I HAVEN’T GOT ANY IDEA WHAT PPI WAS ALL ABOUT

Most of you may just have been convinced to take the product out together with your credit card, mortgage, or financing agreement with the bank without being properly told of the charges and the process of making a claim. Payment Protection Insurance, generally, is a policy that covers the monthly payment of your dues in the event of sickness, unemployment, accident or death, making you unable to pay for them in time. What happens upon taking out a Payment Protection Insurance policy is that the bank charges you for an additional amount or a percentage of what you owe them every month. It shows right in your statement and it sometimes gets you confused, especially if you were not clearly told of what it was all about.

HOW WOULD I KNOW IF I HAD BEEN MIS-SOLD THE PPI?

There are certain circumstances in which you should not have been persuaded to have taken out the PPI policy in the first place. This needs to be established through a thorough discussion with a claims expert. The discussion may need you to recall a few situations and answer questions to find out if you are eligible for a claim.

The general concept of determining your eligibility to reclaim your PPI principal and interest charges would be to prove a solid statement that there are certain processes and limitations that you have not been made aware of at the time that you were taking out the Payment Protection Insurance.

Unemployment, working in a family business, retirement, age limit, medical history, and changes in employment status are general situations wherein a claim to the policy may be deemed ineligible. If you had not been made aware of these limitations, then you might be able to carry on the process of reclaiming what you should not have been paying for.

HOW DO I EVEN BEGIN THE CLAIM?

As soon as we have established that there are provisions in the policy that were not clearly stated and that you were rushed into buying PPI, we may start working on the paperwork. This means we need to collect as much evidence that you have, including bank statements, copy of the policy, and receipts, and have them presented at the bank’s claims department. You may also need to include all relevant information about any old addresses or changes in your name.

If you happen to not have any of such paperwork due to inevitable situations, you can still make a claim by getting in touch with the credit agencies, irrespective of your awareness of you your loan provider might have been at the time. The credit agencies are under a statutory time regulations to keep files within the past six years, and you are able to obtain access to them. As soon as you know who your provider was through your credit information, you can ask them about the details of your account and find out if you had PPI.

HOW LONG WOULD THE TURNAROUND TIME BE ON PPI CLAIMS?

As there is no mandated deadline to make ppi claims, it is ideally easier to make a claim for a policy that has remained active in the past six years. This is due to the statutory regulation regarding the time that financial institutions can keep files active in their database. But if you have taken PPI out longer before that and paid it off five years ago, it still remains active within the required timescales. Of course, if it is way longer than that, as long as you’ve got the paperwork, you may still be eligible to reclaim.

Most financial institutions may take roughly six to eight weeks to process a PPI claim. They are mandated by the law to make a thorough and prompt investigation of your claim. You will be notified in due time if there were any developments and you may also voluntarily get in touch with them to follow-up from time to time, within the said timescales.

Delays in the outcome or failure to let you know of what happened to your claim can also be duly directed to the Financial Ombudsman Service. The Financial Services Authority has also published details of the timescales for handling PPI complaints.

Skin Therapy
Skin is largest organ the human body has, and does most of the heavy lifting in your day-to-day life, so it’s important to keep it looking as healthy and refreshed as possible. The wear and tear of everyday living is most visible in your skin, and there’s only so much commercial cosmetics can do, as evidenced in The Daily Mail’s article on their effectiveness, which you can read at www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2211302l.  Certain products may be better than others, but ultimately, for long lasting results you’re going to need more than simple shop-bought supplies. Manor Skin Spa offers a fantastic range of treatments and services designed to restore that healthy glow to your skin; you can find them at www.manorskinspa.co.uk.  Professional beauty treatments can help fight a number of skin issues than simply cannot be tackled by consumer products. For more information just check out the video below.

Hair
Our hair actually contains every single trace of everything we consume, as well as our daily contact with the outside world. It acts as an almost biographical network of our activities, and so when we become stressed, it reflects this too. Cosmopolitan’s guide to healthier hair is a great place to start, so head to www.cosmopolitan.com/hairstyles-beauty/hair-care/how-to-keep-your-hair-healthy to see how that could help you. One brand currently taking the market by storm is Aussie (their philosophy is ‘There’s more to life than hair but it’s a good place to start!) and it’s definitely worth taking a look at some of their amazing products at www.aussiehair.com/uk. However, the best results are still to be found in professional care. Companies like www.perfecthairandbeauty.com not only offer beautiful styling and care but also provide nail and beauty services for an all round beautification experience.

