Dispute Experian

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To dispute Experian credit bureau a dispute letter must be sent. When the bureau receives your letter they will investigate the dispute.

I suggest you first get a copy of your credit report. This can be done by going to annual credit report. They will issue you a free copy of your credit report with each bureau annually.

When you have your credit report you must identify what listings are inaccurate or incorrect. These will be the listings that you dispute.

These marks are disputed by writing a dispute letter and sending it to Experian. Upon receipt they will say if your dispute is valid or invalid.

If it is found to be invalid then they will write you requesting more information about the dispute. If this happens you will need to respond accordingly and provide the requested details.

If your dispute is valid then an investigation will be held into the mark. In an investigation the bureaus will contact the business that made the negative mark on your report and ask them to verify the debt, the dates and the balance.

It has been found that investigations will often result in a listing being removed. This is a result of many businesses being unwilling to spend the resources verifying disputed debts.

A credit repair service can also be hired to remove negative credit from your report. With this option you only need to identify the marks you wish to dispute and the service will do the rest.

The advantage of having a service is in case the listing is verified they have advanced dispute techniques they can use. These include; escalated dispute information requests, debt validation, and creditor direct intervention.

I suggest do it yourself credit repair if you have only minor damage on your report, however if you have multiple marks I suggest a credit repair service. I also suggest a service if you are having trouble submitting a valid dispute or you have had a mark verified that should be removed.

You are going to need to dispute a bad credit item with each credit bureau. This means you will have to send a separate letter disputing the same item with each bureau.

In sum negative items can be removed from your credit report. You do not have to live with the high cost of low credit.

The Millionaire Mind Intensive Seminar – An Honest Opinion

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There’s been a lot of talk online about the Millionaire Mind Intensive seminar. This seminar, created by a man called T. Harv Eker, says it’ll help you make money, even if you couldn’t in the past, by teaching you to think like a millionaire.

Are you skeptical? I know I was before I saw this program – after all, lots of these books and seminars are just scams to get the author rich. Here’s an opinion on what the Millionaire Mind Intensive does and does not have to offer.

At first glance, this seminar can come across salesy and enthusiastic. That’s something that turns a lot of people off. However, it’s important to remember that you should never judge any book by its cover. When I first looked at the Millionaire Mind Intensive, I thought it looked like a scam, and I’ve changed my mind since!

You’ll feel involved in this innovative, dynamic program right away, due to the unique and engaging exercises used to get you started. Once you’ve gotten into the spirit of things, you’ll learn how to use the proven techniques this program offers. While progress seems slow, you’ll actually get results right away.

In addition to the workshop, you’ll also receive a 90 day Wealth Conditioning workbook that will keep you on the road to success over the course of the next three months. After that, you’ll have the opportunity to take a look back, and you’ll be amazed how far you’ve come.

One thing I didn’t find in this seminar, which was disappointing at first, was specific tips on what to do with my finances. This isn’t a map to getting rich, unfortunately, and there probably isn’t such a thing. However, what the seminar does provide is the general methods you can use to put yourself in a place where you’ll think like a millionaire.

I didn’t need any previous knowledge to get started. It also didn’t matter how much or little entrepreneurial experience I had. I didn’t know much about finances before I found this program, but other people who had a better background said they still got a lot of it.

Anyone can use this seminar to help themselves restructure their current finances and create the perfect plan for their future. You’ll be amazed at how changing a little bit of how you think can make a difference in your whole life. Still, some people shouldn’t bother with this seminar.

That’s because the Millionaire Mind Intensive, with all it has to offer, still isn’t for someone who doesn’t think they should be required to work or feel uncomfortable on their journey to the top. Eker won’t just hand over the secrets to success – it takes work to get there. Everyone will have to experience a little bit of discomfort to get to their full potential.

On the other hand, if you’re willing to take a new look at your life and wave goodbye to the ways of thinking that have held you back, the Millionaire Mind Intensive might be the right choice. Take another look, see what the program has to offer, then decide for yourself.

