Debt management company welcomes fall in inflation

Welcoming the recent fall in inflation, debt management company Gregory
Pennington highlighted the significance of this drop to people struggling to
manage their debts.

In October, the CPI (Consumer Price Index) measure fell from 5.2% to 4.5% –
the largest month-on-month fall in 16 years. Having said that, the reading
of 5.2% was the highest reading in 16 years, so even a reduction of 0.7%
falls far short of returning inflation to a 'normal' level.

"Remember the Bank of England's target for CPI inflation is just 2%," said a
spokesperson for the debt management company. "At 4.5%, today's rate of
inflation still means prices are rising more than twice as fast as the Bank
would like – this reduction simply means that the speed with which things
are getting more expensive is slowing.

"More to the point, CPI has been over the Bank of England's 2% target ever
since October 2007, so today's consumers are still dealing with the
cumulative impact of a full year of high inflation. And the timing makes
that elevated cost of living particularly dangerous: today's consumers are
also dealing with record levels of personal debt, as well as rising
unemployment."

As a result, there are many people finding it hard to manage their debts:
trying to stretch a shrinking budget further each month. "For anyone in that
position, any decrease in inflation can't come fast enough. They'll be
relieved to see some expenses – such as petrol – coming down, but many other
things are still far higher than they were a year ago. A recent article in
The Guardian, for example, reported that a basket of 24 staple items in the
UK's biggest three supermarkets now costs 17.8% more than it did last
November."

Looking forward to next year, it seems the Bank of England is expecting
inflation to eventually drop below its 2% target, and perhaps as low as 1%.
"This is good news for two reasons," said the spokesperson for the debt
management company. "Not just because it'll mean prices are (relatively)
coming down, but also because it could allow the Bank to cut the base rate
even further.

"Clearly, a lower base rate could help many people currently struggling with
their finances. People on tracker mortgages will see the most immediate
benefit – many of them have already seen their mortgage payments drop by
hundreds of pounds compared with July, when the base rate stood at 5.75%."

Nonetheless, too little inflation can be as dangerous as too much – and
we're now facing the possibility of deflation in 2009. While economists
agree that a short stint of deflation would not be a problem, any sustained
period of shrinking prices could seriously damage the economy.

Deflation means a decrease in the price of property, shares and goods of all
kinds. People therefore wait to buy expensive items, as it only makes sense
to wait until the price comes down. Falling demand means companies sell less
and are forced to reduce their workforce.

"It's clear the Bank of England has a delicate balancing act ahead of it:
when it comes to normal people managing their debts, deflation could be as
big a danger as high inflation."

Company URL: http://www.gregorypennington.com/

iHosting UK promise 99.9pc uptime on their custom built servers

Today, with the Internet becoming ever more a key revenue driver for many companies around the world, it is vital that their website, and the servers that it is run on, are reliable.

In line with this, iHosting UK are now offering a 99.9% uptime guarantee on their UK web hosting plans. They currently offer three plans to suit their clients needs (Bronze, Silver & Special), and all these come with the 99.9% uptime guarantee.

A spokesperson for iHosting UK said: "The guarantee means that our clients can relax in the knowledge that their website is in safe hands. For many companies who make a large percentage of their sales online, server downtime can easily cost them thousands in just a few hours & that is a risk that many companies just cannot take. Even if they don't make much revenue from their website, reliable hosting is simply reputation management.

"Thanks to our 99.9% uptime guarantee, they can get on with running their business - doing whatever it is they do best, and leave us to do what we do best - provide reliable UK web hosting for our clients worldwide!

"Combined with our 24/7 premium support, spam protection, antivirus protection, daily backups & 14 day money back guarantee, we feel we are one of the most reliable UK web hosting providers around!"

iHosting UK challenge you to try their services & if you are not completely satisfied with the service within 14 days, you are guaranteed to get your money back. The spokesperson said: "We are confident this will not be the case!"

About iHosting UK
iHosting UK provide feature packed, no-nonsense cPanel web hosting to private, professional & business users throughout the world on their UK hosted web servers. They offer UK web hosting, domain name registration and much more. For further information, visit http://www.ihostinguk.com/.

