The idea of a ‘job for life’ has for seen as a thing of the past for many years now, but due to the current credit crunch job security is at an all time low. This tends to cause people to fear the effects of unemployment, especially if they have a mortgage. The ultimate fear being an inability to pay the monthly installments and the threat of repossession.

What happens if I Can’t Make The Payments, Will Government Benefits help?

 
If you do find yourself one of the millions of unemployed UK citizens, then benefits are often available to cover your mortgage payments (or usually at least part of them). HOWEVER, normally you will have to be out of work for 9 months before you can make a claim for this help, by which time your household finances could be seriously in the red.
 
The government is reportably putting pressure on lenders to avoid repossesions wherever possible, and to arrange alternatives, this can only go so far.
 
One way that you can act pre-emtively is to investigate Mortgage Protection Cover…
 

Mortage Protection Cover - What is is?

 
Mortgage Protection Cover is a kind of protection policy designed to take effect if you are either made redundant, or fall sick (the actual terms may of course vary from policy to policy, be sure to compare your options) - Whilst most policies tend to only pay out for a 12 month period, policies are available that cover 24 months, but these may cost you more.
 

How to Take Our Mortgage Protection Cover, do I Have to Use my Mortgage Provider

 
It is a common misconception that you need to take out mortage protection cover with your mortgage provider, in fact, in November of last year (2008) the competition commision ruled that mortgage protection cover could not be sold with a mortgage anymore.
 
Your best bet would be to compare your options using a comparison site, such as creditchoices.co.uk. On this site, you will be able to read lots more about mortgage protection cover, and guage what option is best for you.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Financial management has always been a tricky task. Unless you are super-organised or terribly well-off, a certain amount of budgetry and cash juggling is required to ensure financial security and quality of life. With the deepening crisis on the world financial markets and the spectre of christmas benevolence threatening the limited reserves it may be a case of tighten the belts or rustle a plan of action. While inappropriate application of the credit markethas caused the crisis we endure it is possible to responsibly use the credit offered by the banks and supermarkets to your advantage over the christmas period to ensure everything goes with a bang yet remains affordable.
 
Interest free credit cards are well worth investigating this time of year as they offer some breathing space after the festivities to ensure the budget isn’t blown. There can be some hidden pitfalls with cards such as these as sometimes the provider will include caveats that mean some purchases or facilities will incur interest charges. Although fairly straight forward and perfectly legal you will find these details in the dreaded ‘terms and conditions’ part- not everyone’s favourite reading material.
 

Supermarket Credit Cards

 
Supermarket credit cards are also another area worthy of research, most of us will be be spending significantly more than usual in the supermarkets overchristmas, so why not get some rewards as you spend. The idea is pretty simple, many of the offers with supermarket credit cards match those of the typical providers but with added incentives for spending in store. If you were planning on spending the money anyway, why not use their card and reap the benefits then pay off the balance immediately. Conversely, as there are often interest free options you can budget to pay for the shopping before the interest free period ends yet still get the advantages of the rewards.
 
Though how to choose? With so many providers vying for our custom how do we sift the headline offers from the real value? The easiest way would be to use a comparison website like CreditChoices. They have done the hard work for you and you can judge the providers side by side with all the small print writ large. Whichever site you use it is wise to know how often the site is updated and tend towards a site that offers impartial advice so you can be sure your decision is informed and helpfull.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

‘Theatre break’ is the term given to a short break away, comprising of a ticket to a theatrical performance, coupled with a nights stay at a hotel. Such breaks are often thought to be expensive, but westendbreaks.com dispells this myth.
 

Weekend Theatre Breaks Need Not Be Expensve…

 
It is a shame that many people seem to think that a weekend theatre break is out of their budget. It is usually the case that a dedicated business can supply you with a complete theatre break package for less than many ‘third party ticket outlets’ would charge you for a tickets to a show alone.
 

Cheap Theatre Breaks…

 
Westendtheatrebreaks.com have been in the business for over 20 years, and are dedicated to offering the very best deals when it comes to cheap theatre breaks. Although their deals are cheap, this should not be confused with cheap quality! - westendtheatrebreaks.com uses top London hotels when the arrange their breaks, and have great prices due to their long history with the show houses and hotels of London.
 
