Category Archives: Consumer Services

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Canceling My Easy Saver Rewards Made EZ

I have recently chosen to join an easy saver rewards program. While considering myself a conscientious individual, I decided to do some investigation in order to ensure that I could cancel my easy saver account in the event that it does not work out as I had hoped. It is always a good idea to understand both sides of entering and exiting a business relationship. I found that easy saver cancellations are quick and easy.

While easy saver rewards could be considered a low risk investment and the initial cost is small, it was still important for me to ensure that there was an easy way to cancel my easy saver rewards if the need arose. My discovery was that easy saver cancellations were really quite a simple process. I could go online and cancel the account or call a toll free number during business hours.

By reading the fine print for the easy saver rewards program it became quite clear that I could enter the program and exit the program with the greatest of ease. This is perhaps a way of describing an exit strategy. Oftentimes, it is easy to enter into a situation but rather difficult to get out of the situation. As a result, it is valuable to understand the entire landscape of a given situation such as not only how to get into a situation, but also how to get out of it can save time and energy.

The easy saver rewards program is going to save me quite a bit of money through great discounts on all sorts of products and services. Now that I understand how tocancel my easy saver, in the event that I do not benefit from it for as much as I would like I know how I can cancel the program easily and move forward.

There is a certain peace of mind that accompanies a well thought-out decision. Understanding how to both enter and exit business relationships goes a long way to ensure both peace-of-mind and time savings in the future. The value of peace of mind cannot be under estimated.

It was clear that the easy saver rewards was a beneficial program. However, it was also good to discover that if the program was not going to work out the way I thought that it was quick and easy to cancel. As with other like decisions, I can go forward with confidence that I can not only get into a situation, but I can also get out of it with the same amount of ease.

Marley Masters is a freelance writer bringing common sense ideas to decision making processes. While looking into participating in an easy saver rewards program, it was found that the program would save money through discounts. In the event that I would choose to go in a different direction, I found that easy saver cancellations were both quick and easy.

Via EPR Network
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KnoWhat2Do Shares Preparedness Information at Public Festival

On the 10 year anniversary of the deadly twisters that hop scotched through Tarrant county, hundreds of people will gather in the sunny outskirts of downtown Fort Worth for KnoWhat2Do PrepareFair. Sponsored by State Farm Insurance, KnoWhat2Do PrepareFair is a public festival featuring live music, food, children’s games and activities and most importantly, the life-saving preparedness information promoted by KnoWhat2Do and State Farm Insurance.

KnoWhat2Do Shares Preparedness Information at Public Festival

KnoWhat2Do, a program created specifically for all residents of North Central Texas, welcomes the public to this timely festival, a mixture of family fun and personal safety enhancement. KnoWhat2Do was created by the Regional Public Education Committee to identify threats specific to North Central Texas, such as that deadly tornado a decade ago and the hundreds of sever weather incidents to strike the region since that time. The program outlines the steps people can take to prepare and protect themselves. The committee consists of public safety and emergency management officials from the 16 North Central Texas counties, which includes Dallas, Tarrant, Collin and Denton County.

PrepareFair will have prize give aways from Mix 102.9 FM and State Farm Insurance, free flu and H1N1 vaccines from Tarrant County public health, bounce houses, face painting and games for children, fire safety demonstrations by C.E.R.T. volunteers, free hot dogs, live music from Canta Rhythm and Brass and ready access to the preparedness tools and information people can take home and incorporate into their families and share with neighbors and friends.

“Ten years ago, when those deadly storms tore through downtown Fort Worth, then south Arlington neighborhoods on their way across the metroplex, a uniform set of preparedness messages crafted specifically for the North Central Texas Region didn’t exist,” says Kwa heri Heard, Emergency Management Specialist with the City of Dallas Office of Emergency Management and KnoWhat2Do Regional Public Education Subcommittee Chair. “We created KnoWhat2Do to let the public know what threats are most prevalent here in North Central Texas, and what specific steps they can take to best be prepared.”

State Farm Insurance, the KnoWhat2Do PrepareFair sponsor, will give away smoke detectors and disaster kits at the event, some including $100 gift cards. “At State Farm we strive to support programs like KnoWhat2Do PrepareFair that provide valuable information to people right here where we live and work, and help build safer, stronger, and better educated communities,” says David Ballew, State Farm Agent.

What: KnoWhat2Do PrepareFair
When: Sunday, March 28th, 1-5pm
Where: 2300 West 7th Street, Fort Worth- Trinity Park Pavilion and Memorial area,
Who: Emergency management officials and first responders from around the region, State Farm Insurance agents, Tarrant County health officials, American Red Cross, CERT (Citizens Emergency Response Team), United Way, Mix 102.9 FM, Canta Rhythm and Brass
Visuals: Childrens learning games regarding preparedness, flu/H1N1 shots, live band, large crowds, CERT fire extinguishing demonstrations

About KnoWhat2Do
The resources found in the KnoWhat2Do campaign provide valuable tools to all citizens of North Central Texas in planning and preparing before disaster strikes. The materials are distributed on the website www.knowhat2do.com, through an educational DVD and preparedness guide and a series of public events, presentations and public service announcements. Individuals, schools, or businesses can find information on severe weather preparation, health threats and much more to empower themselves, their families, co-workers and neighbors to KnoWhat2Do in an emergency. Under the motto, “Think. Prepare. Act.” the campaign demonstrates real practices people can put into action in their own lives. KnoWhat2Do is on the web at www.knowhat2do.com.

