J Tillotson's Profile
J Tillotson's articles
There have been many adverts on the television in recent years, of companies offering to 'repair your credit history' and naturally, many people are being taken in by them. While some of these companies are legitimate and can guide you through the process of clearing your debts, there are some who will claim to be able to remove debts from your file within 12 months.
Posted: 2008-03-14
Category: Debt Consolidation
More and more school-leavers are heading to further education, and realising for the first time what it's like to cope with your own finances. With the banks throwing student loans and interest-free overdrafts their way, it's no wonder that the average student graduates with over £10,000 worth of debt.
Posted: 2008-03-11
Category: Loans
Mobile phone deals change all the time, and new handsets are appearing at a rate of knots. If you're a gadget freak, you'll feel the impulse to get the latest shiny new phone with the latest technology…but what could you do with your old phone?
Posted: 2008-03-11
Category: Mobile Phones
Everyone has an idea of the type of car they'd ideally like. You've probably plotted out exactly which car, or cars, you'd buy if your numbers came up on the Lottery. Maybe you stand and gape in open-mouthed admiration and envy as someone drives past in your dream car.
Posted: 2008-02-12
Category: Insurance
Urban legends exist about almost every aspect of life from weddings to kitchen appliances to household pets. Each country has its own urban legends and on the face of it, most sound plausible. Myths that exist purely as entertainment or to send a moral message are in themselves harmless, but what if the myth you believe could cost you quite a lot of money?
Posted: 2008-02-12
Category: Insurance
The title is a bit of a contradiction in terms, as insurance is never going to be all that cheap for young drivers! But there are steps a driver in the high-risk group can take to save themselves a little cash on their premiums.
Posted: 2008-02-11
Category: Insurance
Beijing is the place to be in 2008 if you're a sports fan. A very auspicious year for the Chinese people, this is the year in which Beijing will host the 29th Olympic games. The games will start with the lighting of the Olympic Flame at eight minutes to 8 on August 8th.
Posted: 2008-02-08
Category: Travel & Leisure
What do you look for in a holiday? Are you a sun-worshipper, preferring to spend your days on the beach with a book, soaking up the rays and showing your friends back home a tan to envy? Or are you the more adventurous type who just can't sit still, and needs to be out doing energetic things every day? Or perhaps you have a young family and find your days filled with soggy socks, sandy nappies and sunburnt noses?
Posted: 2008-02-08
Category: Travel & Leisure
In Britain, we don't get an abundance of either sun or snow, so it stands to reason we'll go elsewhere for it. Ski resorts are a popular holiday choice amongst the British, and while not as great a variety as there is with sunspots, there's still plenty of choice to suit any taste. This is the final part of our brief guide to the various ski resorts.
Posted: 2008-02-08
Category: Travel & Leisure
Anyone who has seen the Robin Williams film version of Popeye will be at least a little familiar with the Mediterranean island of Malta. The term 'good things come in small packages' certainly can be applied to this small yet beautiful land. Malta is only 17 miles long end to end and 9 miles across at its widest point, yet has some of the most spectacular views in the Mediterranean.
Posted: 2008-02-08
Category: Travel & Leisure
In Britain, we don't get an abundance of either sun or snow, so it stands to reason we'll go elsewhere for it. Ski resorts are a popular holiday choice amongst the British, and while not as great a variety as there is with sunspots, there's still plenty of choice to suit any taste.
Posted: 2008-02-08
Category: Travel & Leisure
In Britain, we don't get an abundance of either sun or snow, so it stands to reason we'll go elsewhere for it. Ski resorts are a popular holiday choice amongst the British, and while not as great a variety as there is with sunspots, there's still plenty of choice to suit any taste. This continues our brief guide to the various ski resorts.
