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Between 4 and 12 million customers could soon be receiving letters from their banks about the mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) that they were sold.

The banks claim that they ‘systematically mis-sold’ PPI to a number of their customers and the Financial Services Authority (FSA) have now ordered the banks to write the letters in plain English and that they should let the customers know that they may have been mis-sold PPI, how they can go about trying to reclaim it and that there’s no need for the customer to use a claims management company to reclaim what they are owed.

All of these letters are said to be being sent out the customers in stages so as not to miss anyone out and to be a little more precise in ensuring everyone receives a letter.

It has also recently been revealed that an astonishing £1.9bn has been paid out in 2011 due to the mis-selling of PPI. According to reports though, there could still be a quite astronomical amount of £6bn to still be paid out to customers that have been mis-sold the insurance in previous years.

One reason banks are saying that their customers don’t need to get a claims Management Company involved is because of how lucrative a business it’s been for them.
All in all, there’s been around £50m claimed by these claims companies who have managed to get this figure back for their client’s claims.

If however, you don’t fancy trying to claim your money back through the bank then you should definitely pay a visit to a company who will be able to help you get back what you’re owed.

When pets get ill, the bills can run into the hundreds or thousands of pounds. There is no government safety net for dogs and vets can be expensive. So how do you prepare yourself for these eventualities and cover yourself against the cost of a sick pet?

The most popular method is pet insurance, but it can be costly if you don’t shop around and you could find yourself without cover, without realising it if you are not careful. So how do you pick the best pet insurance for your pet and get the best deal on insurance for your pet?

Firstly, you need to decide how many pets you want to insure. If you have a number of pets, then insurance can start to add up significantly. If you own a pedigree pet then you can expect your insurance costs to be higher due to risk of theft and the fact that many pedigrees have congenital problems. You also need to look at any pre-existing conditions as they may not be covered by the insurance you are going to take out.

A good start for finding the cheapest pet insurance are the price comparison websites. There are a number out there that will compare insurance policies for you, but you have to do a little bit of extra digging to ensure that you are comparing like with like. For example, what is the third party cover of the policy? What are the excesses? Whilst you could find you are saving money on your monthly premiums, you may find yourself seriously out of pocket when it comes to making a claim.

Most insurance policies will insist your pet receives any annual injections they require. Failure to get this injections could leave you without cover in the case of a claim.

Also check whether the policy requires you to pay up front for any treatment and then claim from your insurance policy. This can make a difference to whether or not a policy is suitable for you.

There are even different levels of cover, ranging from basic cover with treatment per condition with a time limit on treatment length, to a mid range cover which has no time limit through to the lifetime cover for multiple conditions.

Depending on the health of your pet you need to choose the one that is appropriate. If your pet suffers from a condition like diabetes or arthritis and needs regular treatment then the more
expensive policy could be best. Otherwise one of the cheaper policies could be good enough for you.

Remember that not all insurers appear on the comparison sites. Sometimes you can get a better deal by approaching an insurer directly or you may find the special offers run by certain insurers provide a better deal. Nectarcard, Clubcard or other store run points schemes can offer a good deal, but make sure you are not missing out on the cover that you want for your pet.

Getting the cheapest pet insurance can be a concern for many people, but you need to make sure that you don’t compromise the cover for your pet for the sake of a few pounds.

The first quarter of 2012 brought grim news from the Office of National Statistics, which reported an unemployment figure of 2.6 million. A third of this figure is made up of people who have been out of work for a year or more and are therefore classed as long-term unemployed.

With such high levels of unemployment, many workers are considering more seriously the consequences of job loss. In addition to familiarising themselves with their employer’s redundancy terms and looking for areas where they can tighten their belts, many people are investigating income-protection cover as a way of providing some additional security.

What is Income-Protection Cover?

Income-protection cover pays a regular tax-free sum when you experience a loss of income due to illness or injury, with some policies also covering unemployment and redundancy. There are a number of policies available, all offering varying periods and levels of cover.

Points to Consider

It’s important to make sure you understand the full terms and conditions of a policy you are considering taking out to ensure that it is the right fit for your own circumstances. For example, some policies may only pay out for a set period of time, while others may defer payment for a few months after a claim is made.

This delay may be fine if your employer has a generous compensation plan or you have savings, but if your employment contract only covers you for the statutory minimum you may wish to seek out a policy that either pays out right away or backdates payments to the date of a claim.

Similarly, different providers will have different exclusion criteria and rules around how long a policy has to be in effect before a claim could be made. Check if there are any special rules covering self-employment or certain medical conditions in the policy you are considering.

Income protection will pay a regular sum based on a percentage of your total monthly income. This is different to other forms of insurance, such as payment-protection insurance, which only covers the repayment costs of one particular debt or purchase.

