PPI stands for payment protection insurance. It was introduced to cover loan and credit card repayments if you became unemployed, sick or involved in an accident. The form of insurance is not a bad product, but several banks and lenders have been mis selling PPI, often by telling their customers it was compulsory.
How banks and lenders mis sold PPI
Sales staff and advisors were under huge pressure to sell PPI wherever and however possible. Many policies sold were potentially worthless to the average customer, as strict terms and conditions made it impossible for them to claim, whatever their situation. Banks and lenders sold the insurance by either giving false information about what the policy covered, suggesting customers would not receive their loan or credit card without the insurance, or adding the insurance to the customers loan without their consent or knowledge.
How do I know if I have been mis sold PPI?
If you have been sold payment protection insurance, its important to ask yourself if you really needed it. Look through all your insurance and loan paperwork, decide whether the policy is right for you and consider whether youd be able to make a claim.
If you are still unsure on whether or not you were mis sold PPI, there are many claims management companies who can help. Well established PPI reclaim companies help hundreds of people claim back thousands of pounds. Enlisting the help of a claims management consultancy will ensure your PPI refund process is easy and stress free. Specialist PPI claim advisors have years of experience, ensuring their customers get the maximum compensation theyre entitled to. Simply fill in a quick and easy form online or call the claims management company direct. You will then receive a free, no obligation consultation with a friendly advisor, which can take place in the comfort of your own home, over the phone or via post.
Experienced claim handlers will then take care of everything and regularly inform you on how your claim is progressing. Specialist solicitors will keep your claim moving as quickly as possible and you will receive compensation far quicker than if you went through the process on your own.
Its important to make sure your chosen claims management company operates on a no win no fee basis, this way if your claim is unsuccessful you will not be charged any fees.
Contact a well established claims management company today and get back what youre rightfully owed.
Mis Sold Payment Protection Insurance: History & Advice
Add a touch of luxury to your bedroom this summer with beautiful Sanderson bedding and curtains
Summer is fast approaching, so why not start the season in style and spruce up your bedroom with a fresh new look?
We all like our thick woollen blankets and deep coloured bedding and curtains to make our bedrooms feel warm and cosy in autumn and winter. However, during spring and summer, deep coloured bedding accessories and heavy, dark curtain sets can make bedrooms look dark and small. Throughout warmer months of the year, light weight, silky cotton bedding is much more comfortable than the thick woollen and fleece fabrics and high tog rated duvets which are desirable during cooler months.
Fresh mint green, aqua and baby blue coloured bedding is in fashion this spring/summer season, so why not treat yourself or a loved one and purchase the beautiful Sanderson blossom tree aqua duvet set with matching silk throw? This light green/blue design features beautiful embroidered blue blossom, adding a feminine touch to the stylish summer bedding set. For a contemporary feel, pair this bedding set with sparkly lime green and silver decorative cushions.
If youre looking for a bedding and curtain set this summer, the Sanderson Adele indigo blue set is the perfect option. This elegant design is ideal for adding a calm and relaxing feel to any bedroom. The Adele set features a fresh palette of light blue tones on a luxurious ivory background and its print is based on a unique late 19th century French fabric design. Sanderson Adele indigo blue curtains come in a wide range of sizes and are lined with high quality cotton, meaning they will keep your bedroom nice and warm during cooler nights. Co-ordinate this set with either a matching throw or silky cream cushions.
The Sanderson Lucia design is a must have bedding set for all girly bedrooms. The duvet cover features a beautiful bed of pretty embroidered pink lily stems and was inspired by the Sanderson painters garden collection. Pair this duvet set with a luxurious Sanderson sheets and matching boudoir cushion.
Other beautiful summer bedding designs include the Sanderson summer tree collection and paisley circles set. Sanderson bedding collections combine both contemporary and traditional designs, offering a unique style for your bedroom. All sets are printed on or woven from easy care cotton with high thread counts, ensuring all bedding is made with high quality fabrics that will continue to brighten up your bedroom year after year.