Posted: 2008-02-08
Category: Travel & Leisure
It's been many years now since the Channel Tunnel was built, yet the novelty of driving to Europe hasn't worn off for many of us. But not everyone wants to drive halfway across Britain to keep on driving in a different country, which is where car hire firms come in useful. Hiring a car abroad is a great way of exploring a foreign country without being hassled by other tourists or holiday reps. This is a brief guide to some of the more popular driving destinations throughout Europe.
Posted: 2008-02-08
Category: Travel & Leisure
It's been many years now since the Channel Tunnel was built, yet the novelty of driving to Europe hasn't worn off for many of us. But not everyone wants to drive halfway across Britain to keep on driving in a different country, which is where car hire firms come in useful. This continues our guide to some of the more popular driving destinations throughout Europe.
Posted: 2008-02-08
Category: Travel & Leisure
It's been many years now since the Channel Tunnel was built, yet the novelty of driving to Europe hasn't worn off for many of us. But not everyone wants to drive halfway across Britain to keep on driving in a different country, which is where car hire firms come in useful. This is the final part of our guide to some of the more popular driving destinations throughout Europe.
Posted: 2008-02-08
Category: Travel & Leisure
Few countries could be more different to our way of life than Japan. The distinctive language, interesting food and instantly recognizable décor gives westerners on holiday to Japan an experience which cannot be rivalled.
Posted: 2008-02-08
Category: Travel & Leisure
You'd be forgiven for thinking you'd stepped into another world when you set foot in Spain's second largest city, Barcelona. The historic Mediterranean city still bears signs of its Roman beginnings which contrast beautifully with the later 19th century Gothic architecture located in the heart of the city.
Posted: 2008-02-07
Category: Travel & Leisure
Choosing your broadband package isn't a decision to be taken lightly. With so many different offers floating around it's sometimes easier to just head for the cheapest and hope for the best. But the cheapest isn't necessarily the best, as many dissatisfied broadband customers have already found out.
Posted: 2008-02-04
Category: Broadband Internet
There are many things to be taken into consideration when choosing a broadband provider, but one of the most common is the extra features you can get with it. Getting broadband on its own is no longer necessary; instead you can receive your phone, TV and mobile phone from the same company.
Posted: 2008-02-01
Category: Broadband Internet
There aren't many businesses nowadays who don't utilise the internet in one form or another. Large corporations may use it to communicate with their many members of staff, and a smaller business might use it for market research purposes.
Posted: 2008-01-31
Category: Broadband Internet
Dial-up internet is slowly but surely being phased out with more and more households turning to a broadband connection instead. But with so many providers around, each offering a different package, finding the right one for you may seem like an uphill struggle.
Posted: 2008-01-30
Category: Broadband Internet
Whatever your circumstances, tastes, needs and budget, there'll be a mobile phone and tariff to suit you. There's such a wide variety of handsets around now, everyone can have a phone which they're happy with.
Posted: 2008-01-29
Category: Mobile Phones
The mobile phone is the fashion accessory of the 21st century, so it stands to reason the accessory will have accessories. There are almost as many phone accessories as there are phones to use them with, and this quick guide will cover just a few.
Posted: 2008-01-29
Category: Mobile Phones
The first mobile phones introduced in the UK could only just be called 'mobile'. They resembled a house brick, if not in colour then certainly in size, and cost more than the car you used them in. The only accessory was the extraordinary briefcase-sized battery and receiver pack you had to cart around with it, and an integrated camera was just the stuff of dreams.
Posted: 2008-01-29
Category: Mobile Phones
The Post Office has been a mainstay of the British community for as long as any of us can remember. While they may have their problems with postal strikes and the like, the GPO remains an institution looked upon fondly by many of us.
Posted: 2008-01-29
Category: Mobile Phones
Being in a car accident can be painful, stressful and financially crippling. Depending on the severity of it, the costs can be extremely high. Inevitably there will also be repercussions of varying seriousness, some of which will affect your premiums.
Posted: 2008-01-28
Category: Insurance
The PDA, or Personal Digital Assistant, is the most technologically advanced type of mobile phone to date. It's a combination of phone, computer, games console, MP3 player…basically, it can do anything your desktop PC can.
