Explanation of Motorcycle Breakdown Cover
- Don’t spend more than should be on breakdown cover for bikes.
- Different levels of service allow motorcyclists more flexibility than ever.
Research into the growing market of motorcycle breakdown cover has revealed that nearly one third of motorcyclists are paying more than they need for their cover.
Motorcycle breakdown cover has been a widely growing market and has expanded greatly in the last five years as more motorcycles find their way onto Britain’s roads. While many motorcyclists already have car cover and find it simple and easy to put their bike on that cover or to simply insure themselves, others have opted for specific motorbike breakdown companies that provide a more tailored service.
Breakdown cover is an essential part of life for motorcyclists – even more so than for car owners who at least have the comfort and security of a car if things do go wrong! Motorcyclists are stuck out in the elements and during a British winter, that’s not normally a very pleasant experience, so comparing and organising motorcycle break down cover is a very important part of being a regular biker.
However, the sheer number of options that have sprung up when it comes to breakdown cover for motorcycles can lead many consumers to buy into a package that’s either more expensive than they require or too cheap than they need. Consumers should look further into the individual companies and packages to decide exactly what it is they need. A breakdown cover comparison site can help make that task much easier.
In some cases, people have been paying nearly £10 extra on their policy every month for European breakdown cover without ever intending to travel to Europe, simply because they assume the most expensive package is probably the best. Usually, even basic packages cover what most people require from a breakdown policy, while midrange packages are useful for people that need that little extra, like onward journey insurance.
About BreakdownChoices.co.uk:
Launched in 2005 the BreakdownChoices.co.uk website has provided a wide range of features for people who wish to either find new providers or to switch from their existing provider, including motorcycle breakdown and European breakdown cover comparison.
While the main function of the site is t compare different breakdown providers the features of the site extend well beyond that, giving deal hunters unparalleled access to community features, guides and FAQs, as well as providing regular new updates about the industry and one time deals.
Consumers warned as a hike in energy prices push up bills
Energychoices.co.uk advises consumers to compare tariffs and switch as Scottish & Southern Energy becomes the first of the “big six” suppliers to increase its energy prices.
As winter fast approaches and energy price hikes appear imminent, Energychoices.co.uk is urging customers to get online and compare all the different deals available before they get caught out by soaring household bills.
Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) announced today that from 1 December it will increase its standard gas prices by 9.4%.
This means the average customer will see their bills go up by around £67 a year, or £5.40 a month.
For the average household on SSE’s standard dual fuel tariff, energy bills will cost around £1,226 a year, which is up from £1,159 at the moment.
This is the first of the big energy companies to introduce a general price rise since 2008, but Chris Eagle, commercial manager at Energychoices.co.uk, is warning that other suppliers are likely to follow suit.
He says: “This increase by Scottish & Southern Energy is probably just the beginning of a round of energy price hikes, and people should be prepared for the other ‘big six’ energy suppliers to make some changes to their prices as well.”
“Wholesale gas prices have gone up significantly over the year and suppliers will want to reflect this in their retail prices.”
According to SSE, annual wholesale gas prices have increased by more than 25% since the supplier last made changes to its prices in March 2010.
Eagle adds: “The gas price hike could not have come at a worse time with temperatures already below freezing in some parts of the country, but there are likely to be more increases as the year comes to an end.”
“It is always a good idea to regularly compare energy deals, but in the face of price increases like this it is more important than ever to go online and compare all the different tariffs and energy prices available. Chances are you could save yourself a fortune this winter by switching onto a more suitable and appropriate energy deal for your needs.”
About Energy Choices
Energychoices.co.uk is a uk based energy price comparison website, and is part of the consumerchoices group of websites.
Visitors can read the latest energy news, get expert energy usage advice, and also compare energy prices.
Internet and Mobile calls soar in popularity as phone line charges increase
1 More people are turning to alternative methods of communication
2 Phone lines are still required to access the internet for many
The phone line market has been far from a healthy place for consumers in the last six months, with some people facing an overall rise of 20 per cent in their daytime call charges since the start of the year. The biggest landline provider in the UK – BT – have pushed their prices up twice this year already, once in April and another at the start of this month, increasing both the cost of calls and the overall price for the line rental and call connection charges.