Future's bright for Ledssuperbright.com

LED Supplier LEDssuperbright.com (www.ledssuperbright.com) are expecting a bright future in the LED market as they launch their new LED specialist ecommerce store.

The super bright LED specialist, a subdivision of Auto Direct LLC supply a wide range of Bright LED products including raw bright LEDs with wire and complete LED bulbs & units.

The company carries one of the world's the largest selections of LEDs, suitable for every auto, domestic and commercial situation. LED Super Bright carry various size LEDs that are super bright allowing you to light up a large area with minimum size and power requirements.

Offering a large selection of LED products at great prices LEDs Super Bright specialize in only LEDs so you can feel assured they will provide you with the technical and sales knowledge you expect.

All LED products are shipped from USA and usually arrive within a few days to a week. And stock is expertly stored in industry standard temperature controlled warehouses.

Buying LEDs from LEDs Super Bright not only saves you money, but you will receive products you simply cannot find elsewhere. LED Super Bright has been in business since 1999 and has over 20 years combined experience in LED products and accessories.

If you have been looking for a source of 12V LED bulbs to use in your projects LEDs Super Bright can supply everything you need. Choose from 3mm, 5mm, 8mm and 10mm super bright LEDs.

For more information on Super Bright LEDs please visit http://www.ledssuperbright.com/

Mobile Broadband from just £5 per month

Mobile Broadband from just £5 per month

Hot on the heels of having recently announced its first ever mobile broadband offering, from Monday 3 November, broadband expert Virgin Media launches the UK's cheapest ever bundled mobile broadband package.

From as little as £5 per month, new and existing Virgin Media broadband customers on cable or ADSL services can stay connected to the internet on the go by simply plugging Virgin Media's new 1GB USB modem into a laptop. 

    * Monthly cost is £5 per month for customers on Virgin Media's XL (20Mb) or L (10Mb) cable broadband packages, or Virgin Media's ADSL 'Bundle 1' (Up to 8Mb Unlimited Broadband and Talk Anytime)
    * Monthly cost is £10 per month for customers on Virgin Media's M (2Mb) cable broadband package or Virgin Media's ADSL 'Bundle 2' (Up to 8Mb Unlimited Broadband and Talk Evenings and Weekends) or the basic ADSL up to 8Mb Unlimited Broadband service
    * The Virgin Media 1GB USB modem has a one-off cost of £25
    * Included data allowance per month is 1GB
    * Monthly usage over the 1GB allowance is charged at 1.46 pence per MB

These bundled packages from Virgin Media are available on a 12 month contract and include enough monthly mobile data allowance for over 10,000 plain text emails or around 700 emails, plus 33 hours of web surfing, 66 music tracks and 33 two minute videos.

Graeme Oxby, Virgin Media's Managing Director for Mobile said: "Our 1GB mobile broadband is great for people who need home broadband but also want access to the internet on the move. The bundle is exceptional value and offers complete peace of mind, not only because it comes from genuine broadband experts but also because it offers the safety net of considerably cheaper rates if customers go over the monthly data allowance."

Mobile Broadband is available on 0800 052 3344 at virginmedia.com/shrunk or in any Virgin Media or zavvi store. An online data calculator is also available at virginmobile.com.

For press enquiries:
Alex Wilkinson, Jessica Turner, Sarah Jones or Jessica Carlin at Borkowski on 020 7404 3000
alex@borkowski.co.uk
jessica@borkowski.co.uk 
sjones@borkowski.co.uk
jessicac@borkowski.co.uk

Asam Ahmad (Consumer PR) or Emma Hutchinson (Corporate PR) at Virgin Media
Asam Ahmad
+44 (0) 20 7909 2122
Asam.ahmad@virginmedia.co.uk

Emma Hutchinson
+44 (0) 20 7909 2022
Emma.hutchinson@virginmedia.co.uk

Young people should act on debt early

Following a study suggesting that the 18-34 age group are most at risk from the credit crunch, with many carrying significant debts, financial solutions company Think Money have advised people in this age group to take extra care with their finances as the prospect of a recession looms.