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Parcel2Go.com Has Been Shortlisted For A National Business Award

Bolton firm, Parcel2Go.com has been shortlisted for a national business award with the chance to be named as the UK’s most pioneering companies in the online sector as well as the T-Mobile Fast Growth Business of the Year. Founded in February 2000 by father and son team, Fil and Richard Adams-Mercer along with colleague, Steve Kramer, Parcel2Go.com is earmarked as a potential winner of the Online Business of the Year award. The company is up against two other finalists.

The business, which has grown to be one of the country’s largest delivery companies, will be joining a host of other ‘best in class’ businesses at the prestigious black tie presentation evening in London on 14th April.

The national awards recognise business performance across a host of sectors recognising innovation, green initiatives, best use of technology and social enterprise of the year. Entries are are judged by a panel of successful business entrepreneurs including, Will King, Founder of King of Shaves, Julie Meyer, Founder and Chief Executive of Ariadne Capital and Matthew Riley, Chief Executive Officer of Daisy Group Plc and the nomination puts the firm and its 30-strong workforce in the company of as LoveFilm.com, Maximuscle and Seatwave.

Founder Fil Adams-Mercer said, “We are delighted to be recognised for the strong business performance that Parcel2Go.com has delivered. Over the last years our business has gone from strength to strength as more and more users are opting to use the cost savings and convenience of an online delivery service. The team has worked incredibly hard and used a great deal of initiative to capitalise on business opportunities to get us where we are now”.

The ‘no hassle’ and low-cost parcel delivery service located in a former textile mill in Bolton realised a turnover to the end of its ninth year of business of £11.5 million.

Using established couriers including Fed-Ex, DHL, City Link, UPS, Home Delivery Network and Royal Mail to transport goods across the UK and worldwide the company originally operated with an even split of online and account customers. Predicting the boom of online the company made a strategic shift to develop a stronger online presence and now boosts 800,000 users per year.

Via EPR Network
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Asthma UK Is The Perfect Partner For Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Specialists Chem-Dry

Professional carpet cleaners & upholstery cleaning and disaster restoration specialists Chem-Dry aim to raise the bar and really make a difference for asthma sufferers this year, after announcing Asthma UK as their chosen ‘Charity of the Year’ for 2010. Chem-Dry franchisees up and down the country aim to help raise significant funds through a range of fundraising initiatives and activities during 2010.

Asthma UK Is The Perfect Partner For Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Specialists Chem-Dry

In 2010, Chem-Dry is proud to be supporting Asthma UK, the national charity dedicated to helping the one in five households affected by asthma. Most people will know someone with asthma, but many people don’t realise that this condition is serious and claims three lives in the UK every day. In fact, more people die each year of asthma than cervical cancer and testicular cancer combined and sadly many adults and children with severe asthma face frequent hospital visits or can be stuck in their own homes, trapped by breathlessness.

Asthma UK provides support and advice to all people affected by asthma, through a range of projects, dedicated research and services. These can include specialised holidays for children with asthma and a popular Adviceline staffed by asthma nurse specialists.

Neil Churchill, Chief Executive of Asthma UK says: “We are really excited about our brand new partnership with Chem-Dry in 2010 and look forward to working with their staff, franchises and customers to make a real difference for people with asthma and maintain vital services such as our Adviceline”.

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From Employee to Employer, To Franchisee – The Employment Wheel Has Turned the full Circle for Alex Shurko

With various experience of the electronics & motoring industries behind him, Surrey based local entrepreneur Alex Shurko recently embarked on a new chapter of his career as he has just moved into franchising with Chem-Dry. His recent career background as an employee with Osram part of the Siemens Group and then having run his own independent MOT & Car Repair business, Alex has built a considerable wealth of business knowledge. He will benefit from his recent employee and employer working backgrounds, which will provide the perfect grounding to make his new Chem-Dry Professional carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning and disaster restoration franchise a success.

From Employee to Employer, To Franchisee – The Employment Wheel Has Turned the full Circle for Alex Shurko

Alex has forged a good working relationship and works closely with another Chem-Dry franchise Chem-Dry Gold, this was helped him build upon his knowledge of his local licence areas. It will also help with some of the technical aspects of running a carpet cleaners franchise business.

Franchisees, who have experience of running their own business, tend to possess skills such as discipline, motivation & process management skills. Due to the challenging issues they have to overcome and the driven personalities they display, ensures they are able to handle challenges as and when they occur.

Alex Shurko, Proprietor of Chem-Dry Britannia, comments “My previous employment background allows me to adapt to continuously changing working environments and as a previous business owner, I am able to make the difficult decisions sometimes franchise owners have to address. There has been a smooth transition from running my own business to running my own franchise business and its proven business model with Chem-Dry. If I ever need assistance or advice I can call upon fellow Chem-Dry franchises or Chem-Dry Franchising. The skills I have learnt as a business owner will prove handy and will be transferable”.

Mark Richardson, Marketing Executive, Chem-Dry Franchising, comments “Franchising attracts a wide diverse group of people from different backgrounds, with different skills, circumstances and business experiences. I believe Alex’s vast knowledge of running his own business will help and be put to good use as his franchise business grows and develops. We are delighted to welcome Chem-Dry Britannia to the Chem-Dry franchise network”.

Chem-Dry Britannia became part of the national Chem-Dry network in late 1992 and is an independently owned & operated by Alex Shurko since late 2009. The domestic and commercial carpet and upholstery cleaning business is evolving through the provision of exceptional service to both their domestic and commercial customers for carpets, upholstery and rug cleaning from various parts of West Surrey & North Hampshire.

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0800 Repair Announces Recruitment Drive As Demand Soars

A national repair company is to almost double the number of staff at its Dinnington call centre near Sheffield, following a surge in demand.