Spa Days
For the ultimate in relaxation, you’ll want to go all the way and indulge in a sumptuous spa day. Nothing beats escaping the rat-race and enjoying some much deserved relaxation at a luxurious spa. For just that, check out www.cardenpark.co.uk to book your stay and see how long it takes before you feel totally and utterly stress-free. Wherever you’re thinking of unwinding just head to www.spabreaks.com to find your perfect relaxation resort, though it’s worth giving www.chesterfirst.co.uk/news/112913/spa-days-are-an-excellent-addiction-.aspx a quick read first to really find out what’s best for you. All told, investing in a spa day or weekend can be a major boon in helping you find a little peace and quiet as well bringing that radiance back to who you are.

With so much going on in our interconnected, hyper mobile society it can sometimes be difficult to find time for yourself. By making a little time and enjoying it in a relaxing atmosphere that helps restore your natural beauty you can be ready to fight the world again come Monday morning.

For you to apply for ESTA US Visas, you can easily get the form online and fill it from there. The on line application form is only written in English language and you should therefore know how to read it but in case you do not know how to, you can find someone to assist you in filling it.

There is a fee that you will need to pay when you will be applying for an ESTA. The United States customs and Border Protection announced that every application will be charged fourteen dollars either to get a new ESTA or a renewed one. You can make the payments for the application online as well by using a credit or a debit card. The system will only allow one to use MasterCard, Discover and American Express to make the payments. It is only when all your payment information is received that your application forms will then be submitted for process sing.

When you want to go to the US, you should ensure that you apply for ESTA three days before your travel date. The travel permit will only last for to two years. it will be also be valid until the day your passport will expire, either of the two which comes first. It is also suitable for getting multiple entries into the United States. It is however essential for you to alter any information such as the date of travel and your contact information which will be your address while in the United States.

You will also need to give information in regard to Advanced Passenger Information. Having applied for ESTA does not mean that you should not give out information such as an address for the first night. ESTA is only an extra requirement that is needed and it does not replace any documentation.

In case one has questions in regard to all this, they need to get in touch with the United States Embassy Consular department. Take note that in case you are denied entry into United States or even boarding admission, you will be entitled to cancellation charges as stipulated in the terms of the contract.

Until June last year, you could apply to become bankrupt for just £100 in Scotland (a much lower fee than south of the border, where total application costs typically amount to nearly £700.) However, the Scottish fee doubled on June 1^st 2012 to £200, as part of government plans to increase self-sufficiency across the process and reduce dependency on public funding for bankruptcies.

However, for those who are struggling to afford the £200 fee, a payday advance from a responsible lending organisation can provide the ideal short-term solution.

So it’s perhaps not surprising that insolvency practitioners are increasingly seeing the use of payday loans in those circumstances as viable alternatives to a debt arrangement programme.

In particular, one company reports a rise in payday borrowing among young people aged under 25, some of whom may take out a number of payday advances, though many will ultimately be from the same provider.

It’s rumoured that a proposed new insolvency bill would see all debts run up in the weeks immediately ahead of insolvency excluded from historical debts which are written off. This would mean that a bankruptcy order would not wipe out any payday borrowing used to file for bankruptcy.

Research from one insolvency trade organisation reveals that five million adults report being likely to take out a payday loan over the next six months. This figure is a significant rise from three and a half million just a year ago.

Of course, this type of borrowing is not just for those who may become bankrupt. It can also be used for emergency expenses such as car or home repairs, to cover regular outgoings or even to pay for a dream holiday.

For anyone who needs a short-term loan to cover them until they are next paid, payday borrowing can provide a straightforward solution. You stay in control of your finances, with many benefits:

• These loans are easy to apply for and you will get a quick decision, usually on the same day. There are no bank interviews to sit through.
• For lenders these are low risk loans since the money is guaranteed against your next paycheque.
• Even if you have a less than perfect credit history or other financial track record, or, as mentioned above, you have filed for bankruptcy, you stand a good chance of being approved for a payday loan because it is backed against your next payment from your employer.
• You can have the money for any reason.