Dealing with Real Estate

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Real estate has become a difficult proposition with the global economy going berserk. People are afraid of the pink slips, of retaining their jobs and money is becoming scarce. In such a situation, real estate needs to take a backseat but rents are becoming higher; it is a Hobson’s choice for many.

If you want to buy a place of your own, you have to decide whether to go in for an independent house or live in a condo. There are many good aspects of living in a condo, informs one article on this website. You have many people around you whom you can be friends with; you don’t have to worry about routine stuff like mowing the lawn or keeping the roads and the sidewalks near your house clean. Because in a condominium all this is done through a common facility. You may have to pay a certain fee for it.

First time home owners may prefer living in a condominium where there are many houses with common walls and shared driveways, and other things. But they do have their own regulation and rules. Staying in a condo may be good if you do not have the time to mow your own lawn or clean the sidewalks or deal with payment of taxes and the like. Living in a condo is less expensive as a common agent takes care of all these things. But sometimes the rules, like not allowing pets, or not allowing more than one car parking facility per house, can be irksome.

Some articles on this website deal with the buying and selling of property. You can hire a realtor who will do the spadework for a fee, or you can do it yourself and save the fee. Hiring a realtor certainly sounds easy because he is in the profession and knows exactly what to do and what not to. He knows the ins and outs of the deals. But if you want to take up the challenge and save thousands in the bargain you can certainly go ahead by handling it yourself.

Certain tips like staging the house which means that you can present your house in the best manner, will only be known to you and not an outsider. So you can do it better. Presenting the house with good furniture, good paint and a welcoming driveway will fetch you more than your expectations. You can list the house with the best pictures and the best angles so that the viewer feels like purchasing it. These and many more ideas are given in this article. Marketing is an important aspect of selling and you have to learn methods of marketing so that you will get the right price.

Another option is you may wish to sell and rent your house yourself. Or sell and then buy it yourself. These are quite common these days. In both these cases you have the advantage of continuing to live in your own home.

You can find a lender and tell him of the situation. He can help you in deferral of payments or refinancing for better loan terms. Selling and renting back means that you sell it to a cash buyer and then rent it yourself. Even while you are living in your own house after renting it, you still have the option of buying it back when you have the necessary money. You may even be able to buy back your own house at a lower price.

Though many people have done these things, it is advisable to discuss everything with the financier in the first place, get everything in writing and then only go ahead. You should also talk this with others who have done this before and you should learn from their mistakes and their experiences.

Insuring Green Cars: What To Look For

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With an ever increasing emphasis on green products and environmental protection, even car manufacturers are trying to create automobiles that are low on green house emission and energy efficient.

There are many pluses to owning an eco vehicle, but just how does one insure such an automobile? The law is clear all motor vehicles, no matter their make model or type, have to be insured. Getting caught without insurance can carry heavy penalties and fines and your car can be impounded as a result.

This is why it is very important to obtain insurance that will cover the unique circumstances that surround these innovative motor vehicles.

Locating the right type of insurance agency

Since an eco friendly car is a technologically advanced auto, it carries with it some inherent unknowns. These variables are factored in when devising car quotes. Premiums may fluctuate depending on the type of car and if it is electric or a hybrid. Several insurance companies can be found online that cater to the specific needs of Green Car owners. Look around for the best rates, but don?t go too cheap. Green car insurance can be expensive, but there is reason for this expense. When it comes to insurance for any car, going too cheap can harm your level of coverage.

Once you locate an insurance company whose rates seem feasible, call a representative or visit their offices for an in depth discussion of what their green car policy involves.

Eco specific insurance

There are several companies that offer policies with green specific language. These policies offer the added benefit of earmarking money towards numerous green projects that protect the environment by cutting down carbon emissions. These policies?s often cost a bit more, but with more than 40,000 eco friendly cars now driving along our nations roads, the initiative may be working.

This policy may be a great buy for those who truly wish to aid the environment, but such insurance is usually expensive.

New Green Car Insurance initiatives

Law makers are doing everything they can to make the environment a priority, even coming up with novel approaches to insurance benefits offered to green car motorists.

One option, called “pay-as-you-go” auto insurance, is one way to make eco vehicle insurance far less expensive. The unorthodox structure involves a process that assesses the numbers of miles an individual drives with the payments being structured around that mileage. The idea behind this is cut down on emissions and gases. The added benefit to this of course, is the lowering of auto accidents.

Other benefits of choosing green insurance

Insurance companies that offer green policies also go the extra mile by using money for environmental causes beyond emissions and gas concerns. For example, a few companies will back efforts to plant trees or clean up polluted areas of the country.

In this way, your Policy dollars can become green dollars, reaching beyond the individual protection of an automobile.

Although green policies are evolving, not all insurance companies carry them. Be sure to investigate the company you are interested in to find out where they stand not only with green insurance but on environmental issues.

You would hate to discover that the company you are giving your money to is connected projects or corporations that work counter to green causes.

Driving an eco auto could help the earth’s ecology in more ways than one. For an environmentally conscience individual, this may be the best solution.

As with any consumer product, look around at the various types of green insurance policy’s that are being offered to find the best fit. Once you locate it, you will be able to drive legally as well as in good conscience.

The Debt Collectors

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Anyone can be anxious when the debt collectors are constantly ringing up and sending threatening letters of demand. But rest assured that there is protection in a number of forms and ways that you can deal with the debt collectors that hassle you.

There is an Act that lays down the guidelines as to what a debt collector can and cannot do when they are trying to collect a debt. It is called the “Fair Debt Collection Practices” Act. This Act states, amongst other aspects, that the debt collectors are not allowed to call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.; they cannot garnish wages in those states where it has been made illegal and they must cease the continual phone calls if you ask them to.

[For the full text, see: http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm#801]

There are several things you can do.

Don’t take the call. Use an answering machine to screen calls. For those people who have caller ID or call blocking, you will be able to get rid of the call entirely.

If you do decide to take the call, it is entirely reasonable for you to request that they do not contact you further. If you send the agency a “cease and desist” letter, they are then legally prevented from contacting you. Any legal action can be expensive, so it is wise to try other ways first.

If the debt is in fact yours to pay, if you are able to, you should think about paying it. After all it is your responsibility and should be paid. If you are truly finding it difficult to pay, then perhaps you can negotiate a way of making regular, lower payments until the debt is paid in full.

Make the committment and stick to it and the annoying calls should stop. These debt collectors are real people just doing their job, even if some of them are less than pleasant about it and they will usually not bother you once you have an agreement with them.

Maintain a record of calls that have been made either by you or to you in a diary, together with any arrangements that have been made. Keep a record of when you have asked them to stop calling – this is most important if they have been calling you at your workplace. If it is legal in your state, you may consider taping the phone call, but keep in mind that often means that you have to tell the other person that you are recording them.

There are not many debt collectors that are brave enough (or unwise enough) to say things that may compromise them when they are aware they are being recorded. The record or diary will be helpful if you have negotiated a change in the payment regime.

The majority of debt collectors are able to agree to a lower payment, but because they usually get a commission based on the percentage of their collection, they will push you to pay as close to the whole amount as possible. However, they do understand that if you are able to pay 50% of $500, it is preferable to receiving 100% of nothing at all.

When you make an agreement, the debt collector should also make their own commitment that they will not put any further adverse comments on your credit report or credit rating. Ask them to report any increase on your credit score as well as the payments that you do make as soon as possible so you can adjust the amount owed accordingly.

Be sure that you obtain agreements in writing before you send any substantial amounts of money. A “good faith” payment is fine as it will show that you are sincere in your efforts to clear the debt, but if you send too much at one time, they will be less inclined to adhere to their side of the bargain.

There are three things that you should always retain when you are dealing with debt collection: patience, a realistic outlook and remaining calm when discussing matters financial. If you remember these, you will reduce the stress of the situation.

All About Massage Therapy Insurance

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Are you experiencing aching back and muscle pains? If you have aches and pains that are more than just the result of the usual work stress then you might want to go for a little massage therapy. As with most therapeutic techniques, you probably want to know if you can take advantage of massage therapy insurance.