0800 Repair, which specialises in installing and carrying out repairs to domestic appliances such as washing machine repair, Dishwasher repair and cooker repairs, said the recession has led to a ‘make do and mend’ culture. With money tight for many households across the UK, repairing appliances rather than spending hundreds of pounds on new machines is an attractive option.

The firm currently employs 10 staff at the Waterside Business Park in Dinnington and as a result of the increase in demand for its services, plans to employ a further eight people at the site.

Paul Feek, managing director, said: “We’ll be expanding operations in the North East and at Dinnington, near Sheffield, and we’ll be needing more staff to help us achieve that.”

Over the next five years 0800 Repair intends to create more than 60 jobs nationally. Along with Dinnington, the company has another call centre in Chester-le-Street, a repair centre in County Durham, a distribution and repair centre in West Yorkshire and an IT centre in Surrey.

0800 Repair also provides employment for around 400 sub-contracted engineers and along with its network of franchisees, carries out in the region of 100,000 appliance repairs every year.

Via EPR Network
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Lasoo.com.au wins ‘Best Overall Site’ award at the SmartCompany Web Awards

Shopping comparison site Lasoo.com.au has taken out one of the top accolades at the inaugural SmartCompany Web Awards, winning “Best Overall Site (over 20 staff)” amongst some stiff competition.

The awards attracted more than 200 entries from websites around Australia and were judged by a panel of iInternet experts that included Webfirm’s Andrew Dalton, ProBlogger Darren Rowse, Deloitte Digital’s Peter Williams and Red Balloon’s Naomi Simson. Lasoo.com.au beat out finalists Baker’s Delight and Beerenberg Farm to claim the award.

Judge Andrew Dalton has high praise for Lasoo.com.au’s design and usability. “A wonderfully executed site all round,” Dalton says. “The design has impact without clutter and never forgets the importance of browser usability, and the attention to detail with social marketing should be commended.

“The business concept also appears to be original and timely in this economic climate. Overall this site has plenty to offer across the board.”

Some of Australia’s top retailers including Dick Smith, Myer, ALDI, Coles, Toys R Us and leading product brands such as Nintendo, Canon, LG, Samsung and Sony can be currently found on Lasoo.com.au.

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Strike Action Off, But Damage Done as Consumers Cut Back on Christmas Cards

New research out from uSwitch.com reveals that 15% of consumers are cutting back on Christmas cards this year as a result of earlier postal strikes. Even though pre-Christmas strikes have now been postponed until the New Year, the move came too late to prevent consumer confidence from nose diving, showing how quickly damage can be done.

The uncertainty has made consumers re-think their card-sending habits. As a result just over one in ten (15%) have decided to shorten the list of people they send cards to, cut back on the amount of money they spend on cards and stamps or to just stick with cards that can be hand-delivered. Whether their custom can be won back again next year remains to be seen.

However, there is still a strong sense of tradition around the act of sending cards. Even with the prospect of strikes, 58% of people were still going to take their chances with the post while a further 21% believe that sending cards is an essential part of their Christmas festivities.

While email and texting is seen as a suitable alternative to sending letters, especially in the business world, it’s not seen as such an acceptable alternative when it comes to sending seasonal greetings. Less than a third of consumers (32%) think e-cards are OK and only 5% of these think they are better than paper cards – hardly a ringing endorsement.

Not only will this be music to Royal Mail bosses’ ears, but the greetings card industry and charity sector can also take heart. Strikes would have hit Christmas card sales this year, but they could also have hit future sales too by pushing more people to move to e-cards or texts, or to even break with tradition entirely. The potential loss of revenue could have been devastating as Christmas cards account for £324 million, or 43 per cent of the total number of cards sold in the UK annually.

Over a quarter of people (28%) spend £5 – £10 on Christmas cards in total, while two in ten (20%) spend between £10 and £15. Over one in ten (13%) spends between £15 and £20. Consumers also spend generously on charity cards – 34% of those who buy them spend between £5 and £10. In fact charities estimate that £50 million is raised for good causes through the sale of charity Christmas cards each year.

According to the findings, 19% of consumers only buy charity Christmas cards, while 57% buy a mixture of charitable and non-charitable cards. So far this year, charitable organisations have reported mixed fortunes in Christmas card sales. Mental health charity Mind and Cancer Research UK say Christmas card sales are down on last year, but others such as Barnardo’s and British Heart Foundation have seen income from cards rise, despite the recent postal strikes.

Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, says: “These findings show the speed with which consumers can react and change their habits. We have a long history of sending cards in this country and the threat of strikes was potentially going to deliver it a hammer blow.

“The good news for consumers is that with the strikes postponed it’s now business as usual – they can send Christmas cards without worrying about it. However, the postal action could now take place in the New Year and this is really bad news for consumers who could see important bills delayed or go missing. The New Year is a difficult time financially for most of us without credit card or energy bills going missing. I would urge anyone who thinks they could be affected to contact their provider to see if they can pay by direct debit. Not only will this be more convenient, but it can also earn you discounts on household bills such as energy and could prevent late payment charges on credit cards.”

Via EPR Network
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Easy Saver Complaint Free Diaper Pail For Home Safety and Savings

The birth of a new baby is a magical time that can bring together a family like no other. From the first news of the pregnancy preparations begin. The happy parents to be begin purchasing the needed supplies and equipment, as well as decorating and preparing their home in anticipation of the new arrival.