For example, their site boasts theatre breaks based around the show ‘Spamalot’ by Monty Python, for as little as £55.
 
Most theatre breaks include a fully English breakfast the next day, meaning you should return home entertained, rested, and a few pounds heavier!!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

With global financial uncertainty and spiralling energy cost sending chills down the spine all summer, many people are taking any steps they can to ensure that the lights and the heating stay on and that the energy budget is affordable. There have been big headlines and most energy providers have been offering fixed price enregy tariffs and capped energy deals. But, are these deals all they’ve cracked up to be and are they the best means of getting the best energy prices?
 
As usual, the story is always somewhat more complex than first meets the eye. In the middle of summer a barrel of oil would have cost $144 whereas now you can expect to pay around $60 a barrel. Whilst the oil producers are trying to keep prices artificially high by limiting production serious work is being done by lobbyists and government officials alike as they try and avoid the potential crisis of energy shortages/poverty.
 

Fixed Price Energy

In July fixed and capped tariffs were the big news and certainly pushed abutton with many consumers worried about the winter ahead. Though most providers will not pass on a reduction in energy cost to consumers if you have signed up for a fixed tariff. Although contractually bound it is still possible to leave a fixed tariff by paying the cancellation fee (normally between £20-50), it has never been more worthwhile to compare energy prices as the difference in unit cost for a fixed tariff and the newly reduced variable package may quickly swallow the cancellation fee if the difference is that great or your usage is high.
 
It is also worth investigating the discounts that are avilable if you go paperless and deal with your energy supplier online or by direct debit. Though the last word should always be conservation not consumption. Any pound spent on insulation will pay itself back many times over as compared to pounds spent heating your home, and the government now has many schemes available to help households improve their insulation.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Before the credit crunch, the number and type of credit cards available was staggering. Every lender had a menu of products, now we are in the position where credit is being offered only cautiously, but the lenders must still keep lending to keep in business. So even if times are tight but you are responsible borrower, now is a good time to use the credit market to your advantage.
 

0 Balance Transfers

 
With the Christmas excess most of us spend much more than usual, though as long as you are realistic with you’re spending a 0 balance transfer might just help take up the slack. There is a massive choice of lenders, so, with good history you should be able to compare the offers and choose the best rate for your circumstances.
 
At one time the choice was between a 0% card or an interest free credit card, today, all of the best offers try and tie in an interest free period with a balance transfer. This has the potential to give the borrower a really flexible card- for the duration of the offer.
 
But- gone are the days of free debt, every provider now levies a transfer fee on all transactions to ensure even if you stick to every term and clear your debt before the end of the period they have made the transaction worthwhile for their business. So, if you’re a responsible borrower you may still use the credit market wisely and to financial success, but as always, understand the terms so as not to receive any nasty surprises in the new year.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Many people are cautious about buying ‘cheap mp3 players, or a cheap mp4 player. This causes people to stick closely to the big name brands they know and trust, but are they loosing out because of this?
 

Can a Cheap MP4 Player be Any Good?

 
Some cheap mp3/4 players really are abismal, many even go as far as tricking purchaser by tweaking the chip inside them to falsly display their memory capacity (and guess what folks, they tweak them the to appear bigger than they are, not smaller).
 
There are some exceptions, of course…
 
Onda mp4 players are actually made to a high standard, and are also significantly cheaper than the top name brands that you will find on the high street.
 
Just for example, the Onda vx747 has a touch screen display, can play almost any music file format (which in itself is much better than the so called ‘top brand’ models). The vx747 also playes most video formats.
 

How to Onda mp4 Players Differ?

 
Onda mp4 players differ from other cheap mp3/4 players mainly in build quality and functionality. We already mentioned the funcionality side of this, so all that is really left to say is that Onda mp4 players are made to a very high standard, and have recieved many good reviews.
 

Wher to Buy Onda Players

 
So, we have mentioned a good quality yet cheap mp3/4 player, but where do you buy them from? - It is unlikely you will see them in any highstreet any time soon, so you are left with buying them online.
 
Be careful where you buy them from. Try to go for a UK based website, one that also has a secure payment system, such as Google Checkout, for example.
 