Furthermore, they added that debt problems are just as serious for people of any age, and should always be addressed as soon as they start.

The study, carried out by think tank Reform and the Chartered Insurance Institute, claimed that many 18 to 34-year-olds had so far experienced a "uniquely gilded life" which had given them a "false sense of security".

As a result, they have "run up huge credit card bills, smashed their piggy banks and are now staring at a broken housing ladder", the report claims.

The report dubs the age group the "IPOD (Insecure, Pressurised, Over-taxed and Debt-Ridden) generation", and claims that one in five such people carry debts of £10,000 or more, while one in three have no savings.

The overall situation leaves the IPOD generation particularly vulnerable to the current state of the economy, with the report stating that they "have the raw skills to understand their position and the dawning sense of responsibility to do something about it (…) However they are hamstrung by a financial establishment determined to service the old and patronise the young."

A spokesperson for Think Money said: "It may well be the case that many of the large numbers of younger people getting into debt do so because of a diminished sense of responsibility, brought on by comfortable living conditions and, until recently, relatively easy access to credit.

"But with the credit crunch ongoing and a recession becoming a very real possibility, a lot of younger people may be about to experience the kind of struggles that instilled an "instinctive fear", as the report puts it, into people from previous generations.

"Whatever the reason, in the current economic climate, it's more important than ever for people to tackle their debts now.  Especially with high-APR debts such as credit cards, it's essential that those debts aren't allowed to grow.

"There are a number of debt solutions designed to help people in different financial situations.

"For people with a number of smaller debts, a debt consolidation loan could help. A debt consolidation loan involves taking out a new loan to pay off all your existing debts, meaning you only have to repay one creditor instead of many. The interest rate is often smaller than your original debts, especially if you are paying off high-APR debts such as credit cards – although if you choose to lower your monthly payments by spreading them out over a longer period, this will incur more interest which could cancel out the benefit of a lower overall rate of interest.

"If you have a number of debts that you are struggling to repay, a debt management plan might be a better option. This involves speaking to a debt adviser, who will discuss your financial situation in confidence, and will then negotiate with your creditors to agree repayments based on how much you can afford each month. In many cases, interest and other charges can be frozen, reducing the total amount you have to pay.

"If you have more serious debts of over £15,000, an IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) could get you debt-free in five years. An IVA involves making regular monthly payments to your creditors based on the amount you can afford to repay, and after the five-year period your remaining debt will be considered settled.

"However, be aware that an IVA requires approval from creditors holding a total of at least 75% of your debts before it can go ahead, and you may be required to withdraw some of the equity in your home in the fourth year of your IVA.

"Debt affects people of all ages, so we urge anybody struggling with debt to seek expert debt advice as soon as possible."

Think Money (www.thinkmoney.com/debt/) are a financial solutions company based in Salford Quays, Manchester. They specialise in a wide range of debt advice and solutions, including debt management plans, debt consolidation and IVAs (Individual Voluntary Arrangements).

Topshop launch 3 striking new capsule collections for Christmas 2007

Topshop launch 3 striking new capsule collections for Christmas 2007

Topshop draws from an exciting stable of design talent to create 3 striking capsule collections for Christmas 2007.

The new Topshop collection form Peter Jensen offers charming party separates bearing jet-black sequins, bows and vibrantly coloured ruffles, while Markus Lupfer artfully applies large-scale pop motifs to his signature knitwear. Ashish's Studio '54 inspired metallic mini dresses and bombers are toughened up with a dark rock-inspired colour palette.

The new designs from Peter Jensen includes classic bow-neck black cardigans covered with sequins and matches a sweet glittering micro-mini skirt, while a shrunken blazer with breech-shaped cropped trousers follow, in school-girl grey, luxury wool. Knotted 'ears' appear on the hood of a cute grey marl jersey zip-through sweater. A tangerine coloured top and black body con dress in fine jersey has tiered ruffles cascading from a sweetheart shape about the neckline.

Markus Lupfer presents knitted jumpers in dove grey, olive and black feature tough metallic sequinned motifs. 'Love/hate' tattooed knuckles, handcuffs, parted lips & cases of lipstick draw inspiration from Siouxsie Sioux, and other British rock 'n roll icons and contrast the slouchy soft knitwear onto which they are set.