Some analysts suggest that the rise in phone charges is likely to be due to more people switching over to free internet calls. However, as more people do so, those that use the traditional phone service will be left paying the price. Even some of the ways to receive money off such as switching to paperless billing aren’t practical for those who aren’t on the internet, which includes millions of UK citizens.
Consumers can save money by moving to bundle deals from the big providers or by to committing to longer contracts, but doing so means they are less flexible to move in the future if better deals come along. The bigger suppliers are also some of the most expensive, capitalising on the simple fact that people don’t tend to compare phone companies and switch to cheaper companies, unlike what they do with other household bills, like gas and electricity.
Of course, consumers can also join the millions that are using services like Skype to make free calls across the internet, but you’ll need to get a broadband package for that, and such software can be difficult to set up for people that have never used it before. The easiest and quickest way to save money on your landline connection is still to check out what everyone else is offering; don’t remained shackled to BT, vote with your wallet and see what else is out there.
About Homephonechoices.co.uk:
Launched in 2005 the Homephonechoices.co.uk website has provided a wide range of features for people who wish to learn more about the busy world of phone line rental, once ruled by BT and now offering a much wider array of providers.
While the main function of the site is to compare different service providers the features of the site extend well beyond that, giving deal hunters unparalleled access to community features, guides and FAQs, as well as providing regular new updates about the industry and one time deals including exclusive offers.
For further information please contact:
Sky Plus HD customers benefit from enhanced on-demand service
Sky Anytime+ will be rolling out this month to Sky customers subscribing to the Sky+ HD service
Service is provided at no extra cost and will include over 600 films
Satellite television provider Sky will be rolling out their recently announced Anytime+ service this week for Sky customers who are already using a Sky HD Box. The service is expected to go up against on demand services from both Virgin and BT Vision, both of whom already offer an inferior choice to the sky system. Anytime+ is delivered through internet services and will require a working broadband connection to run, and for the time being Sky Plus box owners that don’t subscribe to the HD service will be unable to access the new features.
Sky describes the new Anytime+ service as a “virtual library of entertainment”, though the actual content available on the service will depend on your level of subscription to Sky HD. Those paying the top price for sports and move channels will be able to watch entire TV series, thousands of one off shows and documentaries and over 600 films. Those users who only have Sky Plus box at all will still be able to use the existing Anytime service, which offers a much more limited selection.
In terms of content, much will come from already existing sky movie, sport and arts channels, though a large number of third party channels are also involved in the service. Sky are intending to build on this already large library over the next few months to provide a level of choice unparalleled by other television providers. Consumers are free to watch whatever they want as many times as the like, and shows and films are downloaded not streamed, so once you’ve selected your show you won’t have to grab it again.
Digital TV expert for Which? consumer magazine described the service, noting the downside of the decision to make it available only to HD subscribers.
” Sky Anytime+ is an interesting addition to the Sky+ HD service that brings it closer the VoD service offered by rival Virgin Media’s cable network.
But many standard Sky customers may be disappointed that Sky Anytime+ is only available to those subscribing to Sky’s HD service and not those who just take the standard definition Sky+ offering.”
About DigitalChoices.co.uk:
Launched in 2005 the DigitalChoices.co.uk website has provided a wide range of features for people who wish to learn more about the often complicated world of digital television; everything from where to find the best cable experience to the latest Virgin HD Box deals.
While the main function of the site is to compare different technology and service providers the features of the site extend well beyond that, giving deal hunters unparalleled access to community features, guides and FAQs, as well as providing regular new updates about the industry and one time deals.
For further information please contact:
Lady Gaga Outfits Sell More Than Expected as the Race for Halloween Costumes Heats up
It is only a week to go until the biggest fancy dress costume party of the year. For many the purchase of horror and scary costumes is still the norm. The children want to go trick or treating and Hollywood is providing the usual movie scare backdrop with films like Saw 3D and Paranormal Activity 2.