As with any form of borrowing, however, conditions apply. You will need to be 18 or over, have held a British bank account for at least 90 days, and be employed, if only in a temporary position.

Equally, the first time you take a loan, you may have to limit the amount you borrow to £400, although that’s not always the case.

And, finally, bear in mind that payday loans are generally taken out for no longer than a month, since these advances are intended as short-term emergency borrowing. If you need cash for longer or feel that you risk not being able to pay back the money by next payday, another form of credit may suit you better.

A quality weight loss doctor will only suggest that patients consider the gastric band as a part of a comprehensive plan to lose weight. Otherwise, those patients run the risk of needing a medical negligence solicitor from a firm like Irwin Mitchell. Before you decide to get a gastric band, you should know how it will affect your lifestyle. Here are the facts.

What is the gastric band?

The gastric band, which may also be referred to as a “lap band”, is a laparoscopic adjustable band placed around the stomach to reduce the amount of food a person can ingest. This method is used for weight loss in severely overweight patients because it helps them control the amount of food they eat by giving them the sensation of getting full faster.

Advantages

The gastric band is the result of much trial-and-error in the medical weight loss profession, therefore, it boasts several advantages over operations like gastric bypass. The most important difference to note is that with a gastric band in place, your body is still able to absorb nutrients from the food that you eat and digest. This is because a gastric band doesn’t interfere with your intestines like other weight loss methods.

Gastric band patients also have a shorter recovery period, which means that the likelihood of discomfort, while still a very probable factor, is less. This kind of operation doesn’t involve making incisions into the stomach or intestines, so patients can usually be released after a day or two. In addition, the less intrusive nature of the surgery means that it is a safer alternative to gastric bypass; in fact, some studies show that gastric band nearly ten times safer than gastric bypass.

Disadvantages

That doesn’t mean that there aren’t any disadvantages to this kind of procedure, however. The primary con associated with the gastric band is the possibility of complications, such as vomiting or nausea, which usually occur as the patient’s body becomes accustomed to having a smaller stomach. There are also the risks that are associated with any kind of surgery, such as infection. These routine risks are sometimes elevated by the fact that gastric band patients are severely overweight or obese. Though rare, some patients also report their bands slipping out of place, resulting the need for another surgery to correct it.

Another, much less-discussed drawback of getting a gastric band is the possibility of neglecting the emotional and mental battle that many weight loss patients have with food. It is important for a doctor to insist on the use therapy as a tool to change a patient’s relationship with food before getting a gastric band, or he or she may risk putting all the weight back on once the band is removed.

Brushing 101

Now I’m not going to going into intricate detail on which way to hold the brush or anything, but these basic brushing tips should help to remind you the areas most commonly missed.

1. Ups and downs. Brushing along your teeth will only clean the teeth, brushing up and down clears plaque and hidden bits of food out of the gums. If your gums start to bleed, or get inflamed, it’s probably a sign that you’ve been missing them in your routine.

2. No tongue on the first date. Your tongue collects more bacteria than you realize, as do the sides of your mouth. Purchasing a toothbrush with an added scrubber can help clear the excess build up, not to mention help free up some of your taste buds.

3. Wisdom. The NHS has posted this short guide to brushing, I suggest you take a quick look at it.

Sweetheart

I confess to drinking approximately 5-8 cups of tea/coffee a day, and in the busy working world a lot of us are avid caffeine drinkers. I won’t suggest that you cut it out entirely , but reducing the amount of sugar you put in your hot drinks, as well as the amount you consume, can drastically reduce discolouration.

Pasty-faced

Lots of people buy ‘tooth-whitening’ toothpaste without a care for how it affects sensitive teeth. I switched mine after consulting with a health expert in town who suggested I used different toothpaste. You don’t have to book yourself in to the finest dentists money can buy in order to get shiny white teeth, but there are dentists in Manchester, such as Manor Dentists, who are around for just that, should you need them. Consult your dentist or a tooth specialist if your toothpaste is giving you trouble.

Nicoteeth

Smoking is already a terrible habit, one I will also admit to, and with each cigarette your teeth will begin to degrade. This one is fairly straight-forward; for a healthier mouth, body and mind: stop smoking.