It may be wise to avoid buying direct from China or Japan, for fear of getting stung.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Christmas dinner is in the oven. The entire family is lurking round the Christmas tree slurping on eggnog. The extended family are being bussed in from all points compass and general goodwill is being spread ever further. Her Majesty is due on the box shortly when… Due to the excess loads made on the system by all the extra family and all the extra washing the boiler goes pop, bang and then too quiet.
 
Plumbers are known to be an expensive hobby, they charge a good deal for their specialised knowledge, even more for a call out fee, an astronomical sum for arriving on Christmas day and, even if the boiler is repairable you must then add the costs of parts and labour or a new boiler. And, when your Nan asks ‘Where’s the British Gas Boiler Cover then dear?’ The appropriate answer probably should be- ‘in the bureau Nan.’
 
British Gas Homecare is an insurance policy which can cover not only the boiler, but the whole central heating system, the drains, electrical wiring and associated fixtures. Of course the premiums vary depending on the desired level of cover, but by any means of reckoning, it would take several years of insurance premiums to match the cost of one boiler failure.
 
British Gas also of a ‘Flexi Option’ that equates to a thirty percent discount on the premium though you would be obliged to pay the first fifty pounds if you need to make the call- much like the policy excess now a key feature of many car insurance policies. There are of course many providers of home insurance and specialist cover and a quick comparison of the market should give you all the facts and figures necessary to make an informed decision and have real piece of mind over winter.
 
Energychoices.co.uk has a wealth of information about all aspects of boiler insurance, as well as supplying visitors the wherewithal to compare gas and electricity prices online, to ensure you are getting the best deal possible in your area.
 
 
 
 
 
 

As the repercussions of the Credit crunch and recession begin to take effect, many people are beginning to question their job security. Most people’s lifestyle’s are based on the regular income their work provides. With unemployment figures set to reach two million by christmas the potential for mortgage arrears and repossessions is, at best, extremely worrying.
 
If you have financial trouble and are unable to meet your mortgage repayments most lenders will offer three months grace before instituting repossession proceedings, but given the climate there are likely to be many more applicants than available jobs. While the lenders are under serious governmental pressure to avoid repossion and seek alternative arrangements it is likely that many people will find themselves in no position to honour their debts in the foreseable future.
 
If you are unable to work you may be eligible for state benefits, however, these will not be available until you have been out of work for nine months- too long for many households. A specific insurance policy has been offered by many lenders and insurance underwriters known as Mortgage Protection Cover. The policy is designed to kick in if you are made redundant or fall sick, though most policies will only pay for twelve months. There are policies available that will cover twenty four months and also cover general household bills, but you can expect to pay significantly more for the added protection.
 
The manner in which mortgage protection cover has been sold has come under close scrutiny recently and in November the competition commission ruled that such cover could no longer be sold with a mortgage. Mortgage protection cover is not a legal requirement and given that up to one fifth of banks profits come from such policies the decision to break the direct link between Lenders and these policies has been well received. There is wealth of insurance policies available from income and life insurance to Mortgage and mortage life insurance. The costs and cover can vary massively and some forms of insurance may not suit your profile, so, as ever careful research is required and if the worst does happen the protection you have paid for will cover your circumstances.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Climbing in Bristol just got more interesting!
 
For years, the only choice for climbing in Bristol was either outdoor gorge hugging, or popping over to the st. werburghs church. Now a dedicated new centre has opened close to the centre of Bristol, offering some amazing bouldering routes.
 
The new centre has over 750sq meters of climbing wall to explore and fall off, and there is no chance you will get bored, with over 200 problems to tax your brain as well as your brawn.
 
All problems are rated by difficulty level, using the English Tech grading system, and are clearly colour coded.
 

 

Chill Between Bouldering… Great Cafe, Free Wifi and Climbing Well Stocked Shop

 
When you get tired of the bouldering, or just want a break, The Climbing Academy has a great cafe, with excellent coffee, pizza oven and panini grill, to refule post or between climbing sessions.
 

There is also free WiFi, with lots of power sockets dotted about, so you can keep in touch between climbs. There is also underfloor heating, to make sure you don’t get too cold while you rest.
 