There are a fast growing number of people that have branched out way beyond the standard Halloween fare for costumes. They are tracking down quite simply fantastic and fun fancy dress, try saying that at 2.30am next Saturday night!
Lady Gaga Blue Costume
This year the costumes that are winning the race for new and exciting outfits are based on hitherto unknown possibilities such as Avatar Costumes and the glamorous and wild Lady Gaga Outfits. Many costume retailers are reporting massive surges in demand for both of these costume ideas.
The wonderful world of Avatar was for many a new fantasy location that touched hearts and minds alike. The underdog wining out against the overbearing superpower is a theme that speaks to vast sections of the population and the triumph of the Na’vi over the invading forces spoke to all of us that love to imagine David and goliath type fantasies. The opportunity for fancy dress has been covered by the licensed delivery of Jake Sully and Neytiri complete outfits with accessories to add to the costumes. Many have already been sold, but a quick scan of the online retailers shows that there are still costumes in stock.
Neytiri Costume
The other big seller this year is the incredible Lady Gaga, gripped by lavish images of her in a hundred differing outfits the population at large seems to be buying not only the licensed outfits but also costumes that have a Gaga-esque look to them. Lady Gaga costume it seems has fantastic appeal across the board and with such an incredible array of past costumes to choose from the possibilities are almost endless.
So this year at your chosen Halloween party there will of course be vampires and zombies along with Saw outfits, Harry Potter and Ghostbuster outfits but equally there will be some sexy blue characters at the front of the dance floor and dancing next to them will be a bevy of beautiful Gaga girls and boys.
About FancyDressCostumesUK.com:
FancyDressCostumesUk.com are the ‘one stop costume shop’. Their mission is to reduce the amount of time it takes to search and find the costume of your dreams. All the staff are avid costume wearers and the website grew out of the frustration in having to search many different websites to find a costume. At their site they have thousands of costumes that are drawn from three of the biggest online retailers. You can search their site and select the costume you require, hit the buy now button and be taken to that very same costume at the correct retailer where you simply have to pay for it and it will be dispatched to your door.
Lightyears Ahead of the Rest – Kathryn Thomas Brings the Outer Limits to Inner London
The Gallery in Cork Street, in London, is an empty space which, on a weekly basis, is decorated by either a budding, developing or established artist, or gallery, and turned into an arena, within which a new and unique vista of their art is displayed. These tend not to be hobby artists or part-time galleries; these are professional people who make their livings out of creating and selling their own, or others, art.
All well intentioned and passionate about their pieces; but we all know the phrase, you can please all the people some of the time but you cant please all the people all the time. That is, until you come across an artist of the broad spectrum genius of Kathryn Thomas.
Kathryn Thomas - A Galaxy in Blue
Stand before a Kathryn Thomas original oil painting for the first time and you will be overwhelmed by the power and the depth of what you see…and what you see will depend upon your mood, the time of day and the light. It will depend upon your emotional state and whether you are alone or with someone. Above all, it will depend upon your preparedness to allow yourself to be enveloped, sucked in and devoured by the colours, the shapes, the subtleties and the imagery.
The Artist Kathryn Thomas
Most of us will have seen what Kathryn sees in the skies and on the horizon; as the sun sets and as the storm clouds brew. Very, very few of us, however, is then able to translate those remarkable visions, using canvas and oil paint, in quite the way that she has successfully achieved for over 25 years.
Her newest exhibition, Lightyears Above 2010 takes her work to an even higher level – quite literally. From October 25th to 30th The Gallery in Cork Street will be decked out in the most astonishing array of scenes from outer space. We will be introduced to galaxies from the farthest reaches of the Solar System, planetary explosions of gigantic proportions and be completely mesmerized by images of that most enigmatic light show, the Aurora Borealis.
If you have failed to book your place on the first charter flight to the moon, then I would strongly suggest that a fabulous second best would be a trip to Cork Street for Kathryn Thomas Lightyears Above 2010 exhibition; I’ll be at the front, lost inside one of her immense galactic portraits, please do not disturb the enraptured journalist.