I hope this little guide has been a shining example to you, and remember to look after your smile!

Botox Leeds

Botox is a household name when it comes to smoothing facial lines and wrinkles. Fine needles injected into affected areas temporarily relax the muscles, which softens the creases and gives a fresh and youthful appearance to skin. Botox can also be used by doctors to help with medical conditions such as sweating, cervical dystonia, muscle stiffness and even chronic migraines. Many of these treatments take time to achieve the best results, so will need a number of treatments.

Medical effects of Botox Leeds treatments

Botox is one of the trade names of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which produces the Botulinum toxin; a harmful but naturally occurring substance. It was approved for use cosmetically and commercially in 2002; the toxin levels of the cosmetic treatment being considered safe for use in this way.

How Botox Leeds works

Botox Leeds works by blocking the chemical nerve impulses (neurotransmitters). In the short term, this relaxes the muscles supplied by these nerves and over a course of treatments can weaken the muscles and train them how to relax. It can take two to four days to see a cosmetic improvement when Botox is used and the effects can last around six months.

Other benefits of Botox Leeds treatments

Widely known to smooth facial lines and wrinkles, the way that Botox paralyses muscles can also help with a number of other health problems including muscle spasms associated with upper limb spasticity (e.g.. cerebral palsy), eye twitching and spasms, sweating and chronic migraines.

Side effects of Botox Leeds

Side effects in the cosmetic use of Botox are generally minor and temporary and can include bruising or redness at the injection site, allergic reaction or paralysis of the adjoining muscle groups. Side effects will almost always be temporary and more series side effects are extremely rare. Advances in research and development since it was approved for cosmetic use have resulted in Botox Leeds causing fewer cases of allergic reaction and an improvement in the side effects experienced.

Botox Leeds treatments are available at Good Skin Days, our medical clinic in Guiseley, Leeds, West Yorkshire.

It’s a fact that by having longer, fuller eyelashes your eyes look bigger and you feel more confident. Some of us aren’t blessed with natural long and curly lashes, and false eyelashes have become our saviour. However, where normal false eyelashes are great if you just want to add a bit of va va voom for a night out, it’s a pain to have to apply them everyday. Not only are they fiddly, they are time consuming and sometimes just don’t go right.

The beauty of semi permanent eyelash extensions is tat once applied, you can go up to 6 weeks without another application. The adhesive is kind to eyes, meaning it won’t run or melt when warm into your eyes. Most make up wipes won’t budge it and the lashes maintain their shape, even after mascara after mascara application.

This eyelash phenomenon used to only really be available in salons, where done by a professional, would cost you around £15-20. Today, you can actually purchase the eyelash extensions yourself, and add as many or as little as you want at home. Kits are available online and come with step by step instructions to help you with the process. Adding a few extra lashes to the outside corner of your eyes can really make a difference. Making your lashes appear thicker, fuller and defining your eyes. Easier to apply than strip false lashes because of their size; you can really work them into your already natural lash line.

Unlike teenagers, adult women have done the majority of their growing, and their acne can’t be played down to be an inevitable part of growing up like with many adolescents. Women want to do something about their spotty skin, because they don’t know how long it’ll stick around for! So what can they do?

By regularly keeping their skin moist and clean, many women can avoid the outbreak of spots. When I say moist, I don’t mean shove any old moisturiser on it! Many scented or tinted moisturisers can do more damage than good, as they have chemicals in that can react badly with already sensitive skin. That’s why it’s best to use simple, unfragranced moisturiser, or even better, forking out a little more for specialist moisturiser that helps with acne. Obagi Nu Derm is an example of a good moisturiser – use daily to battle the acne and blackheads!

While washing your face, make sure you DON’T SCRUB! In the past, people have been told that thoroughly scrubbing the face can battle acne, but this has recently been found to be wrong. Instead, gently cleanse the pores with water and a simple, unscented soap. If you scrub you can aggravate the skin and cause other skin problems as well as worsen acne.

By taking simple steps, you can ensure you skin stays happy and healthy. If you’re a middle-aged woman who’s found herself with a face full of spots, don’t worry! With a bit of extra care and attention you can see your skin through this tricky time, and come up smiling.