Massage Therapy Insurance

Most people want massage therapy to be covered by massage therapy insurance and it only seems right. Numerous research studies have shown that massage therapy truly can provide health benefits for various muscular conditions. Various massage techniques can help relieve pain, promote healing of some conditions and improve the general well being of individuals.

Many insurance companies now provide coverage for massage therapy. There are of course, differences in coverage depending on your insurance company. Your insurance company may have coverage rules that include the kind of therapy, the number of sessions and the expertise of your therapist. Depending on the results of the evaluation, your massage therapy insurance may cover part or all of your expenses.

In any case, if your insurance company does have massage therapy insurance, you would have to provide clear documentation of your therapy needs and sessions. A doctor’s prescription is necessary as well as a detailed description of what kind of therapy you need, how often you need it and the progress of your sessions.

Insurance Billing

Before, there were therapy clinics took care of customers’ massage therapy insurance billing. This added convenience made sense then because patients would definitely want to return to therapists who could handle everything including the hassles of insurance billing. These days though, more and more therapists are drawing away from the task of insurance billing for a number of reasons.

It is mostly the small clinics who have a hard time in processing massage therapy insurance papers because of their lack of personnel. Not only do they have to juggle busy schedules but they also need to brush up on insurance policies and codes, fill up various forms and process billing requests with companies. Sometimes they would have to wait for a few days or weeks before receiving a response from an insurance company.

There are also cases wherein the request for payment is denied or only given minimal compensation for the task. In this case, they would have to go right back to the client to explain why there are problems with billing. This is a lot of hassle and some therapists simply do not feel that it is worth it.

Processing Insurance Yourself

One would be lucky to find an reasonably-priced therapy clinic who is also willing to do the insurance paperworks. In some cases though, you would have to do the work yourself. Although massage therapy insurance is something that should definitely be widely provided in the future, you would have to content yourself with the hassles of the present system.

How to Get Your Credit Back After Bankruptcy

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After bankruptcy there are procedures you can follow to help restore your credit back to its original state. This will not happen overnight, but over time you will see results. Make sure to follow the right steps to remove the negative entries left by the bankruptcy and get you back on the right track.

What can you do about a bankruptcy on your credit report?

Any debts that were removed during bankruptcy will show up as either “Charge-off” or “BK Liq Reo.” The bankruptcy will itself be shown under the public record section as a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.

There is really just one way to eradicate a bankruptcy completely from your credit report and that is to deal with the credit bureaus directly. There is almost always some kind of problem in the bankruptcy record since it was written by an individual.

Look closely on your credit report for any mistake the data clerk made when adding up all of the bankruptcy accounts. They often round the number to the next dollar amount and this is technically not the actual number. Therefore, you could challenge this and in a lot of cases the bankruptcy will be eliminated.

Often, bankruptcies are easier to eliminate than other entries on your credit report. This is because bankruptcy files contain a plethora of information, so the probability of mistakes is extremely high as items are usually entered by busy or overworked court employees.

Working with a government office is much different from working with private subscribers. Getting the government to cooperate will make it challenging for the credit bureau to react to your dispute letter within the chosen time, and the government’s bureaucracy can work in your favor.

When sending your demand for correction, make sure that it is addressed to the credit bureau, not to the local government office that maintains the bankruptcy file. The major credit bureaus must correct or verify any errors within a certain time frame (usually 30 days) or remove them from your credit report. It is not difficult to find some error in all the bankruptcy papers, so use this to your benefit.

A bankruptcy is not the end of the line for your credit, and often it is much simpler to erase a bankruptcy record then it would be to erase a lot of small diverse debts listed on your credit reports. Look over the bankruptcy records completely, find something incorrect, and file a demand to have it removed from your report, so you can begin building your credit file again.

Tips to Choose an Investment Property Loan

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Most investment properties are purchased to generate a profit through capital gains and charging individuals with rent. Most of the individuals who purchase investment properties do not live on the land. Although many individuals who purchase investment properties do have enough for a down payment, most do not have the cash needed to buy investment properties in full. Others do not want to tie up their personal money. This is why many decide to finance investment properties with a loan obtained through banks, brokers, or finance companies.

Many individuals are purchasing real estate because they gain larger returns than the average investment. Many are purchasing condos, apartments, single family homes and foreclosed. To qualify for financing, you will need good credit, a description outlining how you will spend the money and at times a collateral too. The lender will want to know a few questions before deciding whether to give you money. For example, they will want to know what you are borrowing the money for and how much is needed. They will also want to decide how long it will take for you to repay the loan. In addition, you may want to research the location of the property crime statistics, and conduct a cost benefit analysis to see if the property is worth purchasing. If you have properly researched your potential investment, then it shouldn’t be answering the questions shouldn’t be that bad.

Choosing a lender can be a difficult task. If you choose a lender with high fees and interest rates, then this will negatively affect your profits. There are a lot of companies that can help finance investment properties and these will be most familiar with the specific type of financing that you may need. You can either visit a loan office or apply to one online. After applying for a line, the person agrees to pay for the loan gradually by paying the monthly payments. Once it is paid off, the person can use the property for personal use or continue renting it.

There is a fixed mortgage rate, which means the mortgage consists of a fixed amount of monthly payments or installments with a fixed interest rate. There are two sub-types of fixed mortgage rates, such as a 30 year mortgage or a 15 year one. Adjustable rate mortgage means the rate fluctuates according to the market conditions. The balloon mortgage rate is a specific amortization schedule with variable terms. Those investors who plan to sell their property within five years are usually advised to try out an adjustable rate mortgage. An investment property can definitely have an effect on the amount of taxes you pay. You will have to pay state and local property taxes.

More and more mortgage companies have been popping up because the demand for loans has increased. There is stiff competition among the companies. Many companies are offering introductory rates and these rates continue for a set period of time. Before you decide to get a loan, please investigate the company and terms of the loan carefully.

How to Stop Foreclosure

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With the way the economy is today it is no wonder that many people are facing foreclosure. When you first set out to buy a home, you do not think about what will happen if times get hard. One of the most awful things that people face today is having their homes foreclosed on. So just how do you stop your home from going into foreclosure?

The fact is that you never know when you may become ill or lose your job. People tend to think in the here and now and don’t realize that they could be in an accident or be struck down with some disease that puts them out of work for a long period of time or even permanently. With no or limited income it becomes harder and hard to meet a mortgage payment. All it takes is a few simple steps to keep from falling behind with the mortgage company. Don’t just leave it to hope and fate that things will work themselves out.

It is embarrassing enough to be unable to pay your mortgage payment without having to actually admit it to your mortgage lender. Avoiding phone calls and hoping things will get better is not the answer and it is probably the worst thing you can do, especially when it comes to your mortgage lender.

Thankfully there are ways that you can stop the foreclosure from happening to you. The first thing you need to do is contact your mortgage company. 9 out of 10 times they will have some type of repayment plan that you can get on to help you get back on track with your mortgage. When you call you’ll be able to talk with one of their specialists that will walk you through picking the right program that meets your financial needs.

If you happen to have a mortgage with the one bank out of ten that is unwilling to work with you or if you are just too far behind, then you may consider seeking the help of another company. Numerous companies deal in stopping foreclosure, they help to negotiate a fair repayment program with your mortgage company.

Something else you may want to consider before getting too far behind is the possibility of refinancing your home. With this option you may even be able to get some cash if you have equity in your home. This extra cash will pay off other debts such as credit cards, furniture or auto payments. By paying off these other debts you have less outgoing each month so you will be better equipped to meet your mortgage obligations.

In addition there is also the option of doing a quick sell of your home. With the economy much like a roller coaster ride in this day and time, one of the many quick sell options might be just what you need. Gone are the times when you have to vacate the home in 15 days with a quick sale.

Many times you may find a lender that will buy your home quickly. This keeps you from going into foreclosure and in some cases they will allow you to remain in your home as a renter. There are even times when you may have to option of purchasing your home back, when your economic situation has balanced back out.

