If you don’t currently own a mobile phone you are in a very small minority. Modern trends in our home and work lifestyles mean that people need to be able to communicate with each other constantly. Such is the change in our outlook on mobile phone communications that we often identify with our personal phone number in much the same way as we identify with our names. This is a significant aspect of phone usage because many individuals are unwilling to change to cheaper network tariffs if they cannot retain their current number.

However, help is at hand. From the 1st April 2008, Ofcom regulations have made the procedure for moving your phone number between networks much easier. This process is also known as number porting. Previously, if you had wanted to switch your number from one network to another you could expect to face a five day wait. However, these new rules mean that networks now have to move numbers within two days. The time span for this procedure is expected to drop to two hours by the end of 2009.

To put it simply, you no longer have to worry about losing your current phone number or face a long delay, if you wish to move to a cheaper network. Now is the ideal time to employ the use of an online comparison service to find the mobile phone deal that best suits your needs.

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All lenders will charge an interest rate against a secured loan. This interest rate is known as an Annual Percentage Rate ( APR ). So if you are using your property as security for a loan the amount of money you can borrow, the length of time you can borrow it for and the APR depends on your property’s equity status, your credit history , your reason for requesting the loan and your ability to repay the loan ( eg are you employed, self-employed or unemployed ). Depending on your personal circumstances you may find that you can borrow as much as 125% of your property’s value. The APR’s that lenders usually advertise should only be viewed as guidelines. The APR a lender charges will always depend on your personal circumstances.

You will usually find that secured loans are more accessible than personal loans. A lender prefers to issue this type of loan because your property will protect them against any circumstance where you are unable to keep up with repayments.

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A secured loan is a loan where the borrower is required to provide a lender with some type of security and this usually takes the form of a property. If you secure a loan against your own property whilst there is still an outstanding mortgage this is referred to as a second charge. However, if you secure a loan against a property where the mortgage has already been cleared ,this is commonly known as a first charge.

The amounts that you can borrow normally range from £3,000 to £50,000. As a condition of receiving a secured loan you will be expected to make monthly repayments over an agreed period of time . This time period can range from three to twenty five years. If you choose to settle your loan earlier than agreed you may find that you will be subject to a financial penalty. You should always check the terms and conditions that are associated with a secured loan prior to making any contractual commitment.

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It is no longer a straightforward process to obtain a credit card if you have a poor credit history. The best credit card deals are usually available to those with superb credit ratings. A bad credit score means that if you make an application for a card you are likely to be refused.

There are many reasons why you may have accumulated a bad credit history. Perhaps you are one of the following: you have a low income ; you never had any personal credit before; you’re retired ; you have just arrived from a abroad; you are self-employed or you are a student without a regular salary. This does not necessarily mean that you’re a person that normally defaults on payments it simply means that these are factors that credit firms take into account when assessing your suitability for credit.

Unfortunately, the reality is that credit companies may not give you a high credit score if they cannot verify how well you are able to clear debt commitments on a regular basis. Without a credit track record you may not be viewed as creditworthy.

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If you want to get a cheap insurance quote you should consider taking proactive steps that will impress your prospective car insurer.

As a good security measure ,and for your own peace of mind, you should fit an alarm and immobiliser from an industry approved manufacturer. An insurer will always expect you to have installed some sort of alarm system. You might even be required to fit a tracking device if you have an expensive vehicle.

You should also ensure that your car is parked in a safe area overnight, preferably a secure garage. It has been widely reported that over 50% of car thefts occur in the evening. It’s common sense to assume that your insurance costs will be greatly reduced if you are able to keep your vehicle in a safe area. Insurers will not be impressed to find that you park your vehicle on the road as it will be more susceptible to theft ,vandalism or accidental damage.

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According to new research conducted by Alliance & Leicester Savings, UK homeowners would not have enough savings to pay for basic domestic repairs. The study also revealed that 45% of those interviewed believed they would have great difficulty in raising £500 if they were faced with an emergency situation.

Over 20% of respondents stated that they would struggle to find £100 to pay for repairs to household items such as dish washers, fridges, ovens and washing machines. 15% also revealed that if they had an emergency they would have no savings to deal with the situation and would have to rely on credit cards or some other form of credit.

An Alliance and Leicester Savings spokesperson said that all homeowners will eventually face situations where they will have to pay for broken or faulty domestic appliances. The spokesperson added that people should commence saving immediately in order to help prepare for these emergency events.

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If you only want to make and receive calls you certainly should opt for a basic mobile phone. It is the norm for even the cheapest handset to have features such as text messaging, voicemail, alarm clocks and so on . On the other hand you may want a phone with the latest technological gadgets and multimedia capabilities. If you are a business person you may wish to purchase a handset that comes with internet connections.

The reality is that there are hundreds of mobile phone packages that are available to customers. You need to decide what type of user you are. Are you a functional user who sees the phone as a basic communicating tool? Are you a social/entertainment user who sees their phone device as a means of keeping in contact with friends on social networking websites such as Facebook ? Perhaps you are a company owner who needs to keep a close eye on business operations ?

Whatever the type of user you think you are, it is not in your best interests to purchase the first mobile handset you come across. You should use a comparison website to find the best deals.

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When you choose your mobile phone you should initially consider what you actually need the phone for. You may say that you simply want your phone to make calls but it is increasingly the case that many people require a multi-functional communicating device for their every day family or business needs.

If you closely examine your own phone use and communication patterns it might surprise you to see that your needs are not as simple as you may have first thought.

Phone users’ requirements can vary on a daily basis and you may want to look at a range of factors prior to purchasing a mobile handset. For instance, Do you use your phone every day? What networks do your friends and family use? How many texts do you send each day ? Do you need your mobile for evening use only ?

There is no point in purchasing one mobile phone only to realize that you bought a model that doesn’t suit your needs. This will be a waste of your time and money.

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So you think it’s about time you got some life insurance cover. In reality, obtaining this type of insurance is not as straightforward as you might think. For instance, insurance companies will always take several factors into account prior to issuing a policy. An insurance firm will make its decision according to an applicant’s age, sex, lifestyle, health and so on. Adopting a healthier lifestyle usually results in lower insurance premiums.

Normally, a good life insurance policy will generate enough money to ensure that if you pass away, any debts that you may have accrued will be cleared and your dependants will be financially secure. You should always seek to compare and contrast the benefits that are being offered by different life insurance firms.

It would be advisable to ensure that your life insurance policy lasts until retiremant age (60-65) or until your children are capable of being financially independent.

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APR is the abbreviation for Annual Percentage Rate. So if you want to take out a loan for any reason be sure to find out the APR as it represents the interest rate that will be applied to your loan. Obviously this will have a significant impact on your repayments.

Many banks and finance companies will normally quote their best APR. This does not mean you are entitled to it. Always clarify the APR prior to making any contractual commitment. Always remember your credit history will have a bearing on the APR you are offered. The worse your credit history the higher the APR. If your credit history is extremely poor you may find that you might not even be offered a loan.

You shouldn’t simply opt for the first loan package that you see. Remember these packages are designed to get as much business and profit for the lender as possible. Be sure to take the time to thoroughly examine the terms and conditions that are associated with any loan.

A typical APR for an unsecured loan should not exceed the Bank of England base rate by 5%.

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