Being in debt can be a particularly dark time. Many people are scared to tell partners, friends or anyone. Yet, there is always a way out. If you haven’t told the people who count, read through the solutions first and go to them with an action plan. It’s much easier that way and remember - if you are prepared to take action the question isn’t “will I ever get through this?”, but “when will I get through this?” Good luck.......... read the full Article here

How to choose the best deal for you: • Work out how much you use or think you will use your phone on average (if available, you can look at your last few bills as a guide) • If you want a pay monthly contract, find a deal that includes minutes and texts close to your average usage. • Unless you’re a very low user, don’t just go for the cheapest tariff automatically, as the cost of calls that aren’t included in your package can soon add up. Our product picker can help you find the best deal for you based on your usage. Before you choose, there are a few questions you should ask yourself.

Taking action to repossess a property involves a number of stages, which can take a few weeks or months. You may be able to stop the process at any stage, so get advice immediately and keep negotiating with your lender or freeholder.
Don't delay The earlier you take action the more options you will have and the less you will have to pay in legal costs. There are special rules about the procedures that must be followed at each stage - if things aren't done correctly, you may be able to stop or delay the eviction. Use Forum to find more help and advice.

1. Fit a Thatcham approved alarm and/or immobilizer. 2. Park your car on a drive or in a garage overnight. 3. Do not over estimate your annual mileage, or the value of your car. (if an accident occurs where bye it is a total loss in most cases you will only receive resale value). 4. The more excess means generally lower premiums, however this is not always the case so once you have chosen your insurer you should adjust the excess to see what actual difference it does make. 5. Depending on the value of your car consider fully comprehensive vs Third party Fire and Theft.
There are thousands of policies available and whilst one insurer maybe the cheapest....../insurance.html

Signing up to payment protection insurance can add 467 per cent to original amount of money borrowed. The Financial Services Authority and Office of Fair Trading are currently looking into this problem and are expected to make significant changes to the guidelines. A recent report found that customers are being miss-sold a large number of payment protection policies and would never be able to claim on them....../ppi.html

Well seeing as we are on the internet and most of the help is based around that, it would be a crime not to help you with the little box that gets you out there. Computers can be mind blowing for most people, but there are a few simple rules when purchasing a computer or laptop Decide exactly what you want to use your pc for, and don’t forget the future you may only want to get on the internet straight away but will you want more from it once you get used to using it; the answer to that is usually yes whether you know it or not.........

Recent changes in the legislation covering bankruptcy laws have led to an increasing number of people choosing this option. The period of bankruptcy now usually lasts for a maximum of 12 months instead of the previous two or three years. However the restrictions on obtaining credit, being a company director or working in certain professions still remain. Most people who have a regular income will also be required to make monthly payments for three years towards their debts based on what the Official Receiver thinks they can afford........./bankruptcy.html

An IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) is a legally binding agreement between you and your creditors regarding the payment of any outstanding credit agreements. The proposal for the IVA is made by you, with the support of your Licensed Insolvency Practitioner. However before this can be put into action, more than 75% (in value) of your creditors who vote must agree to your proposals at a general meeting. If your creditors wish to alter the terms of the IVA they can, but you must agree to these before they can be implemented. Once the IVA has been approved by all parties, all of your creditors are bound to it under the terms of the Insolvency Act 1986....../iva.html

Your rights Sale of Goods You have many rights as a Consumer when purchasing Goods You will find some retailers place signs up stating that they do not accept returns and no refunds will be given. This is not right they are cannot simply change the law because they have put up a sign, unfortunately however many people accept this to be true. Your agreement is with the retailer, not with the manufacturer. Complain to them. If the goods were faulty when you bought them, then the retailer must sort it out for you. If it tries to fob you off telling you to go to the manufacturer, it’s wrong. Goods should be of satisfactory quality and as described.........../supply-of-goods.html

Our employment section provides information about your rights as an employee.
We have sections on Contracts of Employment, working hours, pay, time off, discrimination, disciplinary and grievance procedures and much more.
We aim to help ensure that your rights as a worker are recognised and to help you to deal with situations where they are not. for more info go to our Forum

Health and safety at work

The UK has strict rules about health and safety at work. Employers must provide a safe place to work and ensure that risks are kept to a minimum. Workers have a responsibility to ensure that they don't put themselves or other employees in danger.