Why are we so conscious of the car we drive

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Whilst motorists in other countries do attach importance to the type of car they drive, in the UK the car appears to be of far more importance, even in some cases more important that the type of house someone lives in. Britain sells on average 2,500,000 cars per year and the contract hire and leasing industry has been built as a result of the British motorist acquiring a new car with such frequency.

So why have our motoring habits changed so much from say the 1950’s, when everything one bought was built to last? Whether it was a fridge, oven or motorcar, it was expected to last if not a lifetime, certainly 20 years or more, it changed subtly and the public didn’t realize that they were slowly but surely being drawn into consumerism.

In the 50’s cars were sturdy and definitely built to last. Unlike today, very heavy gauge steel was used in the body panels; it took quite an impact to dent a car panel. Head on collisions were best avoided. The cars were heavy; there was very little give in the panels.

People in England didn’t travel much in the 1950’s but they heard told of the American throw away culture and it all appeared quite disgraceful, buying products knowing that they would not last, indeed not wanting them to last, so they could acquire a newer version.

It didn’t take long however before the British found themselves going down the same road; seeking out the more modern and newer designs of just about everything. Slowly but surely we followed the American consumer in wanting newer and more modern, in preference to durability. All this seemed to reach a peak in the late1980’s when something more than a year or two old, seemed to be viewed as a relic. Many motorists today choose a 2-year contract hire term rather than 3 even when all the indications are that a 3-year contract hire term is more appropriate for their circumstances.

During the last war the British learned to repair things if they went wrong and this culture continued long after the war; many motorists used to maintain their own cars, cars had the potential to last forever. A toolbox in the boot of the car was considered an essential item for many motorists. The better off would use the AA or RAC who would patrol on motorcycles and sidecars. When they spotted a member who would have an AA or RAC badge on their grill, they would salute. Nowadays heath and safety would have something to say about them taking the hand off the handlebars to salute. So how did they call the breakdown service if their car went wrong? Strategically placed at the roadside were boxes with a telephone inside, so that the motorist could phone for help. But of course only those who were members could use them; they would have a key to open the box, how the world has changed.

After years of building cars to last, it dawned on the manufacturers that this might not be the best way to sell more cars. Why would someone go out and buy a new car after three years when their existing car was still the latest model ten years after buying it and it was running perfectly, perfectly that is for those days. Mechanical breakdowns were very commonplace; a typical Sunday when families went out for a drive, would see the roadsides strewn with cars with steam pouring from under the raised bonnet.

The 50’s saw the launch of Ford’s Mark 2 Zephyr which followed the American design style but of course was a much smaller version of the typical American car. Vauxhall introduced the Cresta, it’s style was very American right down to its white wall tyres and tail fins and it appeared to be a copy of the Packard. Two-tone paintwork was introduced with this model, which was popular. Class was not the first word that came to mind when describing this car but there were no shortage of buyers.

It also had the effect of making the cars around it, which were mainly black in colour look rather dull. The body panels of these new American style cars were thinner than they had previously been manufacturing.

A new style vehicle registration plate was launched in 1963 the last digit was the letter A. It was 60 years after number plates were first issued in Britain in1903. At first the new registration plate was only issued in certain parts of the country, but it wasn’t long before it became nationwide.

It looked rather odd at first, then some motorists decided they quite liked the idea of showing everyone that they had a brand new car. So they bought a new car and proudly drove around in their smart A registered car but, in what seemed like no time at all, the B registration was introduced and then they weren’t so proud and this was the start of the “latest registration” trap that many motorists found themselves in.

This system changed in 1967 when the E registration came out in January but only lasted seven months and was then replaced by the F registration. August was set as the new month for vehicle registrations, which must have been a bit frustrating for the motorist that bought a new car in January 1967 thinking that he was going to have the latest registration plate for the next twelve months.

Manufacturers discovered that with the number plate changing each year and more frequent model changes, motorists who otherwise would have stuck with their car, where being persuaded to change them. The new registration date wasn’t ideal, the 1st of August was chaos; everybody wanted their new car delivered on that day. Although in those days most motorists were expected to turn up at the dealership to collect their new car, rather than have it delivered.

