Month: April 2020

Life sans loans is tough to manage, while the cost of living is soaring. Most of the people rely on  Installment loans to tide over when they are running out of money. You may have taken out loans several times to fund your needs during an emergency.

Since the inception of online lending, it has become easier to get money as fast as possible. Borrowing even a handful of cash has become possible with online lending. Though it seems natural to pay off the whole of the debt because of its small amount, most of the people face problems repaying the loan.

Unexpected circumstances like unemployment and sickness may account for such delays. As a result, the cost of the loan continues to add up, imposing a significant threat to financial stability. To avoid this predicament, you will need PPI (Payment Protection Insurance).

PPI is a type of insurance sold alongside a financial product such as a credit card, a short-term loan so that you can make the payment in case you fall sick and lose your job. It sounds interesting to have a PPI as it ensures timely payments in case of unexpected problems. However, most of the people failed to claim it.

PPI was designed to help you make payments when it is difficult to keep afloat in case you fall ill and lose your job. If you have a PPI, you can make claims.

PPI Was Mis-Sold

Although the purpose of PPI was to help the borrower to claim it in case, they fall ill or get unemployed, and policyholders would have never been able to claim the policy. They failed to claim it because they were mis-sold it.

PPI was a type of insurance sold along with mortgages, credit cards, and personal loans. However, some people have mis-sold it along with other financial products such as overdrafts and store credits. Further, the self-employed and the retired people were unable to claim the insurance.

The most common reasons why PPI claims were rejected are you own a financial product that does not accord with the policy. The most common PPI mis-selling checklists include:

• Did you know that the insurance was optional?
• Were you informed of exclusions?
• Did you have clarity that you would pay insurance upfront?
• Were you arguing about buying the insurance?
• Were you aware that you would continue to pay interest on the premium even after the insurance expired?

Can You Claim The PPI?

The deadline to claim the PPI was on or before 29 August 2019. Now the deadline is gone. If you still want to make a claim you will have to meet the following conditions:

• You need to prove that you had an emergency, for instance, a severe illness that kept you from applying for the claim by the due date.
• A bereavement loss that prevented you from doing so before the deadline.
• Any technical glitch that failed in the application.

Such exceptional circumstances can help you have your claim. Make sure that you provide as much information to the provider as possible. If the provider agrees with the documents you submit, the process for your claim can speed up.

• If your complaint is rejected or you are asked more information, take the following steps:
• You can file the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
• If you think the amount of compensation is unfair, you should figure out the factors that can affect the amount.

What To Do If You Made The Claim Before The Deadline But it Was Turned Down?

When you put in the application for the claim, your PPI provider will assess your request and may take up to eight weeks. However, you can get the claim within a week from the date you file your claim.

If your PPI provider did not approve your compensation, you have the right to go to FOS. Banks will likely send you a letter even if they did not approve of your compensation before the deadline. Due to the court ruling, people are supposed to get benefits in case they have mis-sold the policy.

If you get a letter from the bank, your compensation is due because it indicates that they have spotted the problem with your policy. You must remember that if both the bank and the FOS turn down your application, you will never get any claim.

How Far Back Can PPI Claims Go?

The FOS will not stop you from going to the court to get the claim as long as it dates back to six years. However, you can go back as far as you like because most of the policies were sold between 1990 and 2010.

You can get a PPI claim even now. If the provider does not approve of your compensation, you can go to FOS. If FOS rejects your application, you will no longer be able to put it in the application.

Carrying out a SWOT Analysis for your business is super easy. It not only saves you a lot of time and trouble in the long run but also makes you familiar with new ideas and approaches towards your business.

The main purpose of this analysis is to assist you in making a powerful business plan by weighing your business’ strengths and weaknesses. At the same time, it also assists you in being well-informed about the current and potential threats and opportunities in the marketplace.

What Is a SWOT Analysis?

SWOT, as mentioned above, stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. This helps you to calculate your business’s performance on these 4 markers and plan for the future.

As strengths and weaknesses are internal to your company, these can be controlled to an extent by you. You just have to put in some time and effort for this purpose. When I started my business, I encountered a problem with poor Internet connection in the first few months. I conducted a SWOT analysis with my team and subscribed to one of the very attractive Spectrum Internet plans ultimately.