The shop is well stocked with all the essentials like chalk, nail cutters and tape, basically all the things you realise you have forgotten whenever you usually get to the climbing wall!.
 

Treatments and Showers.

 
Post climb, the centre has oversize showers, that can double as changing rooms, and also have underfloor heating - to avoid a shock when you get out of the shower!
 
Treatments are also available for those in need. Contact the centre for more details.
 
Address:

The Climbing Academy
Belvedere House
Charlton St
Bristol
BS50FD
Tel 01179072956.
 
Directions:
Just behind Big Yellow Storage on the A4320 St Phillips Causeway close to Bristol city centre.
 
Map:
Click Here.
 
 
 

16 December 2008
 
 

www.BroadbandChoices.co.uk, the UK’s leading Ofcom accredited broadband price comparison site, is to partner with Comparethemarket.com to provide broadband, home phone and digital TV comparison services.
 
Broadbandchoices.co.uk won the partnership through a competitive pitch and will give customers of Comparethemarket.com the confidence of using an Ofcom accredited calculator when comparing broadband packages. Broadband services have enjoyed massive growth in the UK over recent years with 16.5 million households now online*. The burgeoning number of ISPs and different broadband packages on the broadband market further proves the need for a reliable and comprehensive source of comparative price information.
 
Michael Phillips, Product Director, BroadbandChoices.co.uk, said:
“We are delighted to be partnering with a leading comparison service such as Comparethemarket.com to provide their customers with even more ways to save money. The credit crunch has bitten into consumers’ disposable incomes and securing the best [broadband deal - www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/broadband-switching-deals.html] to fit their specific needs saves them money when they most need it. With the BroadbandChoices.co.uk powering the comparethemarket.com website, together we can now offer more consumers more ways to cut down their monthly outgoings.”
 
Andrew Stocks, senior manager of product development, Comparethemarket.com said:
“At Comparethemarket.com, we are constantly striving to improve and update the service we provide our customers, and this new partnership with BroadbandChoices.co.uk helps achieve this. When looking for a partner, we were consistently impressed with the high quality of the BroadbandChoices.co.uk Ofcom accredited comparison service, which ultimately led to our decision to offer their services through our website. We look forward to giving visitors to our site the benefit of BroadbandChoices.co.uk’s expertise in this area, and even more ways to save money”
 
-Ends-
 
* Source: Office for National Statistics; ‘Internet access 2008’
 
Notes to editors
For further information please contact:
Michael Phillips ConsumerChoices.co.uk 020 7700 3245
Gug Kyriacou/ Emily Church Polhill Communications 020 7655 0540/0550
 

About BroadbandChoices.co.uk:

http://www.BroadbandChoices.co.uk
 
BroadbandChoices.co.uk is the second biggest dedicated broadband comparison service in the UK and is one of only two sites to have had its calculator accredited by Ofcom. Unlike other comparison sites, BroadbandChoices.co.uk doesn’t just focus on price but total package value, offering consumers impartial advice and access the latest broadband deals to help them make the right choice.
 

What makes BroadbandChoices.co.uk different?

• Broadband comparison calculator accredited by Ofcom (one of only two accredited UK services)
• Most comprehensive range of broadband consumer guides and advice
• Variety of ways to rank and compare broadband packages according to individual needs
• Detailed package information on over 100 UK broadband packages
• A community of like-minded people where you can read reviews and share your thoughts
• Up-to-date information regarding key industry developments
• Access to practical free, downloadable software tools speed test - download monitor
 

About comparethemarket.com

 
Comparethemarket.com was launched in 2006 as a motor insurance comparison site, offering customers a wide range of competitively priced insurance quotes instantly online, from over 400 insurance prices.
As well as insurance, comparethemarket.com now also offers comparisons on credit cards, loans, current accounts and savings accounts.
 
comparethemarket.com actively selects its brand partners to ensure quality service to consumers.
In June 2007, comparethemarket.com started a year-long sponsorship of Channel 4 drama as part of a significant brand investment.
 
Comparethemarket.com is a trading name of BISL Limited. BISL Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
 
Registered Address: Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, PE2 6YS. Registered in England number 3231094.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
—

• Brits could save over 90%1 on festive phone calls to friends and family overseas by using their broadband connection.
 
