions time bomb looming in the distance. The question exercising economic analysts and institutions is what. . .

Avoiding Credit Card Traps

Avoiding Credit Card Traps Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt The next time you open your credit card statement, take a closer look at the small insert titled “changes to your credit card agreement”. You know the one I’m speaking about. It’s that small, folded paper written in legalese that you promise to read some other time (but of course that ti. . .

Mortgage sales hit problems

The housing market has been buoyant over the past few years, but mortgage providers and first-time buyers are both now facing a tough time. Following announcements from the Bank of England that there has been an overall decline in the total number of UK home-buyers, and a declaration from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) that the number of disputes concerning mis-sold mortgage endowments . . .

Moneynet promotes a more ethical approach to investing with new ethical investment product guid

Moneynet.co.uk, the UK’s most established personal finance consumer information website, has published the latest edition in its series of online product guides to help consumers get to grips with the increasing complexity of personal finance products. Continuing the success achieved by the previous credit card, mortgage, life insurance and loan guides, Moneynet has issued a new guide to cover . . .

How to score with credit

With a massive £1.3 trillion of personal debt in the UK, obtaining credit and staying financially afloat are daily dilemmas for the British consumer. Many major banks, including Lloyds TSB, have recently declared an increase in the number of customers experiencing repayment difficulties, with the need for better financial advice and support has never been more important. Shadow Chancellor Ol. . .

The Internet and customer care: aid or anarchy?

Consumers take customer care into their own hands It was reported in ‘Marketing’ magazine this month, that Britain is becoming a “disaffected nation”, with each adult apparently making an average of 12 complaints to service providers each year, based on a “Service in Britain” survey by ASR (Andrew Smith Research). In response to the rise of the ‘assertive consumer’, brands are endeavouring to . . .

Consumers, Beware the New “Wave” of Credit Cards

Consumers, Beware the New “Wave” of Credit Cards Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., the nation’s #2 bank and leading issuer of credit cards, has announced it will issue new “contactless credit cards” to its account holders beginning June 1. The new cards can be “waved” in front of a special reader instead of being swiped thr. . .

Rate tarts losing ability to cherry pick

A “rate tart” is someone who switches from one zero per cent introductory credit card deal to another to avoid paying interest; however they may be set to become something of the past. Recently a number of the major credit card companies, including Egg, Barclays, the Royal Bank of Scotland and MBNA have introduced transfer charges for people who want to shift their outstanding credit card bala. . .

War of the Worlds: Student Finance versus Life

It’s a worrying time for current and prospective students. Figures from the Prudential, show that a third of UK university students have considered abandoning their studies due to the financial strain they have encountered. It is not surprising that many prospective students are finding the need to seriously think through the merits of going to university. With the increase in course fees, a. . .

UK debt becoming a cause for concern

The UK attitude toward debt has received a major shift over the past few years. Where once the UK was seen as a nation that held up thrift as being virtue and considered debt a vice, it has now changed to owing £1.3 trillion on mortgages, credit cards and other loans. The main cause of this growth in debt is the British obsession with house ownership, making up 80% of the borrowing. Figures f. . .