Opportunities and threats, however, are external to your company and these can’t be changed by you. Some examples can be your competitors and pricing regulations.

Why Do a SWOT Analysis?

Below are 2 ways in which SWOT Analysis can help an established business

• Rethinking the business strategies in case of an unforeseen change in market trends
• Rethinking business ideas to explore new avenues

Similarly, SWOT can help a new business in these ways

• Preparing a smart and cost-effective plan for your business
• Exploring the potential of new and unique services in the market place

How to Do This Analysis?

Here’s how you can conduct this analysis the right way:

Take out Some Time

Although you don’t need a whole day to do this, you need to spare about 2 or 3 hours for it. Create a scheduled meeting and make sure everybody in your team attends it.

Include Representatives From All Departments

It is important to ensure the inclusion of at least one representative from every department. As every department has different operations assigned to it, getting feedback on all operations will ensure the success of this analysis.

Make Sure That Everybody’s Opinion Gets Heard

Everybody’s opinion is important for this exercise. Therefore, you have to make sure that few people don’t overpower others. You can start the session by asking a question and make everyone jot down their opinions on sticky notes.

Start a Discussion

After the above exercise, you can group the same opinions on a subject and start a discussion. Let people add new ideas as well so that each aspect can be covered.

Use a Voting System

Conduct a voting exercise among members. It’ll help you choose the best ideas and move ahead with these.

Wait for the Authority to Make a Final Call

Once the ideas have been discussed and ranked, now it is time for the person in charge to approve these ideas. If there’s a strict hierarchy in your business, the CEO will be making that decision. However, a group of people can also decide upon an idea if your business has a more homogenous structure.

Creative Questions That Can Help You With The Analysis

You need to make a list of questions for discussion before scheduling the SWOT meeting. So, here are a few of these to get you started.

Strengths

These are the constructive aspects of your company that are under your control.

• In what aspects do you outrun your competitor?
• What kind of unique skills do you have?
• What are the most profitable aspects of your business?
• Where do you rank your business in terms of possession of physical assets?

Weaknesses

These are the bleak aspects of your business that are also under your control.

• What kind of improvements do you need to achieve your goals?
• Are your company’s resources enough for growth?
• Do you need to set up your business elsewhere?
• Is the team communication in your business ineffective?

Opportunities

Opportunities are external aspects that have the potential to help your business flourish.

• Has there been a market boom that can make your business grow?
• Can some new rules and regulations benefit your business?
• Are your customers satisfied with your services?

Threats

Threats are external aspects that can negatively impact your business. These are not under your control.

• How strong are your current or potential competitors?
• What kind of hurdles can you face in your marketing attempts?
• How significantly a change in consumer behaviour drive down your sales?

Final Words

SWOT analysis is crucial for your business growth. These guidelines will surely help you carry out a successful SWOT analysis session with your team. A constructive SWOT session with my team encouraged me to dial the Spectrum Customer Service number and get my Internet problem fixed.

There are many tricks to try out to get the best deal when buying a car. If it’s your first time purchasing one, you can run into a lot of mistakes if you’re not careful. This can be avoided with a little bit of preparation and cunning. This is the second most expensive investment you’ll make in your life, sometimes it could be the first. Any advice can go a long way and you need to go in the dealership with a ton of confidence to find out which car works perfectly for you. Here are some tips for buying a car for the first time.

Start With Research

Car commercials are everywhere. You can see them in video ads, commercials, and billboards. This will definitely attract anyone who’s looking to buy a car. But don’t just follow what you see and purchase the car immediately. It’s best to do some research on different car models. Not all are created equally and a bigger model might be more suitable for your needs. Perhaps a high-end model is a better investment or a different vehicle can fit your family better. Use the internet to your advantage and find reviews of the unit as well. Another form of research is to head over to your car dealership and ask around. You’ll never know what kind of deal you’ll get and it won’t harm you to try.

Consider Auto-loans

If you need the car as soon as possible but you don’t have the means to carry out the purchase, an auto-loan is a viable option. Car loans can be found everywhere. Tons of institutions and banks offer different car loans at affordable terms. This is directly related to research as it’s important to check if the auto-loan is reputable. Auto-loans can vary from different providers and it’s vital to know what you’re dealing with to avoid problems in the future. Choose an auto-loan that’s suitable for your current earnings and the kind of payment term you desire. Getting a loan should get your finances straight and give you access to more vehicle options.