As the shopping and planning begins another phase also often starts; many families must begin financial preparations for this exciting stage of their life. The fact is that a new birth can be very expensive, not only are there medical costs to consider, but time off from work, and all the things needed to take care of the baby. It’s not surprising that many expecting parents look for Easy Saver programs to help with some of these expenses. While the baby’s health and safety is first priority, the high cost of the equipment and supplies is not far from a new parent’s mind. Perhaps that is why the Easy saver complaint free diaper pail for home safety and savings has become a top seller so quickly – it addresses all needs.

It’s true that the news of a pregnancy can put new parents to be into a tailspin. For those that live in small apartments, a move may be necessary. For some that drive sports cars or trucks, a new vehicle may be in the near future. But for many, the simple act of gathering baby supplies, safe-proofing the home, and decorating can be much more than simple. The reality is that none of these things are cheap to do and in today’s world a new expense can seem overwhelming – especially if it is unexpected.

Finding the necessary baby supplies at a bargain price is not always easy – in fact, other than diapers, it is almost impossible to find these items offered at a special price or offer. That is why the EasySaver diaper pail is so outstanding. It is made in a fashion to eliminate accidental tip-overs. This pail is made to be easy to open with one hand and the non-tip feature will keep it upright even if it gets knocks about.

This quality diaper pail also comes with its own deodorizing disk – which means that the nursery can be kept odor-free even if there are diapers in the pail. Babies are sensitive to smells and this simple feature can make the nursery smell better and it will be a healthier environment for baby.

The EZ Saver feature of the diaper pail continues with the liners. Most diaper pails use special, expensive pail-sized liners that usually have to be ordered from the manufacturer. This pail is sized to use regular kitchen trash bags. With so many advantages offered by this EasySaver diaper pail it is not surprising that new parents are asking this manufacturer to create an entire line of baby products, all with quality, safety, and health features.

Via EPR Network
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EZ Saver Savings for Entertainment, Travel and Shopping Made Easy

Savvy shoppers everywhere are looking for ways to save money on general purchases as well as the major necessities in life. This can include being on the lookout for bargains of all types; from two for one offers, to rebates, and even coupon clipping and sales, shopping wisely requires more than simply buying discounted products.

The fact is that shopping wisely often begins with saving prudently. This means that the individual not only saves money but he saves in a way that is unobtrusive to his lifestyle. In other words, the easysaver plan does not impinge upon one’s regular routines or habits. Instead, it is smoothly incorporated into the business of life as if it had always been there. Fortunately, EZ saver savings for entertainment, travel and shopping made easy, is not that difficult to develop. If one cannot create a system on his own there are lots of financial specialists that can offer assistance.

Although saving money and being a savvy shopper has become trendy due to the failing economy, many people worked toward these very goals long before the recession became a reality. Years ago they may have been thought of as cheap or spend-thrifts, but nowadays the rest of us are looking to these individuals as knowledgeable trail blazers.

It’s true that many of us do not want to take the time to clip coupons, nor is the thought of spending the cost of a stamp to wait for a rebate of a dollar or two overly exciting. But the truth is that every dime saved is a dime in our pockets, and when we can get a rebate of a dollar or two that is a substantial amount of money to simply let go.

Many of the individuals that utilize coupons, rebates, and other special offers make it a habit to save their savings. This of course, requires discipline, but it is the ultimate Easy saver way to afford some of the nicer things in life.

Admittedly, this form of saving is not for everyone. In fact, if one does not stick to a regular plan of shopping sales, using coupons, rebates, and other ways of saving, they will lose interest before they accumulate enough savings to make a difference toward a nice vacation or other special treat.

The good news is that there are other tactics these people can use to create an Easy saver program that seems custom made just for them. An all time favorite is to have a set amount deducted from each paycheck and deposited into a special savings account. These Easy saver accounts often have increased interest rates but what makes them so appealing to most people is the fact that they are in complete control. They can stop the deductions at any time they want and they can dip into their savings when it is convenient or necessary. No matter what your circumstances are, there are easy ways to save money.

Via EPR Network
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Artificial Christmas Trees Top the News on The Today Show With Matt and Merideth

Artificial Christmas trees have gained in popularity over recent times and Balsam Hill® is the name that is associated with this trend. Though some would attribute the attractiveness of these products to an interest in the environment, others say it has more to do with the ease and convenience that they provide. Who doesn’t remember pine needles stuck in carpet for weeks after Christmas and the worries of a fire due to a dried out tree? Balsam Hill® is the leader in crafting artificial Christmas trees that have a realistic look and feel, plus, they are notorious for their easy assemblies. This was reiterated during a recent feature on the Today Show.

Balsam Hill® is known for quality and each of the artificial Christmas trees is made to be as real as possible. Beyond that, the ease of assembly and storage is paramount. Because convenience is a part of the mission undertaken by Balsam Hill® the company is always on the lookout for ways to make things more convenient for customers. With that in mind many innovations have come about. Many of the company’s artificial Christmas trees are pre-lighted, and each tree with both color and clear lights receives a free remote control. The remote allows one to turn the lights on or off, switch between clear or multi colored, or use both, all with just a touch of a button.

Balsam Hill®’s innovative technology has developed True Needleâ„¢, which allows for the realism provided in the foliage of the artificial Christmas trees. The needles of the trees actually have a pigment structure, texture, and color very similar to that of natural evergreen needles. One of the most distinctive features of this technology is the color variations within the branches. The branch may be a very dark color and the needles may then start off as a dark color and slowly fade to a lighter shade of green. This is truly a unique technology, exclusive to Balsam Hill®.

