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Most Read Hints and Service Buying Tips On This Site
Interested in what other visitors are reading? About what services and service buying hints and tips are most visited by our visitors. Here's a list of the most popular articles listed on our site.
5 ways to get auto insurance discounts- by insure.com
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Some companies will cut your bill if you're an engineer or a teacher. Multi-vehicle and Web-access discounts are available, too, if you just shop a little.
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12 hidden ways to save on auto insurance- by insure.com
Keeping secrets is fine when you're in grade school, but when it comes to taking care of your car, secrets are just what you don't need, especially from your insurance company. Here are 12 things your auto insurer won't tell you, and what you can do about it.
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Auto Insurance Tips - 10 Tips to Help You Save on Car Insurance- by na
Auto insurance is a major expenditure for most car and vehicle owners. Find out how you can save in the purchase of your car insurnace from these buying tips.
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Auto Insurance Tips - SUV Owners Pay More for Insurance- by na
The cost to insure an SUV is generally 10 to 20 percent more than a car, depending of course on a driver's location. Find out why and whether you can do anything to lower your insurance premiums for your SUV.
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Auto Insurance Tips - Cheap Car Insurance: Factors that Affect Your Car Insurance Rates- by na
When it comes to auto insurance rates, who you are determines what you pay.
Automobile insurance premiums are based on a large number of factors, some of which you can control, and some of which, alas, are incontrovertible facts of life. Statistically, a sixteen-year old boy with a 300 horsepower sports car in a big city is far more likely to hit something than a 35 year-old married guy driving a minivan around the suburbs.
While you can%u2019t change your age and some other factors, there are things that you can do to keep insurance premiums as low as possible.
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10 Most Expensive 2005 Cars & Trucks to Insure- by Kim Baker
Before buying a car or truck, you might want to check out whether the make and model is one of the most expensive vehicles to insure.
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Home insurance - Can You Afford To Be Without Flood Insurance?- by Ron Lent
"Flooding is far and away the most common natural disaster type in the country, and flood is not covered by your typical homeowners insurance policy. You NEED to know about his, particularly if you live in flood prone areas.
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Home insurance - Twelve ways to save on your home insurance- by na
Here are 12 ways to slash the cost of your home insurance. A wide variety of discounts are available, ranging from the type of building material used to build your home to how close you live to a fire station. These discounts will vary by state and insurance company.
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Home insurance - The Basics of Renter Insurance- by na
You may not OWN a home, but even condo and apartment renters need to consider renters insurance to protect their belongings. Read more.
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Buying LIFE INSURANCELife Insurance Tips - Buying Life Insurance When You Have Asthma- by na
Despite the serious nature of asthma, many of those with the condition can buy affordable life insurance.
The severity of your asthma will largely determine how much more you might have to pay for life insurance. A person with severe, persistent asthma is going to pay more for life insurance than someone with a mild, intermittent variety. Just as important as the severity of your asthma is how you respond to treatments.
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Life Insurance Tips - Group Life Insurance: Is it Enough?- by na
Group life insurance, which in most situations is offered by your employer, provides coverage at a reasonable rate. While group life insurance can be a great deal, it might not provide enough protection. If your group life policy is the only life insurance you own, you could be open to financial disaster.
The group advantage
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Life Insurance Tips - Buying Group Life Insurance for Your Small Business- by na
When you founded your small business, you likely started with one employee: You. But as you've grown, you may have realized that in order to attract and retain top-notch employees, it pays to offer a variety of benefits, which may include group life insurance.
Many experts say group life insurance is a good supplement to a person's existing individual life insurance. "Group life is fairly inexpensive compared to what an employer would pay for a medical or retirement plan," says Larry Dinkler, director of e-business for group benefits at Hartford Life Insurance Co. "It gives you pretty good bang for your buck."
Group life may be cheap, but there are numerous considerations before you buy it for your employees. Here's how to untangle the complex web of group life insurance.
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Life Insurance Tips - 5 Easy Ways to Lower Life Insurance Costs- by na
The price you pay for life insurance depends on your age, your health, and your lifestyle. So if you are older, you have health problems, and you are a smoker, you will always pay more for life insurance than someone who is younger, healthier, and a nonsmoker. That being said, there are ways to lower your life insurance premiums, even if you fall into a higher-risk category. Following are some simple suggestions for life insurance and term life insurance.
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How to assess your life insurance needs- by Ginger Applegarth
Marital status, number of dependents, your income and their college expenses. By weighing these and other factors, you can calculate your life insurance needs.
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Insurance most people can do without- by Dan Phelps
So what kind of insurance may be a bad deal? Here are 10 worth skipping.