About Kathryn Thomas:
Kathryn Thomas has been interpreting the world and beyond with oil paints for over 20 years. Her reputation continues to grow as those that have been captivated by her work join the ever increasing number of loyal and passionate followers. This latest series of works from her Darkspace collection move beyond the limitations of this planet and take in the scope and majesty of the universe itself. The gallery, exhibition and contact details can all be found on her site www.kathryn-thomas-lightyears.co.uk.
Winter is coming: Tips for cutting down your household energy prices
For the last few months things have been quite good in the energy market. Prices hasn’t risen, and a warm autumn has meant that many people have been able to keep their central heating turned off for a little bit longer than usual, saving some money on their energy bills. However, winter will soon be upon us, and as the days get darker they’ll also be getting colder, prompting us to spend more money on lighting and heating.
At the same time, the number of great online deals for gas and electricity prices is starting to diminish. What was a healthy market for people looking to get a good deal by jumping online and selecting an paperless, online only tariff is now starting to dry up, so it’s more important than ever for people to make sure they are on the best possible tariff they can be on, and to keep their energy usage as low as they can.
Energy Saving Tips:
Switch to estimated billing: Estimated billing can work out as much as 15% cheaper for most households as companies know that you wont be defaulting on any payments and they earn their own interest on the money you pay over, which you’ll get back at the end of the year anyway.
Check your meter: Estimating billing works if the estimate is close, but sometime it isn’t, so read you meter ever time you get a new bill. Check what your electric company think you are using with what you are actually using, and call them if there’s a big difference. Even if the difference is in your favour its best to let the company know, as you’ll end up paying a large sum back at a later date.
Avoid pre-payment meters: There’s a fight going on between the government and electricity companies about the energy prices on meters, but right now although some progress is being made people using them are still paying above the odds for their energy. If you don’t have a choice because of hardship or credit ratings, make sure to compare companies online to get the best deal.
About Energychoices.co.uk:
Launched in 2005 the Energychoices.co.uk website has provided a wide range of features for people who wish to change their electricity and gas supplier. The site offers a large range of information about the world of moving providers and saving money on one of the biggest monthly outgoings most families have to face; everything from energy saving tips to how to find the best boiler insurance. They also have information for businesses with their business energy price comparison facilities.
While the main function of the site is to compare different service providers the features of the site extend well beyond that, giving deal hunters unparalleled access to community features, guides and FAQs, as well as providing regular new updates about the industry and one time deals including exclusive offers.< ahwe”http://www.energychoices.co.uk/boiler-insurance.html
Boiler Insurance is Especially Important for Older Houses
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• People with old plumbing systems could be risking huge bills without some form of boiler insurance
According to a recent study, people who have older heating systems could be putting their finances at risk by not investing in boiler insurance, which is one of the largest single bills you can receive for household maintenance, especially if
you call for emergency help or live in London.
Anyone looking into getting boiler insurance for the first time should first make sure that the boiler is their responsibility. Only people that own a home are usually responsible for the boiler, so if you rent a house it’s not likely to be something you need to worry about. In some cases even home owners can’t get insurance, such as special cases like mobile homes.
When choosing a policy for your boiler insurance remember you don’t need to go with the your gas or electricity supplier – you can choose whoever you want. So if your supplies gas and electricity prices are good but your supplies insurance is competitive, check out comparison sites to find a better deal.
As with any insurance policy, it’s also important to read the small print and find out exactly what your policy covers. Especially important for boiler insurance is what the insurance company defines an ‘emergency’ as; the last thing you want is to being paying for a policy that doesn’t cover all situations.
The price and service offered by boiler companies can vary greatly, so comparing companies and services, just like comparing overall energy prices when you compare utility companies, is important.
About Energychoices.co.uk:
Launched in 2005 the Energychoices.co.uk website has provided a wide range of features for people who wish to change their electricity and gas supplier. The site offers a large range of information about the world of moving providers and saving money on one of the biggest monthly outgoings most families have to face, including both consumer and business energy price comparison.
While the main function of the site is to compare different service providers the features of the site extend well beyond that, giving deal hunters unparalleled access to community features, guides and FAQs, as well as providing regular new updates about the industry and one time deals including exclusive offers.
