Mobile recycling schemes will allow you to claim hard cash for your old handset and do your bit for charity and the environment with minimum effort.
In a typical house, two redundant handsets are collecting dust. Most mobile phone users upgrade their handsets every 18 months or so, replacing perfectly serviceable equipment with smarter models featuring cameras, MP3 players and other non-essentials. The ultimate destination of most discarded phones — after a stint in a cupboard — is the local landfill site.
Leaving an old mobile unused — or, worse, binning it — is a waste of money, technology and natural resources. A number of organisations will pay you, or a charity, more than you might expect for your mobile before recycling its parts or reconditioning it for sale in the developing world, where landline infrastructure is poor.
Friends of the Earth urges people to take advantage of these recycling services. The charity’s waste campaigner, Michael Warhurst, says that mobile phone batteries should be used to their full lifespan to minimise waste of the rare, and often toxic, metals mined to make them.
Visitors to the mobile recycling website www.envirofone.com can select the brand and model of their unwanted handset to find the price that the company will pay. If they are happy with the offer, they can order a free prepaid padded envelope online. Provided that the phone arrives in working order, with only superficial cosmetic damage — a few scratches are fine — customers receive a cheque, or Argos credit, for the quote amount plus 15 per cent, within 20 days of receipt. You do not need to send in the charger, but you should remove the SIM card.
Peter Petrondas, chief executive of Envirofone, says that his company pays an average of £24 a phone, plus £1 to each customer’s chosen charity. Most handsets are reconditioned and sold in Africa, China and Eastern Europe.
British Gas has a similar service at www.tradeinmymobile.co.uk. If you are a British Gas customer, it is worth comparing offers at the two sites. A quick browse shows that British Gas tends not to offer cash for budget handsets — instead offering to pay £2 to Save the Children.
You may prefer to donate your old handset direct to a charity that offers its own recycling programme. Help the Aged (www.helptheaged.org.uk), Against Breast Cancer (www.aabc.org.uk) and Oxfam (www.oxfam.org.uk) are among the contenders. Help the Aged receives at least £5 for every mobile donated. Office Green Technologies (www.officegreen.co.uk) recycles mobiles and pledges to pay the full value of your phone to the charity of your choice.
Saturday 20 January 2007
Sunday 14 January 2007
Travel insurance hints and tips
Not all travel insurance policies are the same. Find out how to get the right cover for your holiday.
In the excitement of planning your summer holiday it’s important to make sure you have suitable travel insurance. Remarkably, one in seven of us go on holiday without any form of travel insurance, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Follow these guidelines to find the right cover at the best price.
1. Search the market
Avoid buying your insurance from a travel agent. It seems much easier to buy it when you book your holiday, but insurance from travel agents is typically expensive. More importantly, travel agents are not answerable to the Financial Services Authority so consumers have no protection if they are mis-sold a policy.
2. Policy type: single or multi-trip
Think about how many times you are likely to travel in a year. If you take more than one holiday a year, consider buying an annual multi-trip policy.
Although the total cost is higher, an annual policy is far cheaper when you spread the cost across the number of days you actually spend on holiday.
3. Hazardous activities and winter sports
Before you go on holiday, check your insurance policy covers 'hazardous activities' such as jet skiing, water skiing, scuba diving and winter sports. Many insurers don't provide this level of cover on standard policies.
4. Medical and legal expenses
Make sure your policy offers an adequate level of medical and legal cover. Medical and legal bills overseas, especially in the USA and Canada, can escalate out of control.
A standard insurance policy will provide up to £1 million for medical aid in Europe, and £2 million in the US and Canada.
If you are travelling within the EU, get an E111 form from your local Post Office before you leave. This will entitle you to some free treatment in Europe but it shouldn't be used as a replacement for travel insurance.
Read more about E111 forms here
Your travel insurance should also have personal liability cover of at least £1 million to cover you for damage to other people or property.
5. Driving holidays abroad
If you’re planning to take a driving holiday abroad, check your car insurance will cover you should you have an accident or breakdown abroad.
If your car insurance doesn't include European cover, you should be able to extend your policy for your holiday. Always inform your insurer that you will be taking your car abroad.
6. Existing medical conditions
If you have a medical history it is important that you are honest and tell the insurer before you take out a policy. You may be have to pay extra to include cover for your condition in the policy.
If you fail to inform your insurer of an existing condition and fall ill while on holiday, your policy may become invalid.
7. Cancellation and curtailment
Cancellation is one of the most popular reasons people claim on their travel insurance. Cover begins from the day you take out the policy, so plan ahead and start a policy a few weeks before you depart.