Choose A Car You Can Afford

You have the help of an auto-loan but it’s wiser to spend within your means. Your dream car can be expensive and can put you in debt, which is the exact opposite of what you want to do. Don’t be an impulsive buyer to avoid buyer’s regret. Choose a car that fits your budget and preference to prevent this from happening in the future. You don’t want to be held down by a loan forever and buying what you can afford will avoid this. If you’re paying for a car currently, it’s best to wait until that’s paid off so you have some extra funds on the side when you buy your next car. This is an important strategy to remember and is often overlooked by a lot of people.

Look At Used Cars Too

The newer models have amazing features some used cars don’t have. However, used high-end models can be cheaper than the new ones. If you want to have more options, looking at used cars is viable as well. Cars tend to depreciate in value faster than property or real estate. Previous car owners will be selling the cars at exponentially lower prices. Do your research and look at the condition of the used vehicles properly. There could be some blemishes and problems that you may not know about or if the seller failed to inform you about. Be thorough when asking questions and keep an open mind if you’re really strapped for cash.

Avoid Add-ons

If you’re planning to save money on a car, add-ons and extended warranties will seem like a nice deal. But if you don’t have the money to spare, it’s best to forgo these add ons and save cash. You don’t need all of these extra add-on accessories or extended warranties. Accessories can be bought at different shops at much more affordable prices. Warranties will expire and you’ll get the best out of it anyway as time progresses. Be a smart consumer and don’t fall for these marketing tactics. Unless you feel like you really need it, you can skip the add-ons.

Key Takeaway

These tips for buying a car for the first time are useful even after your first purchase. Remember each tip to help save money on your car and find the best deals that work for you. You can buy your dream car without spending too much money or impulse buying a car you never wanted. These tips will also help you avoid making mistakes in the future if you properly implement and practice each. Be a smart consumer when you’re getting your own car.

Part of being an Australian is spending time outdoors behind a pair of shades. The almost perpetually sunny weather means that for many of us, our sunglasses have become an extension of our bodies. But sunglasses aren’t just a practical accessory that allows us to see better on really sunny days. They are also crucial for the health of our eyes. According to the NSW Cancer Council, ultraviolet radiation can cause both short-term eye problems such as swelling and long-term damage such as cataracts, cancer of the conjunctiva and skin cancer of the eyelids and around the eyes.

But not all sunglasses are created equal. The quality of the lenses and coatings are what determines whether a pair can offer 100% protection, only moderately block UV rays or be completely useless. With that being said, it’s recommended to look for models that are rated UV400 or higher. However, even this is not always a guarantee as some can have potentially false UV lables. For that reason, you should always do your research when buying sunglasses. Or better yet, opt for trusted designer brands such as Oakley.

Oakley is a name that’s synonymous with quality eyewear. Oakleys were especially popular in the ’90s, but unlike other trends in eyewear, they’ve managed to stay around due to their unmatched quality. The brand invests unparalleled research and technology to create a product that provides maximum protection, stability and comfort. All of their glasses are tested to the most rigorous test of ANSI and have lenses that block 100% of harmful UV rays, as well as blue light. But all that quality comes at a considerable price tag. Since Oakley sunglasses can be an investment, you may want to make sure that they last you for years. To prolong the lifespan of your shades and make sure that they serve their purpose, here are some helpful tips.

Clean Your Sunnies Regularly

Your Oakleys will get dirty easily from being exposed to the elements as well as from any hair products that you use. Just like you wash your clothes after spending a day in them, the same goes for your sunglasses too. If you don’t clean your shades regularly and properly, the dirt can eat away at the lenses and frames. Peeling, bubbling and even pitting can occur.

To clean your Oakleys’ lenses, it’s best to use a special lens cleaning spray that has less than 5% alcohol. Spray some of it on the lenses and with a clean microfiber cloth wipe them softly using circular motions. To clean the grime build up underneath the rubber nose and earpieces, rinse the shades off in lukewarm water, and using mild dish soap give the frames a gentle scrubbing. You shouldn’t use anything that has ammonia or bleach or vinegar (even though it’s great for cleaning drinking glasses ) because these can damage the coatings on your lenses.