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Choosing The Right Repair Shop. - by n/a
No matter what you drive--sports car, family sedan, pick-up, or mini-van, when you go in for repairs or service, you want the job done right. The following advice should take much of the guesswork out of finding a good repair establishment.
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How To Find A Quality Mechanic- by Christopher Burdick
So how long ago did you last have your car in for service? That long, huh? Well, if you are procrastinating because you don't know how to find a good mechanic, have no fear, we can give you some tips on how to find one. Regular maintenance is vital to an automobile's reliability and resale value. Don't just drop your car off at the corner gas station, do some research first.
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Choosing A Mechanic - Where Should You Go For Routine Maintenance?- by Tara Baukus
So it's time for an oil change and you're faced with the decision of where to take your car.
It may not be easy to choose. After all, there are lots of different types of shops you can go to for routine maintenance-the dealership, your local garage, a major chain such as Sears Auto or a specialist outsourcer such as Jiffy Lube. Making the decision which type of facility to go to isn't necessarily a slam-dunk. Let's look at your options.
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Finding a Mechanic - Looking for Mr. Goodwrench? Remember these hints.- by Bengt Halvorson
Finding a good repair shop is one of the toughest tasks of car ownership, because there often isn't a good, clear choice. The key is, of course, to find a good, trustworthy mechanic before things go wrong. If you've already found a competent, honest mechanic, good for you. For the rest of us, here's how you might try:
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Choosing A DOCTORChoosing A Doctor- by n a
This information will help you develop an action plan for choosing a doctor that will meet all of your expectations. Also included are some tips to help you communication with your doctor to greatly increase your doctor/patient satisfaction.
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Choosing A Cancer Specialist- by n a
After being told you have a blood related cancer such as leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma, one of the most important initial decisions for you will be choosing a physician who will manage your treatment.
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Choosing a Doctor- by n a
It is important to choose your doctor with care, because quality varies. For example, the Pacific Business Group on Health asked patients of California doctors' groups how they rated their care. The results? More than 80 percent of the patients said they were satisfied with their care. But fewer than two-thirds were happy with the ease of getting that care.
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Changing or Choosing Your Doctor- by n a
Beverly Kievman in her book, For Better or For Worse: A Couple%u2019s Guide to Dealing with Chronic Illness suggests that your primary doctor can be your quarterback. Depending on your level of injury, severity, and complications, you may need to see a variety of specialists and therapists over your lifetime. Therefore, the quarterback of your health care team is critical.
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Choosing A Doctor To Take Care Of Your Child- by Vincent Iannelli, M.D.
When choosing a doctor to take care of your child, it is more important to find a doctor that you trust and like, instead of going to them simply because they are a Pediatrician or a GP.
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Choosing A HOME RENOVATOR OR CONTRACTORHiring a Contractor- by n/a
Owning a home usually involves making repairs or renovations to that home. If you hire a contractor to do the work, avoid potential problems by doing a little research, and making sure the contractor you choose is reputable.
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Home Improvement Contractors- by n/a
The Better Business Bureau of Windsor & Southwestern Ontario provides the following tips on dealing with home improvement contractors:
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Contractor Responds- by n/a
I'm a female General Contractor who ownes a small remodeling company. I've read some of the complaints of the customers and have this to add.
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Finding Good Contracters- by n/a
Choosing your remodeler is the most important decision in a remodeling project. Take your time and be thorough in your search. Here are just a few places to start looking for the best contractor for your job:
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Product Selection For Your Home Renovations- by n/a
Product selection is one of the biggest factors in staying within your budget. The products you choose will determine the final cost of the job. But cost is not the most important factor in choosing products %u2014 quality is
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Tips on Selecting a Contractor- by Ron Lent
Because of the amount of money involved in home renovations, it's crucial you understand how to select a home contractor. Here are some essential questions to ask the contractor.
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Choosing A REAL ESTATE AGENTChoosing an Agent- by n/a
Some people like the extra attention that a hands-on real estate agent can provide. Others just want to be left alone as much as possible so they can look at the houses. You're in the process of educating yourself about the entire process so that you won't need as much hand-holding as some people.
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How To Work with Real Estate Agents- by Janet Wickell
In most states a real estate agent must disclose which party he or she works for--by default usually the home seller, and disclosure typically occurs during the first substantial contact with a home buyer.
Here's a brief look at some of the details you might hear during disclosure:
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Choosing a Real Estate Agent- by n/a
Recommendations by your loan officer or a friend is a good method of finding the right agent. If either has had good experience with an agent, it's a good sign. However, even with a recommendation, you still need to carefully evaluate which agent is right for you.