For further information please contact:
Landline Price Hikes: Money Saving Advice (Press Release)
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• Two of the biggest landline providers in the UK will be raising their prices for the second time in a single year
For the second time in a year, both BT and TalkTalk will be raising their prices for basic landline rental, meaning that despite the fact the UK managed to avoid the broadband tax that was to be applied on phone lines under a labour government, the vast majority of home owners will still see a similar price hike from their landline services – many of which are only used by consumers as a way of accessing broadband.
Saving money on line rental:
Compare and Switch:
Changing to a new line rental provider is one of the best ways to save money – there’s hundreds of different home phone packages available if you shop around, and there’s a greater variety of different deals to be found outside of the big providers. Switching may seem complicated but it’s actually easy to do and can save a big sum of money if you’ve only ever been on a larger provider like BT before. You can use comparison sites to help you on the way.
Ask for a better deal:
It might seem strange but simply asking to be placed on a better deal is a good option for people who don’t want to make a switch right now. As companies update and change what they offer new users, people who have been using the service for a while can sometimes be left by the wayside. Simply calling up and making sure you’ve got the best deal from your provider – and threatening to switch if you don’t – can work miracles.
Get Smarter:
Get smarter about how you use your phone. Make sure you know exactly when you get cheap or free calls and schedule any phone time around this. If you need to make a call outside peak times considering using your mobile if you’re on a contract as most people don’t end up using all their free minutes. Switch to paperless billing for a small discount and always pay for direct debit if you can to avoid additional monthly charges.
About Homephonechoices.co.uk:
Launched in 2005 the Homephonechoices.co.uk website has provided a wide range of features for people who wish to learn more about the busy world of phone line rental, once ruled by BT and now offering a much wider array of providers.
While the main function of the site is to compare different service providers the features of the site extend well beyond that, giving deal hunters unparalleled access to community features, guides and FAQs, as well as providing regular new updates about the industry and one time deals including exclusive offers.
Bike Owners Ignoring the Importance of Motorcycle Breakdown Cover
• Motorcycle owners are less likely to have breakdown cover than car owners
• Comparing and choosing cover is just as important for bike owners, especially if you’re travelling in Europe.
Despite studies suggesting that many bike owners either have no motorcycle breakdown cover at all or only the most basic cover for their vehicles – even though cover for bikes is just as important as getting cover for a car. In fact, as winter draws in and weather conditions worsen, knowing you have good cover if you get stuck in the rain and the snow can be a really reassuring thing. It’s even more vital for bike owners than it is for car owners who at least have the protection of their vehicle to shelter them from the elements!
Most companies that can provide car insurance can also give consumers some level of bike insurance as well, although it worth looking around to do breakdown cover comparison and make sure you find that something that’s suited to you rather than trying to get a one-size-fits-all package. Not properly researching breakdown cover could mean paying for more than that you require or, worse, not getting the amount of cover you think you may need.
There’s a few different things you might also want to look out for if you use your bike a lot – firstly, insuring yourself rather than your vehicle can work out cheaper and normally makes more sense for motorcycle owners who are less likely to be sharing a vehicle. Secondly, people who travel often can save a large amount of by doing a European breakdown cover comparison here in the UK rather than purchasing it on a per-trip basis, although the saving on these deals is only really valid for people who are likely to be driving through EU countries on a regular basis.
When browsing for breakdown cover, both bike and car owners should be aware exactly what their level of service will provide and – even more importantly – what it does not. It’s also wise to check out companies for extras such as no call-out discounts, especially if you have a newer vehicle, and to see how long their average callout time is so you know just how long you’ll be sitting out in the rain for if the worst does happen!
About BreakdownChoices.co.uk:
Launched in 2005 the BreakdownChoices.co.uk website has provided a wide range of features for people who wish to either find new providers or to switch from their existing provider, including motorcycle breakdown and breakdown cover comparison.
While the main function of the site is t compare different breakdown providers the features of the site extend well beyond that, giving deal hunters unparalleled access to community features, guides and FAQs, as well as providing regular new updates about the industry and one time deals.
For further information please contact: