A colleague of mine at work has recently had the news that her partner is about to be made redundant and like so many people her age had been spending virtually all their combined income without saving anything for a rainy day. I suppose they are relatively fortunate that she still has a job and that he’s quite prepared to do anything to bring in some money and believes he can pick up some temporary shift work in a factory but it won’t make up for the shortfall. They were faced with a scenario of having to save a few hundred pounds a month if they were to remain with their heads above water and stay solvent so they have had to sit down and analyse their entire spending to see what could be cut back on, what could be cut out all together and what they needed to prioritise like rent.

There were a few quick wins; Sky was cancelled as was gym membership and direct debits to lottery syndicates etc. Charities have been shelved temporarily as have anything that wasn’t vital. She then used the comparison websites to source better deals on the home insurance, car insurance and a life insurance comparison. In most cases she was able to save a few pounds to chip away at her shortfall.

Source: http://www.lifeinsurancecomparison.uk.com/blog/2012/01/26/when-times-are-hard-save-money-life-insurance-comparison/

Being a contractor has always had its advantages. Currently in this economic climate, people who are in permanent jobs are realising that their jobs might not be so ‘permanent’ after all – ergo turning their heads to contractual roles instead. Being a contractor ultimately brings a lot to the table career-wise. As a contractor, you have more control, flexibility, a chance to develop skillsets within a chosen field, financial bonuses and even scope to travel or even work from a home office – just to name a few aspects.  What attracts people to permanent jobs is the perceived security combined with schemes for pensions and annual paid leave. Making the decision to turn contractor can be intimidating for some at first who like the comfort of their permanent job, but as once made it is really possible to reap the rewards in all terms of your career.

Making the move to Contractor

The first step into becoming a contractor is, as obvious as it sounds, find a contract. You may be sat at your desk thinking that this not a smart move, since there are not many jobs available – however, recent years have shown a rise in contract roles for companies are hesitant to employ permanent staff simply because they are not able to support them long-term. Important things to remember when getting a contract:

• Refresh your CV – Highlight key skills that help you look the best as a contractor whilst talking about recent employment and what you achieved.
• Find recruitment agencies that concentrate on your denoted field of work.

Types of Contractor

There are different ways that a contractor can work by – limited and umbrella. Umbrella companies are great for short term, smaller value contracts, whereas limited companies are ideal for longer contracts where the take home money is £25,000 plus.

• Limited – take home pay around 80% of your contract total value – lots of paperwork and legal technicalities to take care of.
• Umbrella – take home pay around 60%.

IR35

IR35 is something you need to take careful note of when you become a contractor. One of the first things you need to check is your IR35 status, find out whether you fall inside or out of IR35 legislation – before you sign that contract. If you don’t do this, you could potentially find yourself in a lot of legal trouble. If you are within IR35, you will take home less money; simple.  If you operate through a limited company if inside IR35, there are true benefits to be had, including; Flat rate VAT scheme enabling you to pay only 95% of your contract. This is where working with a specialist contractor account comes in handy.

Contractor Accountants

It is important to select the right contractor accountant for you. Be specific, don’t just wander down the high street and choose a general accountant – find one in the same field as you who can deal with you on a personal level. Take your time, don’t rush the decision. Always look for accountants who look trustworthy – you can see this from how long they have been established and how many awards they have obtained from top organisations.

We live in an age where fraud surrounds us. Most of the time we don’t even know that we are susceptible to certain types to fraud and so we do not protect ourselves with the right measures. This year alone 15,000 SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) have fallen victim to corporate identity fraud – resulting in devastating financial consequences. This article is to give you a heads up on how to protect your business, keeping corporate identity fraud at bay.

The Shocking Truth of Corporate Identity Fraud

The most common corporate identity fraud sting which has been conducted throughout SMEs is when a criminal applies for a company credit or debit card for themselves – or fraudulently orders goods on the company account. Targeted companies believe that, sadly, the criminals who conduct these crimes are actually directly or indirectly linked to the company– being a previous employee or an associate. Lapses in SMEs internal data security and a lack of compliance with the Data Protection Act 1988 contribute towards this type of fraud.