Ashish creates a womens fashion collection of 100% silk, hand-stitched and entirely sequined 70''s New York inspired pieces. T-shirt and bandeau dresses have patent belts along and silk bombers appear in midnight blue, purple and shimmering black. Perfectly skimming the body, dresses are made to dance and be seen in, while the high-glamour statement bomber is a head turner.

Peter Jensen commented: "I wanted to keep this range very fun and youthful, there are lots of playful touches which are perfect for the party season." Peter's autumn fashion range for Topshop will be stocked in Topshop Oxford Circus, online at Topshop.com, Selfridges, and Manchester Arndale.

Markus Lupfer adds: "Of all the pieces I have done for this collection, my favourite is the LOVE-HATE jumper. I wanted something fresh that was about music and youth culture." Markus's for Topshop jumpers will also be stocked in Topshop Oxford Circus and Topshop.com

Debt management essential as recession approaches

Following Bank of England Governor Mervyn King's announcement that the British economy is entering a recession, debt management company Gregory Pennington have warned that financial hardship is likely to be widespread in the coming months, adding that the public should aim to get their finances in order and tackle any debts as a matter of priority.

Speaking at a business conference on Tuesday, Mervyn King told business leaders that the economy faces a "sharp and prolonged slowdown", perpetuated by smaller take-home salaries, soaring living costs and limited access to consumer credit.

"We now face a long, slow haul to restore lending to the real economy, and hence growth of our economy, to more normal conditions," he also said.

On a more positive note, King said that some of the factors causing inflation had "shifted decisively", putting less pressure on the Bank of England to actively control inflation and instead giving them time to address other factors, particularly the cost of consumer lending.

And addressing those concerned about many lenders' reluctance to pass on the Bank of England's recent base rate cut, King offered his assurance that the cuts would eventually have an effect, but said: "It will take time before the [bank bailout] leads to a resumption of normal levels of lending."

A spokesperson for Gregory Pennington warned of the dangers that consumers face as a recession approaches. "One of the biggest dangers is unemployment. Since there will be less money flowing through the economy, businesses will suffer, and many will be forced to make job cuts as a result – which restarts the same cycle.

"We may also see the availability of credit take a further hit, as lenders will be wary that the borrowers may be at a higher risk of losing their jobs than usual. However, the Bank of England are doing their best to ensure that cash flow within banks improves, so it remains to be seen how lenders will react to that as things progress.

"What we can be sure of is that it's essential for the public to address any financial problems they may have, particularly when it comes to debt. Debt is a burden at any time, but carrying debts during such an uncertain time for the economy can be very worrying.

"If borrowers miss payments, the creditors may pursue the whole debts,  which can lead to court action and even bankruptcy if they are unable to comply."

The Gregory Pennington spokesperson said that there a number of debt solutions that could help people repay their debts and limit the pressure on their finances as the economy enters a recession.

"For people with multiple debts, a debt consolidation loan can help," she said. "Debt consolidation involves taking out a new loan to cover your existing debts, meaning you only have one creditor to repay.

"Payments can often be reduced by spreading them over a longer period, although you can pay more interest in the long run. Interest rates can also potentially be reduced, especially if you are consolidating high-APR debts such as credit cards – but be aware that if you have extended your repayment period, the additional interest incurred can reduce the benefit of a lower interest rate.

"For more unmanageable debts, a debt management plan may be your better option. If you do this through an expert debt adviser, they will assess how much you can realistically afford to repay each month. After that, they will negotiate with your creditors for lower monthly payments and possibly a freeze in interest or other charges.

"For more significant debts of £15,000 or more, an IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) might be more appropriate. This involves making monthly payments over a period of five years, based on how much you can afford. Once that five-year period is over, your remaining debts will be considered settled.

"However be aware that an IVA requires approval from creditors responsible for at least 75% of your debts, and you may be required to release some of the equity tied up in your home in the fourth year of your IVA.

"Before you make any decisions, it's important to seek independent debt advice. A debt adviser will talk you through your situation and will be able to establish which debt solution is right for you."