Whenever you want to remove some smudges affecting your view, never use your breath and your shirt. First of all, this is unhygienic. And second, clothing is rarely soft enough to clean lenses without scratching and isn’t always able to remove fluids completely. As a result, the shades can become a streaked mess and more dirty that they were before. Instead, always carry a microfibre cloth with you to wipe occasional smudges without damaging the lenses.

Tighten the Screws

The screws in your sunglasses can get loose over time. It’s recommended to tighten the screws that hold the top and bottom part of the frame around the lenses periodically. To do so, consider purchasing a special optical screwdriver as regular screwdrivers won’t be able to fit. You can find an optical screwdriver from most stores that specialize in eyewear.

How to Straighten Oakley Sunglasses?

If you feel that your shades’ arms are crooked, you can try to straighten them. But doing so requires you to be extremely careful as not to break them. If you’ve picked a model with a metal frame, you can easily adjust them to fit right. All you’ll need is a flat surface, a soft cloth and some pliers. Wrap the frames with the cloth and clamp the pliers where the frames bend to make tiny adjustments. Then lay the sunglasses on a flat surface to test whether the frames are straight. If not, continue to make adjustments until they lay perfectly flat. However, if you went for a model with plastic frames, straightening them can be trickier as it requires you to soften the plastic with heat. In this case, it’s best to visit an approved optical dealer to work on them.

Replace the Lenses When Damaged

So, you’ve been carefully sticking to all of the above, but somehow still ended up damaging the lenses of your Oakleys. I’m not one to judge, because accidents do happen and I myself have sat on my glasses a number of times. So, the question is what can be done? All Oakleys have a two year warranty, however this does not apply to scratched lenses and you will need to purchase a brand new pair or get replacement lenses. And considering the price tag on new Oakleys, replacement lenses will cost you significantly less.

But can you buy replacement lenses for Oakley sunglasses? The answer is yes. The Oakley company sells replacement lenses for all their products, however, currently they only ship to addresses within the United States and US Territories and do not offer international delivery. But luckily, there are some Australian-based companies that manufacture quality replacement lenses for Oakleys. 

How to Find New Lenses to Fit Your Oakleys

The first step to find replacement lenses for Oakleys is to identify the exact model of your sunglasses. To do so, you will need to look on the inside of the frame where there will be the frame number and name. For example, this may be Squad Wire OO4075. Some models may come in multiple sizes, in this case you’ll find the size usually after the frame number.

Other Benefits from Lens Replacement

When choosing replacement lenses for Oakley sunglasses, you can pick ones with some cool features that your previous lenses didn’t have. For instance, you have the chance to get yourself some polarized lenses for quite the bargain. Polarized lenses help reduce sun glare and reflection, thus making seeing a lot more comfortable, especially in snowy or rainy conditions. You also get to choose lenses in a different colour for a more stylish look.

In the world of businesses, theft occurs more internally as compare with externally. Here, the word internally suggests “IT security concerns”. Nowadays, data plays a crucial role and using it, and firms can grow fast.

However, the thing that is utilising to boost the profit, then it comes under the level of threats.

Three significant concerns bother the IT security team:

• Data leakage or breaching
• Hacking
• Malware activities

The things mentioned above only introduce when you are operating the online business. However, in the case of offline, data leakage is done manually. But, it is a concern for every type of firms. If you are one who is directing an online business or going to start one, then you should know about the principles.

Let’s learn more about these security principles. 

We have discussed the major 5 rules in this blog. You can read them and do not forget to include while running a business.

Here before knowing the rules, IT member must have a clear version of goal or you can say “AIM”. So, let’s have a look at what should be the aim of information security.

Aim for the Security Experts 

• Access by the authorised person 

In this part, one that is either authorised or IT personnel can get the information. It should not be available for all the person. The company must know to provide the unique security code so that only those who are authorised can access it.

• Bringing Changes By An Unauthorised Person Should Be Next To Impossible 

Cyber threats are always a part of the debate, and many companies face due to data breaching. It means that information is accessible to one who is either not verified or some external hackers. So, creating this stage stable is vital.

If you overlook it, and you may ruin the business soon.

The system should not be that hard to break that authorise person find it difficult to avail it when they need it. So, it should be readily available at any moment.

• Must-Have An Efficient Team 

It may be the last point, but having a strong team plays a crucial part to save information. However, small business does not have that much risk, but when it starts growing, then security may be the biggest concern.

If you are one whose business is growing, then make sure you hire a team of expert. In case of low funds, and having previous debts, then arrange money with options, like debt consolidation loan for bad credit maybe help you. With these funds, you can hire at least the remote workers.

Now, let’s have a look at the principles. 

Rules That Can Aid Firms To Protect Data 

It is a common problem that most of the company is faces. They do not equip with enough facility to make the balance. For a secure system, there must be a balance between the resource availability, and openness of the resources.

If some firms fail to achieve it, then it becomes a bit challenging to save data or crucial information about the company.

• Don’t Provide Full Access 

We have discussed earlier that one can access the information at any time. But, it is partially correct, the information should be provided in such a way, that person gets only data which he/she is seeking. Multiple systems exist that offer full access at first login.

Every person in the firm should have limited privileges. It means the accessibility should be divide into segments. If leakage occurs, then with this small method, you can quickly identify the affected area, and try to recover it as soon as possible.

You must have seen companies using multiple software to protect the system. But, remember one thing that having numerous software means the high rate of risk. So, it becomes a bit challenging for the owner to find out the point.

So, try to use a single but effective system. It will aid you to protect from the severe condition.

• Get Ready Yourself For Failure 

Malware activities can happen anywhere and anytime. So, preparing yourself in advance can help you in multiple ways. First, collect all the possibilities, and make sure that you have a solution for that. If you find it hard to get the best results, then take assistance with the experts.

No matter what, you must have a possible solution for the issues so that you can avoid such a scenario before such activities affect the system.

Now, you can see how vital it is to protect essential data for the company. Follow every principle that we have discussed so far. Though you have to invest money over software, and hiring a strong team, but it can offer you multiple benefits, like growing business fast, and help to consume data properly.

Many of the entrepreneurs and youngsters are looking to start their own business in 2020. There are people who want to start their own business and hence want to be as ‘economy of the independent individual’. For this, all you need is to think with the right business ideas to make a big boom with the economy. Starting a business, it is not necessary to have a degree in finance, business or marketing. You should have the potential, caliber or hidden business mind. If you have a deep analysis of the well-know businessman there education rarely relates to their businesses.

For a good business start-up, there are a lot of reasons to consider and also there are few essentials or tips to consider that you should not miss out on your business.

It’s All About Customer:

Analyze with your customers. Who they are? Note down with their requirements and check out the product or service you are providing full satisfies their need. To get yourself shape in the business, help your customers rather than just offering in the sake of getting paid. Starting with online business just remember, consider sharing & caring of customers with earning.

Being Passionate is Everything:

Being passionate is somewhat brutal but later it will make you a good entrepreneur. Whenever going for start-up business start with something that interests you more and you are passionate about that thing. If you are passionate enough, then it won’t let you at a thought of how to sell and how to make money?

Considering the different factors here are some of the business ideas that one should go for a start-up and can generate more revenue.

Taxi Booking Business:

One of the most trending businesses nowadays is to have a ride-hailing company with a taxi booking app. It works on a simple methodology like booking a cab with pick up and drop location. It calculates the distance and fare and the user needs to pay with the selected payment method. With this taxi booking app get an opportunity to have a successful business start-up if you opt to go for online business.

Vacation Rental Business:

One of the most avenues that are gaining popularity is the vacation rental business. This can be done with the help of vacation rental software that enables you to connect both the customer as well as the owner of the rental place. This is a good platform where one can start their own rental business and generate more income online. This is a long term business as it well as more demanding nowadays

Job Portal:

There were days when companies looking for talent to hire used to post their requirements in magazines and get the replies in two to three days. Now, with the growing technological world, an online job board software has overcome its place. Online job board software or app helps to connect employee as well as companies where they can satisfy with their requirement and gets the work done. Job portal application helps to get the companies to get talent for their work, as well as users, can find the best place to work for. This job portal proves as an outstanding platform where employers and job seekers are connected and you can generate revenue by connecting them.

Freelancing:

Starting your own freelance marketplace is also an outstanding idea for a start-up to grow. There are many companies as well as users are looking freelancing work to do for. Companies are nowadays looking to hire a freelancer that suits the timely delivery of the company’s requirements. You can create a good marketplace in freelance by having your own freelance Software. You can connect different companies, and freelancers locally as well as internationally.

Along with this, there are other online businesses where one can start with. Other businesses like car rental business, car sharing or car rental business, different b2b platforms for trading, etc. There are many successful businesses like Alibaba, Amazon, Flipkart, Uber, Linkedin, etc. These businesses are on the top of the notch that is still growing on its way. You can take these businesses into consideration. Why not start with businesses like the same? It is good to choose the idea or concept of the business rather than starting from scratch. With this type of business, there are many advantages like you may know. About its pros and cons and also consider the profit margin by taking into account with this type of business.

Conclusion:

Research shows that with the growing technology there are plenty of services available online that makes the work at ease connecting millions of users across the globe. So, if you are looking for your startup, grab the opportunity like the above-mentioned businesses that will be a fantabulous solution for your own niche business. With a small or less investment, you can earn a huge revenue or profit with the means of your venture.

The world of offshore banking is often only known through the limited scandalizing headlines that depict stories of money laundering, tax evasion and secretive bank accounts for the mega-rich.

What people don’t realise is that the offshore banking industry is often safer than banking domestically is perfectly legal and is more often used by average individuals who are anything but the super-wealthy.

Offshore banking provides a legitimate means for just about anyone to protect their assets and maximise their returns. Here, we will take a look at three of the most common misconceptions that people have about offshore banking to perhaps clarify a deeply misunderstood industry.

1. Offshore banking is a way to illegally evade taxes

While it is very true that owning an offshore company or offshore bank account in many jurisdictions will enable you to efficiently minimise your tax burden, you should and will not be able to illegally evade paying tax by having an offshore account.

Every country has its own unique tax regulations, and many of the jurisdictions which have become popular locations to hold an account have tax legislation that are advantageous to non-resident holders.

By structuring your account properly you will be able to take advantage of these tax structures in accordance with the tax laws in certain overseas jurisdiction. This is a completely legal and legitimate way to reduce your taxes. This does not however eliminate your tax liability in your country of residence. You are still liable to the government in the country where you reside and must abide by local tax laws accordingly.

2. Offshore banking is for criminals who want to hide their money

Contrary to what the headlines may have told you; the days of complete anonymous offshore banking are at an end. In recent years, there has been a significant drive towards the mutual sharing of financial information of account holders across borders.

Many jurisdictions have had to sign such agreements, under pressure from the EU and OECD making it much harder complete account secrecy. That being said, there are some favourable offshore jurisdictions where banks still value the importance of privacy and protection of ownership.

Privacy and confidentiality is still maintained in a number of countries around the world, however it is often the laws of a particular client that will make complete anonymity more difficult. If the country where you reside is a signatory of the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), then you will not be able to effectively hide your assets completely from the government.

However, this does not mean your information is publicly available, it just means that your government has access to your tax information. If you reside in a country who is not a signatory of the CRS then you are one of the lucky few.

Nonetheless, opening an offshore account for a majority of the world is not about hiding your assets, but about asset protection. This is to protect yourself from the reach of hungry lawyers, bad business partners, ex-spouses or anyone looking to reach their hand in your pocket.

3. Offshore banking is only for the ultra-rich

This stereotype is a commonly held idea and is vastly out of touch with reality. Nearly any individual with a few hundred dollars can open up an overseas account in say Belize, or a company in Nevis. Access to overseas markets it easier than ever before and is not just limited to the few.

There is such a wide variety of options when it comes to offshore bank accounts. While you might not get into places like Switzerland and Singapore with a few hundred dollars, however Andorra or Puerto Rico will gladly take your cash.

Individuals owning an internet-based business or commerce store or any digitally based service stand the most to gain. However, there are many benefits that come when you look offshore.

Takeaway

While going offshore will likely still retain some misconceptions as the headlines will continue to report only the dark side of things. However, global banking is not some drug dealing cartel but is likely to be more similar to your bank at the end of the street.

Bio

Offshore Protection is offshore service provider offering custom tailor-made offshore solutions for individuals and busniesses looking for a global alternative