The method to create this kind of fraud is simple. To create a ‘legitimate claim’, fraudsters can change the office address by submitting a false AD01 change of address form to Companies House. The unbelievable truth is that Companies House does not even check the validity of these bogus submissions, leaving many SMEs completely open to being victims of corporate identity fraud. On top of this, directors and company secretaries are not even contacted when these details are being, or have been, changed – allowing the fraudster to work completely in the shadows without anyone noticing. The majority of us are completely unaware of this loophole, leaving SMEs completely vulnerable.
Act Now
Companies House statistics reveal that just over a million SMEs are now a part of the ‘Companies House Protected Filing (PROOF) Scheme. Even though that might seem like a large number, it proportionately leaves the greater half of registered SMEs unrepresented (just over 1.4 million). The PROOF scheme provides SMEs with a basic protection against corporate identity fraud, stopping the fraudulent change of registered office addresses and also the changing of director or company secretary. This is the first step SMEs can take towards into protecting their own assets. However, there are other precautions which must be taken to fully protect your business against fraud.
There are 3 main points with handling ‘company sensitive information’ which are key in the process of preventing fraud. These points may seem like common sense, but more often than not are ignored. One. An obvious rule but often not followed, is to limit access to ‘company sensitive information’ to only key employees – this narrows down potential suspects and minimizes the risk. Two. Make sure company sensitive information is securely stored, being only transferred using encryptions and passwords in case it is delivered into the wrong hands. Three. Always ensure that company staff are never able to remove company sensitive documents from the office.
Another great countermeasure against fraud is to sign up with a Corporate Identity Theft Protection policy. This is an intelligent measure into protecting business even further, giving you greater security against fraud towards your SME. Also take an astute approach towards Companies House, submit all of your papers online (PROOF) and subscribe to the alert system which notifies your business when changes to your company details have been made. More information on Companies House can be found at www.companieshouse.gov.uk.
By following all of these simple countermeasures against corporate identity fraud you will be significantly reducing the risk of fraud against your business quick and effectively.

This month saw the release of the new apple iPhone 4s, the newest technology in mobile communication and entertainment. With mobile phones like the iPhone 4 and other smart phones being worth more than five hundred pounds, the motivation that gang members and criminals have to steal a mobile phone has never been so high. The Metropolitan Police have reported that around 10,000 mobile phones are stolen each month. This incredibly high rate of theft is down to the fact that these expensive phones are very small, making them a perfect financial target for criminals.

Obvious Tips which are commonly ignored.
“Keep your phone secure in a bag or handbag if you are not using it and try to use your phone’s security lock code. Also take a note of the ESN (electronic serial number and the phone’s IMEI number. If possible, mark your mobile with address and postcode and, importantly, let the police know as soon as your phone is lost or stolen.”
- The Met Police.
There are also a number of things to avoid doing. For example, make sure you don’t attract unwanted attention to your mobile phone as you enter and leave public places like pubs and clubs. Don’t leave your phone in your car unattended and if you do, make sure it is locked away and out of sight.
Taking these safeguards should reduce the risk of theft, but won’t provide you with compensation in case your mobile phone is stolen, lost or accidentally damaged. It is possible, however, to insure your mobile phone and receive compensation for any damage, theft and airtime abuse.
The Great Benefits of Mobile Phone Insurance
Many phone protection policies will provide you with a variety of different benefits. Below are just some of the benefits of investing in mobile phone insurance

- If your phone is used by someone else then you are covered for up to £1,000 for unauthorised calls.
- Swift replacement of your mobile phone within a number of days.
- Wherever you are in the world your phone can be protected.
- In the case of your phone breaking, many insurance policies will fix the problem.
- Police approved databases make your odds of being reunited with your phone (and contents like photos, music and contact details) much greater.
In conclusion, risk to losing or having your mobile phone can be minimalized with simple common sense. However with criminals always finding new methods of claiming your phone, it is also to invest in mobile phone insurance also.

National Identity Fraud Prevention Week also known as (NIDFPW) has just celebrated its seventh year anniversary. It aims to prevent identity theft and fraud through raising awareness of this serious crime to both individuals and businesses. Every year the NIDFPW has used people from the public and the private sector to inform the public through the media about the latest threats and scams.

What is Identity Fraud?

Identity fraud is a serious crime and not only affects individuals, but also businesses. Despite being a highly publicised issue many people and business don’t take the appropriate steps to safeguard themselves against identity theft. According to CIFAS, the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service, 7% of the UK population, just over four million people, have been victims of identity fraud – with the average cost to each victim at £1,190 equating to over £47 Million in total.

The number of reported cases in the UK continues to rise year-on-year with over 80,000 reported in the first nine months of 2011. Despite the risk, CIFAS suggests that 25% of people are still not taking simple and key precautions such as shredding bills and bank statements that can help prevent identity fraud.

How to check whether you are at Risk from Identity Fraud

To discover whether you are at risk from Identity Fraud you can use an online risk assessment tool. This tool will allow you to enter your current circumstances though a number of straightforward questions and give you guidance as to whether you could be at risk from identity fraud and what measures you can take to safeguard yourself.

You could also perform your own check by referencing your position against the checklist below. Score yourself 1,2 or 3 for the following questions; 1 being no, 2 being sometimes and 3 being often.

- Do you ever leave your debit/credit cards unattended or out of sight?
- Do you throw away unwanted documents, letters or other things with your address on without shredding them first?
- Have you opted out of having your details available on the edited electoral roll?
- Do you carry out transactions on public or shared computers?
- When moving place of permanent residency have you informed the post office so your mail gets redirected?
- Have you ever purchased something online that’s address did not begin with https and the browser did not display the “closed padlock” symbol?
- Do you discard receipts without keeping them for reference against bank statements?
- Do you use the internet without active virus software?
- Do you write down your PIN or passwords?
- Have you ever replied to emails or phone calls claiming to be your bank asking for personal details?

Now add all of your scores together to discover how at risk you are from identity fraud.
25-30 – High risk – If your score is between 20 and 30 then you are at more risk of identity fraud so make sure you follow the correct guidelines and help protect yourself from identity fraud .

20-25 – Medium risk – You may be taking some of the correct precautions but you still need to look at the guidelines and make sure that you are doing all you can to prevent identity fraud. Getting fraud protection insurance is recommended to ensure you are kept protected.

10-20 – Low risk – Following the correct precautions should keep you safe from most types of identity fraud but the only way to make sure you are fully safeguarded is to take out insurance.

10 – No risk – If you got a total score of 10 then you are taking all of the correct precautions and you should not be at risk from identity theft. Although you are currently low risk there is still a possibility that you could have your details stolen i.e. via institutional theft or data loss, so make sure you keep up-to-date with National Identity Fraud Protection Week each year.

Credit cards and the necessity

Credit cards have been the most important thing that one keeps in his pocket in order to go for shopping. It has been a kind of mandatory thing to carry a credit card along in order to even step out of home. Whatever you purchase, the first and foremost thing you should have in your pocket is the credit card. With the essence of it, the credit card has been the most prevalent item in the purse. Without a credit card, you can’t go out anywhere in the world. One should pretty well know about various facts before going to opt for credit cards.

Comparison is a must

It is essential for 1 compare the best credit card deals in order to get the best credit card available in the market. One should definitely compare the the different offers before opting for a credit card. Apart from comparing the added features of the credit cards one should carefully look at the necessary features. If one finds and essential feature missing in the feature list then one should certainly avoid opting for that credit card. Apart from that, one should be pretty much aware of the fake companies emanating from various anonymous sources.

Influx of Financial installations

A legion of financial institutions are there in UK for lending the support of credit cards. Every financial institution has their own principles and offers in order to provide credit cards to the customers. One can follow this blog pretty well in order to get the best ideas about opting the credit cards.

Various giants coming out with the option 1 compare the best credit card deals

Barclaycard is the best example of a credit card provider in which one can pretty well keep some money in the bag with the platinum extended transfer. The credit card limit is assumed to be £1200. One doesn’t have to pay any interest for any transfer of money from the account for a long period of 22 months from the time one comes with a new account. One has to pay a minimum amount of 3.2 percent as handling fees. There is an offer called as refund offers which helps in minimizing the handling fees. One gets to purchase freely up to three months from the time of opening an account. Representative APR is 17.5 percent and purchase rate is also the same per an um. In case of Natwest platinum all the offers remain almost the same while there is a little hike in the APR rate and purchase rate which is equal to 17.9 percent. Apart from that one gets a zero interest purchasing up to 6 months from the time of opening the account. One gets an opportunity of zero percent interest with fund transfers up to 20 months with Natwest platinum. There is another giant in the field of lending credit cards which is known as RBS. RBS platinum completely coincides with the offers being provided by the Natwest. Similarly Capital one classic, Tesco clubcard, Bank of scotland all in one, Halifax all in one and many more come with exciting offers to woo customers but 1 compare the best credit card deals.