Start the summer season in style and order your Sanderson bedding set today.
For a fun, unique lunchtime activity, book a 30 minute Cook, Eat and Run cooking class and improve your culinary skills
About Cook, Eat & Run
Cook, Eat and Run cooking workshops are new, hands on, unique classes designed to improve your culinary skills in just half an hour.
This fun and exciting experience costs just £15, and you will learn how to cook a delicious main course meal in a relaxed environment. All recipes taught in this class are designed for home cooking and will give you the confidence to be more creative in the kitchen.
Impress colleagues, family and friends with handy cooking tips and skills taught by top chefs in the industry. Cook, eat and run classes take place during lunchtimes, so theyre the ideal activity to take part in during your lunch hour.
Once youve cooked your meal, you can either have it packed up to take away or sit down in the cooking schools stylish, relaxing dining area and enjoy your meal with a glass of wine, followed by dessert. After completing your class, you can buy the high quality cooking utensils you have just used in the cookery school shop.
Get to know your work colleagues a little better with this quick and fun activity or organise an exciting outing with family or friends. By choosing a cookery school in a central London location, such as St Pauls or Oxford Circus, youll be able to enjoy a wide range of shops, bars and cafes before or after your cooking class.
Other Cooking Classes
If youve enjoyed the Cook, Eat and Run cooking class, why not book another class? In a 60 minute cooking class youll learn how to cook incredible two course recipes from all over the world. Classes are available evenings, weekends and on selected weekdays. For intermediate and frequent cooks, 90 minute Cook and Dine classes are the perfect option; participants learn how to cook delicious three course meals, including gastro pub classics, French favourites, Asian flavours and many other delicious dishes.
Give the Gift of Cooking
Want a unique gift for a birthday, Christmas, anniversary, mothers or fathers day present? Gourmet gift cards are ideal presents for everyone, whether youre loved one is the next Masterchef winner or a complete beginner, cooking workshops are an activity the whole family can enjoy.
Arrange a fun, exciting activity and learn how to cook delicious meals with an interactive, hands on cookery class.
Experience the thrill of indoor go karting
If you are looking for an original birthday or corporate event, a fun activity for a stag or hen night, or you just want something to liven up a boring evening after work or something to keep the kids entertained on a rainy day, look no further than indoor go karting.
Indoor go karting has universal appeal for anyone craving excitement, a challenge, or just an original activity which can be spent with friends, family or colleagues. You are likely to have heard about go karting perhaps you even live near an indoor track (they are often in easy-to-reach locations, just a short drive from cities and towns). But what exactly is the appeal?
Go karting is an exhilarating experience like no other. Feel the rush of adrenaline as you race your friends, colleagues or family around a circuit based on the worlds leading racing tracks. Put your driving to the test with chicanes, hairpin turns, S-bends, a hump-back flyover and home-straights in a fun and friendly competition, and feel the rush of excitement as you approach the finish line with victory within your reach.
You dont need to be the worlds best driver to be an avid karter... you dont even need a licence! Kids from the age of 8 can enjoy junior go karting experiences, and the sport is popular amongst many adults; a world championship even exists. Indoor go karting is accessible and enjoyable to everyone, making planning an event a lot easier, particularly if you are planning something for a large group or an eclectic group with different interests.
For businesses, indoor go karting gives you the opportunity to give employees a fun reward for their work or impress and network business contacts in style. Indoor go karting tracks may come with the option to choose a corporate package, with branded advertising, group discounts, champagne for the winning teams and a hospitality room with refreshments and food. Show your business as a fun company with indoor go karting, and boost teamwork with a friendly competition by racing in teams.
Birthday and stag and hen do packages also give group discounts, and the option to add a game of laser tag for an additional exciting activity. And the best thing about indoor go karting? Its great in any weather. Plan a big corporate event, a stag or hen do or a birthday party without fear of the event being rained off at the last minute.