Posted: 2008-01-28
Category: Mobile Phones
Everybody needs their day in the sun now and again. It's been proven that the body and mind benefit from sunlight, as it causes the body to produce vitamin D, which promotes healthy bones and can even help to prevent coronary disease. It's also a natural mood elevator – hence why some sufferers of depression can benefit from light therapy.
Posted: 2008-01-24
Category: Loans
Debt is a big problem in the UK. The TV channels are flooded with advertisements for debt consolidation loans and companies offering to manage your debts for you, but what if you don't want to, or can't, do this?
Posted: 2008-01-24
Category: Debt Consolidation
Getting a loan in the UK Is proving harder and harder. Even applicants with good credit scores are finding banks less willing to lend them money, and interest rates are rising, seemingly to put potential borrowers off. The numbers of loans refused is at an all-time high, because lenders are becoming more choosy about who they accept. Here are some of the reasons why your application may have been refused.
Posted: 2008-01-24
Category: Loans
Loans can be refused for a variety of reasons, some of which are obvious: Illegibility, omitting important details, or just not filling in the application fully. But some reasons aren't as obvious, and people often don't realise they're putting their credit score in jeopardy by repeatedly making the same mistakes.
Posted: 2008-01-24
Category: Loans
"I'm getting married" are the words every parent both longs and dreads to hear come from their daughter's lips. The news that their precious little darling is now a grown woman is usually met with surprise, then mild sadness or nostalgia – maybe tinged with a little relief – and finally happiness and excitement as you set to work planning the Big Day.
Posted: 2008-01-24
Category: Loans
There are many different types of loan available, and the latest ones to appear seem to be too good to be true for people with bad credit ratings who can't get a regular loan. Unfortunately, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
Posted: 2008-01-23
Category: Loans
If one of your new years resolutions is to get your finances in order this year, then this brief guide may be able to help you. Debt is a big problem in the UK, with around two-thirds of the nation in some form of financial difficulty. There is no quick and easy solution, but there are ways you can help ease the burden.
Posted: 2008-01-22
Category: Debt Consolidation
Bankruptcy is a scary word with a major stigma attached to it, but the fact of the matter is, it can help some people in certain circumstances. If your debts are of an insurmountable level and you genuinely cannot see another way out, then you may have to go down this road.
Posted: 2008-01-22
Category: Debt Consolidation
The figures keep fluctuating year upon year, but the sad fact remains that the average household in the UK is in debt to the tune of £9000 - £11,000, and that's excluding the mortgage. What's worse is that it seems to be spiralling out of control, with more and more people getting into debt every day.
Posted: 2008-01-21
Category: Debt Consolidation
If you need to get away but want something a little bit different, why not think about a Fly-Drive holiday? It's a great way to experience a country at its best, and see some amazing scenery that may not otherwise be accessible.
Posted: 2008-01-21
Category: Travel & Leisure
It's hard for anyone living in Britain to say they truly love driving. Almost all the pleasure has been taken out of it by the sheer number of rules, regulations and ramps that clutter UK roads. Films like Thelma and Louise or Easy Rider just serve to point out the huge difference between American interstates and British carriageways, and make many of us long for that kind of freedom.
Posted: 2008-01-21
Category: Travel & Leisure
For residents of 66% of the world, a driving holiday in the United Kingdom is a completely different experience. The UK is the 7th largest country (in terms of population) which drives on the left hand side of the road, which can cause some confusion for holiday makers from one of the 166 countries that uses the right-hand side.
Posted: 2008-01-21
Category: Travel & Leisure
Now the holiday season is well and truly over, thousands of people are facing the reality of just how much they spent during it. The credit card bills are rolling in, and coping with those as well as the regular bills mean that many households are starting the new year in debt.
Posted: 2008-01-21
Category: Loans
With much of the nation in debt, many lenders are now offering something called a 'bad credit mortgage'. There are even lenders who specialise in these types of mortgages, which often have much higher interest rates.