Set up of all artificial Christmas trees made by Balsam Hill® is always easy, but assembly of the Artificial Trees Instant Evergreen is almost instantaneous, which means the buyer is quickly ready to decorate the tree. Balsam Hill® has that covered too. The company offers high-end, luxurious Artificial Christmas Trees Ornaments that perfectly complement the luscious trees. Because these Artificial Christmas Trees Ornaments are unique, they can add a touch of elegance and charm to any Christmas tree.

Another product offered by Balsam Hill® that has taken the market by storm is the flatback tree. Just as the name implies, one side of the tree is flat, making this the perfect choice for small or tight spaces. After adding the beautiful Artificial Christmas Trees Ornaments and other decorations it is easy to forget that this is actually a ‘half tree’.

Balsam Hill®’s mission is to create the most luxuriously realistic Artificial Christmas trees ever produced. The company also works diligently to meet and exceed customers’ expectations for beauty and convenience. Though ages ahead of other artificial Christmas tree companies, Balsam Hill® is committed to making continual improvements to offer customers, as evidenced by such innovations as the Artificial Trees Instant Evergreen and the Flatback tree.
Consumer, Consumer Information, Consumer Services, Services

Cash Strapped Learners turning to Driving School of Mum and Dad

•Over one in ten learner drivers (12%) taught solely by amateur instructors

•Further one in ten (13%) mix and match by taking lessons with a qualified driving instructor and family and friends

•72% of learners being taught by amateurs cannot afford professional driving lessons

•17% say learning to drive with a family member or friend is a ‘bad experience’ – they would not recommend it to other learners

•The downside of learning with family and friends: ‘in-car’ arguments (46%), picking up bad driving habits (27%) and finally feeling forced to take proper driving lessons with a qualified instructor anyway (46%)

•At risk: over a quarter of novices (27%) learning with family and friends are unsure whether their instructor checked their car insurance first – (7%) say that they definitely didn’t.

Learner drivers are increasingly turning to amateur instructors to combat the costs of learning to drive, according to new research from uSwitch.com, the independent price comparison and switching service. Learning to drive with a qualified instructor now costs an average of GBP1,127, but over one in ten learner drivers (12%) are avoiding this by being taught solely by family and friends, while a further 13% mix and match by combining amateur tuition with professional driving lessons.

Of those who have opted for the ‘home-schooled’ route, 72% say that the main reason for doing so was affordability – 62% cannot afford to pay for lessons themselves, while 10% admit that their parents cannot afford to pay either.

However while it appears to be cost effective, taking lessons with amateur instructors can turn into a dead end for learners. Almost one in five (17%) say that learning to drive with a member of their family or a friend was a bad experience and not to be recommended to others. The biggest concerns were ‘in-car’ arguments (46%) and picking up bad driving habits (27%). Worryingly, 18% of novices learning from a friend or relative even ended up having a ‘bump’ due to the vehicle’s lack of dual control. Unsurprisingly then, 46% of learners who start off taking lessons from amateurs end up taking proper driving lessons with a qualified instructor anyway.

According to the research, learning from family or friends can result in behaviour that is far from conducive to learning and could even make novice drivers more nervous behind the wheel. Almost a quarter (22%) have been shouted or even sworn at by the relative or friend teaching them, 22% have also had the wheel grabbed by their teacher and 30% have had the unsettling experience of seeing their teacher stamping on an imaginary brake. Amateur instructors also don’t seem to have the nerves or patience of their professional counterparts – 16% of novices have been evicted from the driving seat.

But learner drivers turning to family and friends for tuition aren’t just risking failing a driving test. They also risk not being properly insured. Over a quarter of novices (27%) learning with amateurs are unsure whether the person teaching them checked their car insurance policy first. Incredibly, 7% say that their instructor definitely didn’t check despite the fact that, when teaching a friend or relative to drive, the learner must at least be a named driver.

Adding a 17 year old with a provisional licence to your car insurance can cost an additional GBP1,360. This drops to an extra GBP331 if they are 21 and GBP48 if they are 25 years old. However, driving without insurance is a criminal offence, attracting a heavy fine and six penalty points.

Mark Monteiro, insurance expert at uSwitch.com, comments: “Learner drivers are increasingly seeking to keeps costs down by relying on ‘freebie’ tuition from family and friends. This can be cost effective, but not always as straightforward as it seems. Taking a stressful situation and adding in arguments, bad behaviour and family friction can mean it becomes a nightmare for all involved. Amateur instructors are also likely to miss vital parts of the picture, such as making sure the learner is insured to drive the vehicle they are learning in – this could have serious and long lasting consequences for all involved.

“Learners need to ensure that the family member teaching them is at least 21 years old, holds a full licence and has held one for at least three years. The person teaching them must also ensure that the learner holds a provisional licence and is insured on the vehicle they are learning to drive in. Insurers will not pay out if an uninsured learner driver is involved in an accident, even if the relative teaching them is covered. Driving without insurance is also a criminal offence and can result in a heavy fine and six penalty points – a disastrous outcome for those simply trying to keep the cost of learning down.”

Via EPR Network
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Santa Letters Expose Santa Has Real Mouse Helpers!

In a recent interview about the handling of Santa letters, Santa himself revealed a long kept secret. Mice help organize and maintain the many letters received at the North Pole. This news is shocking because it is the elves that have long been given credit for helping Santa with every detail of the Christmas preparation.

Santa Claus disclosed in an interview with the North Pole Gazette that Christmas letters begin pouring into his mailbox as early as September every year. Santa said that he realized he could not keep track of the gazillions of letters by himself, and he stressed that he did not want to overlook even one of those carefully crafted notes. Santa said that his elves are too busy making toys to assist with such a task so he had to be innovative in finding helpers.