But you dont need a special occasion to enjoy indoor go karting. Track drive and track race experiences allow you to just turn up and experience the thrill, either on your own or with friends, with minimal planning. Still want to understand the appeal of indoor go karting? Book your place now and experience it for yourself!
Carpet protection tape: Ideal for shielding your carpets against damage!
If you are planning to renovate or refurbish your house to give it a new look, you might be in for a lot of work to ensure the protection of your existing carpets and upholstery if they are not something you want to change! Protecting furniture is easy as it does not require anything more than protective covers: you can even shift them to someplace else if you do not want to take any risk with them. But since fixed floor carpets cannot be removed easily, it becomes quite a task to shield them against damage from falling debris or dripping paint.
However, there is a simple solution to this problem; you can use a clear, reverse wound carpet protection tape. These tapes are easy to apply, easy to remove, and ideal for ensuring temporary protection of your expensive carpets during renovation or maintenance activities. Carpet fibres are susceptible to damage if not handled properly during such occasions. The protection tape sticks to the carpet by means of a special adhesive that makes it cling to the carpet, but prevents unwarranted damage to the carpet’s fibres. You can find more information on carpet protection tapes here.
Made of polyethylene, these tapes are quite tough while being stretchable. Acrylic adhesives are also used in making them as they offer excellent protection against soiling. They are ultra-safe as they have a good grip on shoes; you can avoid tripping, slipping or sliding on them. Also, given that renovation or any kind of maintenance calls for the use of electrical equipment, these tapes are also fashioned to be fire retardant. So, you can forget using trip hazards and dust sheets that absorb moisture and ruin your carpets. These tapes are strong and durable enough to protect your carpets during the entire period of renovation or reconstruction.
The protection tapes are a favourite among households as well as construction/repair workmen. Given that they are easily removable without leaving behind any sign or residue of the adhesive, your carpets remain clean and as good as they were before the work started. They can defend against all kinds of spills and paints, leaving your carpet free of any unwanted and unsightly stain marks. If your carpet is installed in the sunroom or any other place that might get direct sunlight during the reconstruction or maintenance work, you can opt for UV protected protection tapes. These tapes will prevent the fading of your carpets,’ while keeping it safe and secure.
It is also important to opt for high quality protection tapes. Ordinary or regular tapes may not last very long and may give in to heavy foot traffic during refurbishment work. Sometimes, you might have a specific need or requirement which might not be met by the standard set of products available. Extremely wide or narrow widths may call for custom built protection tapes. In that case, you can also order for bespoke widths and printed films, which can be made according to your requested specifications. There are a lot of companies which can do that for you.
These tapes are highly recommended not only during renovation or refurbishment, but during all sorts of work including plumbing jobs, electrical work, relocation, storage, house parties, etc. You invest a good amount of money on installing flooring and carpets in your home. But an unsightly stain, spill mark, or a small damaged spot can ruin its entire look and appeal, sometimes necessitating a complete change of the carpets. All these hassles are truly not worth it when you can completely avoid them! You should look for a service provider that can handle end to end operations for you, including selecting the right products, installing or applying them, and removing them when the work is over.
This post is written in association with Sticky Products, well-known manufacturers and suppliers of high quality industrial adhesive tapes, adhesives, sealants, lubricants, medical tapes, and medical consumables. They are based in North Lincolnshire and have over 50 years of experience in this domain.
Supagard protection – Making your car look brand new!
Your car looks stunning when you drive it out of the showroom in its brand new condition. But how do you keep it looking the same even after years of use? The answer is quite simple – by using professionally applied car paint protection from a company like this!
Supagard is the market leader in the UK as the manufacturer and seller of high quality car care products. The wide range of products that it offers to its customers includes paint protection, fabric protection, vinyl protection, and leather care among many other products. These products offer protection and value to both new and used car customers, and are greatly recommended by most of the leading car manufacturers.