• Research from BroadbandChoices.co.uk found that only 30%2 of UK households with broadband use the internet to make calls.
 
People with friends and family living abroad this Christmas may find it’s not just the cost of gifts that will leave them out of pocket during the festive season.
 
Last year the British public spent a staggering £3.5 million3 making international calls to wish their friends and relatives overseas a “Merry Christmas,” and it is likely to be a similar figure this year. However, recent research from BroadbandChoices.co.uk has revealed that 70% of British households with broadband access are missing out on the chance to save up to 90% on their ‘festive phone bill’ simply by using the internet to make VoIP calls instead of using their landline.
 
VoIP (or voice over internet protocol) phone calls are made over your existing broadband connection and not through your regular phone line (or network) like most traditional phone companies such as BT or TalkTalk. By taking ordinary analogue signals and turning them into digital signals, it allows you to ring people using your broadband connection. VoIP services are growing rapidly in popularity because they are easy to set up and all calls to other VoIP users are completely free(4).
 
In addition, calls made from VoIP to landlines can be cheaper than other service providers. For example, Vonage has unlimited call packages to international numbers starting from £6.99 a month and Skype provides a range of pay as you go and monthly subscription packages which allow unlimited calls to European countries from £3.39 per month and an unlimited international package from £7.99. But remember, the real savings are for VoIP to VoIP calls (which are free) and the ‘unlimited’ call offers might only makes commercial sense if you make a high volume of international calls.
 
Michael Phillips, Product Director, BroadbandChoices.co.uk said:
“Christmas is always an expensive time of year and people need to be smarter with their money in these cash-strapped times, so I would urge anyone with relatives and friends living overseas and a broadband connection to seriously consider VoIP.
 
“VoIP can offer significant savings compared with landline and mobile alternatives particularly when calling internationally and with only 30% of consumers currently making use of their broadband connection in this way, there is the potential for massive savings to be made this Christmas.
 
“Consumers should choose their VoIP provider carefully because there are dozens of VoIP providers offering overseas calls for next to nothing but call quality, set up costs and connection costs can vary between providers. Use a comparison service like HomephoneChoices.co.uk to compare the best packages available on the market.”
 
“It is also worth remembering that landline providers such as TalkTalk offer highly competitive overseas calls and broadband packages, so by switching to TalkTalk, you could cut your phone and broadband bills together. There’s the benefit of landline quality calls and, dependent on your incumbent supplier and specific requirements, this might actually work out cheaper.”
 
“The key thing is to be smart and compare the options to see how you can make significant international call savings this Christmas.”
 
 

About BroadbandChoices.co.uk:
 
http://www.BroadbandChoices.co.uk
BroadbandChoices.co.uk is the second biggest dedicated broadband comparison service in the UK and is one of only two sites to have had its calculator accredited by Ofcom. Unlike other comparison sites, BroadbandChoices.co.uk doesn’t just focus on price but total package value, offering consumers impartial advice and access the latest broadband deals to help them make the right choice.
 

What makes BroadbandChoices.co.uk different?
 
• Broadband comparison calculator accredited by Ofcom (one of only two accredited UK services)
• Most comprehensive range of broadband consumer guides and advice
• Variety of ways to rank and compare broadband packages according to individual needs
• Detailed package information on over 100 UK broadband packages
• A community of like-minded people where you can read reviews and share your thoughts
• Up-to-date information regarding key industry developments
• Access to practical free, downloadable software tools speed tester & download monitor
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
—

Buying powertools online can normally be a tedious task, with lengthy and expensive delivery times, and poor customer care that any savings made may not be worth the effort. Nextdaytools works differently, offering both great savings, and excellent customer service.
 
What is more, delivery to England addresses is free for orders over £100.
 
 

Approved DeWalt Powertool Dealer.

 
Nextdaytools.com is an approved DeWalt dealer, who give a minimum of 12 months warranty on all the powertools they sell.
 
When buying tools online, it is important to choose a trustworthy business, one that offers good contact methods, and has secure payment systems in place.
 
All the staff at Nextdaytools are fully trained, and happy and able to give you the best advice about which tool will suit your needs.
 