Working hours and time off

There are limits to the number of hours that you can be made to work, although you can choose to work more than the limit if you want. You have the right by law to a certain amount of time off each week, depending on the job you do and the hours you work. You also have the right to a minimum amount of paid holiday each year.

You also have the right to ask for flexible hours (ie to change your hours or shift pattern) if you have children under the age of six (though your employer doesn't have to agree to your request if there's a good business reason why it wouldn't work).

Work and the family

Most workers in the UK can take paid time off work for the birth or adoption of a child. The amounts of time that can be taken, and the time off you can be paid for, are different depending on whether you are the mother or the father and how long you have been with the employer. Parents also have the right to take a certain amount of unpaid time off to look after their children up until their sixth birthday.

Discrimination at work

The UK has strict laws on discrimination (ie treating someone differently for no good reason). It's illegal to discriminate against someone because of their gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, colour, ethnic background or religion. It's illegal to refuse to employ someone because of their membership or non-membership of a trade union. From October 2006, it will be illegal to discriminate because of someone's age.

Leaving a job

There are very few limits on you leaving your job and getting another one, although you're expected to stick to the terms of your contract, usually by giving proper notice. There are laws to protect you against unfair dismissal (being sacked for no good reason). If you're made redundant (sacked because of lack of work for you to do), you may get a payment if you have been in the job for long enough. Not all rights apply to all workers, for example the rights against unfair dismissal and to redundancy payments do not normally apply to agency workers. You will need to have worked for your employer for a minimum amount of time to qualify for some rights.

Trade unions and what they can do for you

Trade unions are organisations for workers that provide services including talking to employers about pay and working conditions. Many unions offer free legal advice, financial help, sickness benefits and education.

Resolving problems

If you have problems at work, and you are not given your legal rights, there are various ways to sort this out. Special courts called Employment Tribunals will hear cases involving work problems, but you should try to sort out problems with your employer first. Most employers have a grievance procedure (ie company complaints procedure) that you can use.

Early Redemption Penalties

An early redemption penalty is a charge that is made if you switch your mortgage to another lender within a set period of time. The charge can be as much as the value of six months mortgages repayments it's normally only 2-3 months.

The period over which the early redemption penalty applies may be for the fixed, discounted or capped period only or may apply for several years afterwards, with penalties reducing as each year passes.

You should be aware that if you opt for a mortgage that has an early redemption penalty period that extends beyond the fixed, discounted or capped period you will be trapped in that lender's standard variable rate for a number of years, and that rate may be uncompetitive. Always read the terms before you sign.

Given that the mortgage market is very competitive many mortgages are sold as 'loss leaders' i.e. the mortgage will have to be held for a number of years before the lender breaks into profit. As a consequence lenders frequently 'lock-in' borrowers by applying early Redemption Charges for those paying off the mortgage early. Charges can be significant e.g. 6 months interest or repayment (its normally only 2-3 months) of the amount of benefit received, be it cash back or reduced interest. The period an Early Redemption Charge applies can vary. Sometimes it will match the period of the discount or fix but often it can go beyond the benefit period e.g. a 5-year discount with a 7-year ERC. This is referred to as a 'redemption overhang'.

No Redemption

Selecting a 'No redemption' this option means that the mortgage schemes will allow you to repay the loan in full at any time without applying an Early Redemption Charge.

Most mortgage schemes, in return for offering you a lower initial rate, will require you to stay with that scheme at least for the period of the Discount, Fix or Cap, and often longer. If you wish to repay the loan in this time, or you remortgage with another lender, you will have to pay an Early Redemption Charge which can be 2-6 months interest depending on the lender you are with.