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How To Choose A Good Real Estate Agent- by Jeff Ostroff
All the tips you need to help you choose a good real estate agent that will work diligently in selling your house if they are your listing agent, or as a buyer's agent if you are buying a house. We even have tips on how to make your relationship with your real estate agent go as smoothly as possible, and scams to avoid.
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Don't Pick the Wrong Agent- by Dian Hymer
Short article with tips on both choosing a real estate agent, and maximizing your interactions with your real estate agent.
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Choosing A Real Estate Agent - Top Producer or Hungry Rookie?- by na
In spite of the “how to” books and articles stressing ways to interview and employ a real estate agent, most people hire one by the luck of the draw. The person who answers the phone or is seated behind the desk when a customer makes initial contact is the agent who gets the job. Other scientific selection methods are based on a postcard announcing a neighbor’s new real estate license or a call from Aunt Jill (the one with the talent for guilt trips) about her best friend who is in the business.
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Choosing A SCHOOLChoosing the Right Private School- by Robert Kennedy
The process of choosing a school seems simple enough. All you have to do is identify schools you think are suitable. Then you evaluate them, select the ones you like and send in the applications. That's all there is to it, right? In theory, yes! But there's a lot more to it.
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Choosing a School 101- by Robert Kennedy
Finding the best private school for your child is a major project. It's as difficult and time-consuming as picking a college or buying a house. Why? Because you need to get it right. Your child's happiness and academic future are at stake. Getting the right fit will make the difference between success and failure. Think of choosing a school just as you do buying a fine suit or dress. It needs to fit correctly or you will feel uncomfortable. Your child needs to feel comfortable in her new school. And the school must feel comfortable with her.
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Choosing a Quality Elementary School- by n a
Presented are five good questions you should ask about the elementary school's policies before enroling your child. See what various aspects of a school can you tell about the education your child will receive.
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How to Choose the Best Elementary School- by n a
This article lists specific steps for you to take to help you select the best elementary school for your child. Also included are some great tips for helping you make that final important decision.
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Choosing a School: Considering Family Needs And Values- by n a
Whether you are choosing a school for the first time for your child or your child is making the transition to a new school, you probably have many questions. What are your options? How much choice do you really have? What's the best option for your child and your family? Where should you begin?
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Choosing a School: Considering Your Child's Needs- by n a
School choice options available to parents have increased dramatically in recent years. There's a growing national sentiment that promoting competition in public education may spur schools to improve and that parents who invest energy in choosing a school will continue to be involved in their child's education.
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Imagining Your Ideal School: An Exercise for Setting Priorities- by Victoria Thorp
The following quick exercise will help you identify the qualities that are most important to you and your child when choosing a school.
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Choosing HEALTH INSURANCEHow to avoid Medicare scams: 5 tips- by iinsure.com
Agents sometimes use high-pressure scare tactics to try to get seniors to quit their managed-care plans and sign up for Medigap insurance. Here's how to spot the phonies.
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the new wave in health insurance for you?- by Liz Pulliam Weston
Health Savings Accounts pair high-deductible insurance with tax-free savings that participants can use to stay healthy or to retire someday. The plans fit self-employed people well. Do they fit you?
Health Savings Accounts pair high-deductible insurance with tax-free savings that participants can use to stay healthy or to retire someday. The plans fit self-employed people well. Do they fit you?
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Health insurance Basics- by na
Just starting with health insurance? This short article explains the basic terminology.
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Types of Health Insurance- by na
Buying health insurance isn't a simple thing. Learn about the different kinds of health insurance you can purchase.
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When Things Go Wrong : Better Business BureauVending Machine Scams - Better Business Bureau Alert- by n/a
In tough economic times, consumers often look for ways to supplement their income. The Better Business Bureau warns consumers about help wanted ads that promise large profits for little effort servicing automatic vending machines or display racks. This may sound like an easy way to make big bucks, but be cautious! Although some business opportunities that offer servicing vending machines or display racks are legitimate, many are not. Potential investors should get all the facts or they may end up being short changed.
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Credit Card Frauds- by Vladimir Golubev
Roman's company set up a contract on salary cards project with the bank A. Employees have their personal credit card accounts and receive their wages through ATMs of the VISA Classic international payment system. Roman also used mobile-banking services. When a transaction on his account occurs, an immediate notification is sent to his GSM phone via SMS.