It only took 5 minutes, but after taking part in a Life Insurance Comparison I saved over £200!

I have used the same insurance broker ever since I had my first car and I needed to arrange cover. They always seemed to work very hard trying to get me the most competitive premiums and the process seemed to take an hour or so and I would always walk away with a hand written cover note and a feeling that it was very expensive but I had the best deal I could get. Looking back on those days, the trust I had in the staff in that office was based on nothing other than blind faith combined with the hope that if I thought it sounded absurdly expensive I might try the insurance broker along the road. Although having already taken an hour or more to get the insurance sorted out, the last thing I would want to do is to go through the entire process again and waste my entire day off. These days of course, like virtually everyone, I no longer use an insurance broker. I use the online comparison sites and the rest of the population probably use the telephone. The online process is so advanced these days that, rather than taking half an hour, the time need to obtain a quotation is now down to 10 minutes and every form and cover notes are generated on a PDF file which arrived in your inbox within seconds. Whilst you’re on the website the system provides the facility to obtain other financial products as, from the comparisons site point of view, why stop with car insurance? Within minutes you make a Life Insurance Comparison, arrange travel insurance and arrange a hire car to pick you up from the airport. The freedom the system allows is key, as you can access for your self a list of premiums and see for yourself how much cheaper one insurance company is over another.

Source: http://www.lifeinsurancecomparison.uk.com/blog/2011/12/16/it-only-took-5-minutes-after-taking-part-life-insurance-comparison-i-saved-over-200/

Have you ever noticed that when you tell anyone at work that you are about to buy a house or a flat or get married or some thing else that’s going to radically alter your circumstances for years to come, that there’s always someone in your office or wherever you happen to work who’s got some advice which if you’d known it a few weeks earlier it would’ve saved you a load of money? The main reason for this of course is that those who’ve done something in the past simply know more about doing that than those who’ve never done it before. Those who already own a house have already been up the steep learning curve and become part of the inner sanctum of knowledge that they are always keen to impart to help give others a head start. Apart from the plethora of things you get to know about which refer to the house purchase, there are a number of other things you need to arrange. For a start you should log onto the comparison sites and get a quote for permanent health insurance, which was easy using the life assurance cover website, get a second quote for buildings and contents cover and compare the mortgage quote you have with others to check it’s competitive.

Source: http://www.lifeassurancecover.uk.com/blog/2011/12/07/i-found-i-saved-over-156-pa-using-life-assurance-cover-website/

You may have noticed that the various consumer organisations have been suggesting that we all overhaul our finances regularly to make sure that we don’t spend too much on the products we need but where the cost can differ hugely. To see for myself just what could be saved I decided to start off by going to the Life Assurance Cover website for a life insurance review and to my surprise the savings that everyone were talking about we right there on the screen in front of me. With renewed impetus I did the same for other financial service products I pay more regularly and within a matter of a few hours I had radically reduced my monthly outgoings. It’s a curious feeling having made such a seismic change to ones finances. Do I regard the savings as new money or old money I’ve wasted in the past? One thing’s certain; if you don’t do this straight away you’re only costing yourself money. I would hazard a guess that I have saved enough to pay for a holiday with the combined saving I have been able to make.

Source: http://lifeassurancecover.uk.com/blog/2011/11/24/life-assurance-cover-another-way-describing-life-insurance/

Who offers the best credit card? Many of the online services offering credit cards are claiming to provide cards with no deposit, annual fees, and to offer high credit lines. Online banking is available with most credit card services.
If you are searching for the best credit card with no security deposit, the easiest way to find these cards is by shopping online. You may check to see which card service providers offer low interest rates, no annual fees, and give you the opportunity to pay your card in full or make monthly installments. It makes no sense to pay deposits for a credit card when many are available to users who do not want the extra fees.

On average, the no deposit credit cards are the cards in which you upload money to use the card. Even so, you can find no credit checks and no security deposit offers online. Continue Reading »