The whole idea behind paint sealant is to protect a vehicle's paint work from the harsh environment and pollution that surrounds it. UV rays from the sun can fade paint work, acid rain can damage the paint finish, and road salt and other environmental pollutants can corrode the surface and deteriorate the look of your car. But now you can protect your car against the harshest of environmental conditions, including acid rain and ultraviolet rays, simply by opting for paint sealants.
Basically, Supagard protection involves coating a car’s paint work with high-tech polymer sealant that keeps the car looking like new for a long time by forming a tough, high gloss, deep and transparent protective barrier on top of your paint. This hi-tech microfilm that bonds with your car’s paint even eliminates the need for waxing and polishing, and reduces oxidation of the paint work. A quick wipe is enough to give your car a clean and new look!
Likewise, the fabric protection keeps your interior fabrics, leather upholstery, and carpet in good condition as Supagard protection makes the interiors repel stains and allows you to clean dirt and spills in a very easy manner. Dirt can be conveniently vacuumed off and spills can be easily wiped off using a regular cleaning solution. Each fibre of the fabric or leather is coated with a resin-based formula that shrugs off spillage and dirt. This invisible coating reduces friction between the fibres, thereby prolonging their life, texture, and appearance.
Supagard protection can give a showroom finish. And the best part is that it is guaranteed to remain that way for three years, without any annual inspections or top-ups. It is a very wise idea to invest in a car paint protection system as they allow you to protect the value of your car. Otherwise, you could end up spending a lot of money on getting regular car washes and repaints over the years. You can also also get a good resale value if you decide to sell your car, because it will remain in top condition!
Apart from paint sealant and interior guard, Supagard also offers SupaWheels and VinylGard. SupaWheels is an easy to use cleaning and protection kit that can be used to keep your wheel alloys in gleaming condition and remove dirt and grime easily, and VinylGard helps in maintaining the flexibility and appearance of vinyl and plastic surfaces in the car by forming a non-glossy, non-greasy, and anti-static film on them.
Simply buying a new and expensive car is not enough to help you maintain your status and style. You need to take care of your car long after it leaves the dealer’s showroom. These technologically advanced products can efficiently protect the new look of your car and maintain its long term ‘showroom' appearance from inside as well as outside. The cost of a one-time application is totally worth the peace of mind that you can enjoy for a long time!
This post is written in association with Ultimate Car Paint Protection. They are independent car paint protection specialists who offer tailored advice and services according to the condition and requirements of your car. They operate a nationwide mobile van service with fully trained Supagard technicians who complete the work at your front door!
Enjoy a stylish pregnancy and beyond with beautiful maternity and nursing wear
Some women deny themselves a good maternity wardrobe. Often, mums-to-be find that they can fit in regularly sized clothes for around half of their pregnancy, choosing to wear loose-slung tracksuit bottoms, leave their jeans open under long tops and wear their looser dresses and smock tops.
By the time their bump has gotten too big for their regular clothes, women often decide that it is too late in the pregnancy to be worth splashing out on maternity wear. Instead, they opt for larger sizes of regularly sized womenswear, often borrowed from friends or family, or simply borrow their boyfriend or husband’s shirts. Unfortunately, this can look frumpy and make you look bigger than you are, as well as preventing you from showing off your bump.
There really is no reason not to treat yourself with a maternity wardrobe. After all, you deserve a new wardrobe more than anyone! Specialist clothing will be tailored to your changing shape, showing off your figure rather than covering it up. Good maternity wear makes a great investment because not only will it enable you to look great in the early stages of pregnancy, but it will see you through the nursing stages afterwards too.
By carefully selecting key luxury pieces, perhaps to team with your existing wardrobe, you will be able to enjoy a stylish pregnancy and beyond!