Posted: 2008-01-21
Category: Mortgages
What do you do when you look at your household paperwork one day and realise you're up to your eyeballs in plastic? Credit cards, debit cards, store cards…It's just all too confusing!
Posted: 2008-01-21
Category: Loans
In Britain, the cost of living seems to be steadily on the rise. More and more people are struggling to make ends meet and subsequently the nation's debt is spiralling out of control.
Posted: 2008-01-21
Category: Debt Consolidation
Hundreds of people each year are victims of fraud, and many of these relate to their credit cards. There are many ways for identity thieves to obtain your credit card details but likewise, there are many ways to avoid them.
Posted: 2008-01-18
Category: Finance
If you live in a university town such as Stafford, Bradford, Cambridge etc and you're looking to make a few investments, why not consider a buy to let mortgage? Not only will you be helping out the students in your city, you can also make money out of it!
Posted: 2008-01-18
Category: Mortgages
A buy-to-let mortgage is a form of investment which can offer more security than the less predictable stock market. It comes with no guarantees, but as the nation gets more in debt and standard mortgage applications are being turned down, people are looking more at renting properties as opposed to climbing the property ladder themselves.
Posted: 2008-01-18
Category: Mortgages
Nowadays we have insurance for everything – the car, the home, the family dog, even our lives. But there's one type of insurance that often gets forgotten – heating insurance.
Posted: 2008-01-16
Category: Home & Family
This is a list of tips and tricks about car insurance. Some are obvious, some aren't, some are just common sense. All can help you lower your premiums.
Posted: 2008-01-14
Category: Insurance
This is a continued list of tips and tricks about car insurance. Some are obvious, some aren't, some are just common sense. All can help you lower your premiums.
Posted: 2008-01-14
Category: Insurance
"Has the car been modified or adapted from the manufacturers specification in any way?"…the words every modified car driver dreads. But lying about it is more trouble than it's worth.
Posted: 2008-01-14
Category: Insurance
Age – Your age can affect the price of your insurance. The age group 25 – 70 tend to get the lowest premiums.
Posted: 2008-01-14
Category: Insurance
No claims – Going for a year or more without making an insurance claim can get you varying discounts on your premiums. Some insurers also offer protected no claims, meaning you can make so many claims per year without your discount being affected.
Posted: 2008-01-14
Category: Insurance
Traditionally, a car insurance policy lasts for a year at a time. But what if you won't have the car for that length of time? Perhaps you're just looking after a car while a friend is on holiday, and you need to be insured to drive it. You don't want to take out a full years premium for a car you'll only have for a fortnight, and your current insurance policy doesn't cover driving other cars.
Posted: 2008-01-10
Category: Insurance
Car prices are becoming unpredictable in the UK, so many car enthusiasts are opting to look over the waters instead. Importing a car can be a good way of getting yourself a bargain car, often one that is unique or rarely seen in the UK.
Posted: 2008-01-10
Category: Insurance
Every car in the UK falls into one of 20 insurance groups. This, along with several other factors, helps insurance firms calculate your premium.
Posted: 2008-01-09
Category: Insurance
We're all used to the concept of a pay as you go mobile phone, but now there is the option to apply the same principle to your car insurance. This latest type of insurance is a step to cut costs for younger drivers.
Posted: 2008-01-09
Category: Insurance
You've got your renewal quote through, you've switched providers and you're now happy with your new, lower premium. Then you have an accident, through no fault of your own, and suddenly the wonderful premium doesn't seem so great after all…
Posted: 2008-01-08
Category: Insurance
There are many additional features available with your car insurance policy; some you'll need, others you won't. This brief guide outlines the most common ones offered by insurers, and anything to be aware of.
Posted: 2008-01-08
Category: Insurance
Car hire companies have a bad reputation for over-charging customers and piling on extra surcharges for damages, fuel consumption and mileage that has nothing to do with the renter. Hopefully, this quick guide will let you know what to look out for when renting a car abroad.