 

Gregory Pennington (http://www.gregorypennington.com/) are a financial solutions company based in Salford Quays, Manchester. The company specialises in a range of financial services, including mortgages, loans, debt help and advice (including debt management plans, IVAs, and debt consolidation).

BT Business serves up Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008

BT Business serves up Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008

From today UK firms looking to keep data more secure, and operations more productive, will be able to work with BT Business to implement the new Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008. BT Business will also provide small businesses with fully integrated, end-to-end IT and network infrastructure support.
   
Not officially launched worldwide by Microsoft until 12 November, Small Business Server 2008 is an integrated server solution that helps to protect business data, increase productivity and present a more professional image to customers. Small Business Server 2008 provides organisations of up to 75 employees with many of the features only previously available to larger businesses, including: e-mail; internal Web sites; remote access, support for mobile devices; file and printer sharing; backup, and restore and the ability to scale as businesses grow or change.
   
BT Business will add further value to customers by helping with the installation, administration and management through its expert IT services team. BT Business provides IT services to more than 45,000 small and medium businesses across the UK.
   
According to DTI statistics1, 70% of small businesses never trade again after a catastrophic IT failure, yet 51%2 do not back up daily and 61% do not use a firewall2. With an estimated 67% of SMEs3 currently operating without a server, Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008 is designed to deliver a comprehensive, reliable IT infrastructure at an affordable price for organisations with a limited in-house IT capability.
   
Colin Mattey, director, ICT and solutions, BT Business said: "By making enterprise-level IT and services accessible and affordable for small business for the first time, BT Business is helping UK firms increase productivity and do what they do best: grow their businesses."

Debt advice in the face of a recession

The deteriorating state of the economy should lead borrowers to review their finances as a matter of urgency, say debt experts Debt Advisers Direct (www.debtadvisersdirect.co.uk), following the Autumn forecast from the Ernst & Young ITEM Club.

"Released on 20^th October, the Ernst & Young ITEM Club Autumn forecast 'sees an economy that has deteriorated dramatically in the last quarter and is now in recession'," said a spokesperson for Debt Advisers Direct. "The good news, however, is that the recession is expected to be both short and shallow, with GDP rising – even if only by 1% – in 2010."

"Even so, the impact of today's economic downturn will be profound," the spokesperson continued. "By definition, even a 'shallow' recession involves a shrinking of the nation's economy, with the inevitable consequences: lower spending, higher unemployment, greater uncertainty about the future, etc.

"On an individual level, the threat of a reduced monthly income is likely to lead many to review their financial situation. This isn't to say that economic gloom is a good thing, but everyone needs to stop and take stock of their finances from time to time, and reports such as this can provide a much-needed incentive to do so.

"It's important for everyone – even people with no debts and significant savings – but for the millions of UK consumers in debt, it's particularly vital. Many people in the UK have grown used to spending more and more of their monthly budget on debt repayments. In many cases, those repayments take up almost their entire disposable income, so if anything happens to their income, they could almost immediately face a whole range of consequences, from legal action to bailiffs and County Court Judgments (CCJs) – to say nothing of the damage to their credit rating.

"The important thing, of course, is to take action before it's too late. Seeking professional debt advice is normally the best way to start – any borrower could have a wide range of debt solutions available to them, so it's vital they talk to a professional organisation which understands every option and can provide impartial debt advice, tailored to their individual circumstances."

An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) or debt consolidation loan, for example, could help someone cope with a reduced income – yet neither debt solution would make sense for someone who's fairly sure they might lose their income (or a significant part of it) in the near future.

"A borrower who is working, but whose job seems to be at risk, may be better off with a flexible debt solution such as a debt management plan: if their income drops, they can ask a professional debt management company to talk to their creditors on their behalf, renegotiating their debt repayments as and when it becomes necessary."

Different borrowers, in other words, will need to adopt different strategies to deal with their debts. "There's no 'silver bullet' for debt. Debt management plans, debt consolidation loans, debt consolidation remortgages, IVAs, even bankruptcy – each has its place, but the debt solution that's right for one person can be completely inappropriate for another. The key thing is to take the time to get the right debt advice before making any commitments."