Most mums-to-be find dresses a comfortable option during pregnancy. Annee Matthew nursing wear is one of the leading designers of quality nursing dresses, and you can browse their range on various websites online. Look out for their stunning ‘Elena’ wrap dress. It’s versatile enough to be dressed up or worn casually on a day-to-day basis, and comes in a range of colours. Annee Matthew nursing wear’s all breast feeding dresses feature beautiful designs cut to flatter your shape.
Another top brand for nursing dresses is Mothers en Vogue. Mothers en Vogue’s nursing dresses (which can also be worn during pregnancy) are classic yet modern, and their range features everything from maxi dresses to t-shirt nursing dresses.
The unique thing about Annee Matthew nursing wear and Mothers en Vogue is their concealed nursing openings, which enable you to feed your baby discretely and conveniently while looking stylish. Annee Matthew nursing wear and Mothers en Vogue really allow you to get the most out of your maternity wardrobe by helping you look great both during and after pregnancy. Opt for breastfeeding dresses and tops from Annee Matthew nursing wear and Mothers en Vogue for a wardrobe which can be worn throughout pregnancy and throughout the nursing stages.
Add value to your life with a timber conservatory
With a hardwood conservatory, you can get the luxury of experiencing the beauty of the natural world even from indoors, while dining, working or just relaxing. Summer is coming up and gardens are spectacular this time of the year, so maybe its the time for you to consider adding a conservatory to your home.
Why do people invest in a conservatory and why is timber such a popular choice?
A conservatory is an attractive investment because it adds an extra room to your home. Maybe your family is growing and you cant afford to move into a larger house? Then a conservatory extension is the ideal solution because you can use it as you please: to extend your living room, to create a study room or a new playroom for our children.
Many homeowners choose timber for their conservatory simply because it is beautiful and elegant. With a hardwood conservatory, you can add character and appeal to your house and make a smooth transition to your garden.
Hardwood conservatories are individually designed to blend in with the style of your home and to meet your aspirations. If you own an older property, depending on the age of your house, you can choose a timber conservatory built in a Victorian, Edwardian or Georgian style. Alternatively you can choose a modern, slim-line wooden conservatory design for a more contemporary house.
Can you afford a hardwood conservatory?
However beautiful a timber conservatory is, many people still believe that going for a cheaper option like a uPVC conservatory is the wisest choice. Whilst it is true that uPVC conservatories are more affordable and easier to construct, it is still worth taking into account the many benefits a hardwood conservatory can bring to your property.
Besides its timeless natural beauty, hardwood has many other qualities that make it a popular choice for conservatory construction. It is weather resistant, energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
Simple regular treatments that protect the natural beauty of the wood and enhance its natural resilience can make your timber conservatory last for generations. Moreover, some hardwoods are naturally resilient against decay so you wont need much effort to preserve and maintain your conservatory. This is just one of the reasons why, in a number of years, your hardwood conservatory will help increase the value of your property much more than a uPVC conservatory would.
Even if the hardwood conservatory choice sounds more reasonable now, there is more you need to know about making a smart investment in your hardwood conservatory.
When it comes to the price of your wooden conservatory, there are many options to choose from. The price depends on the quality and type of the hardwood used and also on the suppliers you choose. The builders you hire for your conservatory project can also make a difference on how much you will spend for adding your hardwood conservatory.
So, by carefully choosing the materials as well as the suppliers and builders, it is entirely possible to have a hardwood conservatory at an affordable price. Moreover, if you have basic DIY skills, you can build your wooden conservatory yourself and bring the costs down to the price of a basic uPVC conservatory. This means that you can increase the value of your house in a cost-effective way. Even if you have no plans of selling it, your wooden conservatory will add value to your own life.
Wedding locations in Devon - Choose Salcombe
An increasing number of couples are choosing to hold their weddings in south Devon. The golden beaches and warmer climate mean that wedding venues in the South West are not only popular with people from Devon, but with couples from across the UK who dream of a seaside wedding in the sunshine.