8. Luggage and baggage cover
All travel insurance policies should include luggage cover of some sort. Check that the limit on your policy is enough to cover the value of all your possessions should your luggage be lost or stolen.
Don't let a small accident turn your holiday into a nightmare. Take the time to find an appropriate tavel insurance policy before you set off on holidays.
In the excitement of planning your summer holiday it’s important to make sure you have suitable travel insurance. Remarkably, one in seven of us go on holiday without any form of travel insurance, according to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Follow these guidelines to find the right cover at the best price.
1. Search the market
Avoid buying your insurance from a travel agent. It seems much easier to buy it when you book your holiday, but insurance from travel agents is typically expensive. More importantly, travel agents are not answerable to the Financial Services Authority so consumers have no protection if they are mis-sold a policy.
2. Policy type: single or multi-trip
Think about how many times you are likely to travel in a year. If you take more than one holiday a year, consider buying an annual multi-trip policy.
Although the total cost is higher, an annual policy is far cheaper when you spread the cost across the number of days you actually spend on holiday.
3. Hazardous activities and winter sports
Before you go on holiday, check your insurance policy covers 'hazardous activities' such as jet skiing, water skiing, scuba diving and winter sports. Many insurers don't provide this level of cover on standard policies.
4. Medical and legal expenses
Make sure your policy offers an adequate level of medical and legal cover. Medical and legal bills overseas, especially in the USA and Canada, can escalate out of control.
A standard insurance policy will provide up to £1 million for medical aid in Europe, and £2 million in the US and Canada.
If you are travelling within the EU, get an E111 form from your local Post Office before you leave. This will entitle you to some free treatment in Europe but it shouldn't be used as a replacement for travel insurance.
Read more about E111 forms here
Your travel insurance should also have personal liability cover of at least £1 million to cover you for damage to other people or property.
5. Driving holidays abroad
If you’re planning to take a driving holiday abroad, check your car insurance will cover you should you have an accident or breakdown abroad.
If your car insurance doesn't include European cover, you should be able to extend your policy for your holiday. Always inform your insurer that you will be taking your car abroad.
6. Existing medical conditions
If you have a medical history it is important that you are honest and tell the insurer before you take out a policy. You may be have to pay extra to include cover for your condition in the policy.
If you fail to inform your insurer of an existing condition and fall ill while on holiday, your policy may become invalid.
7. Cancellation and curtailment
Cancellation is one of the most popular reasons people claim on their travel insurance. Cover begins from the day you take out the policy, so plan ahead and start a policy a few weeks before you depart.
8. Luggage and baggage cover
All travel insurance policies should include luggage cover of some sort. Check that the limit on your policy is enough to cover the value of all your possessions should your luggage be lost or stolen.
Don't let a small accident turn your holiday into a nightmare. Take the time to find an appropriate tavel insurance policy before you set off on holidays.
Saturday 13 January 2007
Car Insurance, Vehicle Insurance Hints and Tips
"Top Tips For Buying Cheaper Car Insurance
With most car insurance companies claiming to offer cheaper car insurance, it’s difficult to know where the real savings are. Here are my top tips for finding the best deal:
1. Build up your no claims bonus. Often you can earn up to 65% discount when you’ve held car insurance for over 5 years without making any claims.
2. Restrict named drivers on your policy to one other driver and avoid adding young drivers to your policy if you want cheaper car insurance.
3. Consider a higher voluntary excess – most car insurance companies will give you a discount for this.
4. Buy a car with a smaller engine, you’ll get cheaper car insurance and they’re cheaper to run.
5. Younger drivers should consider taking the Pass Plus course. Many will give you a discount once you’ve completed the training, depending on the age of the driver.
6. Look out for special offers eg antees to beat your car insurance renewal price.
With most car insurance companies claiming to offer cheaper car insurance, it’s difficult to know where the real savings are. Here are my top tips for finding the best deal:
1. Build up your no claims bonus. Often you can earn up to 65% discount when you’ve held car insurance for over 5 years without making any claims.
2. Restrict named drivers on your policy to one other driver and avoid adding young drivers to your policy if you want cheaper car insurance.
3. Consider a higher voluntary excess – most car insurance companies will give you a discount for this.
4. Buy a car with a smaller engine, you’ll get cheaper car insurance and they’re cheaper to run.
5. Younger drivers should consider taking the Pass Plus course. Many will give you a discount once you’ve completed the training, depending on the age of the driver.
6. Look out for special offers eg antees to beat your car insurance renewal price.
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