As he looked around the North Pole he thought about the many animals that live there. It’s true that birds and fish often help with the delivery of the santa letters but they live outdoors, Santa needed help after the letters arrived, after they are in his house. Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning Santa thought about the thousands of mice that live with him and Mrs. Claus. The fact is that the mice like to stay indoors, where it is warm and cozy. And they are always asking what they can do to help out, but in the past it seemed their size kept them from being very helpful at all. However, even a little mouse can help organize mail.

Santa immediately set out to teach his mice how to organize the mail in a way that would expedite the entire system. Santa and Mrs. Claus labeled baskets for each of the various countries and for each type of animal. All the mice had to do was place each letter in the appropriate basket. This meant that a santa letter from a dog would go into the dog basket and a letter from a rabbit into the rabbit basket, and so on.

Hailei Corin, is Santa’s little public relations guru and she states “Santa can now insure that everyone that sends a letter to him will receive personalized letters from santa. It seems this has eased Santa’s mind immensely as he shared one of his greatest worries in the past was that he would somehow miss a few letters, and children somewhere waiting for letters from santa would be disappointed”.

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SurfRecon Home Edition Allows Parents And Spouses To Find Hidden Pornographic Video On Their Home Computers

SurfRecon, Inc. announces the final release of its new digital-video detection feature for the SurfRecon Home Edition pornography detection and deletion software. The new feature allows a parent or spouse to quickly scan a home computer for pornographic digital videos and accurately categorize those files. The feature also allows a parent or spouse to view .FLV video files with the same Blur safety tool that is available for reviewing images.

SurfRecon Home Edition

A parent or spouse can also use the video review feature to dissect the video by scene change or by individual frames to quickly find pornographic content that may be hidden or obscured within an apparently clean file.

“Pornographic websites are flocking to digital video and .FLV files in particular,” said Matthew Yarro, President, SurfRecon, Inc. “If a computer had nothing but pornographic video on it—and no sexually-explicit images—someone checking the computer might think it was clean, when in fact it was not.”

SurfRecon uses patent-pending digital-signature matching technology to identify and categorize digital video as “Safe”, “Sexual” or “XXX Rated”. The digital-signature technology leverages the SurfRecon data store, the world’s most extensive database of known-pornographic-image-and-video signatures, in order to properly identify and categorize files. The database is continuously growing as it receives submissions from users and members of the law enforcement community worldwide.

“Unfortunately, there is no automated process that can guarantee that a child or spouse is not accessing pornography,” said Yarro. “Nothing can replace good old-fashioned supervision, but at least SurfRecon can speed-up that process and allow parents to stay one-step ahead of a super tech-savvy child.”

“Including a similar Blur tool for video review was important to us, because if pornographic images can be harmful and addictive, you can only imagine what a pornographic video could do to your mental health,” said Yarro.

Pricing and Availability
The SurfRecon Home Edition pornography detection and deletion software has an MSRP of $39.95 for the DVD version and an MSRP of $49.95 for the USB thumb drive version making it some of the most affordable home-forensic software available today. The software can be purchased directly from SurfRecon, Inc., as well as Amazon, Intel (sx.intel.com), CompUSA, CircuitCity, TigerDirect, and other finer retail stores.

About SurfRecon
SurfRecon is an Orem, UT-based company that develops leading pornography detection and investigation tools. The company’s products include software for the home, business, education, and law-enforcement markets.

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Report Says Breast Surgery Still Top Of The Ops

The Harley Medical Group has reported a rise in breast augmentation surgery, which maintains its title as the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure requested by women. The increase has been driven by a boom in post baby surgery with mums now accounting for 60% of all breast augmentation patients.

Angela Fry, 38, from Maidenhead had a breast augmentation after she had her fourth child. She said: “After each birth my shape changed dramatically and my breasts sagged and lost their shape completely. For me, having a breast augmentation wasn’t about getting bigger breasts but getting them back to the shape and size that was right for my figure. Having the surgery has made me feel more feminine and given me much more confidence in myself.”

Breast augmentation surgery was first performed in 1895 and is today the most popular surgical cosmetic procedure for women. During the procedure an incision is made in the crease of the underside of the breast and the implant is inserted into a pocket created by the surgeon. The result is fuller and more evenly shaped breasts. The treatment takes around one hour to perform and a general anaesthetic will be administered to the patient.

Breast reduction is popular surgical option for women wanting to achieve more proportionally sized breasts Breast reduction surgery usually takes three hours to complete, depending on the size of the breasts. The operation is carried out under general anaesthetic, and patients stay in hospital for one to two nights. Breast reduction patients are required to wear a supportive bra for up to three months to keep the breasts well supported whilst healing takes place and ensure the best possible results.

About The Harley Medical Group
The Harley Medical Group is the UK’s largest cosmetic surgery provider, performing more procedures and with more clinics than any other cosmetic surgery provider. The Harley Medical Group is renowned for introducing and pioneering most new surgical and non-surgical techniques to the UK and Irish markets, such as Aesthera PPx, breast enlargement, laser hair removal, breast uplift, silk touch laser, collagen for lines and wrinkles. All new treatments and techniques are first thoroughly researched and tested before they are submitted for approval by the Group’s Medical Advisory Committee, as being suitable for application by the group’s fully trained and specialised plastic surgeons, doctors and treatment nurses.

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Tracesmart, The People Search Experts, Celebrate Tenth Birthday

The popular online people search providers are celebrating 10 years in tracing. Tracesmart has over this period been instrumental in reuniting thousands of families and friends, and is now one of the UK’s leading online people tracing facilities.