 

Tool Price Promise

 
Nextdaytools also wish to announce their price match promise, stating that “We are so confident in the value of our products that we are offering a ‘Price Promise Challenge’. We will beat any genuine price until it hurts!” *Terms Apply. (See their website)
 
 

About The Business

 
Nextdaytools.com has over 7 years experience of selling high quality power tools. They send goods via FedEx, so all orders can be tracked.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Michael Phillips, Product Director, BroadbandChoices.co.uk said:
 
“We are encouraged to see Virgin Media pushing the boundaries of internet
technology to introduce this super-high speed broadband service.
 
“As one of the UK’s leading ISPs, Virgin has been at the forefront of
broadband developments and the launch of their 50Mbps package is an
important first step towards bringing the UK up to speed with the rest of
Europe, where it currently lags behind - for example, Finland already enjoys
an average download speed of 21.7Mbps(1).
 
“The initial offering from Virgin Media will only be made available to about
10% of Virgin Media’s customers and an even smaller percentage of the UK
broadband population but they are claiming a rapid rollout in 2009.
 
“There’s no doubt that this new product will appeal to early adopters - for
example, Virgin identifies online gamers as core target subscribers.
 
“At this stage, the applications are limited, until high definition content
is readily available on services like iplayer.
 
“We hope that this service delivers on the 50Mbps price promise, as the
broadband industry has suffered from over-promising and under-delivering on
internet speeds.
 
“We would encourage the government to support BT in investing in a next
generation network that the whole country could enjoy.
 
“We note that Virgin says it will be trialling a variety of traffic
management approaches with the service but at £51 per month as a standalone
subscription, or £35 per month when bundled with phone (an additional £11)
we would urge Virgin to stick to its ‘unlimited service with no traffic
management’ initial launch offering. It would be a real shame if a package
that promises so much in terms of speed ultimately constrains users during
peak hours.(2)”
 
 

Sources:

(1) - Information Technology and Innovation Foundation; 2008 ITIF Broadband
Rankings

(2) - Virgin Media’s existing 20Mbps XL product limits users to 3GB of
downloads during peak hours of 4pm to 9pm. If users exceed this limit they
will have speed restrictions imposed for 5 hours -
http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/internet/traffic.html

 
George Lucas is planning to rework the Star Wars series of films into a musical extravaganza. With Lucas masterminding the show, and John Williams being reported to have rewritten six films worth of musical score to fit into a two hour concert, the performance is set to be spectacular indeed.
 
Rather than be performed as a musical, the piece will be a series of clips from the actual movies, accompanied by an orchestral score. The actors will narrate the story. This is to all take place at the 02 Arena in London’s Southeast, a venue that can seat 17′000 people.
 
A total of 86 musicians form the RPO will play the modified scores provided by John Williams.
 
Additionally, the venue will be a host to an exhibition of Star Wars costumes, Start Wars movie props, Models, and also artwork from all 6 films.
 
The Star Wars movies are amongst the most popular of all Sci Fi films, it remains to be seen whether this unusual show will be equally as popular, and whether it will be populated by Star Wars fans, or fans of stage performances in general.
 
One thing is for certain, the performance will be an interesting one! Even though the venue holds 17′000, tickets may well sell out rapidly, so watch this space…
 
 
 

Triumph are well know for producing very high quality motorbikes.

Their ‘Street Triple’ bike amazing riders both young and old when it was releases in 2007. The street triple shares the 675cc engine that made the daytona 675 a glory to ride. Add to that the fairingless look of the bike, and you have an amazing ’street fighter’.

The street triple R series has various upgrades, including adjustable, uprated suspenson.

Triumph produce far fewer motorbikes than some of their rivals, such as Suzuki and other Japanese makes, but they are noted for their build quality, and have fans of just about every age group.

Kingpin-seo spoke with one of the designers of the 675 engine recently at the Birmingham ‘Carole Nash’ motorbike show.

The engine design team member was said to be a serious fan of the 675 engine himself, and agrees with many people’s opinion that the street triple can be more fun to ride than the larger cc Triumph Speed Triple 1050 - which, unsurprisingly has a 1050cc engine.