Posted: 2008-01-08
Category: Travel & Leisure
If you're stuck for somewhere to spend your holiday this year, this brief guide may give you some ideas. It lists the top 10 'hottest' destinations for the coming year.
Posted: 2008-01-08
Category: Destinations
Going on holiday can be expensive, which is why many people prefer to shop around for the best deals, and book everything themselves as opposed to using a travel agent. But while this may be the cheaper option, is it really the best?
Posted: 2008-01-08
Category: Travel & Leisure
It's long been established that the highest car insurance premiums go to the under 25's, with new drivers sometimes being quoted in excess of £2000 for a yearly premium.
Posted: 2008-01-08
Category: Insurance
With so many different options for car insurance around, it can be confusing finding the one you need. Often, drivers will go with the same company that their family or friends go with, simply because they don't want to brave the spaghetti junction of car insurance policies.
Posted: 2008-01-07
Category: Insurance
We've covered the most common factors that will affect the price of your premium, but they are by no means the only factors. The type of car you drive will have a big bearing on the cost.
Posted: 2008-01-07
Category: Insurance
For some, a car is not just a way of getting from A to B. It is a way of life, a hobby which can reap great rewards and increase your social standing. Car modification is more popular now than it's ever been, but what are the hidden costs?
Posted: 2008-01-07
Category: Insurance
Buying a new car is a daunting experience even for those who've done it before but for the novice, it can be hellish. Tales of demonic salesmen ready to strip you of your last penny and sell you something that should have been condemned last decade swim around in your head, made worse by the fact that once on the forecourt, they watch you with the intensity of a spider eyeing up its next fly.
Posted: 2008-01-07
Category: Insurance
If you're unlucky enough to be in a car accident, your first thought probably won't be your car insurance. You'll be more concerned with any injuries you've sustained, and any legal ramifications if the accident was your fault.
Posted: 2008-01-07
Category: Insurance
It's long been recognised as a way to get a young driver insured cheaply, yet most people aren't aware that it's a form of fraud. I'm talking about Fronting Up – the practice of a parent insuring themselves on their teenager's car, and listing the teenager as a named driver only.
Posted: 2008-01-04
Category: Insurance
In the past, the penalties in this country for driving without insurance have been quite modest, with a fine of just £173 on average. But as the amount of uninsured drivers increased, the police are clamping down.
Posted: 2008-01-04
Category: Insurance
Driving holidays are always popular, especially in Europe, and with cross-channel ferries and the Channel Tunnel being relatively cheap, holiday makers are going for this option instead of flights. The sense of freedom that comes with going on a foreign holiday in your own car is one that appeals to the more adventurous of us.
Posted: 2008-01-04
Category: Insurance
At one time, a hotel was just a regular building with lots of rooms, a dining room, bar and perhaps a gym and swimming pool. But as more and more people are demanding something different from their holidays, hotels are becoming increasingly more elaborate and extraordinary.
Posted: 2008-01-03
Category: Travel & Leisure
This is the time of year when people start thinking about their summer holidays. Some have already booked a holiday, either abroad or in the UK, but for those of you who haven't, here's a few things to consider.
Posted: 2008-01-03
Category: Vacations
Not many drivers know this, but there are many ways to shave pounds off your car insurance premium. It's all a matter of knowing what the insurers look for.
Posted: 2007-12-21
Category: Insurance
Now the long-awaited iPhone is finally available on our shores, it's set to be the most popular Christmas gift of 2007. But it has sparked a little controversy, as any new gadget will do.
Posted: 2007-12-21
Category: Mobile Phones
The latest rip-off to come to light in Britain is the cashback deal offered by mobile phone companies. An investigation carried out by Which? has found that a worrying number of consumers are being made to 'jump through hoops' in order to get the cashback they signed up for.
Posted: 2007-12-20
Category: Mobile Phones