The company was established in Cardiff in 1999 by a group of professional tracers and genealogists; specialists in the art of people tracing. To mark the anniversary, Tracesmart are offering ten free credits to their newsletter subscribers, providing the opportunity to help them kick start their search for missing friends and relatives.

The Tracesmart website offers visitors the ability to search through over 200 million electoral roll entries dating from 2003 through to today. The people location tool utilises monthly rolling register updates, ensuring customers conducting an online search are able to access the most accurate data available. This month the register provided 70,000 amendments, invaluable to users performing a people or address search. The recent update will assist those who may have tried the system before, but didn’t find the information they were looking for.

Over the years, Tracesmart has amassed a considerable amount of data. In addition to the electoral roll, Tracesmart holds the General Register Office data for every birth, death and marriage registered in the UK between 1984 and 2005; again an invaluable tracing resource. Sarah Lawrence, Tracesmart’s Customer Services Manager commented. “It’s extremely satisfying that we are able to help reunite so many friends and families, especially when the customer considered the search impossible. Some of the reunion stories are quite poignant; many of which have subsequently featured on TV and in the press.”

The company has grown significantly over the past five years, and the online people search website has seen visitor numbers vastly increase as more and more people attempt to find relatives and friends. Mike Trezise, the company’s Managing Director and driving force, commented, “The past ten years has been a fantastic journey, technology has changed our work beyond recognition. It really has moved for ward and the future is looking even better as we aim to make tracing even easier.”

About Tracesmart
Sarah Lawrence boasts over 17 years experience in the field of customer services and satisfaction. In her role at UK Certificates, she ensures the smooth day to day running of certificate fulfilment and customer enquiries.

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Oxbridge Researchers: The Company with the Most

Academia has become extremely competitive and students are under ever-increasing pressure to perform well. If not, many stand to lose their scholarships and others, their chance of lucrative employment upon graduation. At the same time, the typical student’s environment is hardly conducive to the attainment of high grades. Many have to work to support themselves and others are simply out of their element, largely due to the fact to the impersonal nature of university lecture halls, compounded by the absence of personal attention. For the most part, the average student is left to his/her own devices. University lecturers and professors neither have the time nor inclination to give students individual attention. This is precisely where Oxbridge Researchers Ltd steps in.

While established just one year ago, Oxbridge Researchers brings years of academic experience to the table. Not only does each and every one of OR’s owners hold a graduate degree but, the Executive Director and Quality Control Division Director respectively bring 15 and 20 years of academic and research writing industry experience to the company. The same can be said for each of the company’s Operations Managers. As a direct outcome of the mentioned industry experience, OR’s founders created a company which addresses serious gaps in the custom-research industry. OR’s range of academic services is designed to address the gaps in the industry, the shortcomings of the current academic environment and the unquestionable importance of grades. These services are offered through The Essayist, HD Essays, Aussie Essayist, Dissertationist, UK Essayist, US Essayist and PhD Essayist.

One of the most popular of the academic services offered by Oxbridge Researchers Ltd is model essay, research, dissertation, thesis and coursework writing. Our Right Write team of professional writers possess both the academic and linguistic qualifications needed for academic research writing. Whether you need a short paper on one of Shakespeare’s plays or a complex PhD-level dissertation on the Causes and Consequences of the current economic recession, complete with the proposal of innovative strategies designed to overcome the crisis, our Right Write team can handle it to perfection. If you want a High Distinction or A+ grade, you can be sure that you will receive nothing less. Each paper, written in accordance with the student’s requirements, is fully guaranteed as original and the delivery of the completed work is always accompanied with a comprehensive plagiarism report, generated by the engine most popularly used by universities. No need to worry, though, as originality reports will be generated with the strict requirement that the paper in question is not to be stored on a database.

Our model research writing service does not end with the completion of the paper and the submission of the plagiarism report. Oxbridge Researchers provides clients with after care service in the form of the delivery of the research articles cited (upon customer request), unlimited free revisions for a period of eight weeks following delivery and a comprehensive explanation of the research work delivered. In other words, your Right Write writer will explain the entire research to you, however many times you need. You know what the best part is? OR is one of the very rare custom-research companies which gives its clients the copyright to the work they ordered (ensuring that the company will never resell it to another or upload it to an essaybank) and the only one which gives clients a signed Non-Disclosure Agreement, thereby legally ensuring complete confidentiality.

If excellence in custom-research writing is not enough for you, our academic services extend beyond that. Not only do we provide clients with research editing and proofreading services but OR also offers them a MarkIt! service. If you, the student, sends us your paper, one of our academicians will read through and grade it, providing the client with a comprehensive explanation of the rationale behind the grade received and how the paper can be improved. When you throw in tutoring in almost any subject into the bargain, Oxbridge Researchers emerges as the company with the MOST.

Students who avail themselves of our academic services can expect a significant improvement in their grades as a result. With our Right Write team and a Board of Directors and management team with extensive industry and academic experience, Oxbridge Researchers can rightly boast that it is the company with the MOST.

The Oxbridge Researchers’ Website Network:
http://www.oxbridge-researchers.org
http://www.essaystation.com
http://www.thessayist.com
http://www.ukessayist.com/client
http://www.usessayist.com/client
http://www.aussiessayist.com/client
http://www.hdessays.com/client
http://www.dissertationist.com/client
http://www.phdessayist.com/client

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Alcohol Rehab Center Offers A Road To Recovery For Alcoholics

Alcohol is a powerful drug that becomes an addiction for many. Alcoholics often don’t realize the damage the drug does to their bodies. This damage does not stop at the patient’s own health, but the well being and emotions of their loved ones. Many addicts feel they can stop on their own, however addictions generally takes a hold of an addict’s brain causing them to make decision they would not have before becoming addicted to alcohol.