If you are made redundant and have payment-protection insurance for your mortgage you would still need to cover the rest of your living expenses either with personal savings or an income-protection policy.

A critical-illness policy will provide you with a tax-free sum if you are diagnosed with a listed illness. However, it does not pay out for every illness in the way that an income protection policy does. Consequently, if illness or health issues are of particular concern to you and your family it may be worth spending some time researching the various income-protection policies available.

Do I Need Income-Protection Cover?

When deciding whether income protection cover is the right choice for you and your family, it may be useful to look into the terms of your employer’s redundancy cover and whether your employer will pay a percentage of your salary if you are off sick indefinitely.

Look at any other insurance policies you may have and make a note of what you would be covered for and how long you would be covered if you lost your job unexpectedly. Are there any gaps and how would you fill these gaps?

Most importantly, take time to consider the various policies available, ensure your chosen policy is right for you and your family and make sure you fully understand the terms and conditions before purchasing any insurance plan.

Frequenting our television screens on a daily basis, we are all familiar with the scenes of the reconstructed fall followed by an presenter telling us about the sizeable cheque that the injured party received on a ‘no win no fee basis’. Said informant then encourages us to ring the number that appears on screen if we have been affected by a similar accident.

The advertisements make the process seem so simple and risk-free that it is no surprise that many people are left wondering what the catch is. It’s important to realise that if you have been injured as a result of an accident which was not your fault then you could be eligible for compensation.

However it is fundamental to appreciate that the process is unlikely to be as simple as ringing a phone number and consequently receiving a cheque in the post. With rising claims of ‘ambulance chasing’ salesmen approaching injured parties in hospitals making proposals of accident compensation claims, it is increasingly important that you make the right choices regarding your personal injury claim.

How do I know if my injury firm at legitimate?

In order to ensure that you receive the best support possible, it is important to ensure that the legal firm you choose to deal with are professional and experienced in dealing with personal injury claims.

Choosing the right solicitor can be a difficult task however it is an important one. A good solicitor should not be looking for quick sales instead they should be focussed on fully understanding your situation and working to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve, both financially and medically.

Ensure that you are dealing with a qualified solicitor from a reputable legal firm who have a strong background in successful personal injury claims. Good personal injury firms tend to offer initial advice free on a no obligation basis to ascertain whether you have a potential claim. This could prove a good opportunity for you to raise any queries which you have.

Be wary if you are approached directly by salesmen after your injury. Do not feel obliged to discuss your situation with them. They may quote large sums that you could be rewarded however with personal injury claims, there is no way of telling exactly how much compensation that you could receive until a full investigation has been completed and liability has been accepted.

Who should I turn to for personal injury advice?

The few ‘claims cowboys’ out there should not be associated with the legitimate personal injury firms who have years of experience in offering claimants an honest and dedicated end-to-end service to help them get all the compensation that they deserve.

You should not feel pressured or rushed into anything that you do not want to do. Your personal injury solicitor should help ensure that you are informed and consulted every step of the process.

“The ability to pay your debt is important for your financial security. However, what happens if you are not able to make your payments? Succumbing to a disability could put you out of work for a long period of time. Your property could be destroyed in a bad storm before you finish paying for it. Credit card insurance could be something worth looking into.

Credit Card Life Insurance

If you die, your credit balance will be paid off. This can help relieve your family of at least one of your debts upon your passing. Without insurance, your family will be asked to pay your debt for you. You should be aware that you may already be covered if you already have life insurance through another provider. Therefore, it may not be worth carrying.

Credit Card Disability Insurance

Those who become disabled will have their current balance paid off. Keep in mind that future purchases will not be covered under this policy. Also, you will need to carry a policy for any of the credit cards that you currently have. However, this may be a good policy to have if you are really concerned about your credit score.

Credit Card Property Damage Insurance

Items that are damaged or stolen will generally be covered under the terms of this type of policy. The downside to this coverage is that many different policies offer this coverage as well. Your homeowners policy will cover the cost of anything damaged or stolen from your property. Renters insurance will generally cover this type of damage if you rent an apartment. Avoid this extra coverage if at all possible.

Other Pitfalls Of Credit Card Insurance

There are a a few other pitfalls of credit card insurance policies. The biggest pitfall is that there are many exclusions. You really have to read the fine print before agreeing to a credit card insurance policy. Another pitfall is that you are almost conned into buying a policy. One common tactic is to offer you a free 30-day trial. However, it is very difficult to cancel the policy after the trial is over.

Do yourself a favour by avoiding credit card insurance if at all possible. There are plenty of other policies that will offer you the same coverage for less. Purchasing a life insurance policy should cover your credit card debt as well as other debts you leave behind. Private medical insurance should help you cover your bills if you are ever out of work due to a medical issue. In other words, there is already coverage available to you if you are ever sick or injured. Go with that instead.