No Overhang

Selecting the 'No overhang' option means that the mortgage schemes will allow you to repay the loan without penalty once the benefit period has ended i.e. the mortgage does have an Early Redemption Charge but it does not last longer than the fixed, capped or discount period. This means that a mortgage with, for example, a discount to 1st January 2005 will have a redemption charge to either the same date or a date prior to this.

The Early Redemption Charge can represent a significant amount although the amount will differ between lenders and between products.

Reclaim Early Redemption Penalties (ERP’s)

The lenders under the unfair terms in consumer regulations 1999, are not allowed to make a profit from charges due to breach of contract, however there are some genuine fees involve in settling your mortgage or moving products

If the ERP’s are disproportionately high they are contrary to the unfair terms in consumer regulations 1999. Penalty charges are irrecoverable at common law.

The Office of Fair Trading Test for Excessive Redemption Charges also back this up. Read what they say in our Forum

IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE BEEN CHARGED AN EARLY REDEMPTION PENALTY THAT IS UNFAIR VISIT OUR Free Forum FOR HELP AND ADVICE ON HOW TO RECLAIM THEM

Related articles: Mortgage advice, visit our Free Forum for more help and advice

Here is a brief step by step guide to claiming back your charges

PLEASE NOTE all letters should be sent recorded delivery with the possible exception of your statements request please click on the blue highlited links for documents and related information (these will only be available to registered members, which of course is free)

STEP ONE

YOUR STATEMENTS If you do not know the amount the bank has taken from you and you do not have your statements then send the Data Protection Act request letter there is a maximum £10 fee for this, which they have 40 days to comply with. it is best to hand in the letter with cash at your branch and gain a reciept, as the 40 day clock will not start until they have the cash or have cashed a cheque, however if this is not possible then sending a cheque or postal order is fine.

it is also advisable to chase the statements or list of charges up with a few phone calls as they will try and stall the whole proccess, and may even send a letter reffering to statements not being available on microfiche, where in actual fact this is covered in the letter, and is just one example of stalling, and will be dealt with if it happens

STEP TWO Starting your claim

Now that you know how much you are claiming you will need to send the LBA Letter Before Action (Letter Before Action) and the Shedule A doc showing the list of charges giving them 14 days to repay your money. You may or may not get a response from this. however it is usually a partial settlement, or a letter saying that they are looking into it, and will be in touch shortly, or a simple no we are not paying up.

if it is the partail settlement then there is a letter to send refusing this if you so wish (which we advice you do)

STEP 3 start the court process if required

This part may sound daunting to many people but believe me with the help of the forum it is very simple.

presuming you have not had a full refund then on the 15th day of sending the LBA, you should file your claim with the courts. this is where you get to add the 8% interest

This can be done in one of two ways, either online at Moneyclaim online or at your local county court whereby you will need to fill in? three copies of the N1 form and take them in with your fee (online is much easier)

the template for filling in the claim form can be found HERE

You may find that you are not requiredto pay court fees if you are on certain benefits, take a look here to find out if you are EXEMPT

if you are exempt from fees then you cannot claim online and need to hand in the EX160 form with your claim? EX160

STEP 4 Its on your terms now. From this point on the banks have timetables to hit and should they fail to hit these you WIN. take a look HERE

you will also get the same scenario as in point 2. a) partial refund, b)full and final settlement, c) ignore you, or d) follow the court procedure and file the acknowledgement of service then defence. if it is a) send them the letter refusing. b) or c) you win, go and relax d) just sit tight a little longer until they do pay up. remember they are not going to enter a courtroom with you.

it is just a waiting game

this is just a brief guide and you will get all the help and support you need in the FORUM along with the letters and templates required did you know not only can you reclaim bank charges, you can claim on mortgages, loans, credit cards in fact any consumer credit contract. the companies are not allowed to make a profit from the charges, and they penalty has to reflect their actual liquidated damages. Therefore they are unenforceable under common law.