Ultimately, organizing an intervention with an alcoholic may not be the happiest moment in your life. However, reaching out to a loved one and offering them help from a reputable and professional alcohol rehabilitation place such as Cliffside Malibu is the first step to recovery. Cliffside Malibu is a luxury beach front rehab center providing a calm and relaxing ambiance guiding addicts to recovery.

While admitted to Cliffside Malibu, luxury bedding options such as comfortable down comforters and pillows are available as well as a turn down service. Other activities available include yoga, acupuncture, massage and hiking with gourmet food as well. All of these things are positive things for addicts to busy themselves with, while working with the professional staff through a series of counseling and therapy sessions. These sessions will work on changing one’s thoughts toward alcohol and provide advice on how to live sober. Additional family counseling and therapy amenities are provided as well (as needed).

The large staff of professionals (doctors, counselors, and therapists) all combines to create a successful cycle of recovered addicts. Cliffside Malibu is dedicated to the healing of all patients that come through their doors. However, they understand that this recovery process begins with the desire of sobriety from the addict themselves.

By providing alcoholics with a chance of a better life, Cliffside Malibu remains one of the most successful alcohol rehab centers in the nation. After recovery is achieved, patients can choose to stay in an extended care program, in which they are observed and guided through the early stages of sober living.

Ultimately, drug rehab centers like Cliffside Malibu provide a new life to patients/addicts who seek help in becoming well. With continued dedication and motivation from staff, patients are given the best chance at success possible from an alcohol rehab center.

For more information on alcohol rehab or alcohol rehabilitation options, visit Cliffsidemalibu.com or Drugrehabsunsetmalibu.com. Their alcohol rehab center provides a means for recovery for any addict.

About Cliffside Malibu: Cliffside Malibu is an alcohol addiction treatment center as well as offering other drug rehab and alcohol rehab facilities. Located on the sunny shore of California and on a beach front location, Cliffside offers help for drug, alcohol and other addicts whether gambling, porn or eating disorders. By helping countless patients, their staff has generated a continuous cycle of success stories within the facility for alcohol rehabilitation.

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Salon Produces Video On A Better Haircutting Experience For Children Suffering From Autism


snipits

Snip-its (www.snipits.com), the fastest growing franchise of children’s hair salons in the U.S., is very proud to announce a partnership with the non-profit organization Autism Speaks. This partnership has produced the publication of a nine-page “Haircutting Training Guide” booklet as well as a “Tips For Successful Haircuts” video, which gives both parents as well as Snip-its stylists tips on how to give autistic children a wonderful haircutting experience. A digital version of the “Haircutting Training Guide” booklet and a copy of the video are currently featured on the “Family Services-Community Connections” page of the Autismspeaks.org Web site.

“We are very proud that we can work in conjunction with a great non-profit charity like Autism Speaks,” says Christine Mudd, director of franchise development for Snip-its. “We hope that our booklet and video can help families give children with autism a better experience in the salon.”

The “Haircutting Training Guide” is an easy to read, nine page booklet which was created by Snip-its in conjunction with Autism Speaks and Melmark New England. The booklet outlines tips for both stylists and parents on how to best make haircuts a easy and stress free experience for children suffering from autism and gives stylists tips on how to speak and interact with these children while giving a haircut. The booklet also features a large section of tips for parents on how to alert management and stylists to your child’s individual needs pre-haircut and how to make their child comfortable throughout their haircutting experience.

The “Hair Cutting Tips for Children with Autism” video puts the tips outlined in the “Haircutting Training Guide” booklet into an easy to follow video format. At Snip-its we take pride in giving children the best haircut, and the best experience possible. While a haircut involving a child with autism might be a bit more challenging, by following a few simple steps, we can assure both the child and the parent that they will experience a quick and enjoyable haircutting experience.

Autism is a complex neurological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person’s lifetime and effects 1 in 150 individuals. This makes autism more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. Autism knows no racial, ethnic or social lines and affects four times as many boys as it does girls. It impairs a person’s ability to communicate and relate to others and is associated with rigid routines and repetitive behavior. Symptoms can range from very mild to severe and while steps can be taken to make a autistic child more comfortable in society, no known cure is available at this time.

About Snip-its
The Snip-its Corporation, based in Natick, Massachusetts, is a growing kids franchise designed to untangle the hair care challenges of children and their parents. It provides the best customer service and a guaranteed great time for both kids and parents. The salon franchise has served more than one million children annually in 65 locations. In 2007, Snip-its was named the 30th fastest growing franchise in the U.S. by Franchise Times Magazine. For more information or to learn more about kids franchise opportunities, visit www.snipits.com or call 877-SNIP-ITS.

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Consumer Protection Institute (CPI) Announces DebtResponseâ„¢

Consumer Protection Institute (CPI) announces DebtResponseâ„¢ – its new web-based solution that protects consumers in debt collection. DebtResponseâ„¢ fills the widening communication gap between debt-stressed consumers and third-party debt collectors by enabling rapid, reliable and optimized responses to debt collector communications at low-cost.

consumerprotection

DebtResponse™ removes the embarrassment, confusion, paralysis and confrontations associated with responding to debt collectors–whether demanding they stop contact or challenging collector claims.

“DebtResponse is a timely answer to a growing need, and is aligned with President Obama’s plans to address the United States’ credit card industry and improve the financial health of our citizens. Educational webcasts; an informative blog; and expansion to Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain and Brazil are in the planning stages.” stated Steven Sussman, President of CPI.

Founded in 2008, Consumer Protection Institute is the leader in web-based response solutions for debt-stressed consumers.

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