Choosing your wedding venue in south Devon can be difficult, but if you are looking for lush greenery overlooking blue waters and idyllic beaches, then it makes sense to make your wedding venue in south Devon. But which location is best? South Hams is a popular region for weddings in south Devon due to its beautiful coastline which forms most of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Salcombe, set within this area alongside the Kingsbridge Estuary, offers the best wedding venues in the South West, and its stunning scenery competes with the best venues in the world.
Salcombe is the perfect location for a seaside wedding in the UK. The estuary is home to a number of stunning sandy beaches which are popular enough to give the place character but not too much in that it becomes a tourist trap. The small traditional fishing town has an extensive waterfront, complete with quaint harbour which is still very much in use today. Salcombe is home to the first ever holiday home which was built in 1764. It’s easy to see why they chose to build it in this beautiful part of the UK.
Wedding locations in Devon really do not get better than those in Salcombe. Choose a historic venue overlooking a beautiful sandy cove and with stunning views across the estuary to East Portlemouth. For grandeur, book an Edwardian venue, complete with tall ceilings and traditional features, and ask for assistance with catering, flowers, entertainment and transport if you are hoping to make your wedding as stress-free as possible.
Other wedding venues in south west Devon simply cannot beat those in Salcombe. Perhaps you would like to arrive at a venue alongside the estuary by boat for an unforgettable entrance. Or maybe you prefer to keep things simple at your wedding location in Devon with by marrying on holiday with a small group of close friends and family. Choose a venue which is licensed for civil wedding ceremonies if you wish to be married and host your reception in the same location. This ensures a special day which flows easily and allows guests to really relax in the beautiful surroundings. The beautiful retreat which Salcombe provides enables you to have the wedding of your dreams, whatever your style.
How successful sales people are different
Sales managers are permanently looking for ways to reduce company costs caused by turnover and poor productivity. If you are one of them, one challenge you have is to calculate these costs; which, if you try long enough you realise are nearly incalculable.You probably think of the staggering company costs in time, money and energy spent recruiting, selecting and training new people: then wasted salaries and expenses accounts when your sales people fail to sell. Not to mention the less calculable losses in lost sales opportunities, reduced company reputation and the like.
Whatever the losses, don't get stuck trying to make sense of them. As Oscar Wilde wrote, The one charm of the past is that it is the past Now, how can you make the future look brighter?There are a few management strategies to minimise the turnover costs, but maybe the most important one is simply to stop recruiting people who don't have the ability to succeed in sales.
You will probably say that this is not quite that simple. And you are right.A good first step for improving your sales recruitment process is to have a look at your top sales performers. They are the the 20% of the sales people who account for 80% of the sales. They are the people that are doing precisely the job that is right for them and for your company.
If you think that the answer to the bad turnover is to find more people like these stars, you are close but not quite. It is extremely difficult to find sales professionals in the 20 percent bracket because usually their employers understand their value and make good efforts to keep them happy. The good news is that you have a second option; with the right selection process in place you can find those candidates who have the potential to become top sales people.
So, what is it that these exceptional people have in common?
First of all, they appreciate the differences in their customers: they seek to understand their customers feelings and concerns. Its called empathy. Good sales people use empathy to place themselves into the customer perspective, ask the right questions at the right time and sell what the customer really needs. What is equally important is that empathy helps them create good long term relationships with their clients.
But empathy alone won't do the job without a strong motivation or the inner drive to use it, which is the second basic quality you need to look for. A person with strong empathy but with little drive will probably be their clients good friend, but will struggle bringing in new clients. This leads to high customer loyalty but little sales. So, there is a very special balance between the need for closing the sale and the empathic perception of the customers feelings that you need to find in your candidates.
As you can see, when hiring sales people you have to look first into the mysteries of their personalities to discover their selling skill potential. It is not a simple process and neither is it cheap. But it increases your chances to find those people that bring so much value to your organisation. Then all you have to do is nurture their innate drive to grow and learn: which is another story.