Decisive moment for world economy

The Prime Minister has spoken of the decisive moment being faced by the world economy as nations seek to work together to tackle the credit crunch and the global downturn.

Speaking ahead of today's special EU Council and a global financial summit in Washington next week, Mr Brown said that the decisions being taken by governments "will affect our world for a decade or more to come".

The PM reiterated his call for reform of international financial markets, an enhanced support facility for economies in distress and progress to be made on a world free trade agreement.

The PM said:

    "The decisions that we make now will affect our world for a decade or more to come. And people now recognise that this is a global crisis that requires a global solution. That is the reason why I have been speaking to other world leaders to build agreement on what we can do together to solve the problems, and that is why this is not a time for business as usual.

    "If we are to solve the economic crisis and get our economies moving, then we need as a world community to take action together on a number of different fronts."

Mr Brown also said that it was important for lenders to pass on interest rate cuts to mortgage borrowers and small businesses after the Bank of England cut interest rates yesterday by 1.5 percentage points to a 53-year low of three percent.

The PM will travel to Brussels today for a special EU Council on the financial crisis.

Loans market could still improve despite recession

Following a week that saw perhaps the strongest signs yet that the economy is about to enter a recession, coupled with warnings from Bank of England Governor Mervyn King and Prime Minister Gordon Brown that a recession is very likely, financial solutions company Think Money (www.thinkmoney.com) have said that the loans market could still see signs of recovery in the coming months, so long as the Government's bank bailout scheme is implemented successfully.

Recession fears hit a new high as figures from the National Office for Statistics showed the first drop in economic output in 16 years between July and September this year. Output fell by 0.5%, exceeding economists' predictions.

If the British economy records another fall in output in the fourth quarter of 2008, it will be officially considered a recession – although many experts, such as the Ernst & Young ITEM Club, have expressed the opinion that we are already in a recession.

And at a meeting of business leaders at the Leeds Chamber of Commerce, Bank of England Governor Mervyn King said in a speech: "it now seems likely that the economy is entering a recession."

Regarding the market for loans,  King commented: "We now face a long, slow haul to restore lending to the real economy, and hence growth of our economy, to more normal conditions."

But a spokesperson for Think Money said that it is not the end of the road for the loans market. "It's logical to assume that it may become more difficult on the whole to obtain loans, mortgages and other forms of credit – but that doesn't mean it will be impossible to obtain loans for the duration of the recession.

"The Government's bank bailout scheme is aimed at stimulating the market for personal loans as well as business loans, and the cash injections should give lenders increased confidence in their ability to offer loan products. The falling LIBOR rate is a good indicator that, in the short term at least, this has been working.

"It's important to remember that financial institutions depend on interest from loans as a source of income, so lenders will have to remain as competitive as they can be in that respect."

The Think Money spokesperson added that both secured and unsecured loans should be available in some capacity. "Lenders will feel more confident offering secured loans, as they are backed up by assets which act as a potential 'guarantee' to the lender," she said. "In this respect, lender confidence isn't so much as an issue as the lack of liquidity, which should hopefully improve with the bailout scheme, as well as any future base rate cuts.

"Unsecured loans may prove a little more difficult for consumers to obtain than secured loans, as they are often perceived as 'higher risk' by lenders, but it will still be very much possible – it may just take longer to find the right deal.

And the spokesperson was keen to emphasise the importance of loans advice in times of economic difficulty. "Speaking to a professional loans adviser can often make the difference when it comes to finding the best loan deals," she commented.

"A loans adviser will talk through your financial situation in confidence, and will advise you on what you can expect in terms of the type of loan, interest rates, and the amount you can borrow. Once they have done that, they will be able to search the market for you, saving you valuable time and effort, and hopefully meaning you will end up with a loan that suits your needs."

AffordableVision.com Takes The High Road While Offering Cheap Eyeglasses Online

Quality and value over the cheapest pricing sets international eyeglass retailer apart from the pack

Phoenix, AZ -November 7, 2008- Online eyeglass options for budget conscious shoppers has just gotten better. AffordableVision.com has announced the launch of a new website offering complete quality eyeglasses starting at under $40.00.
With the introduction of its new site AffordableVision.com has established itself as an alternative option for consumers who are more interested in quality, value and experience than simply on the cheapest prices available.