During the 90’s it was reported that new cars were being stockpiled in various remote parts of the country, in old farm buildings, aircraft hangers and fields. This was done in preference to manufacturers cutting production levels. Apparently this resulted in some motorists buying a new car to get the latest registration plate, and yet getting an older car than the one they were disposing off.

During the Thatcher years of the 1980’s, people appeared to fall further into the trap of having to have the newest and latest of everything and cars were certainly no exception. People felt under pressure and some motorists found that it was a lot easier to just buy a personalised number plate and avoid being judged for not having the latest registration plate, or at least until there was a model change.

Always one step ahead the manufacturers started to bring out facelift models: This involved making small but noticeable changes to the design. This was a lot less expensive than introducing a new model and still had the desired effect; making those who had the pre facelift model, feel that their car was getting old.

September 2001 saw the next change to way registration plates were laid out;, showing the month and the year of registration. An example of the new plate would be GL 52 FGD. The idea being that it would ease some of the pressure from manufacturers and dealers of having to deliver such large numbers of vehicles in August. Perhaps also making people less aware of the number plate, well perhaps but contract hire and leasing companies say they find it very difficult to get anyone to take delivery of a car in February and August.

The Manufacturers found other ways to discourage motorists from holding onto their cars for too long; engines are no longer straightforward, very few problems can be solved without diagnostics. Very often special tools are needed to do the simplest of jobs and even checking the gearbox oil levels often cannot be done without diagnostic equipment from the manufacturer.

These changes are pushing the small motor mechanic out of business and the owner of a particular marque towards the main dealership to have work done. This is making second hand cars more expensive to maintain and is a factor in people changing their cars, once they are outside the manufacturer’s warranty.

Another consequence of this change is that the life span of second hand cars will become shorter, when owners discover that they cannot work on their own cars. As maintenance costs go up, cars will be scrapped sooner. This is what the manufacturers would like to happen, because it is an essential part of the cycle, for there to be buyers of the second hand cars coming onto the market, when they are replaced by new cars.

There will however always be some smaller workshops that specialise in a particular marque such as BMW; they will have the tools and the diagnostic equipment and will survive after other small garages have gone out of business. Their charges reflect the fact that they have had to invest in special tools and diagnostic equipment but they are nevertheless, less expensive than the main dealership.

Once a vehicle is outside its warranty, it can certainly be worth considering a specialist garage. Sometimes it means travelling to find the nearest one but the savings can make travelling worth while. The marque they have chosen to specialise in is generally the cars they love, so they are often real enthusiasts and still know how to repair, rather than just replace items.

Complicated electronics in cars today is another example of how manufacturers have cleverly pushed the motorist into changing their car more frequently. Motorists are, with justification, fearful of having electronic problems with their car once the warranty has expired.

Certain manufacturer’s vehicles have become increasingly unreliable and many motorists fear having one of those electronic faults that in spite of all the diagnostic equipment, the dealership cant seem to cure and dealerships charge you for diagnostic time, as much time as is necessary to find the fault.

It occurs to many motorists whose cars that are outside the warranty, that they could find themselves in the situation where they have such a fault that nobody seems to be able to cure. Although they often cost in the order of 1,000 per annum or more, at least you have peace of mind if you take out the manufacturer’s warranty.

There are many people who would like to be less conscious of the car they are driving and not be led into buying the latest model and having the newest registration plate. However they are unlikely change unless everyone else does. But everyone else isn’t going to change, human nature is what it is; cars are very important to many motorists’ image and self esteem.

The motor industry has been very smart in the way they have changed how we buy cars; It is now quite unusual for someone to chose a 4 year term when taking a car on contract hire .Gradually they have changed our perception of what is an old car from 15 to20 years to 5 or 6 years old, without us noticing it was happening.

Should you have any queries or questions with regard to Fleet Management, Licence checking Contract Hire, Personal Contract Hire, Lease Purchase or vehicle Hire Purchase, please do not hesitate to contact us. Bowater Price plc 01494 536 536. www.bowaterprice.com.

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