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When Things Go Wrong : False AdvertisingBasics In False Advertising- by n/a
Although your use of the latest hot marketing and sales strategies may improve the bottom line of your business, you may get into hot "legal waters" if you do not exercise the proper restraints. This article discusses the boundaries beyond which you do not want to stray lest you run afoul of the laws governing false advertising.
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False advertising - Defined- by n/a
False advertising is an act of deliberately misleading a potential client about a product, service or a company in general by reporting false or misrepresenting information or data in advertising or other promotional materials. False advertising is a type of fraud.
False advertising is often a crime. In some countries advertising practices (including "truth in advertising") are regulated by a government authority (FTC in the USA), in others the advertising industry is self-regulated and professional associations combat false advertising.
To decrease their legal liability for false advertising, many companies cover their tracks using small print.
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False Advertising and What You Can do to Protect Yourself!- by n/a
Ever visit a business based on their advertisement of a sale item %u2013 only to discover the item is no longer available? Watch for "bait and switch%u2026"
Many unscrupulous businesses attempt to lure customers in with advertised specials that are too good to be true %u2013 and in fact, they're not true! In the typical "bait and switch" operation, earnest salespeople will explain that the item has sold out, that it isn't of high quality, or that you cannot take delivery for several months %u2013 all with the aim of selling you a higher priced item
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How to Avoid False or Misleading Internet Advertising- by Douglas J. Wood
Advertising on the Internet -- like advertising on TV, radio or in print -- can expose a company to legal liability. The Federal Trade Commission has issued guidelines that advertisers must follow to avoid potential claims for false or misleading advertising online. This article discusses the importance of these guidelines and how to comply with them.
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The Unfair Trade Practice Of False Advertising- by Dayle L. Wallien
Both business owners and consumers should be cognizant of the liability that a business can incur by false advertising. Businesses may be liable for damages both to their competitors and to consumers if the business is found to have falsely advertised a product or service. Further, the business could be subjected to penalties by the state in which the false advertising occurred.
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When Things Go Wrong : General Consumer Protection TipsAir Rights, Water Rights, Etc. - Your Rights As A Home-Buyer- by n/a
When you buy a house you get more than just the bricks and mortar. You are also usually entitled to other things like the air above your home and the dirt below it. Usually, but not always. Make sure you know exactly what rights and restrictions "convey" with ownership. As you look at houses be aware of what exactly you're paying for. Let's take a look at some of the more common rights to look for.
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Consumers Pay A High Price For Protection- by Nicholas Gruen
"Consumers pay a high price for protection" Samuel is right on the money. Graeme Samuel, Chairman of the government consumer “watchdog” the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), has uttered heresy. Consumer groups want him to wash his mouth out with soap. Why?
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How to Protect Yourself: Automobile-Repossession- by n/a
When you buy a car, truck, or other vehicle on credit, your creditor retains important rights in the vehicle until you have made your last payment. These rights are established by the contract you signed and by state law. The failure to make timely payments carries serious consequences. Your creditor then has the right to "repossess" - take back - your car without going to court, or without warning you in advance. However, state law does place limits on how the creditor may repossess the vehicle and resell it to reduce or eliminate your debt. Consider the following
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Affordable Drugs: Saving Money by Splitting Pills- by Gary Cordingley
Are you dismayed by the high price of your prescription medicine? Talk to your doctor about prescribing a higher-strength pill you can split in half.
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Target Marketing of Fraud Victims- by n/a
Victims are not created at random or by accident. They are chosen by the offenders because they are vulnerable in some way and because they have enough money or assets to be attractive. Victim selection can be done directly by researching specific information about you.
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Best practice in fraud prevention- by Russell G. Smith
Strategies and programs which have been devised to prevent criminal fraud perpetrated against both individuals and organisations are considered. The paper examines eight areas: fraud awareness and education; management of fraud control; personnel monitoring; transaction monitoring; improvements in personal identification; counterfeiting prevention; computer systems monitoring; and legally based deterrence
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When Things Go Wrong : Small Claims CourtSmall Claims Court, Know Your Stuff- by n/a
Most of us know small claims court through the television personas of Judges Wapner and Judy.
But in real life it's the arena of last resort for the average consumer, the place where you can still recover some money from a shady retailer or a shoddy service company.
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Dispute Resolutions Without Small Claims Court- by n/a
This provides you with information to help you think of different ways of resolving your disputes without going to court. You will learn about some different dispute resolution options and how to find people who offer services in the field. You can use this information to find a process that best meets your needs.
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About Small Claims Court- by n/a
Talin Vartanian has been to small claims court more times than almost anyone -- except maybe a small claims court judge. And the four times she's been to court have convinced her that it's "a perfect place for consumers to seek justice."
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