"With over 30 years of experience supplying eye clinics and private doctors with eyewear frames and lenses we were very interested in finding a way to offer this same quality to the general public at 75% less," said AffordableVision.com spokesman Paul Edwards. "Today's technology allows us to use that experience to sell those same frames and lenses at true wholesale pricing. Our philosophy is that our customer's vision is too important to sacrifice by selling cheap quality lenses just to make additional profits. The old saying that you get what you pay for is definitely true in the optical business. We feel confident people will see the difference in our website and business compared to others. "

In addition to value driven prices AffordableVision.com manufactures its own eyewear frames. They attend international optical shows and have complete control over pricing, quality, designs etc. Unlike other retailers AffordableVision.com is based in the United States so all sales go to supporting American Jobs.

For more information or to purchase quality affordable eyeglasses please visit AffordableVision.com.

Halifax Supports Calls For Sale And Rentback Regulation

Halifax Supports Calls For Sale And Rentback Regulation 

Following the Government's acceptance of recommendations by the Office of Fair Trading, Halifax welcomes proposals for the statutory regulation of the sale and rentback industry by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

Halifax is today asking the Government to provide a timeline to introduce a regulatory framework to the industry.

Sale and rentback market
Sale and rentback providers are private companies and individuals that buy properties, at a price that is frequently below market value, and then enable homeowners to stay in their property as rent-paying tenants. The OFT report suggests there is in excess of 1000 providers who typically target borrowers who are facing difficulty repaying their mortgage.

Halifax supports the call for regulation to deliver protection for consumers and aims to:
oimprove transparency for consumers
oprovide disclosure in the market through the provision of a key facts document
oprovide a method of recourse for customers who are unhappy with their sale and rentback arrangement and
oensure that compensation is available should it be necessary.

Joe Higgins, head of mortgages for Halifax said, " Halifax fully supports the Government's action in response to the OFT's recommendation to regulate sale and rentback. If homeowners are in trouble, they need the highest levels of support in the form of transparency and an appropriate level of protection. However, homeowners in a vulnerable position should not be subject to a long delay. We're asking the Government to outline its expectation for the implementation of regulation, so that sale and rentback does not remain an unregulated market for any longer than is necessary."

-ends-

Notes to Editors
1.On 15 October, the Office of Fair Trading issued a report into the sale and rentback sector which recommended statutory regulation. A Treasury statement on October 22 confirmed that the Government accepted the OFT's proposals and outlined that a consultation paper on the findings will be published.

2.The Council of Mortgage Lenders, Citizens Advice and Shelter have all called upon the Treasury to allow the FSA to regulate sale-and-leaseback schemes, in order to provide greater protection for consumers.

Media Enquiries:
Nathan Wallis
Halifax Press office
Tel: 07890 736503

San Diego insurance agency expands offering

San Diego insurance agency expands offering

San Diego Insurance agency is opening it's doors and expanding it's product line with affordable California Home and Health Insurance products to meet your individual and family needs.  We are now a leading independent insurance agency in California offering affordable auto, home insurance, California Health Insurance, and apartment building insurance.

San Diego's leading independent insurance agency is now expanding it's insurance product line with affordable Home Insurance and California Health Insurance from many leading insurance carriers.  We are now proud to also introduce very competitive rates and coverage's for apartment building insurance in California.  By working with many top rates health insurance carriers like Blue Cross and Blue Shield, you can compare rates and even apply for health insurance online. 

As an auto and home insurance agent, we can help you package your car and home insurance to take advantage of the money saving discounts and credits.  By working with many insurance carriers, we can help you find the best coverage at best rate. Our affordable California home insurance customer service is one of the fastest and we can help coordinate everything with your Escrow company to ensure a smooth closing for you.  Besides California Home Insurance and health insurance, we can also help with your condo insurance and renter's insurance needs.   

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If you would like more information about California Home Insurance or to schedule an interview with John Tesoriero, please call 619-299-6000